Eleftherotypia- The American activist Ann Wright: "Greeks pointed guns at us as if they were Israeli commandos.” By Georgia Dama Thirty-six Americans are aboard the ship participating in Freedom Fleet II with destination Gaza. The youngest is 22 and the oldest 87. [caption]"I’m sorry for the Greek people that the government was forced to take such a stance. This happens when a country loses its national sovereignty," says 65-year-old American activist (right in photo) Ann Wright (photo Ass. Press) Among the passengers on the American ship are a former analyst at the CIA, five veterans of the U.S. armed forces, a former Israeli soldier, senior citizens, artists, teachers, professors and 87-year-old writer Eddie Epstein, whose family was murdered during the Holocaust. One third of the passengers are Jewish. Most are members of peace organizations.
Their aim is to stop "the inhuman policy of Israel in the West Bank, which dynamites security." They make the same demand of the U.S. government for Iraq and Afghanistan. "This follows a secret war by Israel against Mediterranean countries not to allow the departure of the fleet" says former colonel in the U.S. Armed Forces, the 65-year-old Ann Wright. She participated in diplomatic missions in Afghanistan, Indonesia, Mongolia and Sierra Leone. She is currently a leader of the American mission to Gaza. Preparing for the trip, she was arrested by U.S. authorities three times: "I worked a lifetime for the U.S. government, trying to avoid issues that created ethical dilemmas for me. I resigned in response to the decision of President Bush for the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Then I changed camp. " She says that "United States cooperation with the Israeli and Greek authorities was evident when the Coast Guard turned their weapons against us. Greeks aimed at us as if they were Israeli commandos. An act of aggression against unarmed civilians. Of course, port authorities stop ships for inspection. But they never turn their weapons against passengers. " She said that during "the period of the repair of our ship, anchored next to us was a vessel of the Greek Coast Guard. I’m sorry for the Greek people that the government had to keep such a stance. This is what happens when a country loses its national sovereignty. Israelis and Americans forced Papandreou to stop the departure of citizens struggling for a better world. We went to Syntagma Square calling on Greeks to react to selling their national soul to the Israelis who are pressuring Mediterranean countries, exploiting the financial crisis. Israel is a little state of seven million people which managed to pass a noose around the neck of the United States and other countries, including Greece." She adds that "Our democracy in the United States is going to hell. Our responsibility is to challenge government policies when we consider them to be criminal, but our government is vindictive to those who challenge it."
The 50-year-old activist Lisa Fithian from Texas says "We ask Americans to come to Athens to face the chemicals (tear gas) in Syntagma Square. If the Greek government wants to protect its population and tourism it would reject the proposal of the IMF. The U.S. Constitution says that if the government does not work for benefit of its citizens, then they have the right to rebel against it. The same should apply to all citizens of the world. " According to her, the Americans send billions of dollars annually to the Israelis as "assistance." In parallel, Israel trains U.S. military forces. They cooperate for dominance in the Middle East. "The obstruction of our departure was a show of strength by Israel, which is showing great interest in Greece."
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