War Crimes: Just Don't Talk About 'Them' Too Loudly
The Hill opines that 'War is hell, but that should never excuse war crimes.' A noble sentiment, yet conspicuously missing: any mention of the consistent US defense against, or veto of, global efforts to hold Israeli officials accountable for alleged war crimes. For instance, the US blocked a UN Security Council resolution on March 25, 2024, demanding an immediate ceasefire due to 'grave concern'
over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, effectively allowing ongoing actions. This isn't theoretical; the UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly cited actions in Gaza that appear to meet the threshold for war crimes, yet no major US platform pushes for the accountability they so eloquently demand in principle. One might wonder if the moral outrage applied universally, or if it has a geo-political
'select all that apply' option. The same week The Hill published this piece, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly questioned the Biden administration's continued military support to Israel, given credible allegations of international law violations. Apparently, 'war is hell' applies differently when the perpetrator is a key ally receiving billions in US taxpayer funds. (According to OpenSecrets,
AIPAC alone spent over $3.7 million lobbying in 2023, while individual pro-Israel groups donate millions more to political campaigns.)