Multiple 'Baghdad Bob' in DC

The Biden administration seems to have a different definition of “clear” than reporters.

As journalists go toe-to-toe with administration spokespeople, asking tough questions on national security in particular, those officials at the podiums repeatedly brush off the questions by turning to one common phrase: “We have been clear.”

But they often haven’t been clear — after all, why would the reporters be asking? Still, spokespeople from the White House to the Pentagon to the State Department seem addicted to various versions of that phrase.

“‘We have been clear’ is to a Biden spox what the phrase ‘fugetaboutit’ is to Lefty from Donnie Brasco,” said Josh Rogin, a longtime Washington Post columnist who covers foreign policy, using the journalistic shorthand for spokesperson. “It’s a catchall for dodging legitimate questions about failed or failing policies.”

That small turn of phrase can have a big impact — sowing confusion among important lawmakers, or serving as a strategic obfuscation to allow for flexible policy in the future as situations change.

It’s likely part of a strategy to throw off prodding reporters, former spokespeople said.

Administration spokespeople have a set of “media tips and tricks” that include pivot lines and ways to take back the narrative when the questioning doesn’t go where they want it to go, said Hala Rharrit, a former Arab-language spokesperson in the State Department who resigned in protest over U.S. policy toward Israel in April. Insisting the administration has “been clear” is an attempt to manage a policy that may be unpopular, or at least offer flexibility so that the administration isn’t pigeonholed by specifics.

For example, the administration says it has been clear in conversations with Israel that Israel needs to limit civilian casualties, “but we actually have never taken steps to make that happen,” such as broadly withholding weapons shipments to Israel, Rharrit said.

“Saying ‘we have been clear’ is an attempt to be a show of force, pretending like we are doing something,” she added. “But in reality, it is just words.”

Another example: What exactly is President Joe Biden’s “red line” in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza, which Israel has already invaded and caused some 1 million people to flee? At what point does Israel’s military operation in the city go too far? Even Democrats have been scratching their heads.

“Saying ‘we have been clear’ is an attempt to be a show of force, pretending like we are doing something,” she added. “But in reality, it is just words.”

Another example: What exactly is President Joe Biden’s “red line” in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza, which Israel has already invaded and caused some 1 million people to flee? At what point does Israel’s military operation in the city go too far? Even Democrats have been scratching their heads.

“The president has been very clear and very direct about what our expectations are for Israeli operations in Rafah,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters late last month.

The same day, State spokesperson Matthew Miller also told reporters, “We have made clear what our policy is with respect to Rafah. We do not want to see major military operations take place there.”

Weeks after Biden’s “red line” statement, Miller said the administration doesn’t want to see a military operation on the scale of those Israel conducted in Khan Younis or Gaza City. Those were larger operations that caused widespread destruction, but it remains unclear what action the U.S. would take if the operation in Rafah becomes comparable — or how the administration would make that assessment at all

Also last month, the U.S. punted on whether Israel had violated international humanitarian law using U.S. weapons. Before that, there was widespread confusion over whether the U.S. had already made assessments on individual cases — which it had not — and whether Washington’s policy toward Israel would change.

“We have been very clear that we want to see Israel comply with humanitarian laws and the laws of armed conflict,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters last month, when asked if the U.S. is tracking possible Israeli violations of humanitarian law.

The administration has repeatedly said it wants Israel to comply with humanitarian law, but hasn’t made a determination as to whether Israel is doing so. That has allowed the U.S. to sidestep questions about exactly what types of operations are out of bounds and calls from Congress to use leverage against Israel. The U.S. has said that Israel is not allowed to use U.S.-provided weapons in a way that violates humanitarian law.

Link CODEPINK Los Angeles event to disrupt Gala Fundraiser

While reporters want detailed answers, the job of a spokesperson is a lot harder than it looks, said Morgan Ortagus, a former State spokesperson in the Trump administration. And the blame shouldn’t always be put on the people at the podium.

“It is challenging when you are asked to communicate a policy that is intentionally not clear,” Ortagus said. “Perhaps they’re using that phrase to try and make it seem like they are being consistent.”

The White House and the State Department didn’t respond to a request for comment. DOD deferred to the White House.

Even though this administration is fairly disciplined about staying on message, it’s not the first to use the whole “clear” strategy.

In 2011, a report asked then-State spokesperson Victoria Nuland whether the Obama administration supports a bill regarding sanctions on Iran. Nuland dodged, saying the administration had been clear about the matter.

“No, in fact, you haven’t been clear,” one reporter lashed back.

