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Discussion Forums => General Discussions => Politics => Topic started by: lx4 on December 27, 2008, 06:58:38 PM

Title: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on December 27, 2008, 06:58:38 PM
Israel left Gaza in 2005, after the occupation ended the strip of land has been used to fire rockets in to Israel. Now the Israelis have had enough and are going back in. They just bombed dozens of buildings belonging to Hamas, some in major population centers killing 200 and wounding 700. The air strikes are probably in preparation for a ground offensive that we can expect to start at any time now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7800985.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7800985.stm)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on December 27, 2008, 08:02:46 PM
I'm not pro P/H or pro I.

But Hammas had launched 70 missiles at them before Israel launched their "counter attack".

Death toll doesn't matter. You set a bomb off or shoot a gun into a crowd, you are hoping to kill someone. The intent is there.

Neither side is in the right. I hope both sides die in a fiery death if they can't come to a peace agreement soon.

I love how religion has nothing to do with this war.

/sarcam
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on December 28, 2008, 12:03:08 AM
fuck em hamas and the people living in gaza strip basically ask for it.

They are that little kid that picks on people and then is like WTF I GOT MY ASS KICKED to their parents when they go home.


Israels actions arent right or wrong.
But i dont care that they are doing this
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on December 28, 2008, 12:12:51 AM
I'm not pro P/H or pro I.

But Hammas had launched 70 missiles at them before Israel launched their "counter attack".

Death toll doesn't matter. You set a bomb off or shoot a gun into a crowd, you are hoping to kill someone. The intent is there.

Neither side is in the right. I hope both sides die in a fiery death if they can't come to a peace agreement soon.

I love how religion has nothing to do with this war.

/sarcasm


A peace agreement requires both sides to want peace. When only one side (Israel) desires peace then there will be no peace.

and yes I see the "/sarcasm." I'm responding seriously anyway.

I think that Israel should evict the Palestinian squatters that are on Israeli land and shluff them off on to the nations that actually created the "Palestinian problem," namely Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vuzedome on December 28, 2008, 03:12:34 AM
Here they go again.......  ::)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on December 28, 2008, 12:46:11 PM
I think that Israel should evict the Palestinian squatters that are on Israeli land and shluff them off on to the nations that actually created the "Palestinian problem," namely Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

They tried, but the only people who hate Palestinians as much as the Israelis do are the Jordanians, Syrians, Lebanese, and Egyptians.  The only reason for the continued existence of the Palestinian national identity is to justify the desire to eliminate Israel.  If Israel hadn't been recreated in the 50's, the other Muslim nations would have torn what was once Palestine to pieces, and would most likely still be fighting over its carcass.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on December 28, 2008, 07:59:22 PM
The only reason for the continued existence of the Palestinian national identity is to justify the desire to eliminate Israel.
++

There was a time when Palestinians had a legitimate right to complain about their predicament, but that time is long passed. All refugees from Israel are dead or vastly outnumbered by native Israelis.

The 'war' is lost, and continued struggle is only bringing misery to their people. They cannot overcome the Israeli military on their own. They cannot get arms from any country whose military can overcome the Israeli military on their own. (Syria obviously cannot. I highly doubt Iran could either.) They cannot get direct military assistance from any nation. Their cause is lost.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Semnae on December 29, 2008, 02:49:17 AM
I think Israel should kick their asses.  Seriously, what the fuck did Hamas think they were going to accomplish with all those rocket attacks?  Not even other Islamic countries are going to feel sorry for them now.  Egypt will just seal their borders to prevent Hamas's escape as well as a huge influx of refugees, the West Bank is more likely to help Israel than Hamas, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon don't want any of that shit, Syria will bitch but ultimately do nothing, Iraq under American influence, and Iran would have to go through Iraq to do anything.  Israel has the opportunity here to end all hostilities against them once and for all.  They should take it.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on December 29, 2008, 03:28:03 AM
The only reason for the continued existence of the Palestinian national identity is to justify the desire to eliminate Israel.
++

There was a time when Palestinians had a legitimate right to complain about their predicament, but that time is long passed. All refugees from Israel are dead or vastly outnumbered by native Israelis.

The 'war' is lost, and continued struggle is only bringing misery to their people. They cannot overcome the Israeli military on their own. They cannot get arms from any country whose military can overcome the Israeli military on their own. (Syria obviously cannot. I highly doubt Iran could either.) They cannot get direct military assistance from any nation. Their cause is lost.


I admit, I spend the idle hour contemplating the fun that would ensue if the US loaned Israel say... an aircraft carrier...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on December 29, 2008, 03:33:25 AM
I admit, I spend the idle hour contemplating the fun that would ensue if the US loaned Israel say... an aircraft carrier...

I've been wondering what kind of housewarming gift Bush would have in store for Obama.  The Middle East in flames might do the trick.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: moonspot on December 29, 2008, 06:56:49 AM
/me Sings
No one likes us-I don't know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one and see what happens

We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful
They don't respect us-so let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them

Carpet bomb Gaza and call it "Glassah strip" or better yet nuke the entire region and rid the world of its stupidity, after that will lynch & hang all the catholic hard liners.  once we kill God in all its man made forms we should have a much better crack at that world peace thing.  at least we'll be left will a more reasonable bunch...even if its only a couple hundred ppl.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on December 29, 2008, 08:00:46 AM
once we kill God in all its man made forms we should have a much better crack at that world peace thing.  at least we'll be left will a more reasonable bunch...even if its only a couple hundred ppl.


No, we'll be left with a bunch of atheist zealots like yourself and semnae. Idiots that understand neither reason nor religion and think that they understand both.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 29, 2008, 11:47:05 AM
I admit, I spend the idle hour contemplating the fun that would ensue if the US loaned Israel say... an aircraft carrier...

Yeah, too bad as you said yourself earlier Israel state has nothing to do with the USA, if any western nation is to be blamed for it's re establishment, it should be Great Britain.

Quote
No, we'll be left with a bunch of atheist zealots like yourself and semnae. Idiots that understand neither reason nor religion and think that they understand both.
How is stereotyping atheists going to elevate you above those who stereotype religious people?  ;)

As for the topic, I wish Israel to be brutal and fast. They could learn a bit from Georgia war: overwhelming attack that destroys the enemy's capabilities within a weak. That way the world will bitch on them for so long only and organisations like UN would not even have time to come up with their resolutions.

Now why do I say that Israeli have to win? 2 Reasons:
First reason is that if this war is to end then someone must be eliminated. Oh yes it is barbaric to kill so many civilians. Now think about it if they are not killed now and this conflict goes on for another 100 years, how many generations are going to suffer? No matter how you count the sacrifice to end the war now is smaller. Also I pick Israeli because they have a real chance to win here.

Second reason (http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2008/03/girls-of-israeli-army.html)

God damn their military is cool.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: moonspot on December 29, 2008, 12:05:41 PM

No, we'll be left with a bunch of atheist zealots like yourself and semnae. Idiots that understand neither reason nor religion and think that they understand both.

coming from you that means...almost nothing.

and even if you are right that semnae and I are "atheist zealots idiots", I won't harm semnae in any way and I doubt that semnae will start a crusade to kill me.  the worst of it would be, I'd make fun of his accent and funny hat and he would poke fun @ me every time I say the words  "about" & "EH"
here how bad things would get.

warning this may disturb some viewers

semnae "can you believe the carnage in the middle east!?."
MoonSpot "yeah, what's that about EH?"
semnae "huh?  A boat?  Where?"
MoonSpot "what?  I don't need a boot."
semnae "you don't need...about???...the hell...wtf were we talking about before y'all?"
MoonSpot looks around, he doesn't see anybody else around.
     "...y'all?  Dude who are you talking to?"
semnae "you! y'all!"
MoonSpot "..."
Box strolls by looking for something
   "Any'O'you wallies got a 3/8th spanner?"
semnae & MoonSpt "Who's Wally?  What's a 3/8th Goat?  And wtf's a spanner?"
Box "bugger, I thought one'O'you mates spoke proper English.  Maybe its at me flat."
semnae "Mates!?!?"
MoonSpot "flat?"
semnae "okay, y'all stay away from me."
MoonSpot "...Done"

yes as you can see soon this will lead to us exchanging RPG fire
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on December 29, 2008, 03:44:31 PM

Second reason (http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2008/03/girls-of-israeli-army.html)


If that doesnt turn you in to a Zionist I dont know what will  ;D

I have a question for Ace and Proin and any other military men on this forum. As a soldier isnt girls like this the people you are fighting to protect. Just look at this pic

(http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1045/israeliarmygirls20ow0.jpg)

or this one

(http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3591/israeliarmygirls48zh1.jpg)

they are so cute and innocent, when they are wearing uniforms doesnt that kinda confuse things? The role of the civilian and the soldier blend together.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on December 29, 2008, 04:06:09 PM
Whats with Israelites and some of their women having striking green eyes. Most of the "hot" pictures I see of them always includes some girl with weird green eyes. I know most don't, but it's curious. I have green eyes myself, but while there are girls with gorgeous green eyes, I usually prefer baby blue or a dark brown.

Is there some ethnicity in their mix I am unaware of? (Yes, I'm ignorant etc..)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 29, 2008, 05:06:27 PM
Ah, green eyes turn me on as well.

Genetically it's about melanin levels, green eyes are the most rare colour and is mostly found in northern and central Europe. As for gene mix I have noticed that some countries like Hungary have lot of people with green eyes (and they historically mixed with the brown eyed turks in the past, coincidence?). That being said my dad has blue, my mom has amber and my sister got green. Not really sure how that works though...


Quote
I have a question for Ace and Proin and any other military men on this forum. As a soldier isnt girls like this the people you are fighting to protect. Just look at this pic

Observe the animal world, you see two female lions hunting for prey, but a male lion protecting the flock from hyenas. So how should the army work? Girls to be spec ops and snipers, and men to be heavy gunners  ;D
But seriously we want to protect the cute innocent girls, but when they have PMS, then we can cut loose those bloodhounds on the enemy...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lithanas on December 29, 2008, 05:35:41 PM
But seriously we want to protect the cute innocent girls, but when they have PMS, then we can cut loose those bloodhounds on the enemy...
+1

what i wonder is why israel doesnt train alot of special operation forces and station them around the gaza strip observing the hamas "Freedom fighters" if they try something snipe them or fire a missile at them first?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 29, 2008, 05:45:28 PM
I bet they do it already. However the media (which are an own species from a planet far away) will not report something like a hot Israeli chick taking out a towelhead with a missile launcher. Indeed, the only thing you will see from media is the usual stuff: pictures of weeping women holding dead kids and bombed military stash houses.

Question is why do they not report the tragedy on the other side? Because the other side is stronger, it will be called political propaganda if they show that. By filming Gaza it becomes a heart bleeding truth.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lithanas on December 29, 2008, 05:50:59 PM
aagre, 50-60 rockets aimed at living areas against smart bombs against as the media calls it Hamas controlled targets.
I just hope they doesnt do another lebanon 2006. as in making the enemy stronger and more popular than ever in the region...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on December 29, 2008, 06:03:13 PM
Problem is israel is way to effective when it retaliates.

And because of how hamas and like minded organizations function, they tend to have their operations near civilians.

End result, civilians being injured and killed while military/terrorist targets are being attacked
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vicious796 on December 29, 2008, 06:46:25 PM
If you don't like the water, don't live near the ocean.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lithanas on December 29, 2008, 07:37:07 PM
Problem is israel is way to effective when it retaliates.

And because of how hamas and like minded organizations function, they tend to have their operations near civilians.

End result, civilians being injured and killed while military/terrorist targets are being attacked
its not effective when you give your enemy the best recruiting campain ever.
in lebanon they did the retalion after hezbollah had retreated from the site so all israel did was bomb a house that the hezbollah fighters borrowed, then paid to have rebuildt, making them seem friendly to the local community = gaining followers...

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 29, 2008, 08:14:27 PM
If you don't like the water, don't live near the ocean.

Well, you see they like the ocean, they just blame tsunami on the wind. Besides when it comes to recruitment how can we forget these classics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEcaI7zQG3E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEcaI7zQG3E)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-c6lbFGC4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-c6lbFGC4)

Got to love them...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on December 29, 2008, 08:26:24 PM
Problem is israel is way to effective when it retaliates.

And because of how hamas and like minded organizations function, they tend to have their operations near civilians.

End result, civilians being injured and killed while military/terrorist targets are being attacked
its not effective when you give your enemy the best recruiting campain ever.
in lebanon they did the retalion after hezbollah had retreated from the site so all israel did was bomb a house that the hezbollah fighters borrowed, then paid to have rebuildt, making them seem friendly to the local community = gaining followers...


No matter what they do they cant do anything right, the entire middle east hates israel.

Hell a chunk of them didnt even recognize it as an existence until recently.

Israel could do nothing but have spec ops killing 1 terrorist at a time and they would still be doing something wrong in the eyes of many in the middle east.


Their recruitment campaign is strong regardless, LETS GET THE JEWS OFF OF OUR HOLY LAND SIGN UP HERE
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on December 29, 2008, 09:30:04 PM
As a soldier isnt girls like this the people you are fighting to protect.
[...]
when they are wearing uniforms doesnt that kinda confuse things?
No. Honestly, you're just trying to protect your bro's.

Well, me, personally, I'm just trying to win a paycheck.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nates1984 on December 29, 2008, 09:40:28 PM
Quote
They tried, but the only people who hate Palestinians as much as the Israelis do are the Jordanians, Syrians, Lebanese, and Egyptians.  The only reason for the continued existence of the Palestinian national identity is to justify the desire to eliminate Israel.  If Israel hadn't been recreated in the 50's, the other Muslim nations would have torn what was once Palestine to pieces, and would most likely still be fighting over its carcass.

This post = pure win

Quote
No, we'll be left with a bunch of atheist zealots like yourself and semnae. Idiots that understand neither reason nor religion and think that they understand both.

Maybe, at least we wouldn't kill each other. That's a pretty big step if you ask me.

Quote
Yeah, too bad as you said yourself earlier Israel state has nothing to do with the USA, if any western nation is to be blamed for it's re establishment, it should be Great Britain.

England and France, but regardless, it's America who has been their number one supporter since it was established, mainly in a military and vetoing capabilities at the UN fashion.

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 29, 2008, 10:40:17 PM
England and France, but regardless, it's America who has been their number one supporter since it was established, mainly in a military and vetoing capabilities at the UN fashion.

Military, yes. (both UK and France have veto capability as well)

Thing is, USA has tried to sell to both sides and up until recently sold weapons to Israel and it's neighbours to keep the soviets outside that lucrative market. Lately they have chosen Israel and we all see how that made the rest of middle east to throw their money to Russia in order to get weapons (note, still nobody wants to buy from French). So was this a wise desicion politically? Maybe... Economically? Probably not since they practically give their weapons away plus give monetary aid while the rest of middle east are ready to pull out their oil money to buy stuff. Morally? That depends on where you stand.


Heh, back to Proin's aircraft carrier thoughts.... A flaw in a strategy! I just have to point it out.

What is a carrier? It is one of the main tools of invasion, especially when invading a country far away. Why would Israel need one when they have airfields on the ground? Airfield on the ground means you can use real awesome air planes instead of those weak aircraft spec ones. Basically Navy role in Israel is only that of keeping supply lines across Mediterranean sea safe. What USA could loan them is B52.... and.... eh, US land units are no better then Israeli anyway... come to think of it Israel has everything they need. They have kick ass Merkava for ground assault, Arrow 2 for ballistic missile defence, Atmos and Rascal howitzers, Spyder SAMs, a secret nuclear weapon facility, Desert Eagle....

Yes, equip everyone with desert eagle!

If they continue like that, they will soon produce all the weaponry themselves.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on December 29, 2008, 11:40:54 PM
I was reading the wiki article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#Antisemitism) about Hamas and Im not sure if I should laugh or cry when I read this.

Hamas founding charter

    * Article 7 of the Hamas Covenant states the following: "The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (evidently a certain kind of tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews." (related by al-Bukhari and Muslem).


    * Article 22 claims that the French revolution, the Russian revolution, colonialism and both world wars were created by the Zionists. It also claims the Freemasons and Rotary clubs are Zionist fronts.

    "You may speak as much as you want about regional and world wars. They were behind World War I, when they were able to destroy the Islamic Caliphate, making financial gains and controlling resources. They obtained the Balfour Declaration, formed the League of Nations through which they could rule the world. They were behind World War II, through which they made huge financial gains by trading in armaments, and paved the way for the establishment of their state. It was they who instigated the replacement of the League of Nations with the United Nations and the Security Council to enable them to rule the world through them. There is no war going on anywhere, without having their finger in it."[89]

    * Furthermore, Article 32 of the Covenant makes reference to The Protocols of the Elders of Zion:

    "Today it is Palestine, tomorrow it will be one country or another. The Zionist plan is limitless. After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying."
 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 30, 2008, 12:52:05 AM
Bwahahahaha, good one... almost reminded me of Eric Cartman for some strange reason....
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on December 30, 2008, 03:39:28 AM
Heh, back to Proin's aircraft carrier thoughts.... A flaw in a strategy! I just have to point it out.

What is a carrier? It is one of the main tools of invasion, especially when invading a country far away. Why would Israel need one when they have airfields on the ground? Airfield on the ground means you can use real awesome air planes instead of those weak aircraft spec ones. Basically Navy role in Israel is only that of keeping supply lines across Mediterranean sea safe. What USA could loan them is B52.... and.... eh, US land units are no better then Israeli anyway... come to think of it Israel has everything they need. They have kick ass Merkava for ground assault, Arrow 2 for ballistic missile defence, Atmos and Rascal howitzers, Spyder SAMs, a secret nuclear weapon facility, Desert Eagle....

Yes, equip everyone with desert eagle!

If they continue like that, they will soon produce all the weaponry themselves.


Because aircraft carriers make the biggest political statement. It's a statement saying that we (as the US) will back them 110%. It's not necessarily "more powerful" than other options, but it sends the strongest message.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 30, 2008, 08:41:13 AM
How about just acknowledging them as a nuclear nation and back them up politically there? I mean is there any way you can support them more politically? (except making them permanent NATO ally)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Stsin on December 30, 2008, 08:56:30 AM
The US can just turn our backs and urge the rest to do the same.  Not as if Israel needs anyone's help.  They should do it quickly and thoroughly, before the media convinces the world how horrid war can be and ties Israel's hands behind their back... again.

If Israel doesn't end it soon, doubt there will ever be peace in the Middle East during my lifetime.  Well, doubt they will...just wishful thinking.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on December 30, 2008, 09:13:01 AM
How about just acknowledging them as a nuclear nation and back them up politically there? I mean is there any way you can support them more politically? (except making them permanent NATO ally)

because Israel doesn't want to be acknowledged as such?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 30, 2008, 09:20:10 AM
They still think Dimona facility is a secret  ::)



EDIT: Oh it seems they are serious this time they already mobilized the tanks to roll over the border. Woohoo! /me eats popcorn

This will be even more entertaining then Georgian war. Get ready for the one sided fist fight!

Double EDIT:
Oh my, King of Jordan is donating blood.... doesn't he know blue blood is not compatible?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on December 30, 2008, 10:13:18 AM

EDIT: Oh it seems they are serious this time they already mobilized the tanks to roll over the border. Woohoo! /me eats popcorn

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45332000/jpg/_45332653_getty-tanks.jpg)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on December 30, 2008, 11:27:41 AM
I'm pretty much a pacifist. I dislike war for the most part. There are some wars that are unavoidable and I do support our troops because a good portion of my family is in the service.

But Hamas just pissed me off.

"Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum has urged Palestinian groups to respond using "all available means" against Israel, including "martyrdom operations," meaning suicide bombings."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081230/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel

That doesn't sound like a "war" it sounds like terrorism.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 30, 2008, 12:18:52 PM
Never understood their dislike for a remote detonator

Probably too stupid to make one.... Even I could do it from things in my house.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on December 30, 2008, 01:07:09 PM
They still think Dimona facility is a secret  ::)



EDIT: Oh it seems they are serious this time they already mobilized the tanks to roll over the border. Woohoo! /me eats popcorn

This will be even more entertaining then Georgian war. Get ready for the one sided fist fight!

Double EDIT:
Oh my, King of Jordan is donating blood.... doesn't he know blue blood is not compatible?
like mike tyson beating a retarded baby to death lol
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vicious796 on December 30, 2008, 01:26:56 PM


Quote
No, we'll be left with a bunch of atheist zealots like yourself and semnae. Idiots that understand neither reason nor religion and think that they understand both.

Maybe, at least we wouldn't kill each other. That's a pretty big step if you ask me.



You're right. Wars have never be started over land, difference in political opinion, race, or anything.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on December 30, 2008, 01:35:49 PM
England and France, but regardless, it's America who has been their number one supporter since it was established, mainly in a military and vetoing capabilities at the UN fashion.
Military, yes. (both UK and France have veto capability as well)

Thing is, USA has tried to sell to both sides and up until recently sold weapons to Israel and it's neighbours to keep the soviets outside that lucrative market.
All we sold to the arabs that weren't friendly (at the time) are F-5's and other pieces of shit. And we didn't give to Israel until after the six day war.

Course, the fact that they're shitty didn't stop Norway from buying them. ::)
Because aircraft carriers make the biggest political statement. It's a statement saying that we (as the US) will back them 110%. It's not necessarily "more powerful" than other options, but it sends the strongest message.
Personally, I think if we gave Israel a small fleet of B-52's it would send a stronger message.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 30, 2008, 02:33:22 PM
Course, the fact that they're shitty didn't stop Norway from buying them. ::)

What exactly? F-5? We got them for free. Never say no to free stuff. As for the rest of military, we mostly buy German. Fighter jets are among the only thing left American we use and politicians who were most likely bribed bought more american crap instead of German Eurofighter.

Our land units use pretty much all German and even the new assault rifle will most likely be a G36 or HK316. Artillery still uses old M109 though, cheap ammunition. Navy makes their own ships and we use our own missiles. Some credits should go to our increased purchase from Sweden lately in vehicles like CV90.

Point is you have quantity, good for you, Chinese have lots of stuff too, we are a small country and need quality so take your crap elsewhere.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on December 30, 2008, 04:02:58 PM
Course, the fact that they're shitty didn't stop Norway from buying them. ::)
What exactly? F-5? We got them for free. Never say no to free stuff.
Really? Huh. Can't argue with that.

Well, I think the Jordanians got almost the same deal, only we made them pay.
Fighter jets are among the only thing left American we use and politicians who were most likely bribed bought more american crap instead of German Eurofighter.
Aww, poor you. Not my fault we build better fighter jets than the Germans.

Cars, on the other hand.
Artillery still uses old M109 though, cheap ammunition.
That true. The majority of IED's in Iraq has historically been old 155 rounds. When we invaded, it was deemed cheaper to leave old ammo dumps behind - wasn't considered a threat because they don't actually have any artillery. No use for artillery rounds then, eh? Turns out they make a decent roadside bomb, although they're not effective against up-armored hummers or mraps.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Lucerin Red on December 30, 2008, 06:24:33 PM
the US gives twice as much money to Israel's enemies as it does to Israel, which I think is extremely counter productive, really I think we should just stop giving money to all of them and then let Israel be it's own fucking country.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Yalmuk on December 30, 2008, 06:34:33 PM
Without aid money from USA israelis cannot keep their massive army anymore. Good bye apaches and merkavas if that happens...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Lucerin Red on December 30, 2008, 07:03:42 PM
Raid Gaza Flash Game (http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/476393)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on December 31, 2008, 06:15:29 PM
I'm not pro-Israel by any means. But Hamas is looking like barbaric suicide bombing terrorists aka fucking assholes every day.

http://www.thehotjoints.com/2008/12/29/hamas-passes-sharia-criminal-code-legalizing-crucifixion/

Seriously. WTF.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on December 31, 2008, 06:44:29 PM
I'm not pro-Israel by any means. But Hamas is looking like barbaric suicide bombing terrorists aka fucking assholes every day.

Hamas has never looked like anything else.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on December 31, 2008, 06:47:02 PM
They have the same ideas as me, here I was sitting and thinking how much I would love to take infidels and nail them to a piece of wood...  ;D


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Without aid money from USA israelis cannot keep their massive army anymore. Good bye apaches and merkavas if that happens...
Yeah, who could imagine average americans not wanting their tax money to go to Israel so they can build military arsenal?  ::)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on January 01, 2009, 07:32:17 PM
Jihad: Children's Telivision
(Terrorism + Sesame Street)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAHHjfUxERY
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pharismo on January 02, 2009, 02:40:15 PM
I'm not pro-Israel by any means. But Hamas is looking like barbaric suicide bombing terrorists aka fucking assholes every day.

Hamas has never looked like anything else.

Israel started this war and this slaughter, they killed way more civilians them Hamas and Hamas doesn't have financial support  make an army to fight Israel equal.
Why people use terrorist tatics? Because they can't make an army, so its something like guerrillas which can't make an army and go this way to fight an army.
Colombia revolution army aren't terrorist are they? The government called them terrorist because of what?
Terrorism/Guerrillas is a way of fight to achieve they're goals since they can't fight an oppressor like Israel on others ways and Israel should be called as terrorists since they don't care about innocent lives and the proportional numbers of deaths on Israel side doesn't justify Israel acts.

It is like at Iraq, some people (dumb people) call the resistance as terrorist and others call just resistance force and they use guerrillas combat strategy and also target people who are with these barbarians (in iraq case, usa). So thats why they target civilians that went to Iraq with support of USA or one company that wouldn't be there if USA didn't attack them.
When they explode a bomb on a market the media won't tell who was they're target since the government won't tell or inform in most of the cases (a spy? members of the new army of Iraq?usa soldier?), so it will just sound as a bomb explodes in a market and XX civilians died but sure there will be someone there that was important and the government knows but don't tell so they can get support of the civilians and more votes.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on January 02, 2009, 03:13:56 PM
Israel started this war and this slaughter,
Actually, the recent event was started by Hamas when they broke the ceasefire.

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they killed way more civilians them Hamas
We're keeping score?

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and Hamas doesn't have financial support  make an army to fight Israel equal.
They sure get enough moral support from Muslim countries including, but not limited to Iran, Syria etc...
 
