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04-22-2002, 06:58 PM | #31 |
neither here nor there
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 179
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OT I know, but..
Having determined that Sharon is a dichead, you have decided that the entire government is not to be trusted under any circumstance
I alway though that dichead was spelled with a k.. I.E. your head is like a dick. I'm not a gramer nazi by any means I am just interested..is this an Americanism or a net convention I don't know about. anyhow.. Sharon is a dickhead |
04-22-2002, 06:59 PM | #32 |
Punisher of Good Deeds
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 183
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... and Jimmy Carter throws his hat in the ring.
Jimmy Carter made a very well-reasoned proposal; have a read in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/21/opinion/21CART.html">New York Times</a>.
Free registration required, or bypass that registration process right <a href="http://www.majcher.com/nytview.html">here</a>. Interesting points: * UN Resolution 242 (withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian lands in exchange for full acceptance of Israel and Israel's right to live in peace) was accepted in 1978 by Prime Minister Menachem Begin and ratified by the Israeli Knesset. * The US is giving Israel $10million every DAY. (That's only official financial aid, of course, exempting all military assistance...) * Normal diplomatic efforts have failed. It is time for the United States, as the sole recognized intermediary, to consider more forceful action for peace. The rest of the world will welcome this leadership. Is he right? X. |
04-22-2002, 07:35 PM | #33 |
Radical Centrist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
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tw wrote it that way, and I've been following him for fun. Sharon is a dickhead and a dichead.
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04-22-2002, 08:20 PM | #34 |
Person who doesn't update the user title
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 12,486
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It's amazing. Carter is more popular and respected now than he probably was when President.
First, is there a way that we can actually find out whether Israel used American weapons in Jenin? This op-ed was just mentioned on Hardball tonight. I believe a man from the New York Sun was saying that we cannot stop aid to Israel b/c they are our ally in the War on Terror. I guess he does have one point--Israel is probably our only unconditional ally...besides maybe Britain (and now that we've probably pissed off a lot of Canadians). Of course, I'm all for it--dry 'em out. If we DID do that, we would probably be labeled "anti-semitic." I could live with that...let 'em believe what they want. But IMO, I don't know if peace is truly possible anymore without using such a forceful tactic. |
04-23-2002, 06:37 AM | #35 |
still says videotape
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
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I don't think I'd call Israel an unconditional ally. As the world is presently arranging itself, Britain and Canada are our allies (hopefully conditional) and Israel is a client state. Israel has been using a lot of resources spying in and on the US, which is fine, they need to take care of themselves first, living as they do on the edge of destruction. However, I think we need to remember that this precludes them from ever being true allies of the US. They will work with us if its in their interest, as in the Gulf War, but they are in no position to follow our lead without condition. We could only wish our leaders would similiarly put america first (to use a loaded phrase).
As far as american weapons go, you'd have to pop over to Janes for confirmation but since much of our financial aid to Israel is predicated on them using using the money on US weapons systems, I'd assume that almost everything used in the Jenin assault was Made in USA and paid for by you and me. There is a growing movement of folks withholding their tax payments in protest and one organization I've read about is using the interest on accounts holding these withheld payments to pay for charity work in countries our taxes destroy. |
04-23-2002, 06:55 AM | #36 |
still says videotape
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
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This "anti-semitic" business has become quite an effective weapon in the US. I'd say that a lot of the conservative Republican support for Israel, when not related to wacko end-times religion, is based in fear of the label. I don't think you necessarily despise your Jewish neighbors if you see Sharon as a dic. (Maybe we should have a cellar glossary with prefered spellings) There is dark humor in this situation if you look in the right places. Have you seen Hillary repositioning herself? hilarious
Of course this has the potential of blowing up in my face this summer on our family vacation.... but of course I'd never say anything provocative. |
04-23-2002, 09:50 AM | #37 | ||
Professor
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,788
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Re: ... and Jimmy Carter throws his hat in the ring.
