The "H" Word

"My reading of the threat from Iran is that if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, it is an existential threat to the State of Israel and to other countries in the region because the other countries in the region will feel compelling requirement to acquire nuclear weapons as well.

Now we cannot allow a second Holocaust."

Putting aside my image of an Israeli existential crisis ("What eez zee eemportance ov all ov zees faighteeng anywayz? Eet eez meanengless!"), I have a problem with this statement.

McCain said the H-word. He didn't say it in reference to any sort of genocide or ethnic cleansing. He didn't say it in reference to any sort of systematic killing. Unless it was a blunder in speech and what he MEANT to say was a second HIROSHIMA (another important H-word), his invocation of the systematic killing of Jews, Roma, communists, the mentally and/or physically disabled and homosexuals was completely uncalled for.

First of all, if Iran obtained nuclear weapons, would they nuke Israel? Probably not. Israel is estimated to have somewhere between 60 and 80 nuclear weapons, enough to, and I'm not sure if these are the correct technical terms, seriously fuck up a lot of shit in a very big way. Israel's buddy the United States has over 5,000 nuclear warheads. That's a lot of destructive power. If Iran decided to nuke Israel, it would be suicide. Also, you know what's in Israel? A bunch of really really important Muslim holy sites. It just doesn't make sense.

Now, if Iran obtained nuclear weapons and nuked Israel, would that constitute a "second Holocaust"? Well, a holocaust is technically a big fire, so yes, it would constitute a holocaust (small "h"), but it certainly wouldn't be the second. What made the Holocaust the Holocaust is that it wasn't really warfare. It was a redefinition of citizenship and humanity. They attacked enemies who lived among them, in Germany and in every country they conquered.

There's a big difference.

So why the hell would McCain say "second Holocaust"? Because he's talking about Israel. Israel is not a race of people. It is a nation. It has a government and a flag and some land. It has citizens, not all of whom are one faith or race. Israel does not equal the Jews. The Jews do not equal Israel.

It's a cheap shot. An irrelevant cheap shot. An emotionally manipulative irrelevant cheap shot. Is that really how he's trying to court the Jewish vote? By a swift knee to our tear ducts' testicles?

No blows below the belt, Senator McCain. Shifty fuck. I wonder if Icke thinks he's a lizard...