I forgot to mention that I basically disagree with you on point: the primary purpose of a political satiric cartoon is to ridicule, not to “make a joke.” By Israel and Hamas equally, he gives Israel further license to continue its genocide of Gazans.

I agree with WriterOnTheStorm. It’s sheer propaganda. I don’t know if TruthDig posted it because it agrees with it as a good cartoon, or as an provocative example of the blatant propaganda we’re finding in the corporate media. I’m glad I saw it. I’m boycotting my local paper because of the part it has played in the propaganda supporting these illegal wars. Don’t blame Truth Dig for posting what should be a controversial cartoon, but, sadly has been accepted by most of the public as true. Cancel your subscriptions to corporate print media, and send contributions to TruthDig and other fine independent online journals.

What’s wrong with this cartoon:

1. It suggests that Israelis and Palestinians are dying in equal numbers.

2. It infers that Palestinian and Israeli grievances are morally comparable.

3. It insinuates that both sides are acting emotionally and not tactically.

4. It implies that no solution can ever be found so what’s the use of trying.

5. It suggests that it’s a fair fight.

6. It has the bad taste to try to make a joke out of points 1 through 5.

Nearly every myth that perpetuates this insanity is encapsulated in two images, without the slightest trace of irony.
Yes, we all could use a little levity after two weeks of massacre, but this ain’t it. Shame on Truthdig.

Does this remind anyone of an old startrek episode? Gene how did you know?

An interesting cartoon but to better reflect the reality of the situation and put it into the more real perspective you should have had the palestinian throwing stones at the israeli in their tanks, and the gazans, also in self-defense, throwing their firecrackers at israeli american-made drones and u.s. one ton bombs.

By elizabethe, January 7 at 7:40 pm

Unfortunately too many people can only cope with cartoons for most or all of their communications which pleases the powers that be to death(I wish). But my idea of this portrait is that the izraelis, not all of them, don’t want peace and will do what it takes to eradicate anyone that will not bow down to them. As I have said they ARE NOT GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, no one is or everybody is and this just goes to show how stupid humans all over this planet are for thinking an ‘unfettered’ expansion of the human population is the correct way. If that were true then this cartoon is true but it will represent the last 2 people standing in the end.

Elizabethe:

I would like a direct link to any statement by Obama that he plans to “occupy” Afghanistan.  Because although he has certainly said he wants to increase troop strength there, I have never heard him use the word “occupy.”  In fact, I have heard him say exactly the opposite: that he does not want to “occupy” Afghanistan, but to help bolster their forces against the Taliban and attacks from over the Pakistan border.  Here is a recent quote: “We do have to be mindful of the history of Afghanistan…It is tough territory. There is a fierce independence in Afghanistan. And if the perception is: we are there simply to impose ourselves in a long-term occupation that is not going to work in Afghanistan.”

Obama has also stated that he would not do this unilaterally, but would include the Afghan leadership, NATO and the United Nations in any final decision.

In addition, unlike Iraq, the Afghanistan government is fully in support of an increas in troop strength.  Here is Afghanistan’s ambassador to the U.S.: “The presence of NATO in Afghanistan is a political asset both for Afghanistan, the United States and other countries…[W]e appreciate the fact that NATO countries are there but we need troops that are ready to fight. We need troops that are properly equipped and ready to be deployed to all parts of the country.”

Finally, while it is true that Obama reiterated a few times during the campaign that he might engage in unilateral cross-border attacks into Pakistan, he said that he would NOT do so in any serious capacity unless the U.S. had actionable intelligence that OBL was there, and the Pakistani government was either unwilling or unable to take action.

NONE of this points to “occupying” Afghanistan in the way you are clearly suggesting.

Peace.

This drawing is missing Uncle Sam arming the last Israeli and goading on the last Palestinian. It’s hard to be hopeful that Obama will bring any new perspective to the table that could be sufficient to repair the damage done by previous presidents and heal the conflict.

Maani-

If you want peace you should listen to the statements of candidates before you allow them to get your vote or take office.

Obama has threatened to “occupy” (he isn’t even threatening, he WANTS TO) Afghanistan, he has said so, on numerous occasions, it is KNOWN in print, and verbally, in a video taped speech on his campaign site, you can listen to it yourself, you do not have to guess…IF you like a warmonger then you like Obama and BUSH, and IF you don’t care that the U.S. Constitution does not allow the President to declare war, but both Bush and Obama are not “thinking” it, they are DOING IT, in everyone’s face and calling it peace, and NOT even trying to balance the budget and cut the military, they like war, they think they are powerful against the people and democracy both nationally and all over the world, notice how the media covers it up, so you listened to the HYPE not the TRUTH.

They clapped on the video.  I would have hissed and booed and told him he is an offense and treasonous just as Bush IS.

Usurping the U.S. Constitution ahead of time is not “his thinking” it is his statements, he has SAID he wants to occupy Afghanistan.  And, he has said he would attack terrorists in Pakistan.  He did NOT ask permission, he is copying Bush only worse.

Bush did not intend international offensives,  but was a known hawk before he was elected.  I certainly DID NOT WANT BUSH EVER, NEITHER BUSH.  HAWKS are out of touch with reality.

Go get the hammer there is a fly on baby’s head?

First of all, it is not our baby when a country has internal problems. and a hammer of huge military offense is extreme danger, and the increase TENDERED by OBAMA is in everyone’s face.

Anyone who wants Peace would hear how BAD he is.

Those who clap do not have any sense of America on track.  They are the same offensive as BUSH and OBAMA, oh yes.

But, we have 100 million registered voters NOT in the TWO partys shown corrupt against democracy.  Congress declares war, not the President under our constitution.