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Why people use terrorist tatics? Because they can't make an army, so its something like guerrillas which can't make an army and go this way to fight an army.
Question is, why do they HAVE to use terrorist tactics. Ghandi was pretty successful in not using terrorist tactics. Question though, has any small group yet to achieve their goal using suicide bombers since 1900?

But finding peace is moot. It's in Hamas charter that they want the absolute destruction of Israel. There is no peace in their blood. They are religious fundamentalists and they are beyond any sort of "reason" that might be familiar to you.



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When they explode a bomb on a market the media won't tell who was they're target since the government won't tell or inform in most of the cases (a spy? members of the new army of Iraq?usa soldier?), so it will just sound as a bomb explodes in a market and XX civilians died but sure there will be someone there that was important and the government knows but don't tell so they can get support of the civilians and more votes.

When they suicide bomb, you are telling me that most of the time, they have actual targets? If anyone of interest was killed, despite who it is, it would be announced. I highly doubt they would "hide" it. It doesn't make sense. In addition, I posted a link earlier stating that the spokesperson of Hamas told his groups to get out there and use "'all available means' against Israel, including 'martyrdom operations'".

That sounds a far cry from targeting specific targets and sounds like terrorism. You can argue till you are blue in the face that Israel is "trying" to target civilians, but the fact of the matter is Hamas has admitted to doing just that. And at this point, I've decided to support Israel if only to be completely against Hamas.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on January 02, 2009, 03:41:03 PM
Israel started this war and this slaughter, they killed way more civilians them Hamas and Hamas doesn't have financial support  make an army to fight Israel equal.
Why people use terrorist tatics? Because they can't make an army, so its something like guerrillas which can't make an army and go this way to fight an army.
So what the fuck is your solution then? Give them an army so they can (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab-Israeli_War) get (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal_Crisis) their (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War) asses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War) kicked again (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_South_Lebanon_conflict)?

Btw, Hamas does have a military.
Quote from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izz_ad-Din_al-Qassam_Brigades
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (كتائب الشهيد عز الدين القسام; named after Izz ad-Din al-Qassam) is the military wing of Palestinian militant group Hamas. Created in 1992 under the direction of Yahya Ayyash, the primary objective of the group was to build a coherent military organization to support the goals of Hamas, which was at the time concerned with blocking the Oslo Accords negotiations. From 1994 to 2000, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades carried out a number of attacks against both Israeli soldiers and civilians that endangered the peace process, ultimately giving way to the "Al-Aqsa Intifada", which Hamas enthusiastically supported.
[...]
Israel evaluates at 40,000 the number of fighters now in the brigades, and claim they receive extensive training as well as more sophisticated weapons, including long-range rockets as well as guided anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.[7]
The issue is that their military takes cover in mosques, hospitals, and schools, and fights defensively against Israel's military and offensively against Israel's citizens. They know what gets them killed, and they know if they get killed in a school, a mosque, or a hospital is looks good for their cause and bad for Israel's. Frankly, I don't give a fuck how many "innocent civilians" Hamas says were killed by Israel, because most, if not all of them, are Hamas agents.

The UN, LOAC, and Geneva conventions allows for military units to attack military (or para-military) units hiding in civilian building using civilian lives as cover, as long as care is taken to avoid civilian casualties, which is precisely what Israel is doing. Their actions are sanctioned. Hamas' actions - directly targetting and killing civlians - are not.

Furthermore, "terrorism", "guerrilla warfare", "insurgents", whatever terms you want to use, are irrelevant. It is a systematic attack against Israel by Hamas. It doesn't matter if they're attacking civilians, (terrorism) attacking members of the military, (act of war) or attacking empty patches of sand. (act of war, just more stupider) Israel is still entitled to respond. And they have. No suprise there.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: LuAza on January 02, 2009, 04:12:48 PM
I just want the whole of the Middle East to burn itself out in the wake of a massive nuclear attack. We'd be better off without them all; just a bunch of murderous thugs who consider themselves just and right because of petty semantics and the concept that their God is the correct one.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on January 02, 2009, 04:25:04 PM
Israel started this war and this slaughter, they killed way more civilians them Hamas and Hamas doesn't have financial support  make an army to fight Israel equal.

Israel didn't start a damn thing.  Pigeon has kindly posted links to the overt attempts to annihilate Israel which I am referring to.

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Why people use terrorist tatics? Because they can't make an army, so its something like guerrillas which can't make an army and go this way to fight an army.

No, because it's cheap, forces the enemy to attack people who aren't in uniform, and gets hippies all teary eyed to see the little guy rise up.

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Terrorism/Guerrillas is a way of fight to achieve they're goals since they can't fight an oppressor like Israel on others ways and Israel should be called as terrorists since they don't care about innocent lives and the proportional numbers of deaths on Israel side doesn't justify Israel acts.

No other country on this planet is expected to behave the way Israel is forced to.  Anyone else, when faced with constant attacks originating from a very clear location, known to be carried out by a specific group, and targeted specifically at civilians, would raze the entire region, take control of the land, and eject anyone left alive.  Israel, because of the hundreds of millions of Jew haters like yourself, is expected to sit back and take it with a smile.

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It is like at Iraq, some people (dumb people) call the resistance as terrorist and others call just resistance force and they use guerrillas combat strategy and also target people who are with these barbarians (in iraq case, usa). So thats why they target civilians that went to Iraq with support of USA or one company that wouldn't be there if USA didn't attack them.

The small number of Iraqis actively fighting against the occupation could potentially be called resistance fighters.  The transplants from other countries, who don't care what the target is whether it's the US Military, Iraqi police, or civilians, are unquestionably terrorists who should be eradicated.  You don't make any distinction between the two groups because your own agenda is to cast the US as a great barbarian horde, sweeping across the world in a quest for utter world domination.

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When they explode a bomb on a market the media won't tell who was they're target since the government won't tell or inform in most of the cases (a spy? members of the new army of Iraq?usa soldier?), so it will just sound as a bomb explodes in a market and XX civilians died but sure there will be someone there that was important and the government knows but don't tell so they can get support of the civilians and more votes.

Target?  There's no need.  Hamas has very clearly stated its intent to destroy Israel and murder its people.  They don't have targets because there's no point in having them.  The only way for Hamas to win is for Israel to snap and massacre the entire Palestinian population.  Only then will the Palestinian people have served their purpose, to force Israel into a situation in which no one will stand beside them when the Muslims drive them into the sea.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 02, 2009, 04:27:26 PM
So what the fuck is your solution then? Give them an army so they can (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab-Israeli_War) get (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal_Crisis) their (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War) asses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War) again (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_South_Lebanon_conflict)?

Dear god I love that quote... (the links)

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Israel started this war and this slaughter
No they didn't. Give me one hard evidence that proves that jews invaded that land and started with a genocide.

It's always suicide bombers or rockets that come first from these squatters who have the boldness to call themselves after the long dead ethnic group of Philistines.

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You don't make any distinction between the two groups because your own agenda is to cast the US as a great barbarian horde, sweeping across the world in a quest for utter world domination.
Well, the bold part is true, you can't deny that.

Quote
No, because it's cheap, forces the enemy to attack people who aren't in uniform, and gets hippies all teary eyed to see the little guy rise up.

Actually if a combatant is not wearing some kind of distinction that marks him as a soldier and not civilian (uniform, other symbols like red scarf or other bullshit like that), then those combatants are not protected by the laws of Geneva convention.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on January 02, 2009, 04:38:43 PM
Quote
You don't make any distinction between the two groups because your own agenda is to cast the US as a great barbarian horde, sweeping across the world in a quest for utter world domination.
Well, the bold part is true, you can't deny that.

Funny, but not entirely true.

Most of the American quest to rule the world has been carried out within the economic realm, and as seen by the near collapse of the entire Asian and European financial markets in response to the credit crunch here, it was pretty damn successful.

Barbarians just invade, rape and pillage, and then leave.  A much simpler and more effective alternative to Dubya's idiotic occupation of a damned hornet's nest.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on January 02, 2009, 04:39:49 PM
So what the fuck is your solution then? Give them an army so they can (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab-Israeli_War) get (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal_Crisis) their (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War) asses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War) again (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_South_Lebanon_conflict)?
Dear god I love that quote... (the links)
Yeah and I fucked it up. :-[

Fixed in my original post.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 02, 2009, 04:53:10 PM
Most of the American quest to rule the world has been carried out within the economic realm, and as seen by the near collapse of the entire Asian and European financial markets in response to the credit crunch here, it was pretty damn successful.

Barbarians just invade, rape and pillage, and then leave.  A much simpler and more effective alternative to Dubya's idiotic occupation of a damned hornet's nest.

Think bigger: US wants a unipolar world, no questions there, the means of accomplishment can be economic (Marshal programme), military (invasions) and cultural (McDonalds)

It is not possible to defeat middle east culturally, very hard economically, so let's use barbarian horde instead. And to them lets add mindless psychopathic Blackwater berserker as well.

Eh damn... if only USA would have the balls to say "We will invade Iraq because we can, because of geopolitical influence and oil and because our Navy is badass... well I would really cheer for USA, I just can't stand the excuses they are hiding behind.

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Yeah and I fucked it up.
No worries you still kicked Pharismo's ass both in grammar and intellectually.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on January 02, 2009, 09:56:58 PM
can (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab-Israeli_War) get (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal_Crisis) their (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War) asses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War) kicked again (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_South_Lebanon_conflict)?

Awesome

Israel started this war and this slaughter, they killed way more civilians them Hamas and Hamas doesn't have financial support  make an army to fight Israel equal.
Why people use terrorist tatics? Because they can't make an army, so its something like guerrillas which can't make an army and go this way to fight an army.
Colombia revolution army aren't terrorist are they? The government called them terrorist because of what?
Terrorism/Guerrillas is a way of fight to achieve they're goals since they can't fight an oppressor like Israel on others ways and Israel should be called as terrorists since they don't care about innocent lives and the proportional numbers of deaths on Israel side doesn't justify Israel acts.

We can argue over what makes a terrorist, there are many definitions of terrorism. Is it someone who purposely kills civilians, is it a combatant who isnt wearing a uniform or simply someone who spreads terror. I would say its a 'I know it when I see it' type of thing.

A guy dressed like this

(http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/566/hamaswar0402xw7.jpg)

who purposely fires a rocket in to a kindergarten. Now thats a terrorist, no doubt about it.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on January 03, 2009, 08:19:59 AM
Wow, it seems either the average intelligence on Box has gone up or my constant rants finally penetrated.


Or it's some cosmological anomaly.


Probably the third option... :D
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Xaravir on January 03, 2009, 09:34:28 AM
While I do agree that Israel has the right to defend themselves, I also believe that Israel did start this in the first place by continuing to build settlements and bombing Hamas tunnels to cut off aid to Gaza. When you cut off aid to one of the densest strips of land in the world, there is going to be suffering and people don't like to suffer. When Hamas was democratically elected by Palestinians, nearly every single Western nation turned their back on Gaza. Forsaken people who are occupied with little food, water, and medicine only have one option to regain their dignity and that is to fight back either diplomatically or by violence. I don't condone Hamas' suicide bombings or rocket attacks, and I don't condone Israel's private schemes to increases its influence in Palestinian territories, but neither Israel nor Hamas are in the right here.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 03, 2009, 10:29:39 AM
Wow, it seems either the average intelligence on Box has gone up or my constant rants finally penetrated.

Has nothing to do with intelligence and most certainly not your ranting. Just moral standing and personal agenda.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on January 03, 2009, 12:02:15 PM
While I do agree that Israel has the right to defend themselves, I also believe that Israel did start this in the first place by continuing to build settlements and bombing Hamas tunnels to cut off aid to Gaza. When you cut off aid to one of the densest strips of land in the world, there is going to be suffering and people don't like to suffer. When Hamas was democratically elected by Palestinians, nearly every single Western nation turned their back on Gaza. Forsaken people who are occupied with little food, water, and medicine only have one option to regain their dignity and that is to fight back either diplomatically or by violence. I don't condone Hamas' suicide bombings or rocket attacks, and I don't condone Israel's private schemes to increases its influence in Palestinian territories, but neither Israel nor Hamas are in the right here.

You do know that the sole reason Hamas had those tunnels built was to smuggle arms and suicide bombers back and forth across the border, right?

Israel would have been remiss in its duties as a sovereign nation to protect its people had Israel not destroyed those tunnels.

And Israel has no responsibility to take care of people that wish it nothing but ill. Cutting off aid to a terrorist state is similar to placing an embargo on one. Heck, if anyone (such as, say, other Arabs) cared about the Palestinians at all then they could take up the financial burden of supplying them with aid. Heck, Egypt controls the other side of the border, but no one complains when they, another Arab nation, closes the border with their "brethren."
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 03, 2009, 12:39:37 PM
That I have noticed as well. Remember when they blew up the wall in the border and ran to the closest Egyptian store for supplies? Well for some reason they were neither granted asylum or anything like that, instead they we pushed back into the Gaza under the gunpoint.

I bet whole middle east thinks of Palestinian as second rate muslims/arabs/whatever...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nates1984 on January 03, 2009, 03:07:23 PM
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Just moral standing and personal agenda

If this could be graphed on the Cartesian plane the answer would be 42.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on January 03, 2009, 03:39:58 PM
While I do agree that Israel has the right to defend themselves, I also believe that Israel did start this in the first place by continuing to build settlements and bombing Hamas tunnels to cut off aid to Gaza. When you cut off aid to one of the densest strips of land in the world, there is going to be suffering and people don't like to suffer. When Hamas was democratically elected by Palestinians, nearly every single Western nation turned their back on Gaza. Forsaken people who are occupied with little food, water, and medicine only have one option to regain their dignity and that is to fight back either diplomatically or by violence. I don't condone Hamas' suicide bombings or rocket attacks, and I don't condone Israel's private schemes to increases its influence in Palestinian territories, but neither Israel nor Hamas are in the right here.

You do know that the sole reason Hamas had those tunnels built was to smuggle arms and suicide bombers back and forth across the border, right?

Israel would have been remiss in its duties as a sovereign nation to protect its people had Israel not destroyed those tunnels.

And Israel has no responsibility to take care of people that wish it nothing but ill. Cutting off aid to a terrorist state is similar to placing an embargo on one. Heck, if anyone (such as, say, other Arabs) cared about the Palestinians at all then they could take up the financial burden of supplying them with aid. Heck, Egypt controls the other side of the border, but no one complains when they, another Arab nation, closes the border with their "brethren."

Israel is held to a higher standard, they are a civilized democracy with a largely European population. Of course the Arabs dont care about civilian deaths, have no regard for human rights, have crazy religious beliefs and a burning hatred for anyone who is different. Thats what people expect from them.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Xaravir on January 03, 2009, 09:36:48 PM
While I do agree that Israel has the right to defend themselves, I also believe that Israel did start this in the first place by continuing to build settlements and bombing Hamas tunnels to cut off aid to Gaza. When you cut off aid to one of the densest strips of land in the world, there is going to be suffering and people don't like to suffer. When Hamas was democratically elected by Palestinians, nearly every single Western nation turned their back on Gaza. Forsaken people who are occupied with little food, water, and medicine only have one option to regain their dignity and that is to fight back either diplomatically or by violence. I don't condone Hamas' suicide bombings or rocket attacks, and I don't condone Israel's private schemes to increases its influence in Palestinian territories, but neither Israel nor Hamas are in the right here.

You do know that the sole reason Hamas had those tunnels built was to smuggle arms and suicide bombers back and forth across the border, right?

Israel would have been remiss in its duties as a sovereign nation to protect its people had Israel not destroyed those tunnels.

And Israel has no responsibility to take care of people that wish it nothing but ill. Cutting off aid to a terrorist state is similar to placing an embargo on one. Heck, if anyone (such as, say, other Arabs) cared about the Palestinians at all then they could take up the financial burden of supplying them with aid. Heck, Egypt controls the other side of the border, but no one complains when they, another Arab nation, closes the border with their "brethren."

The tunnels are not just used for weapons smuggling, they are used to bring in medicine, food, and water that would otherwise be confiscated by Israel. You don't have to take a condescending attitude with me as I'm minoring in Middle Eastern and Far Eastern studies. Obviously weapons smuggling is wrong, but the tunnels do bring relief to the Palestinian people and they were there before Hamas even existed. The Boston Globe has an article on the uses of these tunnels.

Also, Israel, as with any government, has a responsibility to prevent civilian deaths as by the Geneva Convention. I'm not sure where you get the idea that Arab nations aren't giving the Palestinians aid; they make up 1/5 to 1/3 of all aid that goes to the Palestinians depending on the year, while Europe provides most of the rest. While Hamas does indeed kill innocent Israeli civilians, so does Israel and at a far greater number. I'm not pro-Israeli nor am I supporting Hamas, but I can see both sides of the coin and how these two entities feel. There is no right side to this battle as both sides are guilty of a vast number of human rights offences and both sides are fighting for their right to exist. I simply don't believe it is appropriate to pick a side and label it as the right side in all of this.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 03, 2009, 10:39:38 PM
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Also, Israel, as with any government, has a responsibility to prevent civilian deaths as by the Geneva Convention.

Exactly, in the last two weeks Israel force killed 2 top leaders, cut off any supplies of weapons to the terrorists and bombed their HQ. As you see all that are legitimate targets and they aim at the same thing as the convention: ending this war as quickly as possible.

What has Hamas done so far? They were launching missiles and aiming them at urban areas meaning they are deliberately targeting civilians in order to spread fear and terror.

Now with a ground assault it proves that Israel does what it can to minimize civilian casualties, otherwise they could just carpet bomb everything.

On other hand did the "glorious" army of Hamas meat Israeli army outside urban area to fight or did they hide with civilians and thus dragging them into this?

As for those poor civilians, are they not the main reason Hamas still exist? Without their support Hamas would have already been done for. If civilians want embargo to be taken off and live a peaceful life then they can start with kicking Hamas out of their city.


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You don't have to take a condescending attitude with me as I'm minoring in Middle Eastern and Far Eastern studies.
Reminded me of something....

Quote
Tour Guide: I don't know where you get your facts sir but I am a volunteer housewife with 45 minutes of orientation and a harlequin romance about archaeologists!
Fry: Don't wave your fancy degrees at me.

Good old Futurama
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Semnae on January 04, 2009, 01:09:53 AM
Isreal just began a ground offensive. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/04/israel-assault-troops-gaza)  Looks like they are serious this time.

Edit: There's a lot more bitching out of Europe than I expected. (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g_uWRCDN2BXFiKw_c9qVPTn-wOxg)  Chill guys.  Hamas has had it coming for a while now, so just sit back and watch the show.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 04, 2009, 02:19:32 AM
As they said in south park "Warmongers need hippies, when people are protesting, then the rest of the world will hate just Bush instead of the whole country".


Also don't forget this weird phenomenon when journalists from Europe always pity the weak because the strong one is always "the bad one". I support Israel yet for another reason. For really long now has we used Greece as a buffer and a front against the muslim world, they even implemented laws that forbid freedom of religion (when it comes to expressing it publicly like building temples and get tax exempt). So I think it would be a good thing for Europe to have an "enclave" in middle east to keep them at bay. And keeping muslims at bay the can! Wouldn't expect nothing less from people who make Desert Eagles. 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Yalmuk on January 04, 2009, 07:52:14 AM
True, finnish leftist media has taken hamas side already.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Stsin on January 04, 2009, 09:29:32 AM
Go Israel!!!

I'm not going to delude others and say that I'm for neither side.  Because I will always be against those that specifically target civilians, no matter what their stupid reasoning is.

Allah has to be a pitiful god by taking someone into heaven for killing children.  We know that's not true, but how can idiots even reason for that to be?  They are cowards, that's why.  Aim specifically for the government, the military, infrastructure, etc....not those that are defenseless and unarmed.  Sure it's not as easy, but grow some balls for a change.  Just maybe, the world won't look at them as the lowlifes that they are.

I'd be seriously disappointed if Israel accepts a ceasefire before having Hamas' head on a platter.  Not that it will change much, but the world doesn't need another example of terrorism on civilians being an effective means to settle things.  But I'd really like for Israel to go all the way and end the conflict once and for all.  The only possible peace during my lifetime.  Ceasefire != Peace.  Was it Portugal that's willing to take POWS?  I think Venezuela accepts refugees too.  Boat them there ala Fidel Castro ;)

Seriously, what would Russia do?  Or even the US?  And why do people think Israel should act differently?

Btw, civilians that willingly stay/protect military targets are no longer civilians in my eyes.  It's voluntary enlistment, but without pay.  Something that only the stupid would do.  Because no one is going to really care that they die...and no, it's not a free ticket to heaven....hell maybe ;)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: saifsaeed on January 04, 2009, 07:42:08 PM

Hamas doesn't fight because they love fighting they just defense they homeland

(http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=56e4556241&view=att&th=11ea11fb9b7da237&attid=0.12&disp=emb&zw)

(http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=56e4556241&view=att&th=11ea11fb9b7da237&attid=0.17&disp=emb&zw)

(http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=56e4556241&view=att&th=11ea11fb9b7da237&attid=0.16&disp=emb&zw)

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on January 04, 2009, 08:10:48 PM

Hamas doesn't fight because they love fighting they just defense they homeland

Hamas fights because the "absolute destruction of Israel" is in their charter. They are anti peace.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 04, 2009, 08:24:16 PM

Hamas doesn't fight because they love fighting they just defense they homeland

Sending rockets far into Israel is not defence.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on January 04, 2009, 09:29:59 PM

Hamas doesn't fight because they love fighting they just defense they homeland

Sending rockets far into Israel is not defence.

Drive by posting, whopper of a bullshit opinion, and an almost hilariously stereotypical Arab screenname.

Ace, as one of Box's most rabidly persistent highly respected flamers, I'd expect you to know an amateur when he or she comes around.


Sending rockets into Israel is not defense of "Palestine"; however, it is in defense of Hamas' reputation.  They should have every right to randomly toss off rockets at largely civilian areas, just so long as they retain their spunky freedom fighter image.  It only works on hippies and anti-Semites, but Hamas needs all the support it can get.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 04, 2009, 10:34:11 PM
Oh I noticed, question is whether I should care. it was a choice of either attacking the logic or the credibility of the source. His logic was even worse then his grammar, so I chose to go into that direction.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on January 05, 2009, 04:45:55 AM
While I do agree that Israel has the right to defend themselves, I also believe that Israel did start this in the first place by continuing to build settlements and bombing Hamas tunnels to cut off aid to Gaza. When you cut off aid to one of the densest strips of land in the world, there is going to be suffering and people don't like to suffer. When Hamas was democratically elected by Palestinians, nearly every single Western nation turned their back on Gaza. Forsaken people who are occupied with little food, water, and medicine only have one option to regain their dignity and that is to fight back either diplomatically or by violence. I don't condone Hamas' suicide bombings or rocket attacks, and I don't condone Israel's private schemes to increases its influence in Palestinian territories, but neither Israel nor Hamas are in the right here.

You do know that the sole reason Hamas had those tunnels built was to smuggle arms and suicide bombers back and forth across the border, right?

Israel would have been remiss in its duties as a sovereign nation to protect its people had Israel not destroyed those tunnels.

And Israel has no responsibility to take care of people that wish it nothing but ill. Cutting off aid to a terrorist state is similar to placing an embargo on one. Heck, if anyone (such as, say, other Arabs) cared about the Palestinians at all then they could take up the financial burden of supplying them with aid. Heck, Egypt controls the other side of the border, but no one complains when they, another Arab nation, closes the border with their "brethren."

The tunnels are not just used for weapons smuggling, they are used to bring in medicine, food, and water that would otherwise be confiscated by Israel. You don't have to take a condescending attitude with me as I'm minoring in Middle Eastern and Far Eastern studies. Obviously weapons smuggling is wrong, but the tunnels do bring relief to the Palestinian people and they were there before Hamas even existed. The Boston Globe has an article on the uses of these tunnels.

Also, Israel, as with any government, has a responsibility to prevent civilian deaths as by the Geneva Convention. I'm not sure where you get the idea that Arab nations aren't giving the Palestinians aid; they make up 1/5 to 1/3 of all aid that goes to the Palestinians depending on the year, while Europe provides most of the rest. While Hamas does indeed kill innocent Israeli civilians, so does Israel and at a far greater number. I'm not pro-Israeli nor am I supporting Hamas, but I can see both sides of the coin and how these two entities feel. There is no right side to this battle as both sides are guilty of a vast number of human rights offences and both sides are fighting for their right to exist. I simply don't believe it is appropriate to pick a side and label it as the right side in all of this.


Do you know what the Geneva convention says about those that fight without a uniform?

If a hostile with a gun had another person willingly standing in front of them to guard them I know what my orders would be. If you place yourself in a combat situation and start endangering the lives of the combatants by your direct contribution you become a combatant. If you allow rockets to be shot from your backyard you are just as much a terrorist as the one doing the shooting. And before you weigh in with some nonsense like "oh, they were forced to do it, you can't blame them..." I CAN blame them because "they" VOTED for Hamas. They VOTED to attack a neighboring state. They VOTED to attempt genocide against a more powerful nation, one that technically owns the land they live on (this also makes the STUPID BEYOND BELIEF, something I believe also warrants death, but that's besides the point).

The Palestinian squatters of the Gaza strip brought this on themselves. They're being treated far more fairly than they deserve.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kyanwan on January 05, 2009, 06:16:29 PM
My take:

- Israel got the right to defend itself.
- Palestinians ALSO have the right to leave Israel alone.
- Palestinians ALSO have the right to not launch missiles from their family's houses.

I've seen some Arab BS firsthand.  Putting kids in the middle of an adult fight - that's wrong.   They start throwing rocks while they've got their 5 year old at their side.   They hit you - WTF do you do?   You start fighting back?   What if you hit the kid?  WTF?

It's a bit tough to explain it - I'm guessing ... but whatever.   The situation's fucked up on both sides.

Though - when you go killing 100:1 - um ... you're not going to look good in the eyes of the public.  Israel should know when to hold back ... just a little.   People say Bush is Pro-Israel.

Yeah, right.

Bush's pro Making Israel Look Bad.  He's ALSO trying to stir up a big mess right in time for Obama to roll in and be screwed royal. 

