Associated Press – January 11, 2008
JERUSALEM – President Bush had tears in his eyes during an hour-long tour of Israel’s Holocaust memorial Friday and told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the U.S. should have bombed Auschwitz to halt the killing, the memorial’s chairman said.
Bush emerged from a tour of the Yad Vashem memorial calling it a “sobering reminder” that evil must be resisted, and praising victims for not losing their faith.
Wearing a yarmulke, Bush placed a red-white-and-blue wreath on a stone slab that covers ashes of Holocaust victims taken from six extermination camps. He also lit a torch memorializing the victims.
Bush was visibly moved as he toured the site, said Yad Vashem’s chairman, Avner Shalev.
“Twice, I saw tears well up in his eyes,” Shalev said.
At one point, Bush viewed aerial photos of the Auschwitz camp taken during the war by U.S. forces and called Rice over to discuss why the American government had decided against bombing the site, Shalev said.
“We were talking about the often-discussed ‘Could the United States have done more by bombing the train tracks?’” Rice told reporters later aboard Air Force One. “And so we were just talking about the various explanations that had been given about why that might not have been done.”
The Allies had detailed reports about Auschwitz during the war from Polish partisans and escaped prisoners. But they chose not to bomb the camp, the rail lines leading to it, or any of the other Nazi death camps, preferring instead to focus all resources on the broader military effort, a decision that became the subject of intense controversy years later.
Between 1.1 million and 1.5 million people were killed at the camp.
“We should have bombed it,” Bush said, according to Shalev.
In the memorial’s visitors’ book, the president wrote simply, “God bless Israel, George Bush.”
The memorial was closed to the public and under heavy guard Friday, with armed soldiers standing on top of some of the site’s monuments and a police helicopter and surveillance blimp hovering in the air overhead.
“I was most impressed that people in the face of horror and evil would not forsake their God. In the face of unspeakable crimes against humanity, brave souls – young and old – stood strong for what they believe,” Bush said.
“I wish as many people as possible would come to this place. It is a sobering reminder that evil exists, and a call that when evil exists we must resist it,” he said.
It was Bush’s second visit to the Holocaust memorial, a regular stop on the visits of foreign dignitaries. His first was in 1998, as governor of Texas. The last U.S. president to visit was Bill Clinton in 1994.
Bush, making the most extensive Mideast trip of his presidency, was accompanied on his tour by a small party that included Rice and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
At the compound, overlooking a forest on Jerusalem’s outskirts, Bush visited a memorial to the 1.5 million Jewish children killed in the Holocaust, featuring six candles reflected 1.5 million times in a hall of mirrors. At the site’s Hall of Remembrance, he heard a cantor sing a Jewish prayer for the dead.
Shalev presented Bush with illustrations of the Bible drawn by the Jewish artist Carol Deutsch, who perished in the Holocaust.
Deutsch created the works while in hiding from the Nazis in Belgium. He was informed upon, and died in 1944 in the Buchenwald camp. After the war, his daughter Ingrid discovered that the Nazis had confiscated their furniture and valuables but had left behind a single item: a meticulously crafted wooden box adorned with a Star of David and a seven-branched menorah, containing a collection of 99 of the artist’s illustrations of biblical scenes.
The originals are on display at Yad Vashem. The memorial recently decided to produce a special series of 500 replicas, the first of which was to be presented to Bush.
Debbie Deutsch-Berman, a Yad Vashem employee whose grandfather was Deutsch’s brother, said she was proud that Bush would be given her relative’s artwork.
“These are not just his paintings, they are his legacy, and the fact that they survived shows that as much as our enemies tried to destroy the ideas that these paintings embody, they failed,” she said.
Later Friday, Bush was to wrap up his three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories with a visit to Christian holy sites in Galilee before departing for Kuwait, the next stop on his Mideast tour.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted January 11, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Having been born near the end of WWII, I obviously didn’t know what was going on during that time. However in hind site, bombing the railroad tracks would at least stopped on slowed the transport of folks to the camps. Bombing the camps would have destroyed the mechanisms used to murder and though perhaps those who might have lived to leave the camp, it would have prevented the killing of more arrivals.
posted January 11, 2008 at 4:57 pm
And if Montgomery had listened to Churchill it might have been avoided completely. People had reasons for the decisions made. How about we deal with the genocides happening now rather than play “what if” with event s of the past.
posted January 11, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Sorry it was Chamberlain, not Montgomery. My mother (retired social studies teacher) wouldn’t be happy with that screw up
posted January 11, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Yes, on the face of it they should have been bombed and if there’s any sufficient deeper reason why they were not, I don’t know what it is. That’s assuming “we” did in fact know or strongly suspect what was going on there. Also we should have admitted a lot more Jews to the US when that was going on. The world would be immeasurably better off if we’d let them all in and Israel had never become the country it is.