CODEPINK Alert

CODEPINK’s Newsletter

again, link NYC Chapter Meeting

I help Jennifer Koonings to create a video review about [plan] emergency pier, days before she joined freedom flotilla, and then she’s back home. Jeremy Konyndyk is former USAID chief before Samantha Power.

Day 13 Jennifer Koonings, PMHNP, MS, MS, NYSAFE hunger strike outside White House in the wake US complicit Genocidal Gaza. This is [click link] her writing as member of CODEPINK Alert CODEPINK’s Newsletter. Jennifer is Certified Forensic Examiner for Adults and Children, really full knowledge about sexual assault, such as sexual assault by Israel to every Palestinian, like NYT reporting [photo uploaded]. For solidarity, since she started to hunger strike, I put myself eat 1 very tiny plate/day for break the fasting and for entire day after, extreme fasting 16.5 hours [based on my location]. In last 17 years, I already [minimum] 340 days / year to fasting [29 - 30 days for mandatory fasting for muslim, ramadan session, the rest is voluntary fasting / sunnah]. Photo Jennifer with ann Wright, retired retired US Army [like Leo M. Stolfi ] and also [Ann] retired State Department

Reflecting On My Hunger Strike for Gaza

Medea Benjamin Medea Benjamin Medea’s Substack and Jennifer Koonings

Medea Benjamin Medea Benjamin and Mary Ann Wright ann Wright

link GFM / GOFUNDME

footage by CODEPINK Alert CODEPINK’s Newsletter, multiple nurses in DC, after humanitarian duty in Gaza.

PCRF

Please keep donating to [1] PCRF / Palestine Children’s Relief Fund or [2] Freedom Flotilla.

As PCRF pictures by Dr Rajha in Gaza, Ariana Grande - Butera, and CODEPINK Alert

Jennifer Koonings PMHNP, MS, MS, NYSAFE part ofCODEPINK AlertJen

Unlike Israeli and pro zionist student [very easy] get a money [thanks for multiple billionaire], contrary, Palestinian very hard to get a money [like encampments across the world]. Link attached by CODEPINK Alert Jen Jennifer Koonings PMHNP, MS, MS, NYSAFE is Nagham, same healthcare worker like Jennifer but in Palestine. 4 Weeks ago is Nagham’s birthday. Link to donate. Nagham is still alive after Rafah bombing 2 weeks ago.

Link to help journalist Abdelrahman Alkahout, Reshare by CODEPINK Alert

Jen Jennifer Koonings, PMHNP, MS, MS, NYSAFE. Abdelrahman is still alive after Rafah bombing 2 weeks ago

·

Please don’t mention Palestine or Gaza or related emojis in payment; brutal censored by cashapp & venmo

New Data for VENMO between May 10th - May 23rd [6.51PM NYC time]

New Hampshire: UNH-JS

Wayne State University: WSUSJP

Bard College: SJPBARD

Drexel: HCW4PALPHILLY

UC San Francisco: SDISTRO

Carleton College: ZACKSHAWN

Pennsylvania / UPENN: [1] PPC-PPC and [2] FREEDOMSCHOOLPALESTINE

Xavier University: SJPSXU

Wesleyan: CHICKSAHOYFARMCT

Stony Brook: SB4PALESTINE

Duke: LAILADAMES

Chapman: VENMO PawsUpForPalCU / some students [eligible - verified, although personal account] beatsbybecca

MSU Denver: SDSDenver

Portland State University: [option 1] ZACHPOW24; [option 2] StayOnTheLawn; [option 3] DefenseFundPDX

Kansas: KU_SJP

Harvard: CAMPHOOP

UC Santa Cruz: [option 1] AMORAMORAMOR and [option 2] Pizza_Party_1312

UMASS Amherst [The University of Massachusetts Amherst]: UMADissents and also Venmo Julia-Stearns-2

Rhode Island School of Design: RISDSJP

CSU Sacramento: SJPCSUS

UC Santa Barbara: UCSBPALCAMP

UC Davis: davispulp

UC Riverside: UCR-SJP

Notre Dame: palestine-forever

Boise State: poppiesandwatermelon

Nebraska: Lincolnforpalestine

Binghamton: dfdbinghamton

Irvine: RNF-Irvine

UC Riverside: UCR-SJP

Penn: ppc-ppc

Case Western Reserve: CAIR-Cleveland

Rochester: sjpuofr

Portland State University: ZACHPOW24 [same like VENMO account]

If anyone wants giving an update to me about venmo - cashapp, Whatsapp-Telegram-SIGNAL is [Indonesia code] +62 8953 2759 8560 ——- or email prada.takenote@gmail.com

older data entry:

Columbia: venmo bcabolitioncollective

and will rebuilt again, especially if President Minouche ousted. Since April 23, encampment organizer said ‘please donate gaza rather than us’, means, very solid alumnae network is very enough to keep funding encampment and [potential] new encampment one day.