I don't remember the last time I've seen these kind of protests like what's been going on.   Rock & Egg-throwing at the Israeli embassy in Norway?   That's not normal.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 05, 2009, 06:21:37 PM
I already explained it, some people always pity the weak. Besides they finally got a good reason to throw eggs at the Jews. Anti Semitism justified!

Also that embassy is in Oslo, pussies live in Oslo. Real men live in the fjords and mountains, make homebrew and walk the streets without gloves and hats at minus 30C.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Yalmuk on January 05, 2009, 10:55:03 PM
I don't remember the last time I've seen these kind of protests like what's been going on.   Rock & Egg-throwing at the Israeli embassy in Norway?   That's not normal.

It's normal for communists (antifa) and muslims.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kyanwan on January 06, 2009, 04:24:26 AM
I don't remember the last time I've seen these kind of protests like what's been going on.   Rock & Egg-throwing at the Israeli embassy in Norway?   That's not normal.

It's normal for communists (antifa) and muslims. 

... minus the eggs.

I'm talking about Bush & the US condoning & promoting Israeli self-destructive & self-vilification actions - and how they're spreading ill-will all over the place.

It's a dangerous thing.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on January 06, 2009, 02:09:03 PM
kyanwan, israel has always had to have a very swift and hard action police on things that might threaten them.

They are a tiny nation surrounded by countries that would love nothing more but to see them perish.
If they didnt have these policies and way of dealing with their surrounding neighbors they probably would have been wiped off the map already or would be seeing alot more "terrorist" attacks in israel killing hundreds more.

Their actions arent nice, but they are effective in most cases.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kyanwan on January 06, 2009, 08:14:02 PM
kyanwan, israel has always had to have a very swift and hard action police on things that might threaten them.

They are a tiny nation surrounded by countries that would love nothing more but to see them perish.
If they didnt have these policies and way of dealing with their surrounding neighbors they probably would have been wiped off the map already or would be seeing alot more "terrorist" attacks in israel killing hundreds more.

Their actions arent nice, but they are effective in most cases.

The "all the neighbors want to destroy Israel" ... let's put it this way.

You want to know what the regular Arab says about the situation - to another Arab?

Here:  "What can we do about it?  Israel's too strong."   Diplomacy is the only solution.  Notice Syria.   Lebanon is the reminder of the 6 day war. 

Shit.  They can't do jack - and they know it.   Merkava MK4 vs M60A3/Challenger 1 - you do the math.   guided missles VS homemade rockets.   Is there even a comparison?   And what else?   Israel has a very, very powerful ally - with a military stockpile IN Israel (MAYBE - with short range nuclear weapons.)   The Middle East can't touch Israel - and they know it damn well.   But at the core of Israel's strength - is the SUPPORT they've gotten from the rest of the world.

I'm not talking about the neighbors here.   I'm talking about the rest of the world.  Israel has had global support - they can NOT afford to lose it.   Look what happened in WW2.   A very advanced army - made one wrong move ... and got demolished.   Not because the other side was superior in any way - no - because they ran out of supplies and got wiped out pretty miserably.   I'm talking about the German advance in to Russia.   A near endless Red Army crushed the Germans.   3,000,000 IDF vs how many in the middle east?  350,000,000?   How long do you think Israel would hold out without support? 

Bush & this blind approval of inhumane policies ( 100:1 retaliation ) - is NOT doing anything for global opinion on Israel.   It's making too many people question the validity of what they are doing.  They should not be retaliating like that.

Even look at Iraq - I'm POSITIVE that the US could get kill-rates like Israel is getting.   We're holding back there.   The whole problem - is they're not holding back ... even though they should be.   Some are doing the right thing ( leaflets, warning calls, etc.... ) but others aren't following the command - apparently.

The only way this whole mess might go good - is if this mission succeeds - and breaks Hamas.  (Generally, by showing they're weak, powerless, and full of hot air - which is exactly what they're doing.  What use do they have for a spineless regime - willing to get everyone attacked, but unwilling to step up and fight when the need arises?  How far will suicide bombing go - what happens when all the "fighters" are gone?  Who fights?)

If Hamas survives this conflict - then we got problems.

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on January 06, 2009, 08:32:55 PM
your talking wars of the past, its no longer acceptable to slaughter hundreds of thousands or millions in a war. And your comparing WW2 weapons and tech to todays tech, if you scaled what the germans did into modern technology they would be basically preemptively striking with nuclear warheads.
And its not global support that keeps israel alive, they purchase lots and lots of military supplies globally no country would want to lose them as a customer.

The arab countries point out the obvious fact yea they wont start a fucking war with israel because they would get their asses beat, but plenty of governments in the middle east support terrorist actions against israel or at the very least DONT condemn the actions which equates to support in my opinion.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 06, 2009, 08:44:02 PM
Just want to point out that it is not Israel who is not holding back. It is Hamas who deliberately hold civilian population as a human shield so that they can later take pics of the kids that they failed to keep out of harm's way in order to win a propaganda war.

Just look at many battle lines in WW2, usually the fortifications were made outside the town in order to protect the civilians (although towns still had military HQ and artillery). Still that was honourable soldiers were defending their civilians and settlements, not hiding in them in order to make attacker look bad.

Hamas is fucked up terrorist organization and the "innocent" civilians there who just happen to vote for Hamas a few years back are no better themselves. It is clear that none of them want peace.

Also don't forget that USA has a different mission in Iraq - winning the population over. Israelis primary mission should be forcing into submission. That is best done by short and intense warfare (aka Georgia war), it worked for Americans when they dropped nukes on Japan. Who knows, maybe obliterating Gaza city will make the rest of the strip to lose enough moral to just surrender and stop this bullshit.

Also you have to laugh of news like "blackouts in Gaza after bombing, Israel BAD" and then you just find out that whole Gaza is powered by israeli power plant in Ashkelon which is frequently targeted by Hamas rockets..... WTF???? It's about time Palestinians just accept that Israel came to stay and that if they want a good peaceful life, then they should make the strip under complete Israel control, become the citizens of Israel and live their lives in safety.

Quote
your talking wars of the past, its no longer acceptable to slaughter hundreds of thousands or millions in a war.
It sure is, we just haven't encountered a big war yet.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kyanwan on January 06, 2009, 09:00:29 PM
your talking wars of the past, its no longer acceptable to slaughter hundreds of thousands or millions in a war. And your comparing WW2 weapons and tech to todays tech, if you scaled what the germans did into modern technology they would be basically preemptively striking with nuclear warheads.
And its not global support that keeps israel alive, they purchase lots and lots of military supplies globally no country would want to lose them as a customer.

The arab countries point out the obvious fact yea they wont start a fucking war with israel because they would get their asses beat, but plenty of governments in the middle east support terrorist actions against israel or at the very least DONT condemn the actions which equates to support in my opinion.

you're talking out of both sides of your mouth bro. 

On one side - they're killing 100:1.   On the other side, they're dying all over the place.

But back to the obvious. 

Are you blind?   You just said Israel is surrounded by hostile countries.  350,000,000 hostile people - with plenty of guns, money, and oil.   How the hell long do you think it would take them to completely overrrun Israel?  Israel has about 3,000,000 combat-fit people.  Most of them reserve soldiers.   I'm talking - the Red Army mustered up millions - and overwhelmed an undersupplyed Nazi army.   Israel's weakness is they can't carry out a protracted conflict.   If the Arabs were to round up a massive army, attack - how long do you think Israel would hold?   Even with massive casualties - 350,000,000 population - that's frickin huge.   History doesn't' repeat itself?   Hitler sure laughed his ass off at Napoleon's faux-pas of attacking Moscow.   LOL - yeah, right - the all-ass-kicking Nazi army would lose to a bunch of Russian peasants with half-ass equipment.   Yeah, right the 4th most powerful army in the world could POSSIBLY lose to a bunch of Bedouins with half-assed equipment.    Shit happens. 

And the allies of the potential enemy - Iran, Pakistan - they have weapons.  (And Iran - they like to fight.)

If Israel broke its support - who comes to Israel's aid? 

A United States with a smashed economy and overtaxed forces who have already been worn out and can't even control IRAQ?

Or European states whose antisemitism has been resparked by the brutality and inhumanity that Israel has been displaying?

Self destructive.   They're tiptoeing on a fine-line.   If they break the middle eastern iron-fisted monarch control of the populace, all hell might break loose.   Acting they way they're doing right now - is dangerous.  I'm saying we here, the US - should tell them whoa - hold up there buddy ... I think you killed enough people.   Settle down before you break the camel's back.

We're not doing Israel any favors by being blind to what they're doing.  If their support structure breaks - they're fucked. 

Quote
your talking wars of the past, its no longer acceptable to slaughter hundreds of thousands or millions in a war.
It sure is, we just haven't encountered a big war yet.

Damn straight.   These pussy nerf wars as of late - they're nothing.   Plenty of historians have been saying this - that peoples complaints of "casualties" - are unwarranted and idiotic.

There were barely any casualties in these recent "wars".

If you want to think of what a modern war would have as for casualties - picture the US and Russia going all-out.

That's what to expect if there is a next time. 

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on January 06, 2009, 09:09:21 PM
Are you blind?   You just said Israel is surrounded by hostile countries.  350,000,000 hostile people - with plenty of guns, money, and oil.   How the hell long do you think it would take them to completely overrrun Israel? 
They did try. the first time was in 1948.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab-Israeli_war
and many times since.

The only thing stopping other countries from tearing Israel apart is the US. Iran is ITCHING to launch an attack, and that was a talking point amongst the presidential primaries. Iran has been funneling money, arms an support to the hamas for years. 3 million last year of it legally according to wiki.



Quote
If the Arabs were to round up a massive army, attack - how long do you think Israel would hold? 
And the allies of the potential enemy - Iran, Pakistan - they have weapons.
If Israel broke its support - who comes to Israel's aid? 
We're not doing Israel any favors by being blind to what they're doing. 

War by proxy. USA hates Iran et al, Iran hates Westerners.

It was done in the 90's, it was done in the 80's it will always be done.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on January 06, 2009, 09:35:11 PM
Um not sure if you realize how ineffective an army of millions upon millions is vs a much much much much better trained and equiped army nowadays.

Comparison of russians vs germans is fucking stupid, german technology was a little bit better then their enemies and they were fighting on 2 fronts most of europe on one front and the massive russian army after suffering massive losses from the winter in soviet russia. As the israelis dont have to worry about winter their FAR superior weaponry could devastate an army many times their own in size. And the US would jump on that fire because its a reason to have alot of their enemies taken out potentially with new leaders who might be willing to deal with the us.

Drafts work wonders, and help alot with unemployment. Send a few hundred thousand drafted men across an ocean and see how many jobs are available.


Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 06, 2009, 11:47:38 PM
In modern war having air superiority is the same as having 10 times bigger army. Air superiority means both support by direct fire and recon.

Also Egypt will not have another war with Israel because they are second to Israel only when it comes to receiving military aid from USA, They are "bought" in other words. Turkey, who has a huge military power in the region will be iether neutral or ally because of their very close ties, despite turks being muslims. Iraq is out of commission. Iran needs to get through Iraq. The rest of the arab nations will not be enough. Also Israel will always get more supply from europe in Mediterranean routes, blocking them would mean that arab nations need to defeat NATO Mediterranean fleet.

Israel has nuclear weapons, they will use it as the weapon of last resort. Conclusion: Israel is stronger then it looks... or rather arab nation are not as united as it would seem.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: gangooparsad on January 08, 2009, 01:49:36 PM
/me Sings
No one likes us-I don't know why
We may not be perfect, but heaven knows we try
But all around, even our old friends put us down
Let's drop the big one and see what happens

We give them money-but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful
They don't respect us-so let's surprise them
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them

Carpet bomb Gaza and call it "Glassah strip" or better yet nuke the entire region and rid the world of its stupidity, after that will lynch & hang all the catholic hard liners.  once we kill God in all its man made forms we should have a much better crack at that world peace thing.  at least we'll be left will a more reasonable bunch...even if its only a couple hundred ppl.


maybe we should get celestial being to do an intervention in this one...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 08, 2009, 05:34:45 PM
Funny, my colleague said to me "we should just asphalt the whole middle east.... and then put McDonalds in one corner."

What is funnier is that he is somewhat related to jews and his aunt or something is living in Israel. Probably because his only impression of the country was that people there suck at driving causing traffic chaos  ;D
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on January 09, 2009, 02:52:44 PM
Funny, my colleague said to me "we should just asphalt the whole middle east.... and then put McDonalds in one corner."

What is funnier is that he is somewhat related to jews and his aunt or something is living in Israel. Probably because his only impression of the country was that people there suck at driving causing traffic chaos  ;D
silly person your colleague is, turning it to glass would be much more productive because it would make it easier to find oil
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 09, 2009, 02:56:38 PM
Well, McDonalds parking lots are all made of asphalt, why change the tradition?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on January 09, 2009, 05:10:08 PM
because oil > mcdonalds
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nstgc on January 09, 2009, 06:31:41 PM
They have done nothing deserving of the McDonald's treatment, but they have shown themselves to be in desperate need of an atomic carpet bombing. Nuclear fallout disipates within a few years, where as a Big Mac and fries will last for eternity.

(ever try yo incinerate a McDonald's fry?)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Nikkoru on January 09, 2009, 11:23:36 PM
The militant Palestinians have such short sighted goals, if they hold out just a bit longer they'll win the demographics game. Then shortly after that the middle east will be made unlivable as global climate change rears its ugly snake-like head, combining with an already limited water supply and pollution to make a hydra of despair. Then Jesus will descend from the sky on his flying walrus proclaiming our doom, and we'll all get the day off.

In other words, they're all way too stressed out about this occupation thing.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: mgz on January 09, 2009, 11:32:14 PM
The militant Palestinians have such short sighted goals, if they hold out just a bit longer they'll win the demographics game. Then shortly after that the middle east will be made unlivable as global climate change rears its ugly snake-like head, combining with an already limited water supply and pollution to make a hydra of despair. Then Jesus will descend from the sky on his flying walrus proclaiming our doom, and we'll all get the day off.

In other words, they're all way too stressed out about this occupation thing.
what your saying is commit lots of genocide now and save jesus some trouble right ?
or did i misread lol
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nstgc on January 09, 2009, 11:48:08 PM
I think someone forgot about the horse men.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on January 09, 2009, 11:57:20 PM
I was going to find some cool fanart of the Four Horsemen from Good Omens; unfortunately 90% of Good Omens fanart is Crowley/Aziraphale slash.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kyanwan on January 10, 2009, 12:27:12 AM
Funny, my colleague said to me "we should just asphalt the whole middle east.... and then put McDonalds in one corner."

What is funnier is that he is somewhat related to jews and his aunt or something is living in Israel. Probably because his only impression of the country was that people there suck at driving causing traffic chaos  ;D

Ain't gonna happen boss.

Let me elaborate.

Arabs have big families.   Almost like Africans -but-

Arabs happen to have jobs like this:   Engineer, Doctor, Pathologist, Computer Scientist, Lawyer, etc....

Africa on the other hand:  Poacher, Nigerian Fraudster, Starving Guy, Robert Mugabe, Somalian Pirate, Militant Group Member, etc.   Unless you open up that McDonalds in Mugabe's back yard - you're not making shit.   You might argue that the Nigerian Fraudster has cash - but he'll rob you right after he buys - so you're still out.   Tough place. 

They'd do better to leave it alone, open a pool hall & a couple restaurants, and plant a mall near it.  A net-cafe or two as well.   Screw McDonalds. 

Just think of the Middle East as rednecks on steroids (seriously man!   It's like the same shit over there. )   Betchya some alligator wrasslin' & waffle houses would be a hit over there.  See - they're probably pissed because there's not enough mud & swamps down there.   

The militant Palestinians have such short sighted goals, if they hold out just a bit longer they'll win the demographics game. Then shortly after that the middle east will be made unlivable as global climate change rears its ugly snake-like head, combining with an already limited water supply and pollution to make a hydra of despair. Then Jesus will descend from the sky on his flying walrus proclaiming our doom, and we'll all get the day off.

In other words, they're all way too stressed out about this occupation thing.
what your saying is commit lots of genocide now and save jesus some trouble right ?
or did i misread lol

I think he said just forget about it all because we're all gonna die in the end.

They should all go home and have some sex0r - and it's all good. 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Nikkoru on January 10, 2009, 04:08:18 AM
Funny, my colleague said to me "we should just asphalt the whole middle east.... and then put McDonalds in one corner."

What is funnier is that he is somewhat related to jews and his aunt or something is living in Israel. Probably because his only impression of the country was that people there suck at driving causing traffic chaos  ;D

Ain't gonna happen boss.

Let me elaborate.

Arabs have big families.   Almost like Africans -but-

Arabs happen to have jobs like this:   Engineer, Doctor, Pathologist, Computer Scientist, Lawyer, etc....

Africa on the other hand:  Poacher, Nigerian Fraudster, Starving Guy, Robert Mugabe, Somalian Pirate, Militant Group Member, etc.   Unless you open up that McDonalds in Mugabe's back yard - you're not making shit.   You might argue that the Nigerian Fraudster has cash - but he'll rob you right after he buys - so you're still out.   Tough place. 

They'd do better to leave it alone, open a pool hall & a couple restaurants, and plant a mall near it.  A net-cafe or two as well.   Screw McDonalds. 

Just think of the Middle East as rednecks on steroids (seriously man!   It's like the same shit over there. )   Betchya some alligator wrasslin' & waffle houses would be a hit over there.  See - they're probably pissed because there's not enough mud & swamps down there.  

The militant Palestinians have such short sighted goals, if they hold out just a bit longer they'll win the demographics game. Then shortly after that the middle east will be made unlivable as global climate change rears its ugly snake-like head, combining with an already limited water supply and pollution to make a hydra of despair. Then Jesus will descend from the sky on his flying walrus proclaiming our doom, and we'll all get the day off.

In other words, they're all way too stressed out about this occupation thing.
what your saying is commit lots of genocide now and save jesus some trouble right ?
or did i misread lol

I think he said just forget about it all because we're all gonna die in the end.

They should all go home and have some sex0r - and it's all good. 

Well, you could say that about anything.

If your willing to kill and die for some place, it might as well be awesome, like Candyland or the lost continent of Mu - but these two historically screwed peoples are fighting with one another over a tiny scrap of land with barely anything on it.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Stsin on January 10, 2009, 11:37:08 AM
Ain't gonna happen boss.

Let me elaborate.

Arabs have big families.   Almost like Africans -but-

Arabs happen to have jobs like this:   Engineer, Doctor, Pathologist, Computer Scientist, Lawyer, etc....

Don't you mean the Arabs have the money to hire skilled workers?  I'm pretty sure most all the engineers are overseas workers from Britain, Germany, US, etc.  Even their military has contracted workers from overseas fixing their jets.  And this doesn't even count the massive number of Philipinos doing other work.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I got when last in Saudi Arabia.

Africa on the other hand:  Poacher, Nigerian Fraudster, Starving Guy, Robert Mugabe, Somalian Pirate, Militant Group Member, etc.   Unless you open up that McDonalds in Mugabe's back yard - you're not making shit.   You might argue that the Nigerian Fraudster has cash - but he'll rob you right after he buys - so you're still out.   Tough place. 

They'd do better to leave it alone, open a pool hall & a couple restaurants, and plant a mall near it.  A net-cafe or two as well.   Screw McDonalds. 

Just think of the Middle East as rednecks on steroids (seriously man!   It's like the same shit over there. )   Betchya some alligator wrasslin' & waffle houses would be a hit over there.  See - they're probably pissed because there's not enough mud & swamps down there.   

Don't they have a lot of KFC's there already..well in Saudi.  Odd, that there were no mashed potato side dishes though.  So I guess if they aren't potato lovers, then it does make it unlikely for McDonalds to prosper there since it's their fries that make them stand out.  Plus McDonalds would have to become more 'kosher', lol.

It's ironic that these oil wealthy countries, don't have the power that you'd expect to go with it.  Being easier to pay for outside help than training their own, plus some religious sects holding them backwards, has much to do with it.  All that money and can't defeat a little country that they surround is hilarious.


btw, isn't it convenient that the US is now occupying Iraq?  Who said it was all about oil...well, not all directly.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 10, 2009, 11:59:09 AM
Don't you mean the Arabs have the money to hire skilled workers?  I'm pretty sure most all the engineers are overseas workers from Britain, Germany, US, etc.  Even their military has contracted workers from overseas fixing their jets.  And this doesn't even count the massive number of Philipinos doing other work.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I got when last in Saudi Arabia.

Highfive!

Quote
It's ironic that these oil wealthy countries, don't have the power that you'd expect to go with it.  Being easier to pay for outside help than training their own, plus some religious sects holding them backwards, has much to do with it.  All that money and can't defeat a little country that they surround is hilarious.

Yeah, but Israel is the modern world's Sparta. 3 year conscription for men, and then automatic enlisting in the reserve force and 2 years conscription for women. So technically nearly every adult is a capable soldier. So Isreal only needs 300..... 300 tanks and artillery positions that is.  ;D

Quote
btw, isn't it convenient that the US is now occupying Iraq?  Who said it was all about oil...well, not all directly.
Damn, so it was about McDonalds!
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on January 11, 2009, 12:02:26 AM

Don't they have a lot of KFC's there already..well in Saudi.  Odd, that there were no mashed potato side dishes though.  So I guess if they aren't potato lovers, then it does make it unlikely for McDonalds to prosper there since it's their fries that make them stand out.  Plus McDonalds would have to become more 'kosher', lol.


There's a kosher McDonald's in Jerusalem, so it's not like it's impossible.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nstgc on January 11, 2009, 12:36:12 AM
Given that McDonald's doesn't use anything remotely similar to food, wouldn't all McDonald's items be kosher?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kyanwan on January 13, 2009, 06:44:13 AM
Ain't gonna happen boss.

Let me elaborate.

Arabs have big families.   Almost like Africans -but-

Arabs happen to have jobs like this:   Engineer, Doctor, Pathologist, Computer Scientist, Lawyer, etc....

Don't you mean the Arabs have the money to hire skilled workers?  I'm pretty sure most all the engineers are overseas workers from Britain, Germany, US, etc.  Even their military has contracted workers from overseas fixing their jets.  And this doesn't even count the massive number of Philipinos doing other work.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I got when last in Saudi Arabia.

Filipinos?

(?)

From what I understand - they've got the following -

SriLanki - housekeeper
Korean - Engineering, construction
Western - Computers / Tech
Medical - all homegrown. ( Better treatment AND cheaper.  Just picture this:  Emergency Room visit:  $6.00.  Treatment is *EQUAL* or *BETTER* than the US.   Dental = Superior. )

Certain techie stuff gets pulled from outside.  With the population of westerners coming in - sure - it's getting to the point where you can get drawn in there. ;)

But - thinking back to the way things really are ... the people who get educated over there - end up extremely skilled.

Saudi Arabia - that's an exception.  The government there is really putting the people down BAD.  They've got a tyrannical monarchy - and they're all out scum bastards.   I think that's an exception.

A better example is Dubai.   The population there:  9 foreigners.  1 Native.   The growth is so huge - they don't have enough people to staff everything.   That's why the importing of labor.  ( ...and they pay wicked good I hear. )

Other countries on the other hand - Jordan, Syria, Libya, etc - ain't so bad for the people.   If Saudi Arabia were more in step with Jordan - well - same thing.   Would be pretty good by standards here.

Anyways - Jordan's my personal worldview of the Middle East.  You could say - it's "a step down from Israel" as for the quality of life/modernness and economy - and improving ( a lot.  In the time between 1988-today it's seriously developed BIG TIME.  I'm not kidding - I went there ages ago ... and it was well, Middle East.   I went there today - it was like ... wow.   I could actually live here and deal with it... and like it.  Though - I'd not want to leave my home to live there.  So - just leave it as it's a great place to visit.  And - anyone out of the west, if you've got the guts to visit the Middle East - hang out in Jordan.   Friendly, secure, safe, and stable. )

Dubai on the other hand ... I'd rank that as a step up from Israel.

Shit.   That would be a step up from HERE maybe (http://www.skidubai.com/).  They're frickin' insane. 

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 13, 2009, 01:10:46 PM
Quote
Anyways - Jordan's my personal worldview of the Middle East.  You could say - it's "a step down from Israel" as for the quality of life/modernness and economy - and improving ( a lot.  In the time between 1988-today it's seriously developed BIG TIME.  I'm not kidding - I went there ages ago ... and it was well, Middle East.   I went there today - it was like ... wow.   I could actually live here and deal with it... and like it.  Though - I'd not want to leave my home to live there.  So - just leave it as it's a great place to visit. 

I respect Jordan because the King is a star trek fan and the queen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPcw3fLeBHM) is freaking hot milf.

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And - anyone out of the west, if you've got the guts to visit the Middle East - hang out in Jordan.   Friendly, secure, safe, and stable

I don't watch Fox, so I know that it is safer to be in Iran then in Bronx during the night, but then again I am male.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nstgc on January 13, 2009, 03:04:39 PM
*in a robot-like voice* Why do you not watch Fox news? It tells us ev-er-y-thing we need to know. They never lie and Obama did not truely win. BUUsh will live forever. I pity you less informed person. But you are a furner so it is to be expected.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Nikkoru on January 13, 2009, 09:56:04 PM
I visited Iran last year as part of an architectural project, although the level of skill they displayed I certainly counted on for my work going in, I still didn't expect so many of the Iranians I talked with to be so conscious and opinionated on what was going on in the world, it made me feel parochial and unsophisticated.

Then again, I was only in Tehran for two and a half month and usually in the affluent areas.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on January 21, 2009, 03:37:12 AM
Everyone needs one of these:


(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Semnae on January 21, 2009, 09:59:13 AM
Israel called a ceasefire and withdrew! >:(  Come on Israel, where's your fucking follow through!?!  This isn't going to end until Hamas is overthrown.  Get back in there and finish what you started!
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 21, 2009, 03:15:34 PM
Israel called a ceasefire and withdrew! >:(  Come on Israel, where's your fucking follow through!?!  This isn't going to end until Hamas is overthrown.  Get back in there and finish what you started!

WORD. This will be a bigger catastrophe when Hamas retaliates.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on January 21, 2009, 07:11:09 PM
Israel cant destroy Hamas without a much larger and longer military operation, that has some real problems.