Now did some advisor plant that comment on Bush?
Now as to the crying. Hillary Clinton got raked over the coals for some near-tears but Bush tears up twice and nobody calls him on it. What will Putin think if Bush starts crying during a negotiation?
There’s a little sarcasm there but there’s some real sexism, too, on the part of some politicians and a commentators.
posted January 11, 2008 at 8:07 pm
If a President of US hasn’t availed himself of the info. of why Auschwitz wasn’t bombed, and the railroads delivering people to the camps wasn’t done, when he was going to view all of the places that this took place is a mystery to me. It’s almost as though it was planned, but then on the other hand it sounds like G.W.B. Tears are usually emotions felt, however.
posted January 11, 2008 at 8:27 pm
I did a little Googling. Posts with URLs often get delayed, perhaps on a weekend for a long time.
Google “bomb auschwitz wiki” (no quotes) and you should see a wikipedia article on Auschwitz bombing debate. If you want to know more about this that’s a place to start.
posted January 12, 2008 at 7:08 pm
This along with many is a very,very sad story indeed.
Things like this have went on for centuries across the world
in many countries.
However, I have just one guestion, Is the U.S. in the past
and in the future always able to fix every wrong that we see
going on in other countries by bombing something???????
posted January 12, 2008 at 8:47 pm
What would have been your solution to the concentration camps and the railroad tracks leading to them, my2cents?
posted January 12, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I don’t think it would have mattered much. I have a feeling that if this had happened, Hitler would have simply ordered Jews killed on the spot when they were found. Or they would have opened another location. He was bent on the destruction of a whole people and delays wouldn’t have stopped him.
I agree about the comments on the press and the tears. Either it’s okay for both or not at all. If the press thinks tears make you weak they aren’t human. Oh yeah thats right … they seem to be robots.
I know i cry when I am mad more than i do when im sad or hurt. Even more so when something is moving to me so I don’t have a problem with Bushes tears… it would likely be real. Its hard to judge another emotions.
posted January 13, 2008 at 10:23 am
Good point, Ruairi, about the bombing of tracks and camps. If it had occured, perhaps the killing might not have been as massive. Yes, Hitler wasn determined, and unfortunately did well in his murderous plans.
posted January 13, 2008 at 11:00 am
To pagansister,
I dont have the answer, it is a question.
I just found out in the last few years that we thought our grandfather
was German for years and right after his death one of my nephews
started doing a family tree and found out that he was actually jewish
and they had changed their name when they came over to the U.S.
For a while I was confused on how I felt about the whole thing.
So Im still speaking as someone who actually has Jewish ancestry.
I’m sure some of my family was killed in one way or another.
I’m still asking, is our Country able to fix everything.
My wish as someone who beleives in a higher power is that we
can learn to respect all humans and other forms of life by changing our attitudes and maybe wars and such wouldnt be necessary, even
though I know it may be some sort of wishfull thinking.
How about you pagansister? What do you think?
posted January 13, 2008 at 12:51 pm
my2cents, I don’t think it’s possible to right every wrong in our own personal lives, and certainly not possible for any country to right every wrong in other countries. All the wrongs are ways for us to learn from. Perfect is on the other side, not on earth.
posted January 13, 2008 at 8:07 pm
TO My2Cents,
If your grandfather was born in Germany he is still German regardless of what his religion is.
As for believing in a high power means you respect all humans, that has been proved wrong by many religions. Look at all the wars and crusades began in the name of God… which ever one was relevant. Might has always been considered the only of importance. Look at all the civilizations wiped out. Almost very race and creed have this in their background at some point.
It is up to individuals to be the peacemakers. It’s not about a higher power, its about what we each do with our lives. We guide our movements, not anyone else.
posted January 14, 2008 at 3:46 am
Rusairi,
I disagree with you. My makeup happens to come from part of my
past. It is who I am. I do have a conscience and Im sure if I didnt have my faith that I would not be exactly who I am. Me.
I understand that wars have been fought in the name of God but Im sure they can be stopped in the name of God also.(or not)
Regardless of my beleifs & where they come from,
I still have a problem with war and how it affects all of mankind.
I do beleive that peacemaking starts somewhere….
If it werent for the peace protesters during the Vietnam war here back
home it may have went on a lot longer than it actually did.
and Henrietta22-who is talking perfectionism here?
I dont think any of us are “perfect” or have the perfect answer.
posted January 14, 2008 at 11:44 am
my2cents:
I had answered you yesterday morning, and it was taken for “review by the blog owner” and isn’t back yet. Will give it a few more hours and then try and remember what I said yesterday morning!
posted January 14, 2008 at 3:40 pm
I am (once again) disappointed in our commander in chief. His first response to a tragedy, even one from 60 years ago, is to bomb something.
