[haw-info] HAW Notes 8/14/14: Gaza petition; links to recent articles of interest

Note: More than a thousand U.S. and international scholars have signed the Historians' Letter to President Obama and Members of Congress concerning the Gaza crisis. The letter, along with a list of signers and a form for signing, is at http://historiansagainstwar.org/gazapetition.html. The text of the letter, with a brief introduction and a link to the list of signers, is currently the lead story on the History News Network website (at http://hnn.us/article/156652).

Links to Recent Articles of Interest

The three articles immediately below are by William R. Polk, a former member of the U.S. Policy Planning Council for North Africa, the Middle East, and West Asia and a former professor of history at the University of Chicago. They were posted on the Informed Comment blog on the dates indicated. 

"Gaza and the Struggle for Palestine: Historical Background (Part 1, a)" - August 10

"Gaza and the Struggle for Palestine: The 1930s" - August 11

"Gaza and the Palestine Crisis in History: World War II" - August 12

"Blown Chances in Gaza: Israel and the U.S. Miss Many Chances to Avoid War"

By Sandy Tolan, TomDispatch.com, posted August 12

The author teaches in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC.

"'We Tortured Some Folks'"

By John Marciano, CounterPunch.org, posted August 11

The author is a professor of history emeritus at SUNT Cortland.

"What the U.S. Should Do in Iraq: Stop What Is Counterproductive"

By Andrew J. Bacevich, Los Angeles Times, posted August 8

The author teaches history and international relations at Boston University.

"Lessons of the Conflict in Gaza"

By Avi Shlaim, Aljazeera, posted August 9

The author is an emeritus professor of international relations at Oxford University.

"The Long Reach of Vietnam War Deceptions"

By Todd E. Pierce, AntiWar.com, posted August 9

The author retired in November 2012 as Major in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps.

"When the Smoke Clears in Gaza"

By Robin D. G. Kelley, Mondoweiss, posted August 8

The author teaches history at UCLA.

"The Liberal Zionists"

By Jonathan Freedland, New York Review of Books, August 14 issue, posted appr. August 6

A review essay, with a good bit of history included; it was written in mid-July, before the current fighting in Gaza.

"How Many Minutes to Midnight? Hiroshima Day 2014"

By Noam Chomsky, TomDispatch.com, posted August 5

A historical look at near-misses for nuclear war

"Gaza Blockade Must End"

By Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson, The Guardian, posted August 6

"Isis Consolidates"

By Patrick Cockburn, London Review of Books, posted August 1

A chilling account, with some recent history 

This list was edited by Steve Gosch and Jim O'Brien, with thanks to Frank Brodhead and Rosalyn Baxandall for suggesting articles that are included. Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.