Israel has tried to minimize civilian casualties, even then hundreds of civilians have died if Israel would go all out it would probably be thousends and not hundreds of dead civilians.

A lot of Israeli soldiers would die, now amazingly only ten soldiers have died. Israel has tried to stay out of the highly populated areas of Gaza as much as possible, that would have to change

There is an election coming up in Israel and Kadima needs the Gaza war to be a success to win, they cant accept high Israeli casualties.   

The longer the war goes on and the more Palestinians that die, the more international pressure on Israel will increase. I think this is the most important reason why the Gaza war was cut short. Israel doesnt want to seriously hurt their relationship with Europe and its completely dependent on America. It needs American money, weapons and support in the security council.

The US isnt criticizing Israel openly but you can be sure they have been pressuring Israel. Now there is a new president, if Hamas strikes Israel again they can go back in with new support from the Obama administration and the fact that Hamas broke the ceasefire and not Israel will shut up Europe for a while.

Hopefully the war has been enough to teach terrorists that fucking with Israel has consequence. Israel has hopefully been able to destroy most of the rocket stockpiles in Gaza and stopped most of the smuggling from Egypt. Hopefully it has considerably weakened Hamas, I wish that Fatah can use this opportunity to take control of Gaza but I doubt it. Hamas has been terrible at killing Israeli soldiers but they have been very good at killing or breaking the arms and legs of Fatah members in Gaza during the war to stop any takeover.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 21, 2009, 07:34:15 PM
Israel doesnt want to seriously hurt their relationship with Europe and its completely dependent on America. It needs American money, weapons and support in the security council.

I wish it was true. However as long as the pacifist media is going to be on the Hamas side, Europe will continue talking about brutality while forgetting that the champions in brutality is still Europe and it would take lot of million deaths to change that fact  ;)

As for USA, I wonder how much weapons and money it can supply in the middle of a crisis. As for Security council we know that China and Russia will be neutral and USA will support Israel. UK and France's stance will depend on the bitching in Europe I guess.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on January 21, 2009, 07:55:12 PM
I wish it was true. However as long as the pacifist media is going to be on the Hamas side, Europe will continue talking about brutality while forgetting that the champions in brutality is still Europe and it would take lot of million deaths to change that fact  ;)

Europe can bitch and whine and complain (while making me ashamed of being a European btw), Israel is used to it. As long as Europe doesnt do anything to harm Israel they will be fine. The thing is that Israel is a tiny little country that is dependent on exports, almost half of which are being sold to Europe. Europe could destroy Israel with economic sanctions if it wanted to. It doesnt want to, most European politicians are satisfied with scoring political points by spitting on Israel. But the longer the war drags on the more pressure there will be to reconsider trade with Israel.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on January 25, 2009, 07:33:07 AM
I saw a McDonalds in Kuwait, as well as a Starbucks and Costa.

Anyway, Israel really doesn't have anything to worry about. Their strategies thus far have worked. They just need to keep doing what they've been doing.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nates1984 on January 25, 2009, 11:38:51 AM
I don't think becoming increasingly militaristic is a strategy that has "worked" for Israel.

No amount of tanks and bombs will take away from the fact that it's the god damn "holy land" because at the end of the day it really does boil down to religion.

Maybe it has worked in the short term, but not in the long term.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on January 26, 2009, 12:29:40 AM
Sure it has. They haven't been invaded since what, '72?

As terrible the suicide bombers and rocket attacks are, it's significantly less bad than the full scale invasions they've faced in the past. Worst case scenario for a successful wave of suicide bombers or rockets is you have maybe 1000 people dead. Worst case scenario for a successful invasion is you, everyone you know, everyone with the same religion within 200 miles of you gets killed in an EZ-bake oven.

Israel can survive rocket attacks and suicide bombs forever. If they keep getting invaded, they'll eventually lose one. And then they're dead - all of them - permanently.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pharismo on January 26, 2009, 12:49:32 PM
Hamas isn't a terrorist group but a government and they won a democratic election without fraud. Hamas has being working with the civils better them Fatah when were the government and thats the reason they won the election. Hamas aren't terrorist but  a group that don't want to be colonized by Israel, so they are just a resistance group that would appear once Israel started the war on middle east. People just believes on what they show on TV, they don't try to look for better informations on internet (besides on manipulated news). Sirius before calling something as terrorist please try to discover what happened who started the war and what is the history behind it. Before ingland colonization arabs from all  believes were living at peace, thats the truth.

You can't argue with people that doesn't look for the history behind the war and the reason from both sides. Israel has killed many innocents and made over 3millions of Palestine's to leave they're land and still aren't called as terrorists because USA sells weapons for them and support them.
If you can't fight a war with the way of a army you fight on the way of guerrillas.

Read this book: Hamas: A Beginner's Guide nbefore calling Hamas a terrorist group since they are the same as Iraq resistance forces. They don't accept the colonization and thats why they hate occidentals since they support Israel.
http://www.amazon.com/Hamas-Beginners-Guide-Khaled-Hroub/dp/0745325912 (i bought it cheaper from a mall)
Its a good book and tells the history before Hamas was created and what led to the creation of Hamas. Read it and decide if they are terrorist or just resistence force.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vicious796 on January 26, 2009, 02:05:57 PM
With your common sympathy toward non-Western groups, it doesn't surprise me that you would like to claim that terrorism is seperate from politics. Here's the simple Foxworthy run down for you:

If you launch rockets without any aim other than to kill as many civilians as possible (but hey, you might hit a few soldiers in that elementary school), you might be a terrorist.

If you hide among civilians to make it look like a recognized nation is slaughtering them, you might be a terrorist.

If your radical religious beliefs make it so you declare a "Holy War" against an entire race of people, you might be a terrorist.



Look Phar, you say we don't do any research beyond our own televisions blah blah blah. The problem is, for you, that we do. I've looked up Khaled Hroub and read a few press releases of his and you know what he talks about?

How the west is terrified of a unified Palestine. How we were astounded that a democratic vote lead to an organized government that was politically based and not a violent religous group. We didn't want a group to demand borders on Israel.

What have they become since their elections in 2006? Are they having the meetings on the international scale Hroub spoke of?

NO, they're not. They're firing rockets into school yards like a militant religous group. I think the best article I found he wrote before this happened.

http://www.opendemocracy.net/conflict-middle_east_politics/hamas_3982.jsp

Have a read.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Semnae on January 27, 2009, 02:22:15 PM
Hamas isn't a terrorist group but a government and they won a democratic election without fraud.

I stopped recognizing Gaza as having a legitimate government when Hamas staged a coup and slaughtered the only major opposition party.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 27, 2009, 03:15:13 PM
Hamas isn't a terrorist group but a government and they won a democratic election without fraud.

Well, I guess it settles it. When people in Gaza democratically elect and support a terrorist organisation, then they are guilty, not innocent. In other words they brought the bombing upon themselves.

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Hamas has being working with the civils better then Fatah when were the government and thats the reason they won the election.

Hitler gave hope to people and won the election too. Your point was?

Quote
Hamas aren't terrorist but  a group that don't want to be colonized by Israel, so they are just a resistance group that would appear once Israel started the war on middle east.

Do you know the definition of terrorism? Firing rockets into civilian population is not resistance, it's terrorism. Hence, they are terrorists.

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Before england colonization arabs from all  believes were living at peace, thats the truth.

Oh, like the 1660 massacre of jews by the Ottomans in Safed and Jerusalem?
Or the fact that jews had status as dhimmis and had to pay tax because they were not muslim?

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You can't argue with people that doesn't look for the history behind the war and the reason from both sides.
I know, horrible that people all forgot about the name "Judea", care to learn history a bit more yourself? If you will insist on it, I will give you the time line of Judea/SyriaPalestina/Israel ownership. Trust me, it has never ever belonged to the squatters that call themselves Palestinians. In truth Philistines disappeared as an ethnic group in the middle of 700 years BC.

Quote
Israel has killed many innocents and made over 3millions of Palestine's to leave they're land and still aren't called as terrorists because USA sells weapons for them and support them.

So if a dude points AK47 at you and shoots you while he hold a woman as a human shield, you will not fire back? Here is one question, did any of the Hamas had the balls to fight Israeli soldiers in the outskirts of the city? The answer you are looking for is "NO". They were sitting in the middle of the city knowing that it would cause severe civilian casualties. Actually they were hoping for casualties so that they can get the sympathy of the world. Very immoral and cynical strategy, but it worked to some degree.

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If you can't fight a war with the way of a army you fight on the way of guerrillas and terrorists.

Fixed


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Read this book: Hamas: A Beginner's Guide
Let me guess, "Chapter 4: how to make your own home made rocked, next chapter we will cover how to fill the inside of your jacket with explosives."  ::)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on January 29, 2009, 05:07:32 AM
Read this book: Hamas: A Beginner's Guide
Read this book:
(http://unimaxsupply.com/books/fun/idiot1.jpg)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: SpeedKills on January 30, 2009, 06:59:46 PM
The reason that Hamas started firing rockets in the first place is because Israel did not lift their blockade.  A blockade is a declaration of war, to most countries and people.

The whole thing is about the battle over property rights.  It's not really about anything else.  If you look at the core of it, it's property rights.  And Israel as a country has no right to claim property that belongs to individuals.

Israel makes me sick, and it makes me even sicker that they're doing this with our weapons.

I'm not saying Hamas is better or anything, but for Christ's sake, does anyone look at actual facts anymore?  Or do you just get your opinion and try to support it with B.S.?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 30, 2009, 07:22:06 PM
The reason that Hamas started firing rockets in the first place is because Israel did not lift their blockade.  A blockade is a declaration of war, to most countries and people.

Blockade is not the declaration of war. Besides they only closed borders. That being said I have seen Norwegian - Russian border when I was in the north. There were barbed wires, fences, outposts, many kilometers of "no man's land" on their side of the border and then they have enough battalions just behind the border to wipe out all our forces if allies do not support us. Does that mean a declaration of war? No it doesn't.

A country has a right to set any kind of wall on the border they want and it is their right to make any policy they want concerning crossing it. Basically all countries have everything ranging from open borders and policies like Schengen Agreement, Visa policies and a tightly closed border like Israel/Gaza and N Korea/S Korea. It is their right and it is not a declaration of war, just usually cold war and that is not a war.

Besides Gaza is free to use Egyptian border.... oh wait, Egyptian tightly closed it too because they don't want Hamas terrorist flooding their country either.

Quote
The whole thing is about the battle over property rights.  It's not really about anything else.  If you look at the core of it, it's property rights.  And Israel as a country has no right to claim property that belongs to individuals.
Well, it doesn't matter if your house is yours, it is standing on the government controlled soil. This is a practice in all countries in the world and I don't see anyone claiming the property to be not controlled by the government except that one episode of Family Guy where Peter created new country "Petoria".
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: SpeedKills on January 30, 2009, 07:36:02 PM
Blockade is not the declaration of war. Besides they only closed borders. That being said I have seen Norwegian - Russian border when I was in the north. There were barbed wires, fences, outposts, many kilometers of "no man's land" on their side of the border and then they have enough battalions just behind the border to wipe out all our forces if allies do not support us. Does that mean a declaration of war? No it doesn't.

A country has a right to set any kind of wall on the border they want and it is their right to make any policy they want concerning crossing it. Basically all countries have everything ranging from open borders and policies like Schengen Agreement, Visa policies and a tightly closed border like Israel/Gaza and N Korea/S Korea. It is their right and it is not a declaration of war, just usually cold war and that is not a war.

Pearl Harbor was provoked in part by an trade freeze... I guess what I'm saying is that it's not like Hamas just blatantly started attacking Israel.  Technically the cease-fire never started because Israel never honored their end of the bargain.

Using the Egyptian border is pretty much impossible, from what I've heard.

Also, those assholes are using white phosphorous, which is a war crime in the context they're using it (not supposed to be used near civillian populations).  That right there is a war crime in itself, lol.  They must have learned from us :p

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Well, it doesn't matter if your house is yours, it is standing on the government controlled soil. This is a practice in all countries in the world and I don't see anyone claiming the property to be not controlled by the government except that one episode of Family Guy where Peter created new country "Petoria".

I was thinking more what we did to the Native Americans, where we basically took over a country and then claimed their land was ours (The state land is supposed to be owned by both Jews and Arabs, but the Jews claimed that since they own the state, they own the state's property).

There's a great interview about this issue from a Libertarian perspective (Read: Rational, lol).

http://antiwar.com/radio/2009/01/26/dean-ahmad-2/

Honestly, I think just the fact that they're killing a ridiculous amount of civilians is reason enough to condemn the hell out of Israel.  50% of Gazans are children, eh?

And I think anyone can tell you that the way to get rid of extremism isn't to provoke them with violence by trying to eradicate them.



And yeah, I love that episode of Family Guy :p

EDIT:  Oh yeah, also, Israel killed two people in Gaza before the first rocket attacks even started.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 30, 2009, 08:12:45 PM
Using the Egyptian border is pretty much impossible, from what I've heard.

Yes, Egyptians will not hesitate to shoot civilians trying to run to Egypt and the border is locked tight. Following your logic they declared war on Gaza as well.

Quote
Also, those assholes are using white phosphorous, which is a war crime in the context they're using it (not supposed to be used near civillian populations).  That right there is a war crime in itself, lol.  They must have learned from us :p
Honestly I never understood that myself. I have read a lot of rules of war and I am proud to say I have the knowledge of what kind of weapons are banned from use (like napalm) or have restricted use (12.7mm explosive rounds only to be used against vehicles and materiel, not people). So I always wondered what kind of idiotic general ordered a smokescreen on the urban location when there are so many cameras filming the war. That is just asking for a tribunal.

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I was thinking more what we did to the Native Americans, where we basically took over a country and then claimed their land was ours (The state land is supposed to be owned by both Jews and Arabs, but the Arabs invaded Israel in 1967, then lost the war and the territories they had fair and square.
Fixed.

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Honestly, I think just the fact that they're killing a ridiculous amount of civilians is reason enough to condemn the hell out of Israel.  50% of Gazans are children, eh?
Exactly why HAMAS are the real terrorists and cowards. They hide among their women and children instead of having the balls to make a stand against Israeli army like real men. When you fire rockets from the backyard of your house, then you should not be surprised that your house with your family inside will be bombed.


Quote
EDIT:  Oh yeah, also, Israel killed two people in Gaza before the first rocket attacks even started.
Also Hamas captured Israeli soldiers before that happened.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: SpeedKills on January 30, 2009, 08:19:34 PM
But the civilians who live there aren't even allowed to flee or anything... how can that be moral in any way?

I concede that I don't know a whole hell of a lot about Israeli history, because I always just though of them as one of America's spoiled children :p

They also hit a UN embassy or something, didn't they?  Why is no one clamping down on all that shit?

And i guess you could keep going back for hundreds of years if I said, "well, Israel did THIS before Hamas did THAT". lol
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 30, 2009, 08:28:18 PM
But the civilians who live there aren't even allowed to flee or anything... how can that be moral in any way?

Good question. Very good one I admit. My question is why Egypt - who is supporting Palestinians not allowing refugees into the city? The only theory is that countries surrounding Israel want people in Gaza to be there and be slaughtered so that they can have a casus belli to attack Israel. They have it now and if the support of Israel will drop, then they will attack as soon as they have world wide support against Israel. It's a cynical and heartless strategy, but a very good one as well.

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I concede that I don't know a whole hell of a lot about Israeli history, because I always just though of them as one of America's spoiled children :p
Try Great Britain and France. USA became a very close ally only later in the history.

Quote
And i guess you could keep going back for hundreds of years if I said, "well, Israel did THIS before Hamas did THAT". lol
Exactly, that is why this war is not about who is right and who is wrong, but about who is strongest and who will survive.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: SpeedKills on January 30, 2009, 08:37:08 PM
What sucks is that, living in America, you're either ridiculously pro-Israel, or you're called an anti-Semite because you're ridiculously anti-Israel..

For once, I wish the US would be a dick and put each side in a corner...  But we continue to finance Israel and make no official condemnation of it.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on January 30, 2009, 08:44:27 PM
The US gives money to it's allies. Enemies of our enemies are our friends. Iran as well as other countries like Sudan give money to the Hamas. Iran may not be our enemy at this point, but they are close enough.

Citation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#Funding

And they more then likely funnel weapons to them etc. I don't doubt, and it would be idiotic to believe they are not also getting illegally funding from other anti-western fronts. You have to understand, these people don't want peace. They want the death of the western culture. It's in their charter. They want to live in the stone age for all intents and purposes.

I am a bleeding heart liberal leftist, and even I won't support the Hamas. I am not pro-jewish, and I am not anti-muslim. I am pro-common sense.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: SpeedKills on January 30, 2009, 08:49:09 PM
Damn, didn't know all that...

I always try to find a rational side to be on, but in this case, I think I'd rather they both just explode, lol.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 30, 2009, 10:04:59 PM
Personally I am pro Israel because no matter how they act, they are our first line of defence. I am talking about Europe of course, second line would be Greece I believe. They are the only European country without the freedom of religion. No matter how wrong this seems ideally, these two countries do keep the muslim world at bay. Basically Israel is putting it's citizens at risk and pay the price of our western culture with their blood. If there is anything we can do to give them support, we should do so. It is a cruel and draconian reality.

However historically when we did not have enough defences and buffer zones against the spread of Islam it ended with loosing Europe's biggest city at the time, a jewel of a metropolis called Constantinople. Now it is called Istanbul and has a freaking crescent on rooftops. If I would have the power, I would obliterate the Turkey, push them back and retake what is ours.

That being said I am sympathetic with Jews who have exactly the same goal. I wonder why they called their country "Israel" instead of Judea though.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on January 30, 2009, 10:15:15 PM
That being said I am sympathetic with Jews who have exactly the same goal. I wonder why they called their country "Israel" instead of Judea though.

Judea is a region within the promised land, while Israel is the whole thing.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 30, 2009, 10:20:36 PM
The whole thing? That explains the motivation  ;)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on January 30, 2009, 11:31:10 PM
I wonder why they called their country "Israel" instead of Judea though.

The Jews still call Judea, Judea. The rest of the world has just chosen to call it the West Bank for some reason.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on January 30, 2009, 11:39:18 PM
I think both Jews and Arab Muslims should both just get the fuck out. Now this will never happen, but let's examine why that would make sense:

1) According to the Hebrew speaking Semite (now Ashkenazic/Sephardic blood line) tradition, they have not yet been allowed formal access back into Zion or the Promised Land on Earth. I am assuming the promised land is the motherland, known today as Israel.

Maybe I am wrong but didn't Moses say that the Jewish people were effectively banned from the Promised Land until the second coming of Christ? Also you would be surprised at how many Jews are not Zionists because of their belief that they are still a wandering people.

2) Arab Muslims don't belong in Jerusalem. Now this is different for the Arab Christians. Jerusalem is clearly a vital city of importance for Christians and Jews. To my knowledge it has minor negligible significance for Muslims. You don't see Christians making communities and fusses in Mecca, well we expect the same sort of reverence and respect for our Holy city.

3) Load up the place with American ex-patriot Christians. Apparently since this is all about Power why don't we just stop the charade in making believe that we care about what happens to the Jews and just be honest with ourselves? We want the land to counter-balance Russian and Middle Eastern State's power. I mean personally I am interested in making a compromise to where Arab Muslims, Christians and Jews can live in the land in peace. But the national opinion considers that an impossibility. Just cut the bull and make the space a UN protectorate zone and call it a day. Put the Jews in New York (Hey we're over-populated but if it will prevent Nuclear War, we've got plenty of space...) and put the Arab-Muslims in Muslim theocratic nations.

Arab Christians and any other Christians can stay but Muslims and Jews have to get the fuck out. I feel like we are the big boy in the playground breaking up a fight between two shrimps. This is so fucking ridiculous I still can't believe we are about to have a Nuclear War over this shit.

Edit - Today I talked about it in Philosophy class and my philosophy professor talked about the futility of any hope residing in bringing in an objective mediator, because either side will complain they would be "ignorant" of the facts. Well folks HELLO! In order to successfully do the "Veil of ignorance" and start negotiations from the "Original Position" you have to be sort of IN THE DARK AND UNBIASED.

Get the Dalai Lama and Kofi Anan or SOME SHIT and just GET TO WORK. The Dalai Lama doesn't give a shit about US power, Israelis or Muslims. They only carry biased interests towards their part of the globe. Just inform some educated PhD group on the situation (make it a mixed bag, an argentinian doctor, malaysian lawyer, honduran biologist, etc...) and get an unaffiliated consensus. There has got to be someone qualified in the world to deliver arbitration yet unbiased about the situation enough to make the dealings as objective as possible.

Instead of rockets firing we need to see some human genome projects firing up. MAKE IT SCIENTIFIC AND LEGITIMATE. DO SOMETHING. Don't just BLOW SHIT UP! This goes for Israel and Hamas. The two governments are both egotistical and stupid. And the people are suffering for it.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on January 30, 2009, 11:45:49 PM
I wonder why they called their country "Israel" instead of Judea though.

The Jews still call Judea, Judea. The rest of the world has just chosen to call it the West Bank for some reason.

Mainly because they feel a bit squicky about calling a Palestinian territory what essentially amounts to "Jew Land" in ancient Roman.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: zherok on January 30, 2009, 11:54:58 PM
Maybe I am wrong but didn't Moses say that the Jewish people were effectively banned from the Promised Land until the second coming of Christ? Also you would be surprised at how many Jews are not Zionists because of their belief that they are still a wandering people.
Wouldn't a detail like this probably have more to do with Christianity than Judaism? I doubt the Jews would be terribly concerned with the second coming of Christ...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on January 30, 2009, 11:55:17 PM
I think both Jews and Arab Muslims should both just get the fuck out. Now this will never happen, but let's examine why that would make sense:

1) According to the Hebrew speaking Semite (now Ashkenazic/Sephardic blood line) tradition, they have not yet been allowed formal access back into Zion or the Promised Land on Earth. I am assuming the promised land is the motherland, known today as Israel.

Maybe I am wrong but didn't Moses say that the Jewish people were effectively banned from the Promised Land until the second coming of Christ? Also you would be surprised at how many Jews are not Zionists because of their belief that they are still a wandering people.

There are so many things wrong with that statement...

According to Jewish tradition Israel is ours and has always been ours. The last Diaspora was not one crafted by G-d to punish us for sins, it just sort of happened.

And the "second coming of Christ"? What is a "christ"? Certainly not a Jewish thing. And Moses was the one that brought us back to the Promised Land from Egypt. And that was before the First Temple was built! The only thing connected to the Messiah with Israel is that when he comes for the first (and only) time the Temple will be rebuilt and the Holy of Holies restored.

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2) Arab Muslims don't belong in Jerusalem. Now this is different for the Arab Christians. Jerusalem is clearly a vital city of importance for Christians and Jews. To my knowledge it has minor negligible significance for Muslims. You don't see Christians making communities and fusses in Mecca, well we expect the same sort of reverence and respect for our Holy city.

This is true...

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3) Load up the place with American ex-patriot Christians. Apparently since this is all about Power why don't we just stop the charade in making believe that we care about what happens to the Jews and just be honest with ourselves? We want the land to counter-balance Russian and Middle Eastern State's power. I mean personally I am interested in making a compromise to where Arab Muslims, Christians and Jews can live in the land in peace. But the national opinion considers that an impossibility. Just cut the bull and make the space a UN protectorate zone and call it a day. Put the Jews in New York (Hey we're over-populated but if it will prevent Nuclear War, we've got plenty of space...) and put the Arab-Muslims in Muslim theocratic nations.

Because that's a terrible and stupid idea. Israel is a sovereign nation. The UN is a giant cluster fuck, it can't even prevent terrorists from launching rockets from schools it owns.

And the other Arab nations hate the Palestinians, the only reason they keep them around is to be a thorn in Israel's side.

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Arab Christians and any other Christians can stay but Muslim and Jews have to get the fuck out. I feel like we are the big boy in the playground breaking up a fight between two shrimps. This is so fucking ridiculous I still can't believe we are about to have a Nuclear War over this shit.

Good thing you're not in a position of power. Why should the Christians get to stay? What's their historic and religious connection to Israel? Oh, right, they claim it vicariously through the Jews.

Go learn something before you spew crap from your mouth.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on January 30, 2009, 11:57:21 PM
Mainly because they feel a bit squicky about calling a Palestinian territory what essentially amounts to "Jew Land" in ancient Roman.

If everyone has to call Peking Beijing and Bombay Mumbai now, they really should use the official name for Judea and Samaria as well. But yeah I understand that it creates some problems.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on January 31, 2009, 12:18:36 AM
Proin Drakezol:

Sir if you are an Israeli citizen or Zionist Jew please do the following:

1) Get the fuck off the internet and hop on the next plane to Israel, if you are already there then skip to step 2.
2) Kill your local political representative and replace him with someone that has common sense.

I don't claim to know exactly what in the hell is going on over there but evidently you guys are NOT handling your business.

Unfortunately what you have to realize is that this is not my opinion that I am stating here this is what is going to happen if Israel doesn't get their shit in gear. What you don't realize is that our politicians are just like your politicians except more powerful and stupider and as seen with Bush, very hasty to act. What I stated will happen eventually if somebody does not concede. They will clear out the Jews and Arabs and put American [soldiers] there and make it a sanctioned zone. Either that or leave everyone as they are but the land will no longer be considered Israel but an International Military Zone. And trust me if this was McCain he would have already gotten you blown to kingdom come by ordering a hit out on both the leader of Hamas along with Mr. Goat Cheese Amenhijehad.

What Israelis don't seem to realize is they are not just putting themselves in danger of being completely obliterated by Iran, they are putting us in danger by showing improper conduct in War and making more enemies for us.

Aside from this...

Yes I know the UN is gay.

Yes I know technically the Jews are in the right.

However, none of this shit matters when it comes to Power. The USA is dying and our political representatives along with about 60% of the population are either still in a blissful state of ignorance or complete denial.

If the Jews continue to fuck around they will un-do any positive negotiations and/or progress we have made with Egypt and surrounding countries for years to come. Honestly it comes down to this. The Suez Canal or Israel? Which do you think America is going to give up if it ever came down to it?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Pigeon on January 31, 2009, 06:32:00 AM
Proin Drakezol:

Sir if you are an Israeli citizen or Zionist Jew please do the following:

1) Get the fuck off the internet and hop on the next plane to Israel, if you are already there then skip to step 2.
2) Kill your local political representative and replace him with someone that has common sense.

