As we wait to see any substantive response from the U.S. president to Israel's killings of peace workers seeking to break the years-long Gaza siege, it's worth noting that anger towards the US is up -- in the Middle East, but also around the world. As mild-mannered Jim Sciutto, senior foreign correspondent for ABC News, noted Sunday at a protest at the Israeli embassy in London, the anger was more like what's usually seen in the Middle East than in Europe. And the anger extended to the U.S.
Tweeted Sciutto: "Anger extended to US - got grief for working for US network, again something I'd expect more in Cairo than Kensington."
As David Petraeus, head of Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in March, "The conflict foments anti-American sentiment due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel." "Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world."
After Israel's latest act of aggression, it's not just the Arab world that is outraged. And it's not just Israel they're outraged at.
The F Word is a regular commentary by Laura Flanders, the host of GRITtv which broadcasts weekdays on satellite TV (Dish Network Ch. 9415 Free Speech TV) on cable, and online at GRITtv.org and TheNation.com. Support us by signing up for our podcast, and follow GRITtv or GRITlaura on Twitter.com.