HUMBOLDT : VENMO sds-humboldt —— Cashapp SDSHumboldt

Washington University: bailfundwashu

NYU New York University: VENMO solidaritynyu2

MIT: mit-c4p

CUNY: cuny4p

CCNY: elaichi-23

Fordham: fordhamsjp

Northeastern: VENMO: liberate-neu

Northwestern: VENMO: NUAIDCOLLECTIVE or NU-SJP

Emerson College: VENMO: SheriHK

Emory. VENMO HALLESTEWART

Pennsylvania / UPenn:VENMO PPC-PPC

Florida International University: cashapp freemyboyJC

Florida State University: venmo sdsfsu

University of Florida: VENMO Gville_LiberationCollective

Arizona State University: VENMO MUJITAMAEMUTUALAID, Cashapp ASULIBERATEDZONE

The New School NY: VENMO tns4gaza and TNSJAILSUPPORT

UCLA: VENMO SJPUCLA

Oberlin College Ohio: VENMO Oberlinsfp

Illinois Urbana-Champaign: VENMO SJPUIUC_

UT Dallas: VENMO SJPUTD

Rice University: VENMO SJPHouston; cashapp RiceSJPalestine

UNC Chapel Hill: Cashapp UNCSJP

Ohio State Uni: VENMO just-614. Cashapp justcbus. Also paypal with same name: justcbus

Rutgers. RU4Palestine [VENMO and Cashapp]

Vanderbilt: VENMO VanderbiltBDS

Austin: VENMO psc-atx

Cornell: VENMO CMLdevelopment

Michigan: VENMO SafeUmich

Yale and University of Connecticut. Cashapp Ct4Palestine and BristolAntiRacism. Venmo Adam-antar

Illinois Urbana - Champaign: SJPUIUC_

George Washington University: venmo pymdmv [separate with ‘TOGETHER / INTEGRATED VENMO’ for DC-Maryland-Virginia with name solidaritysupport]

Johns Hopkins: VENMO Hopkinsjusticecollective

SUNY: VENMO moliaibrahim

San Francisco State University: VENMO Students-for-Gaza

Tulane + Loyola + Uni New Orleans [integrated]: VENMO LUTUbailfund

Virginia Tech: VENMO VT4Palestine

Wisconsin-Madison: VENMO keanobrien & Kelly-Ward-87 —- CASHAPP: SamiSchalk

Illinois Urbana - Champaign: SJPUIUC_

George Washington University: venmo PYMDMV [separate with ‘TOGETHER / INTEGRATED VENMO’ for DC-Maryland-Virginia with name solidaritysupport]

Johns Hopkins: VENMO Hopkinsjusticecollective

SUNY: VENMO moliaibrahim

San Francisco State University: VENMO Students-for-Gaza

Tulane + Loyola + Uni New Orleans [integrated]: VENMO LUTUbailfund

Virginia Tech: VENMO VT4Palestine

Wisconsin-Madison: VENMO [option 1] keanobrien & [option 2] Kelly-Ward-87 & [option 3] NIPINET —- CASHAPP: SamiSchalk

Syracuse: VENMO SUGazaEncampment

Occidental College: VENMO hotpeoplesupportpal

Brown: VENMO brown-divest-coalition

Princeton: VENMO pton4pal

UC [University of California at] Irvine: VENMO RNF-irvine

UC Riverside: VENMO UCR-SJP

UC San Diego: VENMO PYM-SD

University of Chicago: VENMO sjp-uchicago

University of South Florida: VENMO TampaBaySDS

University of Nebraska: VENMO lincolnforpalestine

George Washington. Assuming encampment with fact nearest White House / Biden, around 2 miles only. VENMO solidaritysupport.

UMN Minnesota. VENMO miraltorez. Cashapp UMNSDS

Berkeley: VENMO UCBSJP

USC: VENMO USCDivestFromDeath

Jennifer Koonings is nurse, angel, with gold heart, Certified Forensic Examiner for Adults and Children in New York State. Cannot stop to pray and wish you safe travels and back to home [NYC] again

Jennifer Koonings literally singing also for foundation - charity movement Sing for Hope. How golden heart.

Again, if worried to give a money for encampments, can donate to Gaza [like advice by Columbia Encampment]

Love you, Jennifer Koonings PMHNP, MS, MS, NYSAFE. Dont know how deteriorated of you after Hunger Strike

Reflecting On My Hunger Strike for Gaza