I don't claim to know exactly what in the hell is going on over there but evidently you guys are NOT handling your business.
Hi. My name's Pigeon. (not really) I am an American citizen. I am an atheist. I don't give a fuck more or less about the Israeli nation than I do the Arab nation - I only care about the collective decisions of the Israeli and Palestinian people. I also agree wholeheartedly with Proin's foreign policy in regards to Israel.

Do I need to emigrade to Israel or murder somebody or is your ad hominem argument completely without merit?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on January 31, 2009, 07:19:03 AM
Proin Drakezol:

Sir if you are an Israeli citizen or Zionist Jew please do the following:

1) Get the fuck off the internet and hop on the next plane to Israel, if you are already there then skip to step 2.
2) Kill your local political representative and replace him with someone that has common sense.

I guess I am a "Zionist Jew." I'm also an active duty member of the US Navy. Both of my State's Senators, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, are Jewish.

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I don't claim to know exactly what in the hell is going on over there but evidently you guys are NOT handling your business.

If you don't know what's going on how can you claim anything? The only reason it's still a "problem" is because the strong anti-semetic leanings of many European countries prevent Israel from taking direct action in the fashion of any other country in the world.

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Unfortunately what you have to realize is that this is not my opinion that I am stating here this is what is going to happen if Israel doesn't get their shit in gear. What you don't realize is that our politicians are just like your politicians except more powerful and stupider and as seen with Bush, very hasty to act. What I stated will happen eventually if somebody does not concede. They will clear out the Jews and Arabs and put American [soldiers] there and make it a sanctioned zone. Either that or leave everyone as they are but the land will no longer be considered Israel but an International Military Zone. And trust me if this was McCain he would have already gotten you blown to kingdom come by ordering a hit out on both the leader of Hamas along with Mr. Goat Cheese Amenhijehad.

You obviously don't know very much about US leanings either (or, let's be perfectly honest here, the strength of the Jewish lobby).

Also, my politicians are your politicians, so that was a completely nonsensical statement. What you stated will not happen ever, you're just stupid. And the US has Israel at "Most Favored Nation" status, the US watches out for Israel's interests. And if push came to shove the US would push Europe into line (don't argue with me about that Ace, we're still strong enough to make it happen through NATO and such).

So, no, I don't think I'll trust you since you've already admitted you have no fucking clue what you're talking about.

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What Israelis don't seem to realize is they are not just putting themselves in danger of being completely obliterated by Iran, they are putting us in danger by showing improper conduct in War and making more enemies for us.

Israel could, and has, spanked Iran's ass. They could do it again.

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Aside from this...

Yes I know the UN is gay.

Yes I know technically the Jews are in the right.

However, none of this shit matters when it comes to Power. The USA is dying and our political representatives along with about 60% of the population are either still in a blissful state of ignorance or complete denial.

The USA is hardly "dying." The world fell into recession when we did, the world is waiting with bated breath for us to fix ourselves so the world economy picks up. China doesn't want a position of leadership, they're more isolationist than we were after World War I. The EU can't even agree on what kind of drapes to get, let alone on major decisions affecting other countries. So who else to lead but the United States?

Sounds like you're just all doom, gloom, and no brain cells. 

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If the Jews continue to fuck around they will un-do any positive negotiations and/or progress we have made with Egypt and surrounding countries for years to come. Honestly it comes down to this. The Suez Canal or Israel? Which do you think America is going to give up if it ever came down to it?

Why would we have to give up either?

Do you know how strong our Navy is? I do. Do you know how strong Egypt's Navy is? We could beat them with a destroyer squadron.

And Egypt knows what side its bread is buttered on, our side. They rely far too strongly on Western aid, Western tourism and the West in general to dick around. And they hate the Palestinians, too, and kill them even more readily than Israel.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 31, 2009, 09:48:28 AM
Proin Drakezol:

Sir if you are an Israeli citizen or Zionist Jew please do the following:

1) Get the fuck off the internet and hop on the next plane to Israel, if you are already there then skip to step 2.
2) Kill your local political representative and replace him with someone that has common sense.

I don't claim to know exactly what in the hell is going on over there but evidently you guys are NOT handling your business.
Hi. My name's Pigeon. (not really) I am an American citizen. I am an atheist. I don't give a fuck more or less about the Israeli nation than I do the Arab nation - I only care about the collective decisions of the Israeli and Palestinian people. I also agree wholeheartedly with Proin's foreign policy in regards to Israel.

Do I need to emigrade to Israel or murder somebody or is your ad hominem argument completely without merit?

Ha! Same story here, but I have explained on the last page why I support Israel. In the end it's all about self interest.

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The USA is hardly "dying." The world fell into recession when we did, the world is waiting with bated breath for us to fix ourselves so the world economy picks up. China doesn't want a position of leadership, they're more isolationist than we were after World War I. The EU can't even agree on what kind of drapes to get, let alone on major decisions affecting other countries. So who else to lead but the United States?

Why do we need someone to lead anyone? Isn't that against the principle of sovereign nations? Why can't the countries just lead themselves? And btw didn't you realise? We don't have a unipolar world, USA isn't leading more then a minority of the world. Especially after Europe said "fuck you" by creating EU.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on January 31, 2009, 10:12:35 AM
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The USA is hardly "dying." The world fell into recession when we did, the world is waiting with bated breath for us to fix ourselves so the world economy picks up. China doesn't want a position of leadership, they're more isolationist than we were after World War I. The EU can't even agree on what kind of drapes to get, let alone on major decisions affecting other countries. So who else to lead but the United States?

Why do we need someone to lead anyone? Isn't that against the principle of sovereign nations? Why can't the countries just lead themselves? And btw didn't you realise? We don't have a unipolar world, USA isn't leading more then a minority of the world. Especially after Europe said "fuck you" by creating EU.


I don't know why countries can't lead themselves, they just never seem to be able to do it.

And as I already mentioned, the EU couldn't lead its way out of a paper bag. You yourself don't even like it, at least according to your posts.

And as much as you say the US doesn't lead, I still see so many countries looking to the US to solve the world financial crisis, solve problems in third world countries, provide disaster relief aid, etc.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on January 31, 2009, 12:26:55 PM
I don't know why countries can't lead themselves, they just never seem to be able to do it.

I disagree. Just because a country doesn't nuke another doesn't mean they can't lead themselves. You see leading a nation is a bout taking care of the people in the country. Obviously you think it means meddling with the affairs of other countries.

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And as I already mentioned, the EU couldn't lead its way out of a paper bag. You yourself don't even like it, at least according to your posts.
I don't like it exactly because it tries to lead other sovereign nations and it's blackmail methods to gain members. If to think about EU as one country (which is not and never should be), then it's not doing a bad job. It consists of countries who have the best quality of life and who are role models of democracy and way of life in this world.

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And as much as you say the US doesn't lead, I still see so many countries looking to the US to solve the world financial crisis, solve problems in third world countries, provide disaster relief aid, etc.
US solving problems in third world countries fail in all ways except the military ones. Hell, do you know who is a prime contributor to the UN peacekeeping missions? Pakistan, direct quote from wiki:

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About 4.5% of the troops and civilian police deployed in UN peacekeeping missions come from the European Union and less than one percent from the United States (USA).

As I said it is not a unipolar world and we can forget the idea of leading anything but ourselves.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on January 31, 2009, 12:34:46 PM

About 4.5% of the troops and civilian police deployed in UN peacekeeping missions come from the European Union and less than one percent from the United States (USA).

UN peacekeepers have to be seen as neutral so they traditionally come from neutral countries like Sweden or countries who cant be seen as being on one side or the other in the conflict. 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: SpeedKills on February 01, 2009, 12:56:26 AM
Proin Drakezol:

Sir if you are an Israeli citizen or Zionist Jew please do the following:

1) Get the fuck off the internet and hop on the next plane to Israel, if you are already there then skip to step 2.
2) Kill your local political representative and replace him with someone that has common sense.

I don't claim to know exactly what in the hell is going on over there but evidently you guys are NOT handling your business.

Unfortunately what you have to realize is that this is not my opinion that I am stating here this is what is going to happen if Israel doesn't get their shit in gear. What you don't realize is that our politicians are just like your politicians except more powerful and stupider and as seen with Bush, very hasty to act. What I stated will happen eventually if somebody does not concede. They will clear out the Jews and Arabs and put American [soldiers] there and make it a sanctioned zone. Either that or leave everyone as they are but the land will no longer be considered Israel but an International Military Zone. And trust me if this was McCain he would have already gotten you blown to kingdom come by ordering a hit out on both the leader of Hamas along with Mr. Goat Cheese Amenhijehad.

What Israelis don't seem to realize is they are not just putting themselves in danger of being completely obliterated by Iran, they are putting us in danger by showing improper conduct in War and making more enemies for us.

Aside from this...

Yes I know the UN is gay.

Yes I know technically the Jews are in the right.

However, none of this shit matters when it comes to Power. The USA is dying and our political representatives along with about 60% of the population are either still in a blissful state of ignorance or complete denial.

If the Jews continue to fuck around they will un-do any positive negotiations and/or progress we have made with Egypt and surrounding countries for years to come. Honestly it comes down to this. The Suez Canal or Israel? Which do you think America is going to give up if it ever came down to it?

If the middle east was a nail, then you, sir, slammed that fucker on the head.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 01, 2009, 09:33:43 AM
Two rockets hit southern Israel a while ago, they exploded between two nursery schools. Luckily no kids or grown ups were harmed. Having worked at a kindergarten this stuff gets to me. Attacks targeted at the most innocent and harmless members of a society.

Israels PM Olmert is saying that a disproportionate Israeli response will come at the time, the place and the manner that they choose.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 01, 2009, 10:06:47 AM
Some officials in Iran suggested that Iran might be willing to smuggle their long range missiles into the Gaza. Range of those will be able to reach Tel Aviv. However those missiles will have to be smuggled in pieces meaning that they need a large space for an assembly. Well, people in Gaza are resourceful, they will probably use some big building like a school or a hospital...
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kuzgun on February 01, 2009, 03:23:46 PM

However historically when we did not have enough defences and buffer zones against the spread of Islam it ended with loosing Europe's biggest city at the time, a jewel of a metropolis called Constantinople. Now it is called Istanbul and has a freaking crescent on rooftops. If I would have the power, I would obliterate the Turkey, push them back and retake what is ours.

rofl Istanbul was captured in 1453 so more than 550 years its in the hands of Turks with more than 10 million people living I guess it would be fantasy to call it ours
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 01, 2009, 04:56:44 PM
And it was European for a thousand years before the Turks. It rightfully ours and I can't wait to see the Turks losing control over it. So what if there are millions of people in it? There were people when Turks occupied it. If they could do it, then we should be able to do it as well.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: kuzgun on February 01, 2009, 08:30:09 PM
Its very sad to see people speaking about killing bombing from other side of the world that easily since I lived a period of time in Israel I can understand their concern a bit but the methods they use is a bit harsh because having a terrorist attack wont permit you use same methods on civilians... Still world should consider hamas as terrorist group since they use children as shield and at the same time kill children also... But destroying everything at the gaza wont solve the problem...

Its also very sad to see the Arabian countries being so silent over this matter what they truly want is money none of them cares about religion or humans there...

Also
And it was European for a thousand years before the Turks. It rightfully ours and I can't wait to see the Turks losing control over it. So what if there are millions of people in it? There were people when Turks occupied it. If they could do it, then we should be able to do it as well.
come on how old are you 7-8 ??? if you want to see the right to control over Anatolia read about it ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul).  Staying peacefully without knowing anything happening out there on Scandinavian countries ( I guess you are from there) would give you right to get rid of 10 million of people???

And about Gaza ( I don't want to leave the topic if someone wants to argue about freaking crescent on rooftops can pm me or open a topic) the main problem is to acknowledge each other Arabs living there do not acknowledge Israel as a country which is just meaningless... In my opinion some problems can be solved by letting the Jews live there and as for Israel opening the borders of Gaza so that people can live a better life ( As now they are living in a open air prison

 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on February 01, 2009, 08:34:34 PM
But destroying everything at the gaza wont solve the problem...

Technically, that actually is a solution, and would/could solve the problem. It's immoral, and would no way be approved by any country, even the pro-Israel US, but it is indeed a solution. Just not an acceptable one by any ethical country.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 01, 2009, 08:46:52 PM
rofl Istanbul was captured in 1453 so more than 550 years its in the hands of Turks with more than 10 million people living I guess it would be fantasy to call it ours

Nebuchadrezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 586, thats 1423 years ago.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on February 01, 2009, 08:49:38 PM
Technically, that actually is a solution, and would/could solve the problem. It's immoral, and would no way be approved by any country, even the pro-Israel US, but it is indeed a solution. Just not an acceptable one by any ethical country.

While I wouldn't call Egypt 'ethical', they fit that description more than most of the Middle East, and they'd love to see Gaza (as well as Israel and the West Bank) disappear.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 01, 2009, 09:03:05 PM
come on how old are you 7-8 ??? if you want to see the right to control over Anatolia read about it ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul).  Staying peacefully without knowing anything happening out there on Scandinavian countries ( I guess you are from there) would give you right to get rid of 10 million of people???

And about Gaza ( I don't want to leave the topic if someone wants to argue about freaking crescent on rooftops can pm me or open a topic) the main problem is to acknowledge each other Arabs living there do not acknowledge Israel as a country which is just meaningless... In my opinion some problems can be solved by letting the Jews live there and as for Israel opening the borders of Gaza so that people can live a better life ( As now they are living in a open air prison

God damn it I hate hippies...

When did I say to get rid of 10 million people? Just occupying it is enough to make it European in culture after one hundred years or so.

As for Gaza, their borders were open, they became closed for a reason, that reason is a Palestinian uprising in September 2000. Blockade is there for a reason, to keep Israel safe.

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While I wouldn't call Egypt 'ethical', they fit that description more than most of the Middle East, and they'd love to see Gaza (as well as Israel and the West Bank) disappear.
Many people would love to see that happen, none speaks of it because they are afraid of public opinion.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on February 01, 2009, 09:06:23 PM
Many people would love to see that happen, none speaks of it because they are afraid of public opinion.

True, but Egypt is the only State I can see officially celebrating the annihilation of both Israel and the Palestinians.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Unsubv on February 03, 2009, 05:37:20 AM
Hamas is a legitimately elected government ,throwing enough elected officials in jail to instal a puppet leader does not change this.

If killing civilians for political means makes you a terrorist then the IDF is 100 times the terror group al quaida is.

"Human shield"  the perfect excuse to kill as many civilians as they want to make a point.

Gaza is a prison it is not like they can go somewhere else. Using phosphorous on civilians ,cutting of food and power and clean water to an entire population ,the theft of Palestinian lands by illegal settlements and murder of elected officials and even bombing UN schools(there were never any fighters there either) are all the kind of actions you would expect from terrorists.
I am sure the nazis who fought against the ghetto uprising in WW2 called them terrorists as well.

If terrorism is OK for zionists when they bombed the King David Hotel why is it now wrong for Hamas?
Maybe someone will give Hamas a nobel peace prize? 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 03, 2009, 01:28:29 PM
Hamas is a legitimately elected government ,throwing enough elected officials in jail to instal a puppet leader does not change this.
Hamas is also a terrorrist group recognized as one by USA, EU, Canada, Australia and Japan. In other words those who matter.

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"Human shield"  the perfect excuse to kill as many civilians as they want to make a point.
It's not an excuse, it's a fact. As long as Hamas hides inside the civilian population instead of either giving up or fighting to the death outside the city, they are responsible for using civilians as a human shield. I challenge you counter this fact.

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Gaza is a prison it is not like they can go somewhere else.

All they need to do is stop the rocket attacks. It's all up to them.

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Using phosphorous on civilians ,cutting of food and power and clean water to an entire population ,the theft of Palestinian lands by illegal settlements and murder of elected officials and even bombing UN schools(there were never any fighters there either) are all the kind of actions you would expect from terrorists.

What theft are you talking about? It is the arab league that attacked Israel and lost the war. When a country loses a war it is only expected that they lose territory. Look at the history of Europe, do you have any idea how many states there were in Europe just the last century that don't even exist today? You lose a war, you lose a country. It's not a theft, but occupation.

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Maybe someone will give Hamas a nobel peace prize? 
It's one thing that a brutal dictator like Dalai Llama gets a price, but a terrorist organisation that will fire rockets on civilian cities the same day it will be getting the price? Somewhere it just crosses the line.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 03, 2009, 04:54:12 PM

When a country loses a war it is only expected that they lose territory. Look at the history of Europe, do you have any idea how many states there were in Europe just the last century that don't even exist today? You lose a war, you lose a country. It's not a theft, but occupation.

Just look at how large my country used to be before we lost a couple of wars, we got over it. 

(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9830/1658ja0.gif)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 03, 2009, 05:29:52 PM
Ha! One of the most powerful powers in Europe at that time. So I guess this means you have a legitimate reason to fire rockets towards Finland and Baltic countries while I will just fire some rockets towards England, Iceland, and Greenland.

And god damn it that Norwegian part of them map with the former capital Trondheim was your only for 10 months before we recaptured it, I guess there better be a lot of rockets flying between Trondheim and Stockholm.  ;D
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on February 03, 2009, 10:05:11 PM
Just look at how large my country used to be before we lost a couple of wars, we got over it. 

(http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9830/1658ja0.gif)

Yes, but Sweden has plenty of inherent perks
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h189/katamari_zen/hotswedegals.jpg)
which take away the sting of defeat.  Unfortunately for the rest of the world, the Palestinians wouldn't even realize it if they did.  Kind of hard to tell under all that shapeless clothing.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Unsubv on February 04, 2009, 02:18:22 PM
I had a insightful argument about Gaza all ready but all that seems to be coming out
is GGGaaahhhhhh Sweden good ;D
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vicious796 on February 04, 2009, 03:43:23 PM
I love my fiance but...

I can't say I wouldn't touch them.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 05, 2009, 04:48:02 PM
I found some polling on American support for Israel in the aftermaths of the Gaza war.

Support for Israel has fallen to 57% from 69%
Support for Palestine has increased to 8% from 6%
34% were neither or undecided

source (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304699073&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 13, 2009, 08:53:26 AM
"Medicine bottles, transferred to the Gaza Strip as humanitarian aid by Israel, were used by Hamas as grenades against IDF troops during Operation Cast Lead. Pictures of the grenades were obtained exclusively by The Jerusalem Post."

(http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?blobcol=urlimage&blobheader=image%2Fjpeg&blobheadername1=Cache-Control&blobheadervalue1=max-age%3D420&blobkey=id&blobtable=JPImage&blobwhere=1233304770382&cachecontrol=5%3A0%3A0+*%2F*%2F*&ssbinary=true)

Israel gives them medicine and they use it to make bombs, its almost funny.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 13, 2009, 12:21:52 PM
Yes it is funny how Gaza is ruled by tyranny and everyone criticizes Israel for closing border to that mess.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 15, 2009, 03:44:58 PM
All I know is if I was a Palestinian I would have emigrated elsewhere by now, regardless if it was likely that I would die in the process.

Mexicans cross the border at the risk of being killed everyday just to earn an honest dollar, yet they are abandoned and mistreated by their own government. If these so-called surrounding arab nations can't accept Palestinian refugees then they should stop supporting Gaza politically, militarily and financially at once. If you fuel a war you must also bear the costs of war.

Are Syria, Egypt and Jordan opening their borders for Palestinian refugees? No wait, a better question: ARE WE? You can't just contribute to a war and not accept refugees. I hope not only Iraqis but Palestinians are granted automatic free American citizenship with no questions asked under the Obama administration. They deserve a safe haven and a new start after we essentially have contributed to the destruction of their homelands.

I feel like somehow Pali refugees will be treated in the Middle East much like Katrina survivors in the U.S. With disdain, contempt and no showing of compassion or acceptance.

This conflict has shown the true hypocrisy of the Iranian and surrounding Arab regimes. (Our hypocrisy is already well established :)) They will use the Palis as a catalyst to fight the West which will obliterate an entire Arab ethnicity for the purposes of destroying us. Regardless if there are no morals in international politics, you can at least act as a rational state in your own best interest. And right now both Israel and Palestinians are not acting in their own best interests, because if they were they would realize they are being used by the U.S. and Soviet Union who don't give a damn if they both anihilate each other.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 15, 2009, 03:52:13 PM
Israel needs to stop acting as the arm of the United States in the Middle East, and Russia needs to stop interfering in the matters of the Arab-Muslim world.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 15, 2009, 04:05:24 PM
True, but Egypt is the only State I can see officially celebrating the annihilation of both Israel and the Palestinians.

Egypt's upper echelons in their society must be full of fascist fuckers that enjoy senseless murder.

I think most sane Palestinians have emigrated abroad by now. (Long before Arafat died)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 15, 2009, 04:42:05 PM
First I have to bitch slap you for triple posting...
/me bitch slaps furuoshiki

Now I need to point out some things you failed at:
Quote
Mexicans cross the border at the risk of being killed everyday just to earn an honest dollar, yet they are abandoned and mistreated by their own government.
They are not that bad in terms of economy and civil structure compared to countries in South America. The ones that cross borders are losers that can't find jobs in their own countries. Fun fact: unemployment in USA is bigger then unemployment in Mexico.


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because if they were they would realize they are being used by the U.S. and Soviet Union who don't give a damn if they both anihilate each other.
Soviet Union does not exist. History fail.

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Israel needs to stop acting as the arm of the United States in the Middle East
Israel carries out action of self interest and not those of USA, otherwise they would contribute in Iraq. Political fail.

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and Russia needs to stop interfering in the matters of the Arab-Muslim world.
Selling weapons is not interfering in the matters of other countries. Economical understanding fail.

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I think most sane Palestinians have emigrated abroad by now. (Long before Arafat died)
They are, ran away about 40 years ago. only extremists and terrorists are left.

As for the heartbleeding gibberish you wrote about everyone accepting terro... I mean refugees all I can answer with is: "God damn it I hate hippies!"
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 15, 2009, 05:47:51 PM
Fun fact: unemployment in USA is bigger then unemployment in Mexico.

That doesnt have so much to do with the health of the Mexican economy as with high American wages and an American minimum wage. For example its not uncommon for a hotel in Mexico to have one guy who parks your car, one dude who opens the outer doors, another one who opens the inner doors, one who takes your bags, some guy who is just standing there smiling for some reason etc. While in a more civilized prosperous country you will just have one guy working at the reception, thats it. If American companies could hire people for almost nothing like in Mexico there wouldnt be any unemployment.


However historically when we did not have enough defences and buffer zones against the spread of Islam it ended with loosing Europe's biggest city at the time, a jewel of a metropolis called Constantinople. Now it is called Istanbul and has a freaking crescent on rooftops. If I would have the power, I would obliterate the Turkey, push them back and retake what is ours.

rofl Istanbul was captured in 1453 so more than 550 years its in the hands of Turks with more than 10 million people living I guess it would be fantasy to call it ours

I have been reading up on my WW1 history and was surprised to find out that France and Britain actually promised Constantinople to Russia during the war. Now if the Russians had stayed in the war Constantinople would be a Christian city today.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 15, 2009, 06:26:40 PM
Haha, yes Mexico problem is not unemployment but underemployment. All those guys taking care of you at the hotel entrance might very well be engineers and doctors.  ;D

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I have been reading up on my WW1 history and was surprised to find out that France and Britain actually promised Constantinople to Russia during the war. Now if the Russians had stayed in the war Constantinople would be a Christian city today.

Funny considering Russian orthodox Christianity is close to the one of the Byzantium empire.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 15, 2009, 08:10:54 PM
Selling weapons is not interfering in the matters of other countries. Economical understanding fail.

So let's use the domestic analogy here and say I sold a gun to you and told you to do whatever you want with it. I am a (legally operating) licensed arms sales personnel and it is a small community with only about 1,000 people and I know you are one of the many neighborhood troublemakers.

You go take my advice literally, and shoot another guy for some cash and then you are arrested and put in jail.

(Let's say you are of legal age and have a gun permit. The transaction was entirely legal on paper.)

But was it moral?

I'll leave that up for you to decide. :)

Granted there are no morals in international politics the Russians do bear a great brunt of the fault for the current state of affairs and it's intensity, especially related to Iran's involvement whether it be in direct financial support or arms provisions :(

Saying that selling weapons isn't getting involved is the same logic Michael Vick and dog killers worldwide use to justify raising innocent puppies to be killing machines bred solely for the purpose of killing one another.

When the U.S. administration sends it's dogs to go train certain rebels abroad I call that interfering with a country's sovereignty and conflagration of problems with intra-state affairs that we have no business picking our noses in.

I agree that the U.S. should act in it's own self-interest, but it should not pretend that it is acting morally and it should certainly not play games when it comes to civilians lives and accepting responsibilities for our mistakes. If this were similar to Vietnam and there were a draft all hell would have broken loose because the administration knows the American people would not stand for these injustices if we "the people" had to actually enact these atrocities with our own two hands AGAIN.

When it comes down to it nobody likes war when they have to sacrifice their own life or when the battle is being fought on their home front. Americans in particular have not tasted the real blood of war for over 50 years since Pearl Harbor. September 11th doesn't count because that was an attack from an organization and not from a belligerent state actor. Perhaps we need a reminder of what the costs of all out war is, and I'm sure that reminder promises to be WWIII (which will inevitably occur if this crisis in Gaza is not quelled).
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 15, 2009, 08:35:40 PM
Selling weapons is not interfering in the matters of other countries. Economical understanding fail.

So let's use the domestic analogy here and say I sold a gun to you and told you to do whatever you want with it. I am a (legally operating) licensed arms sales personnel and it is a small community with only about 1,000 people and I know you are one of the many neighborhood troublemakers.

You go take my advice literally, and shoot another guy for some cash and then you are arrested and put in jail.

(Let's say you are of legal age and have a gun permit. The transaction was entirely legal on paper.)

But was it moral?

I'll leave that up for you to decide. :)

Ok, you are a leader of a nation. Just recovering from the crisis where your people starved you have an obligation to your people to turn the economy on the right track. Then you find out that your country can have contracts with another one where you export weapons and have a huge profit that makes impact on your country.