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a) Accept that Israel had a right to exist and leave them in peace if not harmony or b) Use their now-stronger tactical position to continue launching both terroristic and conventional attacks against Israel? Hint: anyone that believes a) probably also believes in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. Quote:
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04-23-2002, 11:12 AM | #38 | |
Keymaster of Gozer
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Patapsco Drainage Basin
Posts: 471
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Quote:
__________________
"Never understimate the power of stupid people in large groups." |
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04-23-2002, 11:52 AM | #39 | |
Punisher of Good Deeds
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 183
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Re: Re: ... and Jimmy Carter throws his hat in the ring.
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You can of course sit there and continue to claim that Israel needs to butcher people to ensure its security. That's fine. That's the attitude that is condemning the Middle East to permanent warfare and murder. After all, that's exactly how to protect yourself from having your enemies hate you and intensify their war against you: fight as viciously as you can. No offense, but this is fallacious. There is a sizeable (VERY sizeable) majority in the Arab world that is VERY keen on a peaceful return to the 1967 borders. Sure, many of them do want to see Israel and the Jews destroyed - but only because they are occupying the lands the Palestinians see as rightfully theirs. Without the USSR fighting an ideological war, supplying the Arabs with weapons and intelligence data, the Arabs are ludicrously outclassed in terms of military ability; everybody knows this. Once the major issue is settled, there are many different ways to ensure security, first and foremost being the stationing of UN troops in the area, second being that of a heavily secured border, many other alternatives coming to mind. The problem is that Conservative Israelis refuse to give up what they believe is rightfully their ancestral holy homeland, including Jerusalem. That's why this is going on: the more they aggravate the Palestinians, the more radical the Palestinians will get (out of sheer desperation), and the more publicity Israel will get as the US media publishes images of the horrific 'homicide bombings' every day. When Israel launches a major 'anti-terrorist' offensive, and refuses to allow the press to see what's actually going on, the people who had to see the images of the 'homicide bombings' will nod and say 'Good for them. The Israelis aren't putting up with this violent Muslim shit anymore. First the Romans, then the Nazis, then the Muslims. Enough is enough!' This is so absurd. X. |
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04-23-2002, 04:16 PM | #40 | ||
Professor
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,788
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Re: Re: Re: ... and Jimmy Carter throws his hat in the ring.
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04-23-2002, 07:58 PM | #41 | ||
Punisher of Good Deeds
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 183
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Re: Re: Re: Re: ... and Jimmy Carter throws his hat in the ring.
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I argued that since the results of implementing UN Resolution 242 is what the vast majority of Palestinians want, and what the cause of their suicidal struggle is, they would become significantly less radical and less willing to sacrifice their homeland and lives again since they would have achieved their primary objective. The vast majority of Palestinians are only radicalized because they believe that Israel is unjustly occupying their homeland; the radicals would be marginalized if they regained what they believe is their. Sure, some would continue to fight for the removal of all Jews from the Middle East, but for most Palestinians this would be sufficient reason to - if necessary, violently - oppress those radical minorities as to not risk the greater achievement. This not without precedent: the moderate Provisional IRA in Northern Ireland started attacking and often brutally oppressing the more radical and violent splinter groups and individuals in Northern Ireland in the late 1990s in order to prevent those radicals from risking the achievements of the IRA/Sinn Fein that have given them a lot of concessions (including the setting free of many convicted IRA members). Or, to be very clear: the small radical splinter groups will be suppressed by the majority, if necessary by death. The majority will be silent and support the moderates, since risking the achievement (the reclaiming of the West Bank) would be a return to 35+ years of misery and desperation that led the Palestinian people to disaster after disaster. That was my point. I believe I have reasoned it through fairly logically and provided backup from previous similar situations. Could you please point out flaws in the argument rather than invoking the tooth fairy, please? Quote:
