Public Health Policy Reviews 14:
20 Years of US Military Imperialism in the Middle East – Part 1
Image by “The Pixel Man” from Pixabay.
NOTE: Nazia Saeed, a Human Resources professional living in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, contributed significant research and writing for parts of this article.
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Last week, Public Health Policy Reviews focused on the public health impacts of US foreign policy on Gaza and Israel.
As a new and independent blog without resources or followers yet, we did not expect to have much impact on international media discourse on Israel’s invasion of Gaza. We are a small group of freelance writers, artists, academic researchers, and wellness practitioners concerned about the public health implications of the policy proposals of the two major 2024 US political party candidates.
Yet, Israel’s shutdown of Al Jazeera, one of the few independent media sources operating in Gaza after October 7th, 2023, indicates that the seven-month invasion is entering an alarming new phase. The blatant efforts at media and protest censorship by Israel yesterday and the US Congress last Thursday are more than disturbing.
The media suppression tactics and legislation initiatives by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters from both parties in the US Congress mean they intend to “finish the job” the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Started in October.
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Photo by Taylor Brandon on Unsplash.
“The job,” at this point –is the resolute intention of the Netanyahu government and the IDF to ethnically cleanse Gaza and the West Bank of all Palestinians in the region.
What is worse is that President Biden, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries aim to allow the IDF to commit genocide in real time. Thursday’s Congressional antisemitism bill and yesterday’s shutdown of Al Jazeera reveal they are all in the beginning stages of burying international knowledge and public dissent of the war crimes to come.
Remember, these media and public censorship initiatives by the US and Israel are happening amid a war that has killed over 142 journalists as of the posting of this article. Couple those numbers with the over 34,600 Gazan civilians killed – 70% of them being children and women, the 1200 Israelis killed by Hamas on October 7th, and the 252 people taken hostage.
The international humanitarian crisis in Gaza demands immediate action.
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Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash.
Mainstream political and corporate media establishment opposition to the slaughter and human rights violations happening in Gaza is virtually non-existent in Israel and the US.
So, it is up to small, independent, and socially powerless individuals and entities to do what little we can to inform the public about the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. Today and all this week – our efforts will focus on providing historical context for the public health emergency suffered by Palestinians and other populations across the Middle East.
Our initial article will provide an overview of US military incursions in the Middle East over the past two (2) decades. The week will focus on US military imperialism in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Yemen.
As the 2003 US military invasion of Iraq reminds us, Gaza is far from the first sub-region of the Middle East that has had its public health systems destroyed by American imperial machinations and military power.
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Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash.
For readers who may have forgotten, former American President George W. Bush invaded Iraq in 2003.
The stated reason by Mr. Bush and his administration was “to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, to end Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.” The international community now knows that the justifications for the second Iraq war are not valid. The United Nations (UN) weapons inspection team found no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
The diplomatic and civil unrest in the Middle East continued during the eight (8) years of former President Barack Obama’s administration (2008–2016). Mr. Obama and his administration’s excuse for continued intervention in the Middle East and Northern Africa was his national security obligation to continue prosecuting the war on terrorism.
Mr. Obama has the dubious distinction of being the Commander-in-Chief when the Islamic State in Iraq & Syria (ISIS) came to power.
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Photo by Library of Congress on Unsplash.
Like former President Obama, current President Joe Biden was supposed to focus on reestablishing America’s aggressive role in international economic action, diplomatic policy, and military dominance.
The Biden administration’s worldwide economic and military zeal after Donald Trump’s aggressiveness against the UN, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Iran, and China resulted in disastrous public health consequences for Gaza, the West Bank, Yemen, and Ukraine.
Mr. Biden should ensure America’s dedication to the UN and NATO. Instead, the Biden administration’s unconditional support of Israel after October 7th has undermined respect for international humanitarian law, civil rights, freedom of speech, press freedom, and media objectivity.
There may be a silver lining of hope against all the carnage that Israel and US foreign policy is causing in Gaza. Hamas spokesmen have officially announced today that they have accepted the ceasefire proposal of Egyptian and Qatari mediators for the release of hostages and a limited ceasefire.
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Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash.
The Palestinian militant group issued a media statement today saying its supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had expressed his agreement in a phone call with Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence minister.
There were no immediate details about what the agreement entails. But Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said Mr. Haniyeh told him the “ball is now in Israel’s court.”
Unfortunately, an Israeli official has said Hamas has agreed to a “softened” proposal which is “not acceptable to Israel.” The official added that Hamas’ announcement “appears to be a ruse to cast Israel as the side refusing a deal.”
However, if the recent reports on the acceptance of a ceasefire deal are accurate – it could be the first step toward ending the war in Gaza and addressing the underlying grievances fueling the cycle of violence.
Only through genuine dialogue, cooperation, and respect for human rights can Palestinians and Israelis break the cycle of violence and suffering to secure a brighter future for all inhabitants, especially the children.
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