Israel abducts human rights activists

[Peter Presland]

Talk about piracy on the high seas.

I may be wrong, but I can't really see that Israel would've jumped upon McKinney without a nod and a wink from someone in the Obama Administration.

Piracy it most certainly is. Not sure about the nod-wink from Obama though - Not that I am any apologist for him you'll understand. It's just that the Israelis have long since learned the boundaries of their behaviour - such as they are (ie for most practical purposes non-existent). They are very much akin to thug policemen who know they will be given the benefit of any doubt when injuries or deaths result from their behaviour. They therefore feel free to beat the shit out of people (or shoot them dead) then obfuscate and whine about how difficult their lot is.

McKinney was on the last boat (The Dignity) that attempted this a couple of months ago. That was rammed in the middle of the night by the Israelis. Taking on water and no longer sea-worthy, it put into Tyre for temporary repairs before returning to Cyprus where it sank. There's an account of it from the retired English surgeon David Halpin who was also on board here.

So long as Israel suffers no consequences for this sort of thing, they will just keep right on doing it. Simple as that; and the prospect of consequences serious enough to give them pause right now appear slim to non-existent from where I'm sitting

Don't forget the USS Liberty incident either. A long time ago but still a good illustration of what Israel is capable of when they feel that way inclined.