here. They are personal. Painful. And well heated. But this just has to be said.
One of the more disturbing -- though predictable -- developments this week is the effort to suggest that Furkan Dogan, the 19-year-old American killed by the Israelis with four bullets to the head and one to the chest, is not a "real citizen." That, of course, tracks the prior Joe-Lieberman-led proposal to strip Americans of their citizenship (now being replicated in Israel) and the Obama administration's targeting of Americans for due-process-free assassinations. We now have at least two classes of citizenship: "real citizens" and "not really citizens." John Cole says all that needs to be said about this disgusting suggestion.
And for those who haven't done so, see my post from yesterday on the role that rank tribalism plays in causing so many Americans to remain devoted to justifying whatever Israel does.
That is just some messed up stuff.
I don't travel this world as much as I'd like, but there is a part of me that hopes when folks see my US passport they know they need to treat me with a basic level of respect cause my country has my back if they don't.
The guy was shot in the head four times. I am no weapons expert, but that is murder. That isn't self defense. I see nobody asking about the rights of Furkan Dogan. A US citizen killed in international waters.
Where is McCain or Lieberman asking about his rights? His due process?
When a fellow American can have four bullets put into his head, one in the chest, by the military of another nation on open/international waters and he is not viewed as the victim we have crossed a line that should have never been crossed.