Middle East thread continued

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by BlackCat


The reason they didn't could be that it was a PRC action and not a Hamas - that is, a non-governmental organisation.

Given that the Israels punished the Fatah government for the actions of Hamas, I doubt it.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Dr Kellogg
I don't agree with Israeli politics. But I have confidence in Israel. At least they will try to avoid that civilists get kill.

That's why when Israel assassinates people with missiles, it fires them many minutes apart, so after the first missle killes the target, the second missile can kill any crowd gathered nearby? Israel targets non-combatants all the time. We just don't hear about it in the U.S. in the MSM because any criticism of Israel is conflated with anti-Semitism, even criticism from Jews and Israelis.

[chequita guevara]

dp

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Whether or not acting as gov't in said event is irrelevant. They are a government now, and anything they do is.

So if prominent Republicans outside the government are involved in corruption, it's okay to jail our elected leaders? Hamas is not a unified organization. What one hand does, the other may not have any control of.

Collective punishment is the MO of tolitarianism.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
And that's what's intolerable. IDF warships are being attacked with Iranian-bought anti-ship missiles. That's not terrorism, it's war.

Last time I looked, a naval blockade is an act of war. If your navy is blockading someone, that state has every right to attacking a blockading fleet.

Or is self defense a right not given to Arabs?

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ecthy
Also it isn't Israel's job to care for the Palestinians' well-being.

As the occupying power, it is, actually.

[Terra Nullius]

Ummm, we already have a thread on this.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=154613

[VetLegion]

I'v been away for the last few days, but I've tried to read through both threads now, so I'll chime in my opinion.

I join others in hoping Az, Sirotnikov, Eli, muxec and other posters in the crisis area stay well, as well as their families and friends. Ten or so years ago my city was bombed so I can even somewhat sympathize.

About the issue: if we leave moralizing aside, I think Israel's policy is not very smart in the long run. Israel seems to want to keep its neighbours in the state of semi-failed states: strong enough to not be total anarchies, but too weak to be proper functioning countries. I think that contrary would be smarter - Israel should not bomb infrastructure, it should strive to make its neighbours moderately affluent nation states. In the long run, they need everybody around them to become decadent countries with 1,2 children per women. I don't know how they can do this step by step -- did they try to subtitle "sex and the city" into Arabic? -- but I'm sure it's mostly a cultural war, not a guns war.

Showing resolve probably does make an impression and thus make sense for Israel in most situations. Even mathematical game theory (Israel has some of the world's best brains at that) can offer some support: retribute swiftly and strongly and be ready to talk immediately afterwards seems to work in many models. Those don't map to real life perfectly, however.

In the case of kidnappings of soldiers, I think Israel's reaction is not in its best interest (still not talking about right or wrong, just what I percieve as interests).

[Chemical Ollie]

Eli

I don't know if it's only lazyness, but I would say that avatar is not really appropriate for the current situation.

[Ecthy]

He can use whatever avatar he likes and any time he likes and it is not your business.

[Winston]

In Sweden, the government issues tax-funded, appropriately PC avatars to all citizens connected to the Internets.

[Ecthy]

Is his avatar appropriate for what's going on in the Middle East? Is that what you look like after you've been hit by a SCUD missile?

[Ecthy]

nm.

[Winston]

Notice it is the government's responsibility. They're always 2 months late with anything..

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by GePap
Last time I looked, a naval blockade is an act of war. If your navy is blockading someone, that state has every right to attacking a blockading fleet.

Or is self defense a right not given to Arabs?

It's an intolerable situation that a non-governmental organization is acquiring weapons to attack the IDF navy.