Mona Charen setting the record straight on the Jihad Flotilla

Yesterday Mona Charen gave us some pieces of the "rest of the story" regarding the so-called "peace flotilla". Here are some facts she lists which should cause discomfort for anyone buying the stupid line that this was some type of humanitarian cause:

Fact: Israel imposed a blockade of Gaza to prevent weapons from reaching the radical Islamic regime there that continues to make war on Israeli civilians. Egypt too has blockaded the strip, hoping to choke off weapons to Hamas, which it views as a threat.

Fact: Humanitarian relief is delivered to Gaza from Israel on a daily basis. During the first three months of this year, 94,500 tons of supplies were transferred to Gaza from Israel, including 48,000 tons of food products; 40,000 tons of wheat; 2,760 tons of rice; 1,987 tons of clothes and footwear; and 553 tons of milk powder and baby food for the strip’s 1.5 million inhabitants. Representatives of international aid groups and the United Nations move freely to and from the Gaza Strip.

Fact: Upon learning of the intentions of the Gaza flotilla, the Israeli government asked the organizers to deliver their humanitarian aid first to an Israeli port where it would be inspected (for weapons) before being forwarded to Gaza. The organizers refused. “There are two possible happy endings,” a Muslim activist on board explained, “either we will reach Gaza or we will achieve martyrdom.”

So as usual, the jihadis want to agitate and perpetuate the struggle. They don't want a peaceful resolution. The shouts of "Remember Khaybar, O Jews, Muhammad’s army will return!" should put that myth to rest—it's not the first time we've heard that, nor will it likely be the last.

The whole attack on Israel's actions from the usual suspects (mainstream media, United Nations, etc.) has the flavor of Obama's "police acted stupidly" meme from last summer. It's the knee-jerk attack on law enforcement to which the left seems to be addicted.