Is it not only morally correct to sell weapons in order for the people of your nation to thrive, isn't that a sole responsibility of a leader? Besides I am not sure what you mean by immoral sale, because as far as I know, Russia does not sell to the aggressor countries in middle east. At least at the present time.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nates1984 on February 15, 2009, 08:55:04 PM
I'm so tired of the Middle East. Let them do whatever they want, and lets not get involved. Europeans need to uninvolve themselves as well. The point is: The topic shouldn't have hit nine pages.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 15, 2009, 09:30:47 PM

I agree that the U.S. should act in it's own self-interest, but it should not pretend that it is acting morally

American foreign policy has been a mix of self-interest and morality. Most of the time the two have gone hand in hand, and then why not tout it as such.

Americas involvement in Europe to prevent one power from dominating the continent (Imperial Germany, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union) makes sense in a realpolitik sense based on self interest but it also has the added benefit of protecting Europe from totalitarian oppression. The same was true for the whole world during the cold war, protecting the world from totalitarianism, an admirable thing to do while containing the Communism from threatening Americas national interests. Earlier then this you have the Monroe doctrine which preserved the freedom of the Latin American countries from European imperialists while keeping the same empires from becoming a threat to you in your hemisphere. Spreading democracy in the middle east is certainly a morally righteous thing to do, meanwhile it establishes friendly regimes and if the neocons are right eliminates the source of terrorism.

I find it hard to argue that morality hasnt played a huge part in American foreign policy but at the same time commitments where Americas self interests hasnt been at stake have been few and often limited. I mean it took a dozen dead Americans in Somalia for you to pull out but tens of thousands in Vietnam.  

The focus on morality contra national interests has surely varied under different presidents. Carter and Nixon probably illustrates that difference the best. For example one supported a coup in Chile to stop soviet influence, the other one fiercely opposed the regime that followed contrary to Americas interests in the region.

Maybe morality is just easier to sell then power politics to a deeply religious public that values morality and many of whom might lack the intellect or interest to understand somewhat complex national interests.

Sorry if Im rambling on, this happens to be the kind of stuff I like to think about.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on February 15, 2009, 09:46:40 PM
Hamas is a legitimately elected government ,throwing enough elected officials in jail to instal a puppet leader does not change this.


"Legitimately elected" does not legitimize what they are doing. Stop playing Hamas apologist, you will lose. Hamas is not justified in what they are doing, nor does it give it the right to pick off the competition. If we elected a nazi party in the US that decided to kill all the dems and repubs, is it still ok? Because that's exactly what Hamas has been doing to Fatah, etc... They have executed key opposition party members & leaders.


Just for the record, I'm scottish. I am not pro-jewish or pro-muslim or pro-palestine. I am pro common sense. To be honest, I don't give a damn what happens over there. I just want it to be over with the least amount of conflict and death. The realist in me knows there is no way the Palestinians will win. It will never happen. Ever. It's akin to Delaware deciding to take down the rest of the US. It just won't fucking happen. So the key for palestine is to stop looking like idiotic terrorists, and start playing the pacifist crybabies if they want to achieve their goal. They've been using violence for how many years now? 50? How has that been working out for you guys?

Protip: If you are an arms dealer, keep religion and conflict alive and well. You will become rich.


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Americas involvement in Europe to prevent one power from dominating the continent (Imperial Germany, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union)

History fail. America was an considered an isolationist country until WW2.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_was_the_US_involved_in_World_War_2
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 16, 2009, 12:25:56 AM
Maybe morality is just easier to sell then power politics to a deeply religious public that values morality and many of whom might lack the intellect or interest to understand somewhat complex national interests.

Yes I suppose you are correct. After all Bush's election provided any nay-sayers with reinforcement that America indeed is populated majorly by Evangelist Christians who are VERY much morally opposed to senseless conflict (at least the ones that aren't GOP lapdogs) Obama's election has made me confident again that perhaps this group is not all brainwashed as previously thought by many a Democrat.

I am hoping that after Obama Democrats will follow suit and TARGET THIS GROUP directly so that we can continue winning elections in these crucial areas. All I know is that we can no longer employ the Texan's Cowboy Diplomacy method in International Relations.

It will not last and it will only make Russia and China that much more appealing to the Middle East.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 16, 2009, 12:32:42 AM
Is it not only morally correct to sell weapons in order for the people of your nation to thrive, isn't that a sole responsibility of a leader? Besides I am not sure what you mean by immoral sale, because as far as I know, Russia does not sell to the aggressor countries in middle east. At least at the present time.

Okay this is like saying the following:

I'm a gunshop owner and I'm going to sell my guns to this group called the Cowboy Club. I basically am reliant on the Cowboy Club's business in order to pay rent and send my kids to school.

However, it has become apparent to me that the Cowboy Club has been shooting out of towner's for no apparent reason. Also they are domestically abusing their wives and threatening them with death if they don't spread their legs for each and every Cowboy in the Cowboy Club. It also seems the Cowboy club is re-selling my guns to a group called the Bandolero Bandits. The Bandolero Bandits are even rougher and tougher than the Cowboy Club, and they are mercenaries that kill people to make a living.

I hear there is a town over out West where there is a more ethical group called the Colombia Crew. They seek gainful employment and they probably wouldn't use my guns to extort women and businesses. It would probably be in my best interest to move on out there since there is a demand there too and it wouldn't be too much of a hassle because it's a town only about 25 miles down the road.

But I think I'm just gonna stay right in this town cause the Cowboy Club pays me damn good money. Screw dem bitches. I am not directly selling to the Bandoleros so it's not my problem :)

Contrary to what some people are posting on this thread, being an arms dealer actually is more profitable when there is a strong government and regional stability. Arms dealers may have sales interrupted during insurgencies and may even face raids and attacks from militia groups looking to get extra ammunition and supplies but don't have the funds or authority to buy them legally. Do you know how many American contractors were killed in Iraq because of this dynamic?

Being an arms dealer or producer isn't all that it's cracked up to be. War may be profitable for the short term, but it's a business that doesn't leave much room for a long-term career, pension or freebies. On the other hand when you have a fascist state or dictatorship style regime, you have a permanent and stable customer with long term profit assured, where as with complex ethnic conflicts and intra-state scuffles you have to constantly be looking over your shoulder and looking out to see that your employees are being blown to ash by land mines and paramilitary sentinels.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 16, 2009, 04:01:14 AM
Your shitty analogy may be needed for you to grasp political realtions, however it is still an idiotic comparison of the political relations between countries today.

Being an arms dealer or producer isn't all that it's cracked up to be. War may be profitable for the short term, but it's a business that doesn't leave much room for a long-term career, pension or freebies. On the other hand when you have a fascist state or dictatorship style regime, you have a permanent and stable customer with long term profit assured, where as with complex ethnic conflicts and intra-state scuffles you have to constantly be looking over your shoulder and looking out to see that your employees are being blown to ash by land mines and paramilitary sentinels.

If you would have any perception on what the world is like, you would see that arms dealing on an international level is a huge business over long periods of time. We are talking about hundreds of years here, Insurgency will always be in someone's interest who will pay for the weapons and there are always central governments who will buy weapons to protect themselves against insurgents. And if the central government is overrun, a new one will be established which again is a potential customer.

I still challenge you to answer me how Russia has been selling weapons immorally to the middle east? Or are you maybe saying that their development of the Armour Piercing anti tank missile designed to penetrate Merkava tanks is immoral? Maybe the fact that they shit in US garden by selling weapons to Saudi Arabia for the first time in history? Or maybe selling the SA-15 Gauntlet anti air missile vehicle to Iran is a crime against humanity?
Please, answer me that if you even know a shit about what is being sold.

On a second hand we might see some other interesting developments there, it seems after Georgian war Russian want to modernize army by buying UAV and that means becoming Israel's customer. If anything like the deals Israel tried to make in the past time, they will most likely demand a reduced weapon sales to Syria, time will tell.

Also I might note that USA does sell to the "aggressors" like Israel, the weapon systems they sell are themselves mostly of the defensive nature. Example is Egypt buying a ton of Patriots a few years ago to have an intensive anti air capability at their borders.

And a terrorist organisation called Hamas? Oh they are firing home made rockets, using 50 year old AK47 and making IED to spread the terror.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 16, 2009, 12:22:00 PM

Quote
Americas involvement in Europe to prevent one power from dominating the continent (Imperial Germany, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union)

History fail. America was an considered an isolationist country until WW2.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_was_the_US_involved_in_World_War_2

It was isolationist until WW2 with the one exception of WW1 which also happens to be the only time prior to WW2 that one power was in a position to dominate Europe. Its easy to be isolationist when Europe enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace (at least the absence of major war) between the Napoleonic wars and world war one (1815-1914). When Imperial Germany was in a position to dominate Europe America left its isolation, same was true with Nazi Germany and it never returned to isolation when the Soviets threatened to do the same.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vicious796 on February 17, 2009, 01:22:10 PM

Quote
Americas involvement in Europe to prevent one power from dominating the continent (Imperial Germany, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union)

History fail. America was an considered an isolationist country until WW2.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_was_the_US_involved_in_World_War_2

It was isolationist until WW2 with the one exception of WW1 which also happens to be the only time prior to WW2 that one power was in a position to dominate Europe. Its easy to be isolationist when Europe enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace (at least the absence of major war) between the Napoleonic wars and world war one (1815-1914). When Imperial Germany was in a position to dominate Europe America left its isolation, same was true with Nazi Germany and it never returned to isolation when the Soviets threatened to do the same.

The US didn't care (publically at least) about a domination of Europe. Lusitania was sunk and the Germans were sending out messages to the Mexicans about retaking Texas. You kind've have to step-up there.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 17, 2009, 02:13:13 PM

The US didn't care (publically at least) about a domination of Europe. Lusitania was sunk and the Germans were sending out messages to the Mexicans about retaking Texas. You kind've have to step-up there.

What the Germans were proposing was Mexico joining the war against America IF the US joined WW1. Which the German leadership who all understood international politics saw as almost inevitable.

America was already supplying the Allies, helping to keep them fighting. Germany werent that afraid of sinking American ships since they believed America would join sooner or later anyway.

What stopped America was public opinion. Both Theodore Roosevelt and Wilson saw the need for entering the war but to say it would be political suicide. The sinking of American ships helped swing public opinion and it gave America a good reason to join. Im as thankful as everyone else in Europe should be that America did, but you dont send 2 million men over seas over a few dead sailors. The sinking of RMS Lusitania had about as much to do with ww1 as the attack on America ships in the gulf of tonkin had to do with the Vietnam war.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vicious796 on February 18, 2009, 03:42:50 PM

The US didn't care (publically at least) about a domination of Europe. Lusitania was sunk and the Germans were sending out messages to the Mexicans about retaking Texas. You kind've have to step-up there.

What the Germans were proposing was Mexico joining the war against America IF the US joined WW1. Which the German leadership who all understood international politics saw as almost inevitable.

America was already supplying the Allies, helping to keep them fighting. Germany werent that afraid of sinking American ships since they believed America would join sooner or later anyway.

What stopped America was public opinion. Both Theodore Roosevelt and Wilson saw the need for entering the war but to say it would be political suicide. The sinking of American ships helped swing public opinion and it gave America a good reason to join. Im as thankful as everyone else in Europe should be that America did, but you dont send 2 million men over seas over a few dead sailors. The sinking of RMS Lusitania had about as much to do with ww1 as the attack on America ships in the gulf of tonkin had to do with the Vietnam war.

Forgive me if I misspoke, I wasn't trying to claim the US went in solely for "just cause". I was trying to state that with the zimmerman telegram the British presented the US a threat from Germany, you can't just let it slide (in my opinion). You have to respond to said threat and make sure Mexico knows how we roll.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 19, 2009, 01:51:37 PM
My Philosophy professor notified us today that there is a great chance that Neutron bombs will be used resulting in partial Nuclear War in which Mutually Assured Destruction will not occur because Hamas doesn't have any nuclear weapons and Iran I believe only has 1 or 2 and I don't think it would be wise of them to waste it for non-defensive purposes.

Sorry for the run-on sentence.

Regardless of the infrastructural damage being kept to a minimum, Neutron bombs are still Nuclear weapons, by-product of Nuclear fission which is very dangerous to people living in the surrounding areas.

Somehow we've got to stop this before that happens, otherwise it will be another Hiroshima, with even more disastrous effects on the Arab population breeding more hatred and ill-will towards the Western world for generations to come. The Japanese may not have deserved Hiroshima but I think it was justifiable after finding out about the Rape of Nanking and other atrocities they committed upon the Chinese. However, Palestinians are merely trying to assert autonomy over their own homeland and identity. It would not be morally just to use nuclear arms because they are not a threat, despite the fact they are being represented and led by the nose of an irrational non-state actor.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 19, 2009, 02:24:11 PM
First of all they don't have a homeland, they never did. Secondly Iran doesn't have any nuclear weapons.

Also if you use a neutron bomb there, I can assure you there won't be any palestinians left to hate anyone, problem solved.


If I may suggest: not the use of nuclear weapons, but fuel air bomb. You can either use American Mother of all bombs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aBfOOo-n5k), or Russian more powerful counterpart Father of all bombs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2FGA3Z-oYM&feature=related).

Reason for that is really only intimidation. Doesn't matter if its MOAB that shakes the ground for many miles or FOAB that has a wave blast equal to the nuclear bomb, they both will scare the living shit out of HAMAS. This will give a hiroshima effect where Hamas will surrender quickly, but it will not leave radiation and will not cause the same damage as the fragmentation bombs do.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on February 19, 2009, 02:29:37 PM
My Philosophy professor notified us today that there is a great chance that Neutron bombs will be used resulting in partial Nuclear War in which Mutually Assured Destruction will not occur because Hamas doesn't have any nuclear weapons and Iran I believe only has 1 or 2 and I don't think it would be wise of them to waste it for non-defensive purposes.

Why?  The Israelis aren't going to render the entire West Bank uninhabitable, nor will they risk harming either their own people or the Egyptians with an idiotic nuclear attack on Gaza.

Honestly, they could raze Gaza in a week with conventional weapons so why would nukes ever be an option?

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The Japanese may not have deserved Hiroshima but I think it was justifiable after finding out about the Rape of Nanking and other atrocities they committed upon the Chinese.

There was never any moral justification, nor any intent to exact vengeance, with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  We did it because it was politically necessary.  Not only did it end the war in an instant, grease the rails for the most seamless and cooperative occupation in history, and let the rest of the world know that the US was the ultimate superpower, it also laid the foundation for the tacit non use agreement between the US and USSR.  Had those bombings never had happened, the likelihood of an all out nuclear war would have been much higher.  Sometimes the most pragmatic solution is the most morally offensive.

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However, Palestinians are merely trying to assert autonomy over their own homeland and identity. It would not be morally just to use nuclear arms because they are not a threat, despite the fact they are being represented and led by the nose of an irrational non-state actor.

Only Jew hating rumor mongers are suggesting that Israel might use nuclear weapons against the Palestinians.  The only real point of talking about it, and calling it unjustifiable, is to set up a situation in which the Palestinians attack, the Israelis don't respond with nukes, and the Jew haters claim credit for the salvation of both people, all while planning to restrict the rumors for the next staged, political relations event, only this time demanding that they not use tanks, the next time that they not use automatic weapons, the next that only stones may be thrown, etc., etc, until the Jews are only allowed to walk to the front, pull down their pants, and bend over for their rightful Arab masters.

If I may suggest: not the use of nuclear weapons, but fuel air bomb. You can either use American Mother of all bombs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aBfOOo-n5k), or Russian more powerful counterpart Father of all bombs (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2FGA3Z-oYM&feature=related).

You know I like it when you talk dirty.  Firebombs FTW.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 19, 2009, 02:45:10 PM
Quote from: sdedalus83
Sometimes the most pragmatic solution is the most morally offensive.

I am putting that in my sig...  ;D
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 19, 2009, 04:42:09 PM
My Philosophy professor notified us today that there is a great chance that Neutron bombs will be used resulting in partial Nuclear War in which Mutually Assured Destruction will not occur because Hamas doesn't have any nuclear weapons and Iran I believe only has 1 or 2 and I don't think it would be wise of them to waste it for non-defensive purposes.

Does he understand how tiny Israel is? There are cities larger then that country. Israel cant use nuclear weapons in Palestine without the radiation hurting their own people. Its just madness.

A very small tactical nuke might work, but that would only kill a limited number of people so then why not just use regular bombs. Israel will destroy their international relationships and possibly start another war with the arab countries. Why?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 20, 2009, 11:44:32 PM
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I meant to say that he said the United States would be testing the efficacy of Mini- neutron bombs as an anti-personnel weapon.

Israel will probably not be using Nuclear devices due to the proximity of Hamas, naturally, but that doesn't rule out our Military now does it?

However, I believe he was correct in saying that the negation of the concept of MAD and the introduction of partial-nuclear fallout is a great possibility with more precise nuclear weapons. The problem at hand is we do not know what will be prioritized, PEOPLE or PLACES?

In reality the United States is interested in having a military presence in the Middle East which would prioritize PLACE. The Israelis are interested in both their PEOPLE and PLACE of origin. However so is Hamas and the Palestinians. I understand while the Jews were there first you cannot just kick all the Palestinians to Egypt(who won't take them anyways). What about the Bedouins who have been there possibly as long as the Hebrews? There are some other arab-minority groups in Israel's territories aside from the Palestinians, I think all the great powers that be are concerned with in actuality is more with the PLACE rather than the legitimacy of the PEOPLE who are at risk in these territories.

Dragon, While you are correct that Israel would not use Nuclear bombs I was also referring to Russia and the United States. Even if the future is non-nuclear explosive weapons, the devastation is still massive. You talk about scaring Hamas yet the more damage we inflict upon Hamas the more the people will feel that Hamas is right.

There is no easy answer to this situation short of obliteration of all Palestinian nationals (as most of you seem to prefer). Although I would prefer to see the United Kingdom take full responsibility for creating the Republic of Palestine in that area to begin with, since they put Egyptians in that area and other Arabs while having colonial rule of the area, they should accept all refugees in this conflict.

It's amazing and depressing to see that the remnants of Post-colonialism is still causing massive problems of this scale...Doesn't anyone else see Great Britain as being partially responsible for the current state of affairs? Sending token soldiers to U.N. Peacekeeping commissions won't fulfill their obligation to these people (some of whom were FORCIBLY placed in the area by British officers).

I suppose why most people feel that Palestinians are in the wrong is that they forget that Pan-Arabist expansion of the Ottoman Empire only persisted and became the popular option in the Middle East because A) Woodrow Wilson openly condemned them and their way of life B) Great Britain used Pan-Arabist sentiments to do their own bidding in the region, never thinking of the Jews.

Whenever a greater "other" power appears similar peoples will unite to fight against it, similar to the infamous paradigm of "Fortress Europe" which even some Europeans are skeptical very of.

Perhaps if Israel had asserted itself as a Semitic country, and not an annexed territory of the U.S. the Arabs would have not perceived them as such a threat that they needed to unite against. But now it is too late and everyone will just have to die.

You people seem to forget that the primary Anti-Zionists were not Arabs but have been and continue to be overwhelmingly Europeans. Arabs and Jews co-existed in Ancient times long before the expansion of the Roman Empire or Macedonian, Byzantium pursuits for regional autonomy. Jews have existed in many Muslim kingdoms and regarded as brethren while members of other religions were spat upon and enslaved. We should not be pointing the fingers at the Arabs/Islamic world but OURSELVES historically as well as in the present moment.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on February 21, 2009, 01:10:29 AM
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I meant to say that he said the United States would be testing the efficacy of Mini- neutron bombs as an anti-personnel weapon.

Riiiiight, and I have a bridge to sell you in Death Valley.  Aside from spent Uranium shells (used because of their insane ballistics rather than as any sort of nuclear weapon), the US won't use anything that can be construed as nuclear unless someone else launches first.

Quote
However so is Hamas and the Palestinians. I understand while the Jews were there first you cannot just kick all the Palestinians to Egypt(who won't take them anyways). What about the Bedouins who have been there possibly as long as the Hebrews? There are some other arab-minority groups in Israel's territories aside from the Palestinians, I think all the great powers that be are concerned with in actuality is more with the PLACE rather than the legitimacy of the PEOPLE who are at risk in these territories.

Almost all former Palestinians are living peacefully in Isreal (1.4 million Arab Israeli citizens), or have migrated elsewhere and are currently living peacefully.
The current Palestinians are a hodgepodge of refugees from WWII, refugees from the invasions of Israel after WWII, refugees from other Arab wars, and terrorists from other Arab countries looking to take advantage of destitute refugees.  I'm sure there are a handful of real Palestinians left, but they're easily overwhelmed by the people dumped off by the rest of the Arab world as if they were refuse.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 21, 2009, 01:39:22 AM
The current Palestinians are a hodgepodge of refugees from WWII, refugees from the invasions of Israel after WWII, refugees from other Arab wars, and terrorists from other Arab countries looking to take advantage of destitute refugees.  I'm sure there are a handful of real Palestinians left, but they're easily overwhelmed by the people dumped off by the rest of the Arab world as if they were refuse.

Yeah, and this is pretty much why Hamas exists. If the Arab countries really cared about their cousins, instead of giving them bombs they would be giving them food, shelter and/or aid. On the other hand it is not these refugees who are at fault for having their homes destroyed and lands invaded by foreign powers. If what you said was true, and the composition is this mixed politically, then it is only natural that a radical organization such as Hamas would eventually take over to capitalize on the lack of unity of the Arabs in the territory.

And who do you think it is that created this hodgepodge? Even if it wasn't Europe or us directly, I am sure our actions have precipitated the random placement of these clandestine peoples in this land in the first place. And if the responsibility lies in our hands, why aren't we doing anything about it in terms of Development, Infrastructure and Stability of the local economy (Which will, in the end, assist all peace-building efforts)?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: sdedalus83 on February 21, 2009, 01:51:22 AM
and terrorists from other Arab countries looking to take advantage of destitute refugees

Yeah, and this is pretty much why Hamas exists. If the Arab countries really cared about their cousins, instead of giving them bombs they would be giving them food, shelter and/or aid.

why aren't we doing anything about it in terms of Development, Infrastructure and Stability of the local economy (Which will, in the end, assist all peace-building efforts)?

Your question has already been answered.  The Israelis have been willing, as have much of the Palestinian population, to end the conflict and establish a sovereign Palestinian state for quite some time now.  Those efforts fail because the rest of the Arab world want them to fail.  They want the Palestinians and Israelis to destroy themselves, so any effort, whether it is external aid with the intent to build infrastructure, or internal efforts to establish a State, results in externally influenced terrorist activity like the rocket attacks on Israel and the violent purge of Fatah in Gaza.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Unsubv on February 23, 2009, 02:31:02 AM
I can't believe you guys are really dumb enough to spout this nonsense?

What you are really saying is "Hamas and the Palestinians should just completely give up and let the Israelis
steal all their land and turf them out of their own country". This stupid propaganda that "they were never really living there anyway"
so Israel had the right to kill anyone who would not give up their land and throw the rest into tiny ghettos were they are
getting smaller and smaller as illegal settlements full of fanatical terrorists encroach on them is just so patently stupid.

Can't you empathize at all with other people?

Imagine if your family had had everything they owned stolen because some religious fanatics decided "They were gods chosen people"
and had a right to kill you to take it?  How is what Hamas is doing any different from what the Zionists did when they were terrorists like the King David hotel bombing?


Another retarded idea is that "Other muslim countries should just take the Palestinians to make it easier for Israel to steal the rest of their land.
That is the exact same as burning down somneones house and blaming the victims relatives for not letting them move in.

If you can't imagine what it would be like to spend your entire life in a openb air prison like Gaza and being blamed when air strikes kill 500 people mostly children because some angry young man fired a home made rocket that did nothing but show they have not totally given up then their is something very wrong with you as a person.
Anyone in that position would fight back against the fascists nazis who threw them into ghettos. 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 23, 2009, 10:49:53 AM
Stupid propaganda? it seems like you are the one who is fully buying in to the arab propaganda.

If the Israelis really drove the Arabs off their land and killed anyone who resisted then how do you explain that those who stayed (today 1/5 of Israelis) werent harmed, instead they were given full Israeli citizenship. Compare that with the Jews who lived in areas under Arab control, they all either fled, were driven away or was outright murdered. There were none left prior to the settlements. While the Arabs today live in Israel as equal citizens the Jews who live the Palestinian areas have to live in settlements with full military protection to avoid being killed.

Also Jewish armed resistance to British rule cant be compared with what the PLO and Hamas does. Im not supporting the terrorists attacks by groups like Irgun but there is a difference between attacking British military targets and blowing up buses and coffee shop full of innocent people. One has to remember that the King David hotel in those days was the center of British rule, it housed both the British military headquarter and the secretariat administrating British Palestine. Not to mention that a bomb threat was called in before the attack to try to avoid unnecessary casualties. Does that make it ok? No but there is simply no comparison between that and what Hamas is doing.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 23, 2009, 12:29:49 PM
This is exactly why this board sucks and no idea exchanging can come across.

It seems most of the people here are either for or against the Palestinians but no one is actively seeking to understand the objective moral truths of the issue.
Compare that with the Jews who lived in areas under Arab control, they all either fled, were driven away or was outright murdered. There were none left prior to the settlements.
false

While the Arabs today live in Israel as equal citizens the Jews who live the Palestinian areas have to live in settlements with full military protection, to avoid being killed.
true

Also Jewish armed resistance to British rule cant be compared with what the PLO and Hamas does. Im not supporting the terrorists attacks by groups like Irgun but there is a difference between attacking British military targets and blowing up buses and coffee shop full of innocent people. One has to remembered that the King David hotel in those days was the center of British rule, it housed both the British military headquarter and the secretariat administrating British Palestine. Not to mention that a bomb threat was called in before the attack to try to avoid unnecessary casualties. Does that make it ok? No but there is simply no comparison between that and what Hamas is doing.