I may of course be wrong, but the choices so far are a land-for-peace(and full recognition of borders and right of existence) deal, or a continued bloody stalemate costing the lives of primarily civilians on both sides. (With Palestinian casualties outnumbering Israeli casualties by roughly 3.5:1, I believe) Opinions? X. |
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04-23-2002, 09:38 PM | #42 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Xug -
not to take sides here, but I want to ask a question. What does conceding land to the Palestinians get for Israel? Is it not true that if Israel gives up the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights, it shows that it can be bullied by suicide bombers? What is to stop the extremist Palestinians from continuing suicide bombing to get even more (such as the removal of Israel)? I know you say that other Palestinians will fight them - er, in theory, anyway. Hopefully, anyway. Logically, anyway. Palestinians (or roughly 80% of them, anyway) have shown that they don't support logical tactics or maneuvers - they support the killing of innocent civilians with human bombs. What to do now? If Israel gives in, what is to stop the Palestinian extremists from demanding (and working toward) more? |
04-23-2002, 11:50 PM | #43 | ||||||
Punisher of Good Deeds
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 183
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Right now, a land-for-peace deal is the only hope for the Middle East. I am very, very keen to hear any alternatives. Quote:
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If the Palestinians were given that what they believe belongs to them rightfully, the second group would be eliminated almost overnight. During Rabin's time, the second group was practically non-existent. There were still occasional fanatics belonging to the first group, but the rate at which incidents occurred was significantly lower; the second group that has grabbed so much attention is a fairly recent phenomenon, started as part of the second intifada, (cf. tw's postings regarding the Temple Mount and Sharon) Quote:
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1. A non-occupied country, a nation, a home land. They believe Israel is illegally and against US conventions occupying the West Bank. Whether or not they are right in that is debatable; it isn't debatable that this is the main thrust of their desires. 2. Peace, no gunfire at night, no tanks flattening houses, no travel controls, no daily friskings, no Israeli children kicking at their old and weak, relative security. Not even prosperity .. just a place to call home, a country where they can live in peace. Quote:
I am happy to give the Northern Irish example again. People were yelling how once the Catholics were given representation and rights and things, they would immediately start plotting to overthrow the British government in NIreland, and attempt immediate unification with the Republic of Ireland. Did that happen? Fuck no. People are entirely too happy to be able to go out of their houses without getting shot because they happen to be Protestant or Catholic. The vast majority of the Palestinians will be too busy to rebuild their country and try to make a living to care about anything. The few radicals that will undoubtedly remain will be found and killed, by the Palestinian authorities, by the Mossad, by US spies, by whoever wants peace in the region. Frighteningly enough, that's the vast majority of people there, despite what you may thing. The major instigators of the 6-Day War and the Yom Kippur wars, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan... well, you'd be shocked at how desperate they are for relative peace in the Middle East. However, I am happy to be enlightened to the opposite. If a land-for-peace deal seems to be too fraught with danger that the radicals will get greedy and start risking everybody's lives and their incredible achievements over some tiny strips of land, what's the alternative? Do tell. X. |
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04-24-2002, 06:35 AM | #44 |
still says videotape
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
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X, It appears that the right of return is a non-starter with the Israeli public, have you seen any estimates for the cost of reparations?
A Confederation is one option I've read about, but its probably not hard-headed enough. http://www.secession.net/israel-pale...ederation.html |
04-24-2002, 06:51 AM | #45 |
neither here nor there
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 179
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I have alway found it hard to understand why somebody who was forced out of his village, or tricked out of his village by scheming bad leadership, have it whatever way you want, 50 years ago has less right to return then somebody who's ancestors where kicked out 2000 years ago. I think if the Palestinians are to give up the right to return to Israel (which is impractical anyhow) then Israel should remove the right of Aliyah for Jewish people and become a state for Israelis who ever they are rather then a Jewish homeland (an idea incompatible with real democracy IMHO). Jewish settlements should then be removed from the West Bank and hell since I'm in happy dream wish land anyhow..yeah a confederation of the Israeli and Palestinian states since they are so economically and geographically entwined.
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