Clearly, he learned nothing.
My hope is that people in the coming generations will learn from this horrible period in human history and discover new ways to oppose evil. The old strategies and techniques cannot apply any more. We need to out think and anticipate, without compromising the very things that make us human. Impossible? I don’t think so. What I look for in a leader is someone who is creative, thoughful, and humane.
posted January 14, 2008 at 4:00 pm
jestrfyl:
“What I look for in a leader is someone who is creative, thoughtful and humane.”
Lot’s hope that person exists!
I agree that the old strategies and techniques cannot apply any more. Iraq has proven that.
Returning to the past for a minute…according to the WWII generation, bombing Japan 2 times halted the war. Let’s hope that never happens again.
posted January 14, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I am (once again) disappointed in our commander in chief. His first response to a tragedy, even one from 60 years ago, is to bomb something.
What would have been the correct way confront the Nazis and the camps?
Maybe if some of the bombing had been targeted on the rail lines I would have a family to invite to my son’s bar mitzvah.
posted January 14, 2008 at 7:24 pm
my2cents:
Have had 2 posts pulled…yesterdays (36 hours ago) hasn’t been put in and this evening, one…both on this site “for review by blog owner.”
One to you and one to jestrfyl.
So will try again.
I certainly don’t have the answer to the concentration camps,but still think that destroying them, or the RR tracks might have helped.
I have German ancestry, my great-grandfather on my mother’s side. No reason to think he was Jewish, but would have been proud of it if he had been Jewish. How were you confused by finding out that your grandfather was Jewish and had changed his name when he came to the US?
How could anyone disagree with the wish that humans respect each other as well as other forms of life, so that wars and conflicts wouldn’t be necessary? But human nature doesn’t seem to lend itself towards that….at least not since we crawled out of the slime.
Scott R:
“Maybe if some of the bombing had been targeted on the rail lines I would have a family to invite to my son’s bar mitzvah.”
You and many others….let’s hope something has been learned from 60 plus years ago…but I’m not too optimistic about that.
posted January 14, 2008 at 9:46 pm
2Cents,
Not sure what you disagree with. Of course your background has to do with who you are. My entire religious beliefs are centered on my ancestor’s and the Fae. My family has been here since the Mayflower but I am immersed in my Scottish/Irish heritage totally. I feel no connection to the German, French, and English sides.
I also said that peace was possible, but not by religion. It will take individuals to make it successful. Get rid of the religious leaders and have people learn to think for themselves then we might have a chance. Tolerance and morality are not Christian traits, they are possible human traits. Many Wiccan’s have it right… do as you will as long as you harm none… that includes yourself. That works for everyone. Be responsible for yourself and don’t expect someone else to bail you out from your mistakes.
Blessed Be!
posted January 14, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Ruairi:
“Many Wiccan’s have it right…do as you will as long as you harm none…”
Exactly.
posted January 15, 2008 at 2:56 am
If members have a post held up by the spam-filter (and regardless of the message that is displayed, it IS the spam-filter and not the moderators holding it for review), then please email us to look in the junk folder for your posts. We run through all the blogs daily, but it may be at the end of the day before we do so. If we receive an email about a problem, Lion or I will look sooner.
Thank you,
Beliefnet_Tiger
Community Moderator
Beliefnet.com
posted January 15, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Thanks for the info., Beliefnet_Tiger.
Often wondered why some held posts never got posted, or showed up 3 days later!
posted January 15, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Beliefnet_Tiger:
Just have a question. How do we email you? Looking on the Contact us spot, I don’t see where an email regarding a posting problem would be sent. On the Community site, I typed in your name and got everyone with Tiger in their name.
This probably isn’t the way to get hold of you and Lion(or is it?) but thought I’d ask here and see what happens. BTY, the spam filter got another one of mine tonight.
Thanks.
pagansister
posted January 15, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I don’t know if this will help anyone or not after getting UCC wrong I’m starting to doubt myself.
When I hit post after I finish my post, and it doesn’t show up I just click back an article, wait a few seconds, and then click back to the one that didn’t print and most of the time it’s there. If it isn’t try it a few more times and it will be.
posted January 15, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Henrietta:
Mine get yanked with “held for review by the blog owner” page that pops up,then directs you back. The post usually pops up 24 hours later. Bnet_Tiger put the above note after I wrote about one of my posts being held. As you probably read, it is a spam-filter that yanks the posts, not a person. I have had the situation you mentioned.
posted January 15, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I haven’t had anything pop up, just that it doesn’t post right away. When yours doesn’t post immediately do you do what I do?
posted January 15, 2008 at 11:45 pm
pagansister:
You can email us at the community mailbox. If you put the blog name in the subject line, I’ll be sure to catch it:
community@staff.beliefnet.com
I saw the post that was held up, and it’s been released.