What most of you people are not realizing (and what the Pro-Zionists seem to be dodging) is that ALL OF THIS IS THE BRITISH IMPERIAL ADMINISTRATION'S FAULT along with the United States administration at the time for BLINDLY doling out "self-determination" without regard for the potential explosive increase in regional tensions. The process should have been more guided and definitely younger countries should have been led by the hand so as not to trip and fall making easily foreseeable errors (from our perspective, and that of the old world, Western Europe).

THIS CURRENT CONFLICT is a prime example of a railroad wreck that former colonial powers should have easily seen coming, given the conflicts between former colonies India & Pakistan, and Eastern European ethnic violence and cleansing rampages throughout the Clinton Administration. (Effectively Clinton was cleaning up Soviet Imperialist messes to seek an unlikely ally in which it was largely a success compared to the 2nd Gulf War which was largely a failure due to the fact that this time around, NO ONE WAS BEING SLAUGHTERED BY FOREIGN POWERS, and there was no INTRA-STATE ethnic cleansing, hence the initiative was not a legitimate crisis required for the violation of sovereignty.)

However, while the attention now moves to Pakistan and Afghanistan the real diplomacy should be occurring right here in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank; a proven catalytic region that needs true:

- CLARIFICATION on LEGITIMACIES of TERRITORY
- OBJECTIVITY in culturally sensitive LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
- NON-INVOLVEMENT of INTERESTED STATES AND REGIONAL POWERS (U.S./England/Russia/Egypt/Syria/IRAN/etc)
- A true and LEGITIMATE treaty which establishes a Jewish political state with Arab populated, self-autonomous regions (Example - United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico).

IF AND ONLY IF these objectives are met and requirements fulfilled this will make EVERYONE happy and will stop the violence once and for all.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 23, 2009, 01:08:50 PM
What most of you people are not realizing (and what the Pro-Zionists seem to be dodging) is that ALL OF THIS IS THE BRITISH IMPERIAL ADMINISTRATION'S FAULT along with the United States administration at the time for BLINDLY doling out "self-determination" without regard for the potential explosive increase in regional tensions. The process should have been more guided and definitely younger countries should have been led by the hand so as not to trip and fall making easily foreseeable errors (from our perspective, and that of the old world, Western Europe).

The American anti imperialist push after ww2 as morally righteous as it might have been was irresponsible. America used Britains weak position and enormous debt to hasten the deconstruction of the empire.

The violent and non-violent nationalist movements in the colonies also pushed the British to pull out far sooner then what would have been best for the colonies and western security.

However I find it hard to blame Britain for not ensuring a more stable and peaceful future for its colonies. They were so destroyed by the two world wars that there werent much to put up against the pressure from America and the freedom movements. Its not an exaggeration to say that Britain sacrificed its empire to stop the Nazis. But where it really mattered like in Malaya the British still stayed and fought to defeat the communists before handing that country over to a responsible government. If only the French had done that in Indochina

Compare that with the Jews who lived in areas under Arab control, they all either fled, were driven away or was outright murdered. There were none left prior to the settlements.
false

Really? how many Jews lived in Gaza under Egyptian occupation and on the West Bank under Jordanian occupation. I think you can count them on one hand. Compare that to the thousands who lived there before the 1948 war.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 23, 2009, 02:14:37 PM
I would like to say something, but too lazy so:

I agree with lx4,

the rest of you see facts I repeated in the last 10 fucking pages. At least now there shouldn't be any discussion of who the land legally belongs to yet I still see bullshit like "Palestinian land" also known as "the land of many myths"
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Unsubv on February 23, 2009, 09:46:28 PM
I have to admit IX4 that is a very well reasoned insightful argument.
Some good points about the King David hotel bombing as well.
However I could use the same argument that if the KD hotel is a legitimate target
then so are the illegal Israeli settlements that are the target of most of the rocket attacks.
While innocents can be hurt in these attacks the settlements are a weapon used against
the Palestinians.

I don't agree with Hamas any more than you agree with Irgun.

The Israeli response to the rocket attacks etc seems so out of proportion that it can't be anything
other than revenge murders on a huge scale. If one Israeli dies it seems like 500 innocent Palestinians
many of them women and children are killed the next day. Or the siege in Lebanon where entire neighborhoods were leveled.

I read an interesting Headline today. Israel can be Democratic or Jewish but not both.


Also it really doesn't matter what "the Arabs" did or did not do in regards as to what is right or wrong.
My country Canada is fighting in Afghanistan and even though the Taliban might use suicide bombers and terror tactics that
does not make it OK for us to do it. Really if you are using the same evil tactics as your enemy how on earth can claim to be
morally superior? So I guess the IDF IS exactly the same type of terrorist group as they say Hamas is if they are willing to kill 100
civilians just to get one enemy?
 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on February 23, 2009, 10:56:27 PM

The Israeli response to the rocket attacks etc seems so out of proportion that it can't be anything
other than revenge murders on a huge scale. If one Israeli dies it seems like 500 innocent Palestinians
many of them women and children are killed the next day. Or the siege in Lebanon where entire neighborhoods were leveled.

Swordfish. "They bomb a church, we bomb 10. They hijack a plane, we take out an airport. They execute American tourist, we tactically nuke an entire city. Our job is to make terrorism so horrific that is becomes unthinkable to attack."

Excellent logic.

Here is the key: If they STOPPED ACTING LIKE TERRORISTS AND STARTED PLAYING THE "Oh poor us, we're oppressed" card, they'd get better results. In 50 years, they have yet to try.


Hamas? They might have been legally elected, but once you start assassinating key members of your opposition you are no longer a legal government in my eyes. They are terrorists. Admit it, and accept it.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 24, 2009, 12:41:43 AM
The American anti imperialist push after ww2 as morally righteous as it might have been was irresponsible. America used Britains weak position and enormous debt to hasten the deconstruction of the empire.
yes
The violent and non-violent nationalist movements in the colonies also pushed the British to pull out far sooner then what would have been best for the colonies and western security.
absolutely

However I find it hard to blame Britain for not ensuring a more stable and peaceful future for its colonies. They were so destroyed by the two world wars that there werent much to put up against the pressure from America and the freedom movements. Its not an exaggeration to say that Britain sacrificed its empire to stop the Nazis. But where it really mattered like in Malaya the British still stayed and fought to defeat the communists before handing that country over to a responsible government. If only the French had done that in Indochina.
Granted Britain may have been haggard and beaten in a Post WWII state of affairs, what about now? Have they merely "forgotten" about their responsibilities for their former subjugated peoples?
The Israeli response to the rocket attacks etc seems so out of proportion that it can't be anything
other than revenge murders on a huge scale. If one Israeli dies it seems like 500 innocent Palestinians
many of them women and children are killed the next day. Or the siege in Lebanon where entire neighborhoods were leveled.
This is my main issue with the Israeli government, Mayor Bloomberg (fantastic fiscal planner, horrifically uninformed on social issues) and others stress that proportionality cannot be applied when fighting non-state irrational actors. Fair enough. But we should actively look to be reducing casualties at all costs. We have the higher, more precise and advanced technology, we can do it.

I read an interesting Headline today. Israel can be Democratic or Jewish but not both.
This is also my issue with Israel. If Israel looks like a Theocracy (or a state that gives preferential rights, resources and opportunities to Jews) when this is all said and done, America's credibility for "Democracy and Equality" will be ripped to shreds, the double-standard will be revealed and we will never be able to redeem ourselves in the Middle East ever again. We cannot impose these values on the Ayatollah and Iran and say "Your state should be more Democratic and there should be a separation of Church and State." While supporting a Theocratic Israel. Basically saying: "Do AS I say and not AS I do." The ultimate hypocrisy incarnate. Much of our respect will lie in how we treat Arab-Muslim citizens in the Post-War situation. So far from what I've seen there has been no preferential treatment of any source (at least visible from a bird's eye view) but I am not on the ground level there so I couldn't say for sure.

Also it really doesn't matter what "the Arabs" did or did not do in regards as to what is right or wrong.
My country Canada is fighting in Afghanistan and even though the Taliban might use suicide bombers and terror tactics that
does not make it OK for us to do it. Really if you are using the same evil tactics as your enemy how on earth can claim to be
morally superior? So I guess the IDF IS exactly the same type of terrorist group as they say Hamas is if they are willing to kill 100 civilians just to get one enemy?

Much like the Vietcong, these will be the toughest enemies we will have ever faced or probably ever WILL face as a nation. They have completely different values from ours and much like the Chinese, their value applied to the individual is minimal. However, even if they exist for the community, they should realize that the United States remains infinitely stronger. Despite the fact that 9/11 was seen as a crushing blow to our Hegemony it really wasn't. The U.S. Republicans are stubborn as Oxes and will stop at nothing to obliterate Non-Christian nations. If the Muslim-Arab World values it's existence it will either a) Try their best not to anger Republicans b) Cooperate with Democrats so as to convey a sane, moral and rational community to the American People. Because in the end it will partially be the American people's decision whether or not to actively participate in the annihilation of an entire race or religion. (Although some such as Michael Moore say that  the decision was never in our hands to begin with.)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on February 24, 2009, 04:39:30 AM
I have to admit IX4 that is a very well reasoned insightful argument.
Some good points about the King David hotel bombing as well.
However I could use the same argument that if the KD hotel is a legitimate target
then so are the illegal Israeli settlements that are the target of most of the rocket attacks.
While innocents can be hurt in these attacks the settlements are a weapon used against
the Palestinians.

Illegal Israeli settlements? You do know that, get this, Israel owns the territory. Nor are all of the terrorists' targets settlements that Israel has tried to remove.


Quote
The Israeli response to the rocket attacks etc seems so out of proportion that it can't be anything
other than revenge murders on a huge scale. If one Israeli dies it seems like 500 innocent Palestinians
many of them women and children are killed the next day. Or the siege in Lebanon where entire neighborhoods were leveled.

The reason they seem "out of proportion" is twofold. One: the media doesn't report every rocket attack, but they do report every Israeli response. Two: Israel actually cares about its people and has set up a system to minimize damage and casualties, Hamas doesn't care about its people and in fact wants as many to die as possible. This gives very lopsided death and injury tolls. It's not that Israel is being "more vicious" it's that Israel is more focused on saving its citizens' lives.

Quote
I read an interesting Headline today. Israel can be Democratic or Jewish but not both.

I read a headline today: America's March to Socialism.

Doesn't mean it's true.  ::)


Quote
Also it really doesn't matter what "the Arabs" did or did not do in regards as to what is right or wrong.
My country Canada is fighting in Afghanistan and even though the Taliban might use suicide bombers and terror tactics that
does not make it OK for us to do it. Really if you are using the same evil tactics as your enemy how on earth can claim to be
morally superior? So I guess the IDF IS exactly the same type of terrorist group as they say Hamas is if they are willing to kill 100
civilians just to get one enemy?

The IDF doesn't use suicide bombers. Nor do they use terror tactics. If you tell people several days or weeks in advance "we will make this place ground zero of an all out assault" and they don't leave it's not really your fault nor is it a terror tactic. If you send suicide bombers to Haifa and they take out a dance club without warning then that is a terror act.

Learn the difference.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 25, 2009, 12:09:04 AM
In debating the legitimacy of these Israeli settlements one encounters the same quandary when debating over Israel's sovereignty as a nation.

The U.S. and it's allies believe Israel has the right to exist.
The Soviet Union does not want Israel to exist, merely because it is our ally.
The Arab-Muslim regimes refuse to believe that Israel should exist, similarly, because they are our allies.

As I said in previous posts, unless the ties and sentiments to the Pan-Arabist movement and allegiances to the Ottoman Empire are more deeply understood by the West there will never be peace in the region.

Post-Colonialism still lurks in the politics and national sentiments of Egypt and the former annexed Republic of Palestine. In the same way that many of the Pro-Zionists say that Palestine never existed, the neighboring Arab countries feel that Israel has never "truly" existed.

All of this is a matter of perception which can be highly manipulated.

This is why I believe that the only way to end the violence is by coming up with a treaty that respects the identities and comprehensive human rights of both the Arabs and Jews living in the region EQUALLY without discrimination.

What the Anti-proportionality crowd also does not understand is that Radical Muslims feed off of the Oppression of their brethren. Every time a Muslim child is killed by stray fragments of explosives we prove their radical beliefs to be correct and morally just.

While this may seem sick and demented to us, to them it is a valid and honorary set of values held dear that drives them to continue sacrificing their own people for the perceived strength of their community (emphasis on perceived).

As I have also said before, Islam doesn't necessarily emphasize the individual over the collective. This becomes problematic when totaling casualties and perceived damages to the rebels. What they perceive as damaging most likely does not correspond to what we view as damages.

While Mohammad strictly forbids senseless violence there are some passages in the Quran that may be interpreted to taking up one's sword for justice in extreme circumstances. Unfortunately, we are creating those extreme circumstances in the method which is almost exactly prescribed in the Islamic holy books referring to the situation of "Total Annihilation of the [Muslim Community], degradation of the homelands and ways of life of our brothers and sisters and the coming of the [Charlatan] who would have us believe that another way of living is somehow superior to our current [faith doctrines]."

The reason why these terrorists continue to have power over the citizens of the former Ottoman Empire is exactly due to the nature of our actions in the past and our actions of today. In the catchecism of some branches of Christianity and Islam there is referred to the notion of a [False State] which attempts to parade itself as an "Empire of the Lord" [Jesus Christ], and under Radical interpretation, the United States easily fits the mold of this prospective "Nation of Demons" [The disillusioned captured by Satan] which has appeared in some Radical Muslim literature and in a toned down format in some Radical Christian sects.

People continue to underestimate the effects of Religious Propaganda and the lack of Education, and this will be our ultimate undoing as a people and as a nation. Religion has been and continues to be one of the cauldrons responsible for global violence and conflict, contrary to logic which would presume that having values and metaphysics ingrained into oneself from youth until adulthood would precipitate a diminished capacity for violence.

If we do not stop talking with bombs and start talking with our mouths and voicing out our opinions through a safe and equal forum there will be no more people left to subjugate, or educate! The reality is that some people here just would rather see all the Arabs killed simply because they are different, rather than to learn from them and attempt to understand what drives them, so that true negotiations are made and an understanding can be reached somehow. Regardless if there are people who truly cannot be reached or changed, we should handle the problem to the best of our capability and not merely replicate and dole out what they have done unto us, because this is simply not the way of the ethical person nor the true Christian.

While it is not realistic to follow a "turn the other cheek" policy, instead of knocking the person out cold for his transgressions, why not grab his hand and attempt to speak to him, instead of shutting him up before you get to hear what he has to say? While it is not expected for soldiers to follow this policy it is SURELY THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF EFFORT that should be expected of our politicians and legislators who are communicating (or not communicating) with these constituencies.

Sorry for the constipated language, but the focus of this entire issue is rooted in Philosophical doctrine. And what is ironic is that even Western schools of thought which operate on these Philosophical precepts are largely in unanimous disagreement for the most part with U.S. actions in the Middle East overall.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on February 25, 2009, 05:56:52 AM
In debating the legitimacy of these Israeli settlements one encounters the same quandary when debating over Israel's sovereignty as a nation.

The U.S. and it's allies believe Israel has the right to exist.
The Soviet Union does not want Israel to exist, merely because it is our ally.
The Arab-Muslim regimes refuse to believe that Israel should exist, similarly, because they are our allies.

Russia actually supported Israel in the beginning because of its strongly communist and socialist leanings in the form of Kibutzim.

Quote
As I said in previous posts, unless the ties and sentiments to the Pan-Arabist movement and allegiances to the Ottoman Empire are more deeply understood by the West there will never be peace in the region.

Post-Colonialism still lurks in the politics and national sentiments of Egypt and the former annexed Republic of Palestine. In the same way that many of the Pro-Zionists say that Palestine never existed, the neighboring Arab countries feel that Israel has never "truly" existed.

Except there has never been an independent country known as "Palastine" whereas there was an independent country known as "Israel." So they are wrong. Fact-based wrong, not just opinion-based wrong.

Quote
All of this is a matter of perception which can be highly manipulated.

Reread this entire fucking thread. If you read the facts it's pretty fucking clear.

Quote
This is why I believe that the only way to end the violence is by coming up with a treaty that respects the identities and comprehensive human rights of both the Arabs and Jews living in the region EQUALLY without discrimination.

Which Israel has tried. It really is the Palestinians' fault. They don't want equality and peace. They never have. Do you know what Hamas' founding charter calls for? The destruction of Israel and the death of all Jews. And they were elected. Shows you how much the Palestinians want "equality," doesn't it?

Quote
What the Anti-proportionality crowd also does not understand is that Radical Muslims feed off of the Oppression of their brethren. Every time a Muslim child is killed by stray fragments of explosives we prove their radical beliefs to be correct and morally just.

While this may seem sick and demented to us, to them it is a valid and honorary set of values held dear that drives them to continue sacrificing their own people for the perceived strength of their community (emphasis on perceived).

As I have also said before, Islam doesn't necessarily emphasize the individual over the collective. This becomes problematic when totaling casualties and perceived damages to the rebels. What they perceive as damaging most likely does not correspond to what we view as damages.

And their children's television programming tells them to become suicide bombers. They obviously have fucked up values.


Quote
While it is not realistic to follow a "turn the other cheek" policy, instead of knocking the person out cold for his transgressions, why not grab his hand and attempt to speak to him, instead of shutting him up before you get to hear what he has to say? While it is not expected for soldiers to follow this policy it is SURELY THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF EFFORT that should be expected of our politicians and legislators who are communicating (or not communicating) with these constituencies.

We've tried that. Several fucking times. Remember all those US led peace talks? Or the ones brokered by Egypt? The ones that created truces that Palestinians violated time and time again?

Here's a suggestion: catch a fucking clue, you're obviously motherfucking retarded.

We've heard what they have to say, but you're demonstrably deaf, so I'll spell it out for you: "We hate Israel, we hate Jews, we hate America. Death to Israel, death to the Jews, death to America." Clear enough for you?

Quote
Sorry for the constipated language, but the focus of this entire issue is rooted in Philosophical doctrine. And what is ironic is that even Western schools of thought which operate on these Philosophical precepts are largely in unanimous disagreement for the most part with U.S. actions in the Middle East overall.

The philosophical precepts that the radical Palestinian terrorists use can be used to justify their motives. Huh, go figure.


A circumlocution, ergo worthless.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 25, 2009, 02:27:30 PM

Russia actually supported Israel in the beginning because of its strongly communist and socialist leanings in the form of Kibutzim.

Idiots like him will not even listen to facts, and you think he will take your word for it? Anyway:

Quote
Eleven minutes after the Declaration of Independence was signed, President Truman de facto recognized the State of Israel, followed by Iran (which had voted against the UN partition plan), Guatemala, Iceland, Nicaragua, Romania and Uruguay. The Soviet Union was the first nation to recognize Israel de jure on 17 May 1948, followed by Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Ireland and South Africa.[11] The United States extended official recognition on 31 January 1949.[12]

Wow, comes as a shock eh?

Quote
As mentioned earlier, around one million Israelis are Russian-speakers who immigrated in the last 12 years. They make up around 20 percent of Israel's Jewish population and are a powerful political, cultural, and economic force in the country. Their impact has not only been significant in the country's internal politics, but has also altered Russia's perception of Israel and hence bilateral relations and mutual perceptions.

So that's why they make awesome weapons as well.  ;)

Quote
Israel is also a choice destination for Russian tourists – which is not surprising since it is one of the few countries outside the former USSR where large numbers of people are both willing and able to speak Russian. (Many East Europeans can also speak Russian, but are often unwilling to do so – especially with Russians.) Further, the number of Russian tourists visiting Israel is only likely to grow since they can now travel there without obtaining a visa in advance.

Tourist spot? Who could have known?
Ok, moving on

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote
Reread this entire fucking thread. If you read the facts it's pretty fucking clear.

Some people need facts, other just have their own opinions. Most people however are just pussies who always defend the weak side because that is "the right thing to do".

Quote
And their children's television programming tells them to become suicide bombers. They obviously have fucked up values.

With high entertainment value like:

Become a Shahid - how to die for Allah (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-MnAYiEWk)

And the all famous Hamas bunny (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm8w7_P8wZ0&feature=related)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 25, 2009, 04:53:48 PM
Alright folks I give up, let's just do what we did in Iraq and kill millions of people while accomplishing nothing.

I hate to be cliché but if you do not gain the hearts and minds of the people (as stated by an official regarding the Vietnam War) you will sow the seeds of hatred for generations upon generations.

Yes I know there are Radical Palestinians who use their children for bombs. Yes I know in certain schools they teach the children to hate the West.

Well guess what, the Answer is NOT to kill those people, the answer is to PROVIDE these people with suitable alternative institutions and keep proposing and negotiating with them until the bitter end. Philisophically it is our duty as members of the human race to preserve our species and protect the existence of our fellow man.

Many of you think that some people who step up for the "weakling" is just being a whiny liberal. Too bad in reality it takes a lot more strength of character to defend the underdog, who may be morally corrupt than to take the up the path of the [circumstantial winner] who has merely been privliged enough to be born in a country in which these universal values are endowed upon him at an early age.

Realize the fortune you have in being born American and have Empathy for the people that were not born into a community emphasizing the freedom of the mind, body and spirit. For one day it may be us who are in the situation of being called "Ruthless Vagabonds and Rebels" and the tables will be turned. We will want those same people to attempt to understand OUR struggle as we understood theirs.

I and true Americans WILL NOT participate in the support of:

1) Goading on our current political and idealogical enemies.
2) Creating Generations of new soldiers who solely exist to obliterate this great nation and it's ideals.
3) Solely thinking of the short-term benefits that we believe are somehow entitled to us from a "short, quick and easy" war.

Need I remind you folks that it was only 300 years ago in which we were called "Terrorists" "Traitorous" and "Sacrireligious" along with everything else in the book. We were doomed to hell by the Catholics who had taken over Europe and it was universally accepted that the people being sent to the Colonies were "tainted ones" suited for conquering the "barbarians"(native americans) who were considered even lower than our forefathers.

History can change in an instant. A unlikely victor could turn global idealogies upside down and one day Christians may be the object of head hunting. And then when the tables are turned there will be several constitutencies watching and they will remember our deeds done unto them in the past. I refuse to foster irresponsible and disproportionate reactions that will create even more savage warriors for my future generations to have to contend with.

You people can say all you want about the Palestinians but unless you manage to obliterate each and everyone of them from the face of the planet, the seeds of hatred will NEVER die. And even then their friends and allies will fight viciously for them post-mortem.

Today's enemy is tommorow's ally and vice versa. Will we continue to follow Israel recklessly into a politicaly abyss that we cannot dig ourselves out of? Will our allies abandon us in our greatest time of need?

A comprimise a friend of mine suggested was that there be a dual-state and that Jerusalem be classified as an international city under the jurisdiction of the international community at large. It is a Holy Place for Christians, Muslims and Jews and should be a universal safe haven for Religious clergy and parishioners. It should NOT be desecrated and fought over and no blood should be spilled within the limits of this city. I feel that if we first show RESPECT for the cities and their signifigance being fought over, we can further convince Arab-Muslims Administrations that we in the West DO have values and our goal is not Imperialism but cooperation.

The fact of the matter is all Proin is arguing is that "We have tried over and over again to come to talks with these people but they continue to violate the terms of established peace talks and cease-fires."

What you have to realize is that a lot of these people are IGNORANT. They only know what Hamas teaches them and they have no idea what is going on, who they are up against and why they are fighting.

Guess what? This means they are not morally responsible for all of their actions.

If I didn't attend college I would have no idea for example that we once supported the Ayatollah or that we were responsible for giving Saddam weapons of mass destructions in the past. (Not that he used those exact same weapons against us, but the intention of empowering him despite his malicious behavior is the moral issue.)

You people keep stressing "the facts" but unfortunately Facts are based on one's prior knowledge, learning capability and resources. In some places in the Middle East there is no T.V. and barely radio. All you know of is hearsay, the occasional newspaper and what soldiers may tell you. I highly doubt half the people who support Hamas even know what America is, what it stands for, or it's history. So how can we blame these people who don't know anything about us.

The only people we can hold reprehensible for these crimes against Israelis are the Hamas politicians themselves, the Arab-Muslim administrations that support them and other constituencies that donate WEAPONS (not humanitarian aid) to them. You can say all you want about Democracy being only possible "when the people stand up to demand it", but a convieniently forgotten yet crucial part of that sentence is "- when INFORMED people stand up to demand it".

Half of these people don't even speak fucking English. How the fuck do they know anything about us let alone be able to trust us with their nation and their people. As I said time and time again (but the feverent Zionists just won't let up) unless GENUINE UNDERSTANDING is reached, people will continue to kill each other mercilessly with reckless abadon and no true comprehension of WHO they are killing.

It just seems so stupid that people are killing each other over ideals in which either: They barely understand, or they barely understand the reason WHY this person believes in a competing idealogy.

The fact remains that I have yet to see ANY ESPIONAGE acts revealed since the beginning of the conflict. (Normally they aren't revealed due to the sensitive nature of the operations but I would think 6 months after the fact would be a decent enough time gap) If it is the case that Hamas is brainwashing the people the problem will not be resolved by merely killing the officials, there has to be a LEGITIMATE successor who does not have a vested interest in our government or that of Israel. If this cannot be procured either a) the violence will continue until other powerful countries become involved b) everyone dies.

But I'm sure most of the people on this board would much rather see scenario "b" occur.  :) Since the value of Palestinian life is so much lower than that of Israelis or Americans that they are completely disposable. Shame on you all. I don't give a shit if they resist until we have to subdue them all by force. Not enough efforts are being made on the ground level to either a) combat the misconceptions that Hamas is spreading b) provide the citizens with alternative groups or safe havens in which they will not be killed and not have contact or pressure from Hamas.

What people have to realize is that this is the same situation as Mafia extortion. The store owner is clearly going to say "Fuck you copper" if the police asks for information on who is exorting his shop. Why? Because then Don Cappadona will bust a cap in his daughter's head if he squeals. We don't know what Hamas is doing behind the scenes to "convince" these people that they need Hamas or that they need to kill us. People who are starving and in a desperate situation will believe ANYTHING they need to in order to survive.

