MARK BEGICH WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?

I am of course on the left politically and I mean on the left, certainly left of most of the left people in Alaska, who I consider to be actually centrists or conservatives. We all have to work together whatever our political views to make our country work, but I am sick of politicians who say they are one thing to get elected and then turn out to be something else. I did not expect Mark Begich to be as far left as myself and certainly he is representing a state with right leanings. I have been tolerant of some of the statements he has made in the past, but he has gradually become more and more conservative since taking office. I once had a boyfriend who told me he was not monogamous up front. The truth allowed me to make a decision that a relationship with him just would not work for me. Then I was married and had a promise of monogamy broken. I am still friends with the man who told me the truth that he would never be happy with just one woman, but have nothing to do with the one who broke my trust. This for me is a similar situation. Is there no politician who can tell the truth about who they really are?

Here is a form email I received from Mark Begich about an email I sent him regarding the Freedom Flotilla massacre and my response:

June 21, 2010


Dear Ms. Harrison:


Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent incident involving Israeli forces inspecting a Turkish flotilla headed for Gaza.

I have noted you refer to an attack as an inspection. In fact the Israeli soldiers had lists of people to target with them and there is significant evidence they started firing down on the ship from helicopters.

Israel is both a strong ally in the Middle East and a vibrant democracy. Israel is also a partner to the United States on military and intelligence issues in this critical region. I will continue to support our strategic partnership with Israel in an effort to bring permanent peace to the Middle East.

Sure you would call Israel an ally because the United States also commits similar war crimes and where else could we get someone so supportive of killing innocent people while exploiting them for our own gain. Israel is not a "vibrant democracy", not unless you think right wing theocracy and democracy are the same thing. Are you aware that the Israeli citizens have lost civil rights? We have many in this country who are working with the goal of turning our country into a right wing theocracy, considering your support of Israel's actions I would wonder how you feel about that.

Recently, a Turkey-based group challenged Israel's blockade of Gaza, and Israel made an effort to ensure the flotilla carried no weapons or rockets headed for Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Israeli forces were able to safely divert five of the six ships challenging the blockade. However, video footage shows Israeli commandos who arrived on the sixth ship were attacked and they responded in kind. I deeply regret the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved.

Senator Begich have you been hypnotized or stupefied in some way? There are a large number of witnesses and videos which prove just the opposite of what you say in this email is true. Are you aware the people on the flotilla went to great effort before leaving for Gaza to have their ships inspected by third parties so there would be no question they were not carrying any weapons? Are you aware that Turkey was an ally of Israel and was not expecting violence?

I fully support Israel's right to self-defense. In response to thousands of rocket attacks on Israeli civilians from terrorists in Gaza, Israel established a naval blockade in June 2007. The blockade is legal under international law, and allows Israel to prevent rockets and weapons from entering Gaza. Even with the blockade in place, Israel delivered over one million tons of humanitarian supplies into Gaza through border crossings over the past 18 months, nearly one ton of aid for every Gazan.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the subject of the blockade‘s legality:

"International humanitarian law prohibits starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and ... it is also prohibited to impose collective punishment on civilians."

"I have consistently reported to member states that the blockade is illegal and must be lifted."

It has been reported by many agencies including some people with the U.N. that much needed supplies for repairing buildings are not being allowed into Gaza as well as other essential items such as paper and writing materials for children. Throughout history when one country violently steals people's homes from them there is conflict. Israel has knowingly stolen land and then takes the position of martyr when people fight back. You speak out for Israel's right to defend itself. Why is it only Israel and the United States have a right to defend themselves?

The United States must remain concerned for the suffering of civilians in Gaza. We will continue to engage the Israelis to address the full range of the population's humanitarian and recovery needs. We will continue to work closely with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, along with international nongovernmental organizations, and the United Nations, to provide adequate access for humanitarian goods, including reconstruction materials, through the border crossings, while bearing in mind Israel's legitimate security concerns.

It is interesting that you refer to the suffering of civilians in Gaza after you made the statement, “Israel delivered over one million tons of humanitarian supplies into Gaza through border crossings over the past 18 months, nearly one ton of aid for every Gazan.” Really if security was the only reason for the blockade the situation would have been handled in a different way and if the United States government was so concerned about the people of Gaza something would have been done a long time ago. What can the United States say since our country has lead embargos on other countries like Cuba and Iraq, resulting in many deaths and much suffering.


Israel has announced its intention to promptly carry out a thorough investigation of this incident. Secretary of State Clinton has made it clear she will continue to ascertain the facts of what happened, and I expect the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation. I will monitor all additional information as it becomes available.

That makes about as much sense as an incompetent surgeon conducting the investigation into why one of his patients died. How stupid do you think people are? Israel's propaganda machine is second only to the propaganda of the United States.

Ultimately, this incident underscores the need to move ahead quickly with negotiations leading to peace in the region. I encourage the continuation of the current talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and hope these talks will move negotiations ultimately toward a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Thanks again for contacting me on this issue.


Sincerely,


Mark Begich


U.S. Senator

I walked door to door in the cold to help get you elected. That will not be happening the next time around and I believe there are many others who feel the way I do. You told me when I met you to contact your office with my story and you would look into some of the problems. So, far I have had no response other than your staff telling me you don't handle anything on the state level, apparently those on the state level don't either. I am so disappointed in you that I do not even consider you a democrat or a liberal. You have shown your true colors before, but now between this email and your stand on opening up oil drilling off shore before the regulatory agency MMS is upgraded to the point of being in charge and competent enough to carry out it's duties you have clearly stepped over the line past blue dog, to not even a purple dog, but a red dog. It is clear by what has gone on in the Gulf of Mexico we do not have the ability to control or clean up an oil spill. Shell oil has demonstrated that they can not be trusted considering what they have done in Nigeria. I can’t help feeling sad that once again a politician that gave people hope was just playing us once again.


                                                                            Sincerely, 
                                                                            Celia Harrison