WHERE'S THE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

THE DOCTOR IS IN
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LAS VEGAS- Hello America, and how's the world treating you?

U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell returned from the area again and failed to convince the Israelis and Palestinians to get together in peace talks.Decade after decade these two warring factions continue to refuse to compromise. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to build settlements in disputed territory and Israel continues to occupy territories as they have for years.Palestinians want their own freedom. The Israel occupation should have ceased years and years ago. There should indeed be two separate states dividing these parties.

President Obama has requested that the Israelis cease building settlements in the territories so as to promote progress in a peace settlement.But his overtures and requests have been shunned by Israel.

I would suggest that the Obama administration use the power of the purse to insist that the expansion of settlements in the disputed territories come to an immediate halt. The Obama administration should withhold all foreign aid to Israel until they meet Obama's demands. The United States gives billions of dollars to Israel each and every year. Israel is given more U.S.A. foreign aid dollars per capita than any other country in the world.In addition, the USA has given Israel billions of dollars in advanced military weapons and do I need to remind America that we also have contributed millions in tax payer dollars to help Israel build up and improve their nuclear program.

The United States talks of controlling nuclear weapons and yet we want to dictate to the world which countries should have them and which countries should not have nukes. However, there is never a mention of Israel's nuke capability. Why?

As an example of these two factions going off the reservation lets look at what Israel did last winter with their military offensive in the Gaza Strip. There was a recent report by the U.N. that Israel committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity throughout that conflict.The report said that Israel used disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians and destroying civilian infrastructure and using people as human shields. It should also be duly noted that Hamas also had committed war crimes. They also deliberately targeted civilians and tried to spread terrorism through its rocket attacks. Both sides committed war crimes - what a shame.

When Israel was accused of war crimes by the U.N. Netanyahu became angry and said his countries acts were self-defense. I submit that there is such a thing as self-defense and there is also such a thing as war crimes. But the two acts are completely different. In fact, it is said that some of our own leaders from the last administration should be brought before the courts on war crimes. It appears no one country is exempt.

There are a number of other countries that believe individuals in the past administration and CIA officers and officials should face a court for their war crimes. Some of those countries have gone so far as to issue warrants for the arrest of some of the individuals. It seems unclear why the United States and their allies can let war crimes be prosecuted against other leaders and officials of other countries but when the same crimes are committed by The United States and it's allies we say we won't face those same courts. Where's the equality and parity in the justice courts of the world? Everyone should be held accountable.

I submit that when a country or individuals from that country are alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity they should have to face the world courts, just like the people that were and is currently being prosecuted today in those same courts.- And, that's my opinion.

Bradley Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr. Kuhns can be reached at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com