Henrietta22:
I think that’s just a delay as the pages re-freshen. Unless a message pops up, like it has been for pagansister, your post is probably okay.
Beliefnet_Tiger
Community Monitor
Beliefnet.com
posted January 16, 2008 at 11:22 am
Thanks, Belief_Tiger. Appreciate it!
pagansister
posted January 16, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Thanks beliefnet-Tiger!
posted March 15, 2008 at 6:51 pm
The root positions of President’s confession open to the public are
Jewish Law, Judaeo-Christian Principles, American Law and International
Law.
Bush said 2005:
“America’s edifice of character is sustained in our national life
by the truths of Sinai”.
1.As elaborated in Maimonides’ Tora (Laws concerning Murder and the
Preservation of life) the Levitican citation instructs:
“If one person is able to save another and does not save him, he
transgresses the commandment”.
Based on Judaeo-Christian Rules Anglo-American writers came out in
favour of humanitarian intervention even before WW I. In contrary
to positions in Continental Europe since 1648 (non-interference-
principle) they supported the obligation of a powerful nation to
oppose crimes outside the territory too. In 1919 the US inserted
the Intervention Principle in the League of Nations Act, which was
ratified by States of Europe.
2.The US leadership was aware of details of Holocaust by mid-1942,
the death factory Auschwitz included.
By then two million Jews in Europe had already been wiped out by the
Nazis. A further five million were facing death. At the end of 1942
President Roosevelt in a meeting promised to do everything in his
power to save the Jewish people of Europe from Nazi threat of oblite-
ration. The Polish Government-in-Exile, London, had demanded for
“Bombing Auschwitz” in 1941 already.
3.In 1943 the legal advisor of Henry Morgenthau Jr. in Treasury De-
partment compiled the
“Report to the Secretary on the Acquiescence of this Government
in the Murder of the Jews”.
The opening sentence reads:
“One of the greatest crimes in history, the slaughter of the
Jewish people in Europe, is continuing unabated”.
The whole US Administration would be responsible unless immediate
actions were undertaken to rescue the Jews.
4.Based on Judaeo-Christian Rules President Roosevelt reacted by
issuing Executive Order 9417 on January 26, 1944. The basic prin-
ciple reads:
“It is the policy of the Government to take all measures within
its power to rescue the victims of enemy oppression who are in
imminent danger of death and otherwise to afford such victims
all possible relief and assistance consistent with the success-
ful prosecution of war”.
5.To fulfill Government’s obligations Morgenthau Jr. at once demanded
for US War Ministry’s immediate military actions.
In accordance with this demand it would have been possible for
General Eisenhower and the 15th US Air Force to bomb – compatible
with the other military goals and Air Force targets “oil/sythetics
and surrounding traffics” – the well-known railway bridges between
Hungary and the death factory.
Through the stoppage of deportation US power holders should have
saved more than 400.000 Hungarian Jews gassed during 1944 in Auschwitz.
6.The “Jewish Auschwitz Resistance” had delivered the US Air Force
bombing goal “Railway bridges between Hungary and Auschwitz”.
Representatives of “Resistance” have filed a class action for punitive
danages against US power holders in the Federal District Court of
Columbia in Washington DC. The responsible Federal Judge draw up a
Summons, Complaint and Summons were delivered to President
George W. Bush.
After examining and countersigning by his teams of specialists the
President has confirmed in the Auschwitz lawsuit:
“The US accepts the well-pled allegtions of the complaint as true”.
7.In Yad Vashem President Bush has repeated this confirmation.
With his public confession the President has corrected his attempt
at self-justification:
“President’s Sovereign Immunity applies even in Holocaust cases.
Federal Courts do not have jurisdiction”.
The Holocaust – the industrial mass murder on innocent civilians -
was a “Crime against Humanity”. Regarding these Crimes American
Martial Law had confirmed
“Commander’s Responsibility” and had established
“Jurisdiction of Federal Courts”.
American Martial Law and the “Nuremberg Law”, Art. 6 , 7, excluded
the principle of “Sovereign Immunity”.
Message from “Jewish Auschwitz Resistance”:
- Further actions to realize Holocaust Justice must suit
the “Confession of Truth” with taboo-breaking words
- On the basis of actions for “Unity of Jewish Law,
Judaeo-Christian Principles, American Law and Inter-
national Law” in the Auschwitz case the “Authentic
Identity of American and Global Leadership in the
International fight of Civilizations, Religions
and Ideologies” will be reinforced.
Peter Wolz