Maani-

If you want peace you should listen to the statements of candidates before you allow them to get your vote or take office.

Obama has threatened to “occupy” (he isn’t even threatening, he WANTS TO) Afghanistan, he has said so, on numerous occasions, it is KNOWN in print, and verbally, in a video taped speech on his campaign site, you can listen to it yourself, you do not have to guess…IF you like a warmonger then you like Obama and BUSH, and IF you don’t care that the U.S. Constitution does not allow the President to declare war, but both Bush and Obama are not “thinking” it, they are DOING IT, in everyone’s face and calling it peace, and NOT even trying to balance the budget and cut the military, they like war, they think they are powerful against the people and democracy both nationally and all over the world, notice how the media covers it up, so you listened to the HYPE not the TRUTH.

They clapped on the video.  I would have hissed and booed and told him he is an offense and treasonous just as Bush IS.

Usurping the U.S. Constitution ahead of time is not “his thinking” it is his statements, he has SAID he wants to occupy Afghanistan.  And, he has said he would attack terrorists in Pakistan.  He did NOT ask permission, he is copying Bush only worse.

Bush did not intend international offensives,  but was a known hawk before he was elected.  I certainly DID NOT WANT BUSH EVER, NEITHER BUSH.  HAWKS are out of touch with reality.

Go get the hammer there is a fly on baby’s head?

First of all, it is not our baby when a country has internal problems. and a hammer of huge military offense is extreme danger, and the increase TENDERED by OBAMA is in everyone’s face.

Anyone who wants Peace would hear how BAD he is.

Those who clap do not have any sense of America on track.  They are the same offensive as BUSH and OBAMA, oh yes.

But, we have 100 million registered voters NOT in the TWO partys shown corrupt against democracy.  Congress declares war, not the President under our constitution.  Furthermore, I believe even the 62 million registered Dems and Repubs WOULD HAVE WELCOME the PROPER CONTEST, PROPER POLLS of SIX not TWO, the information about all SIX not TWO, and the DEBATES after those first two required steps, not to mention the individual campaign coverage which did not get done at a national level, INTENTIONAL DEPRIVATION of DEMOCRACY by the “Mainstream” media.  They are corrupt and unconscionable.  There were SIX and people had the right to the informed proper BEST shown before voting for CHANGE wanted and DUE and upholding the U.S. Constitution and duties of President able to lead and respect congress’s duties without taking illegal authority for obviously nasty policies that are not affordable by any sane view.

elizabethe:

I am just SO impressed that you know EXACTLY what Obama is thinking, and what he will do - before he has even been sworn in as president!  I wish I could be like you!

NOT!!!!  LOL.

Peace.

Cartoons do tell a story, but the situation is nasty and serious and not funny.

Would you like a cartoon showing Obama taking the Oath of Office to “Uphold” the U.S. Constitution where the President DOES NOT DECLARE WAR, only Congress, and the reality that he lied and intends war as offered by BUSH who chose to usurp the Congress and now Obama has already said he will increase the offensive military.

Cartoon?  Obama speaking with FORKED TONGUE saying he will uphold the U.S. Constitution, showing the forked tongue sticking out of his mouth and standing on each fork, a red and blue man….he speaks two party corrupt military industrial complex against the country, the Constitution and the world.

There is no gain in Obama, no peace, no honor, no constitution no peace intended.  War intended as if that power is wanted.

the voters were lazy cowards and let the hype be their guide to accept the forked tongue against truth when the January 20th Oath of Office is DUE TRUTH, Obama will not offer truth.

He is offering war and red ink, up front, but is a liar, because he knows it is against international law and against the U.S. Constitution.

Bush started it, he wants to continue. 

Is this the stuff of cartoons, or is REAL ACTION going to happen, and OBAMA will be forced to face his lies in public that he has no proper budget to offer, no peace to offer, and only red ink and threats begun by BUSH and he is incompetent and cannot begin to reverse what BUSH did when BUSH failed to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

Intentions are a huge part of the need to believe success, and only Nader and his track gave me cause to believe.

And, I do know the public very well would not pick an incumbent who has offered no track in the public interest to compare to Nader’s and his platforms do not compare either.

the media likes the red ink and blood.  The news is not welcome.

Peace news should be and the REAL CHANGE IS THAT PEACE POLICY IS A CAN DO IN THE PRESENT if Obama is called on the carpet as to his agenda as red not black, and war not peace, and autocracy forced against the duty defined for CONGRESS, not the President who is supposed to want what Obama does not.  He offers his intention of war and lets the media say he is peace, he is not, he is war, and red ink offense and unconstitutional.  he knows it.

My money’s on the last Palestinian.

Here is yet another example of the propaganda being fed to Americans through the mass, dominant media. Lucovich, in feigning a balanced view of Israel’s war on Gazans, portrays Palestinians and Israelis as equal powers able to inflict the same number of casualties, at the same time suggesting that Hamas has killed as many Israelis with its rockets as Israel has during its long siege of Gaza and now with its massacres. Lucovich is merely following the pro-Israel editorial policy of U.S. newspaper publishers. What he presents is in essence within the framework of the talking points of Israel’s public relations campaign.

Woody:

That would have been true if the politicians and people holding the money weren’t jewish.  But they are. 

So it begs the question…how sick are jews to really screw their own kind if that is the case?  Want to know?  Get a taste of it in Holocaust Industry.

Good one Mike.  I think you’re right on.

I try real hard not to paint with too broad a brush. 

There are good people everywhere but the extremists still have the power to manipulate and control. 

Under those tombstones are millions who only wanted to share life with and take care of their families.  I guess that dream is an impossible one in a world of extremists, unless you live where you pay an increasingly high cost to fend them off.