This doesn't mean kill the shop owner, this means capture Don Cappadona, and get to him through any means neccesary. Where the fuck is James Bond? Sipping a ice cold latte with mother fucking Hugo Chavez. There are never secret agents around when you need them, what we need is intelligence right now in the Middle East. Bush wasn't even competent enough to assasinate Chavez despite the fact that we have agents crawling all over Colombia (Our bitch in South America) so I doubt he could even manage getting intelligence on Hamas organizational recruiting and operational methods in Gaza.


Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 25, 2009, 05:43:15 PM


Realize the fortune you have in being born American and have Empathy for the people that were not born into a community emphasizing the freedom of the mind, body and spirit. For one day it may be us who are in the situation of being called "Ruthless Vagabonds and Rebels" and the tables will be turned. We will want those same people to attempt to understand OUR struggle as we understood theirs.

I hope that one is not being aimed at me because I would take it as great insult.

Quote
I and true Americans WILL NOT participate in the support of: ...
Of course not, they will open up Casinos in Nevada reservations.  ::)
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 26, 2009, 12:43:57 AM
I hope that one is not being aimed at me because I would take it as great insult.
Comment is directed at any and all Americans who forget that we are truly privileged to be born in and be members of this great nation with great potential.

Do not have pity on those who just happened to be born in Arab-Muslim in Israel (and have Hamas be one of the only role models to look up to who share your race, religion and political heritage and ideologies); but keep this in mind for this is the same as condemning ghetto children in Urban America to a life of crime because their father was a drug dealer and their mother was a crack addict.

People can deviate from their upbringing but only when a FEASIBLE alternative dialogue has been provided to them. Don't tell a convict not to steal, teach him how to make things and earn an honest living and he won't WANT to go back to stealing.

Even under Racist Radical Republican sentiments one could theoretically adopt this philosophy and operate in a moral fashion by aiding those who you feel are beneath you to rise up to your "level". This is why I can never trust Republican dialogue when it comes to Israel because they aren't interested in solving the problem, all they want to do (similar to their stance on global and domestic poverty) is point fingers, shout and say "Well the reason why these particular people cannot provide for themselves is because they haven't adopted Democracy of course!" Then when they do adopt Democracy they aren't implementing it good enough, and so and and so on...ad infinitum.

If special allocations cannot be made for the disadvantaged then the entire system will collapse because of countries and peoples being held to impossible standards. Give Hamas rational and feasible objectives and guidelines and they will be forced to cooperate especially if the people see the American/Israeli offerings as pragmatically SENSIBLE and morally SOUND.

I hate to allude to a cartoon in regards to real life but actually this idea was originally taken from an actual diplomat before it was featured in the animation of Code Geass:

"Only fools wage wars." - Emperor of Britannia.

War should be (if not the last) the next to last resort, preceded by diplomacy, sanctions, and deterrence. While appeasement was proven to be ineffective in the aftermath of WWI, strategic deterrence and sanctions are positive actions taken and they cannot be disregarded as having little noticeable effect, because it depends entirely on the circumstance.

However, I will concede just this once to a small portion of the Republican argument which is correct, that Hamas may be actively rejecting humanitarian aid from NGOs that are closely affiliated with the U.S. This poses to be a disastrous problem if it comes to more closely reflect the situation of Myanmar, where humanitarian aid shipments to starving and dying people were regarded as "breaches to sovereignty"  >:(

However, this should make us even more determined to fight Hamas more than just with bombs but with relentless peace talks and bombardment of diplomacy and COMPROMISE, something which we have very little experience in as a political entity.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 26, 2009, 03:43:48 AM
Bah, a lot of preaching here.

As I said before this war serves a purpose, Arabs are not unified and they are not focused. As long as they fight in middle east, they will not try to encroach on Europe, except of the Turks which I would love to obliterate as a nation.

Also for anyone saying that blockade is not an answer I will tell this: remember the Chinese wall? It sure as hell worked for them!
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: zherok on February 26, 2009, 03:57:11 AM
Well, it did until someone on the inside opened it up.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Unsubv on February 26, 2009, 04:00:38 AM
The Monglos just rode around the wall and conquered China.


I agree with most of what you have to say Furoshiki. It seems like the US/Israeli side of this conflict simply cannot
comprehend what it would be like to be a Palestinian living in Gaza. Most of them were born in Israeli captivity.

I also don't understand how anyone can say that Israel's blowing up a whole block
of innocent people to try and kill one guy is any different than a suicide bomber?
Especially if it is a retaliation strike after a Hamas attack. They are both murdering innocent
civilians to punish each other. I am sure Hamas would rather have F16's and heavy artillery
but you fight with what you have.

It is not your weapons that make you a terrorist but whether you kill innocent people and civilians.

It also really bugs me how the Israelis whine about a few missiles fired at illegal (at least according to the UN ,the world court etc) settlements
and then turns around and does the exact same thing except with 100 times the victims.

Have you ever thought that if you get the moral right to kill their civilians then when you do kill theirs
then by the same standard they have a moral right to kill yours?

Thats why it is wrong no matter who does it with what weapons.


The double standards you guys apply are shocking. How is Hamas bunny any different than GI Joe or superman VS Hitler or the billions of other
propaganda comics we have put out? Besides the quality of the animation of course.

I actually want Israel to survive and I am sure that using the exact same tactics the nazis used 60 years ago is going to blow up in their face.


Say your a Palistinian ,you were born in Gaza ,you used to have a farm but now that is an illegal settlement ,you have to go through
checkpoints every few blocks ,water ,food and electricity are always out. You have never been involved in politics but one day your home with several members of your family inside is leveled because Israeli intelligence got word that a Hamas member was nearby. They got him but a dozen innocent people as well.
If you don't want to fight back you are not human. Israel says the only way they will stop killing is if you and everyone else totally surrenders. That means if one Palestinian
is still pissed enough to make a rocket there will never be peace.

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 26, 2009, 01:32:23 PM
The Monglos just rode around the wall and conquered China.

And Israel made a complete blockade, around where will they ride now?

Quote
I also don't understand how anyone can say that Israel's blowing up a whole block
of innocent people to try and kill one guy is any different than a suicide bomber?

I can explain, when missile is fired from a backyard of that block full of civilians and Israel targets the launch location, they are not the terrorists. Basically if you make a civilian block into a military target, expect it to be bombed at some point of time.

Quote
It is not your weapons that make you a terrorist but whether you kill innocent people and civilians.
How many of them are morally innocent? By that I mean those who do not shetler, feed, elect and support Hamas?

Quote
Say your a Palistinian ,you were born in Gaza ,you used to have a farm but now that is an illegal settlement ,you have to go through
checkpoints every few blocks ,water ,food and electricity are always out. You have never been involved in politics but one day your home with several members of your family inside is leveled because Israeli intelligence got word that you had built a missile silo camouflaged as a farm and fired a missile there a day ago. They got him but a dozen innocent people as well.

Fixed

Yes, water is gone because Hamas drained the pipes and use them as tunnels for weapon smuggling. Electricity is supplied by Ashqelon (city north of Gaza) and for some weird reason Hamas always fire in that direction. Why the hell does Israel even supply Gaza with electricity in the first place?

Quote
If you don't want to fight back you are not human. Israel says the only way they will stop killing is if you and everyone else totally surrenders. That means if one Palestinian is still pissed enough to make a rocket there will never be peace.

I am too lazy to do math now, but I am sure that mortality rate is higher then birth rate, so this problem should go away after some decades.

Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on February 26, 2009, 03:13:03 PM
As long as they fight in middle east, they will not try to encroach on Europe, except of the Turks which I would love to obliterate as a nation.
The Turks want to become PART of the European Union. They have massive immigration to Germany. Perhaps you will want to contact the German Diet/Parliament and tell them to stop importing Turks before this transpires.

Also for anyone saying that blockade is not an answer I will tell this: remember the Chinese wall? It sure as hell worked for them!
The Chinese wall required:
1) Immense amount of soldiers (Well China is #1 in population so it works out.) Also I believe their Male population exceeds the females by 5%-10%.
2) Unity, Uniformity in politics at the national/federal level to authorize the creation of said wall (which Europe does not typically have)


Dragoon AceHigh conveniently avoids my previous argument which nullifies the negative light in which some people may view that the Palestinian people are giving aid and shelter to Hamas:
The fact of the matter is all Proin is arguing is that "We have tried over and over again to come to talks with these people but they continue to violate the terms of established peace talks and cease-fires."

What you have to realize is that a lot of these people are IGNORANT. They only know what Hamas teaches them and they have no idea what is going on, who they are up against and why they are fighting.

Guess what? This means they are not morally responsible for all of their actions.

You people keep stressing "the facts" but unfortunately Facts are based on one's prior knowledge, learning capability and resources. In some places in the Middle East there is no T.V. and barely radio. All you know of is hearsay, the occasional newspaper and what soldiers may tell you. I highly doubt half the people who support Hamas even know what America is, what it stands for, or it's history. So how can we blame these people who don't know anything about us.

The only people we can hold reprehensible for these crimes against Israelis are the Hamas politicians themselves, the Arab-Muslim administrations that support them and other constituencies that donate WEAPONS (not humanitarian aid) to them. You can say all you want about Democracy being only possible "when the people stand up to demand it", but a convieniently forgotten yet crucial part of that sentence is "- when INFORMED people stand up to demand it".

Half of these people don't even speak fucking English. How the fuck do they know anything about us let alone be able to trust us with their nation and their people. As I said time and time again (but the feverent Zionists just won't let up) unless GENUINE UNDERSTANDING is reached, people will continue to kill each other mercilessly with reckless abadon and no true comprehension of WHO they are killing.
I am too lazy to do math now, but I am sure that mortality rate is higher then birth rate, so this problem should go away after some decades.

Yep, not only are you too lazy to attempt and view the problem from a Native Palestinian perspective, you simply do not give a shit whether an entire people are obliterated.

It would be safe to say that you would be against any policies that would accept Palestinian refugees into the United States or Europe, since you would rather have them all just "disappear" than actually come up with a moral solution to the problem. And please don't try and provide a "Realist dialogue"  because Realism only works up until a certain point, in which it has to be tethered before all human life on earth is annihilated. If there is even a small chance that we can stop this conflict and resolve problems litigiously, it should be done in that manner.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on February 26, 2009, 03:50:22 PM
The Turks want to become PART of the European Union. They have massive immigration to Germany. Perhaps you will want to contact the German Diet/Parliament and tell them to stop importing Turks before this transpires.

No worries, they can't become a part of EU as long as there is one member doesn't accept that. Guess what, Greece is one of those countries.

Quote
The Chinese wall required:
1) Immense amount of soldiers (Well China is #1 in population so it works out.) Also I believe their Male population exceeds the females by 5%-10%.
2) Unity, Uniformity in politics at the national/federal level to authorize the creation of said wall (which Europe does not typically have)

First of all Gaza blockade is way smaller then Chinese wall and second of all it is in middle east and not Europe. Geography fail.

Quote
Dragoon AceHigh conveniently avoids my previous argument which nullifies the negative light in which some people may view that the Palestinian people are giving aid and shelter to Hamas:

Fine, I'll answer, those leaflets that Israel air drops on like a daily basis and radio transmissions which are possible to tune in Gaza (Hamas does not have a jamming equipment) is not educating them?

Quote
Yep, not only are you too lazy to attempt and view the problem from a Native Palestinian perspective, you simply do not give a shit whether an entire people are obliterated.
Correct, I don't give a shit. I don't see them as entire people because they are not an own ethnic group. Just a bunch of Arabs from different neighbouring countries. (Pretty much like americans). And don't tell me that obliterating Gaza will kill all Arabs. See? No genocide.

Quote
It would be safe to say that you would be against any policies that would accept Palestinian refugees into the United States or Europe,
Correct once again. What a fuck do we need them for in our country? They are not even useful in any way whatsoever, they are born into war and have no skills to contribute to society. And if they flee, they should go to Syria, Egypt and countries with similar cultural values. I see no reason for them Islamizing Europe.

Quote
since you would rather have them all just "disappear" than actually come up with a moral solution to the problem.
Correct again! I think "disappearing" is a solution. Also morality is a personal perception and my moral values have no problem with them. So it is a moral solution.

Quote
And please don't try and provide a "Realist dialogue"  because Realism only works up until a certain point, in which it has to be tethered before all human life on earth is annihilated. If there is even a small chance that we can stop this conflict and resolve problems litigiously, it should be done in that manner.
Diplomacy on paper is vague and temporal at best, dominance achieved through war makes for much stronger diplomatic relations. Remember Chamberlain tried to negotiate with Hitler because there "was a small chance" and USA nuked 2 Japanese cities filled with civilians and guess what relations they have now? I think Japan is the most trustworthy ally USA has right now.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on February 26, 2009, 04:52:06 PM
Its interesting how Kuwait expelled half a million Palestinians from their country after the Gulf War for supporting Saddam and no one cared.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Proin Drakenzol on February 26, 2009, 11:57:50 PM
@furuoshiki: Have you ever heard the phrase "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"?


We have attempted to "reeducate" the Palestinians. They do not wish to learn. At what point does a person become responsible for their own actions? If they are offered help, but refuse it that is their choice. If they are offered peace, but refuse it, that is their choice. If they are offered a compromise, but they refuse it, that is their choice.

Either the Palestinians are a bunch of children that need to have their limited autonomy revoked so that wiser, more mature people can babysit them, OR they should be held responsible for their actions and dealt with accordingly. There is no "best of both worlds." One or the other. Do we need to rule them? Or can they rule themselves and are therefor to be held accountable for their actions?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on March 07, 2009, 04:06:08 PM
I've thought about it and my stance remains the same. If you let the Palestinians die and become lost to Hamas you will let countless other minority groups fall to the same fate.

Morality may be subjective to a degree but all have the right to live. Perhaps if we focus on this simple premise, progress can be made. Instead of making power the objective of proceedings we need to stick to the preservation (not the creation) of life that already exists.

No one is saying that every human should live a 100 years because mother nature has already provided us with several mechanisms (pandemics/diseases/internal genetic flaws) to prevent that, but humans should not have to die from un-natural causes precipitated by bullet wounds, senseless violence and killing that accomplishes nothing but creating more hatred and sadness. The Utilitarian in me concurs that killing all of the Palestinians will only seek to cause more cards to be stacked against us in the future in the Middle East.

Kill all the Palestinians and the Arabs states will have enough moral weight against us to justify almost any actions against the United States. And any other global power will likely side with them to gain them as a counter-balance against our own might. Even though it would be a logical fallacy to do this, the Arab Muslims do not operate on Western thought traditions and as such are not liable for abiding by it's premises.

What some people on this thread don't understand is that the United States is playing a chess game and is losing BADLY. Our imperial strategic warfare is losing on many levels, idealogical, military-wise, and diplomacy-oriented advances are pretty much non-existent under a Republican congress/President. Perhaps with Obama we can regain our footing. Because as it is right now we have downgraded from a Queen (We fell from "King" status after the irrational response to 9/11) to a rook. And if anyone in here plays chess you know a rook is worth less than a pawn (and is more vulnerable than a pawn)generally until the last quarter of the game.

Guess who is King now? I'm going to say the European Union. And who is Queen? I'm going to say that is BRIC (Brazil/Russia/India/China) countries combined. If we want to resume status of Queen we not only need to save moral face in the international community, but we need to consolidate resources, which means down-sizing our military operations and letting people worldwide tend to their own affairs as we tend to our own wounds.

That being said...

1)Why are we still in Israel when supposedly the real danger is in Afghanistan? 

2) Why aren't we cooperating with the Indian military to quell the Al Qaeda/Taliban (potential) cooperative threat? India is concerned about it's own sovereignty right now and I'm sure they would appreciate it if we helped them out regarding Pakistan and Afghani relations (in reference to the new oil Pipeline especially). We need a friend in Asia to counter-balance against China and we need it quickly. Israel can take care of themselves for a while, and if what was said earlier about Russian immigrants and Russian diplomacy with Israel was true, then maybe we need to leave them in their hands for a little while until our other messes are cleaned up. Right now if we don't consolidate financially and militarily within the next 10 years there is going to be big problems, internal problems that will inevitably lead to the destruction of the Union as we all know it.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on March 07, 2009, 08:49:12 PM
Morality may be subjective to a degree but all have the right to live.

Wrong... WRONG!!!

We all have a right to try to survive. That is the law of nature, one that is granted to us by at our birth and something nobody can take from us. "A right to live" is a man made law which carries no weight or impact in this universe. It is not a right, but a privilege granted by some countries who are able to provide that to their people.


Quote
Guess who is King now? I'm going to say the European Union. And who is Queen? I'm going to say that is BRIC (Brazil/Russia/India/China) countries combined.

BRIC? Nah, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)
(click to show/hide)
I wonder if they will take the King status ones India and Pakistan become full member. I mean all those combined is one hell of a huge army.

Quote
1)Why are we still in Israel when supposedly the real danger is in Afghanistan? 
You are not? there are no significant amount of US or EU troops in Israel.

Quote
2) Why aren't we cooperating with the Indian military to quell the Al Qaeda/Taliban (potential) cooperative threat?
Now that I think about it maybe it is because of their observer status in SCO?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on March 07, 2009, 10:45:48 PM
Regarding the SCO, we still have perfect capability in swaying India to our side. It is not too late.

"A right to live" is a man made law which carries no weight or impact in this universe. It is not a right, but a privilege granted by some countries who are able to provide that to their people.

We are not Monkeys, it is estimated by economists that if all the wealth were distributed evenly and population were kept at current levels, and if education were up to snuff, most humans could live as middle class citizens, worldwide.

I guess I am only speaking for myself, but if I were the CEO of a company I could probably live with not having a Mercedes Benz and taking public transportation to work if it would save the lives of some unfortunate peoples in a Lesser Developed Country. But the point is that population control cannot occur because it crosses the boundaries between that of Man and God. And if we cannot justify war as a device to keep population under control then we must justify redistribution of assets, which may be socialist in nature but essential if we do not want global markets to crumble like a yahtzee tower when the big guy sneezes. It's somewhat similar to humans. If you have a huge guy like Shaq who is over 7-feet tall you get all kinds of problems with the knees and tendons from the weight he's carrying, not to mention cardiovascular problems from having to pump blood to such a huge body. But if you had 3 normal sized guys you could produce the same amount of work with much less strain on each person's body. It is unreasonable for the U.S. to carry the global economy on it's shoulders and as with the story of the Behemoth it is incredibly slow to react.

We need to begin empowering Lesser Developed Countries so that our sicknesses really in the end don't mean "It's the end of the world". At least then they will begin to be able to be self-sustained and maybe even help us out one day when we are in need.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: relic2279 on March 07, 2009, 11:10:25 PM
It is unreasonable for the U.S. to carry the global economy on it's shoulders and as with the story of the Behemoth it is incredibly slow to react.

This I agree with if only for the simple fact it will knock the America hating down a few notches.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: furuoshiki on March 07, 2009, 11:12:27 PM
Yes! That is the only bright side to all of this.

We will actually have to ENGAGE IN DIPLOMACY, something we haven't done for the past 50 years.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on March 08, 2009, 02:37:24 AM

BRIC? Nah, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)
(click to show/hide)
I wonder if they will take the King status ones India and Pakistan become full member. I mean all those combined is one hell of a huge army.


You shouldnt worry too much about SCO. Its not much of an alliance compared to something like NATO. Its more like a cooperation to keep American influence out of central asia, something China and Russia werent strong enough to do on their own when america was at its peek. Russia is still just as large of a threat to China as America is, the same is true with Russia. They need each other to counter balance America but they also need America to counter balance each other. As for Pakistan and India, their security needs are very different. The primary threat to India is Pakistan and vice versa, they seek to limits each other influence in the region. India also has to seek help to counterbalance its more powerful neighbor China, where it needs America. It makes sense for Pakistan to cooperate with China against India but not against anyone else. They have no reason to cooperate with SCO other then to make sure its not used as a tool against themselves.

The overwhelming threat from Russia forced NATO to cooperate, Russia was much more of a threat to the members then the members were to each other. As long as the SCO members fear each other more then they fear any outside force they cant have an effective alliance. 
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: nates1984 on March 08, 2009, 06:20:11 AM
Quote
You shouldnt worry too much about SCO. Its not much of an alliance compared to something like NATO. Its more like a cooperation to keep American influence out of central asia, something China and Russia werent strong enough to do on their own when america was at its peek. Russia is still just as large of a threat to China as America is, the same is true with Russia. They need each other to counter balance America but they also need America to counter balance each other. As for Pakistan and India, their security needs are very different. The primary threat to India is Pakistan and vice versa, they seek to limits each other influence in the region. India also has to seek help to counterbalance its more powerful neighbor China, where it needs America. It makes sense for Pakistan to cooperate with China against India but not against anyone else. They have no reason to cooperate with SCO other then to make sure its not used as a tool against themselves.

The overwhelming threat from Russia forced NATO to cooperate, Russia was much more of a threat to the members then the members were to each other. As long as the SCO members fear each other more then they fear any outside force they cant have an effective alliance.

No fucking clue what the SCO is, but this is an authentically good train of thought in regards to the geopolitical environment as a whole. What and who countries worry about and the level of threat they place other entities at will always be debatable, though.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on March 08, 2009, 07:58:25 AM


You shouldnt worry too much about SCO. Its not much of an alliance compared to something like NATO.

Actually NATO is not what NATO used to be after it took in the eastern block as well as when Europe told US "fuck you" by creating EU. You have probably heard about it yourself, how NATO members disagree on so many issues.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Nikkoru on March 09, 2009, 03:55:13 AM
I don't know why NATO exists anymore, it's not pragmatically useful.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: vicious796 on March 09, 2009, 02:26:43 PM
Regarding the SCO, we still have perfect capability in swaying India to our side. It is not too late.

"A right to live" is a man made law which carries no weight or impact in this universe. It is not a right, but a privilege granted by some countries who are able to provide that to their people.

We are not Monkeys, it is estimated by economists that if all the wealth were distributed evenly and population were kept at current levels, and if education were up to snuff, most humans could live as middle class citizens, worldwide.

I guess I am only speaking for myself, but if I were the CEO of a company I could probably live with not having a Mercedes Benz and taking public transportation to work if it would save the lives of some unfortunate peoples in a Lesser Developed Country. But the point is that population control cannot occur because it crosses the boundaries between that of Man and God. And if we cannot justify war as a device to keep population under control then we must justify redistribution of assets, which may be socialist in nature but essential if we do not want global markets to crumble like a yahtzee tower when the big guy sneezes. It's somewhat similar to humans. If you have a huge guy like Shaq who is over 7-feet tall you get all kinds of problems with the knees and tendons from the weight he's carrying, not to mention cardiovascular problems from having to pump blood to such a huge body. But if you had 3 normal sized guys you could produce the same amount of work with much less strain on each person's body. It is unreasonable for the U.S. to carry the global economy on it's shoulders and as with the story of the Behemoth it is incredibly slow to react.

We need to begin empowering Lesser Developed Countries so that our sicknesses really in the end don't mean "It's the end of the world". At least then they will begin to be able to be self-sustained and maybe even help us out one day when we are in need.

So we should convert to near communism? It's not possible. If I were a successful CEO you're damn right I'm buying a Lotus. Just like right now, I buy the best that I can afford in most things. I live in my caste and I live there well. What right does a crack-addicted bum have to tell me that I need to help him out?
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: lx4 on March 09, 2009, 08:02:45 PM
I don't know why NATO exists anymore, it's not pragmatically useful.

Its main purpose is the same as its always been, a common defense against Russia. Just ask the new east Europeans members and the once lining up to join, its not that they are desperate to help the poor Afghan children. Which is also why NATO has problems doing anything else. 25 countries on two continents are bound to have different national interests. The only thing that binds them together is the will to keep Russian influence out of Europe, so they tend to quarrel about everything else.

Its still less of a cluster fuck then something like the UN whos members have absolutely nothing in common and can agree on almost nothing.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: Nikkoru on March 09, 2009, 08:23:08 PM
I don't know why NATO exists anymore, it's not pragmatically useful.

Its main purpose is the same as its always been, a common defense against Russia. Just ask the new east Europeans members and the once lining up to join, its not that they are desperate to help the poor Afghan children. Which is also why NATO has problems doing anything else. 25 countries on two continents are bound to have different national interests. The only thing that binds them together is the will to keep Russian influence out of Europe, so they tend to quarrel about everything else.

Its still less of a cluster fuck then something like the UN whos members have absolutely nothing in common and can agree on almost nothing.

If it just dropped its security council, which is just meaningless, the U.N. would be fine as a global forum and not-for-profit institution - otherwise it's just kind of a half-ass theatre, like with the lead-in to the Iraq war.

I just don't think that Russia represents a threat to warrant such a pact - the only ones Russia is imposing on seems to be 2nd world, former Soviet satellites, so I can understand their motivation, but not the powerful states which have been investing in the Russian economy - the major risk to those powers is the Russian nuclear stockpile being looted or otherwise compromised, which really should be dealt with.
Title: Re: Gaza showdown
Post by: AceHigh on March 09, 2009, 09:02:42 PM
I just don't think that Russia represents a threat to warrant such a pact - the only ones Russia is imposing on seems to be 2nd world, former Soviet satellites, so I can understand their motivation, but not the powerful states which have been investing in the Russian economy - the major risk to those powers is the Russian nuclear stockpile being looted or otherwise compromised, which really should be dealt with.

Yes yes, that is exactly what I have been saying. If lx4's dream would come true and Russia would collapse as a government and nation, then all those nukes and conventional weapons would be sold to any country or a terrorist group that would want them. Not even to mention Russians who would want retribution for their fall. Basically destabilizing a country with a nuclear arsenal is the dumbest thing you could do.

That is why Hillary Clinton was a good girl to start fixing relations with Russia again. Everyone knows that NATO-Russia cooperation will profit everyone... well everyone knows except for Bush administration, but look what this may lead to: Cooperation with Russia about Afghanistan may result in an actual stabilisation of the country (So far it has been no success). Cooperation about Iran will solve the nuclear threat in a much cheaper and effective way then building many sites of interception missiles in Europe that do not even guarantee a successful interception of a ballistic missile. Further more building it will anger Russia and increase the chance that they will sell technology for nukes to middle east out of spite. Imagine Syria and Hamas having a brand new Iskander stealth cruise missiles with a nuclear warhead.

"By cooperating on things we agree on will lead to easier solution on things we disagree about" Someone said that on the meeting, don't remember if it was Hillary or some Russian dude.