The Observation Deck

Stephen Eisel wrote:http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/12/200812306307620900.html

It is time for a cease fire

Some time after Obama inauguration the State Department should begin discussions with interested parties in Genevea. A framework for discussion must be established before an agreement on the issues to be discussed can be listed before consultations can begin. A cease fire is still a long way off.

I was going to stay out of this, but this blog post by Sullivan expresses as well as anything Ive seen the essential rightness of Israel's cause, and the essential hopelessness of the situation.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/t ... s-for.html

And a REALLY REALLY grim op ed by an Israeli historian appeared in the Times a couple of days ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/opini ... is.html?em

Keep in mind when you read that, that this Israeli historian is on the left.

Between Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan, and the rising threat of Iran, it is not impossible to imagine a nuclear exchange sometime in our future.

About that Times op ed. I realize now people who arent registered cant read it.

Registering is easy enough, but if you're interested in finding it, it appeared Dec. 30

Uh, I mean Dec. 29. And you can google it with "Benny Morris NYT op-ed"

Mark Moran wrote:About that Times op ed. I realize now people who arent registered cant read it.

Registering is easy enough, but if you're interested in finding it, it appeared Dec. 30

I was able to read it without registering. You're right, it does give an explanation of the cycle of violence- and paints a grim picture for the future.

I'm still trying to figure out the name of this post vs. the subsequent discussion. Clearly there are differing viewpoints. Your congressman's views differ from a near unanimous view from his fellow Democrats (support for Israel to defend itself). The argument against it is overkill. The argument for it is that Israel is backed up against a wall. These are geo-political questions with huge ramifications.

Looking for the connection between the 10th district and the war in Israel. Is there one? Are you guys getting ready to take in Gaza refugees?

.

one of my friends once mentioned an entire Palestinian village that now lived in lakewood. I don't know if that was an exageration.

I'll be glad when this thread dies.

Every time I see the heading my stomach churns.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/ ... index.html

Israeli ground troops enter Gaza

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli troops began moving into Gaza on Saturday night, Israel Defense Forces said.

A sad day for the world

Stephen Eisel wrote:http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/03/israel.gaza/index.html

Israeli ground troops enter Gaza

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli troops began moving into Gaza on Saturday night, Israel Defense Forces said.

A sad day for the world

Nice. That is just what the world needs now. I'm glad we are all adults.

Regardless of being pro-Israel or Palestine, innocent bystanders are dying on both sides of the wall.

Maybe you all haven't had the honor of having your home riddled by bomb shrapnel and bullets. Or having your childhood friends being blown to bits by landmines.

My grandpa and parents told me that the most dangerous bomb is the one that you never hear approaching. So if you hear a whistle, a distinct squealing cry through the sky, keep eating your meal and be thankful because they're aiming at the house down the block. My grandpa found all of this out the hard way.

It's a possibility that I'm so Pro-Peace because I can empathize with the families that are afraid for their lives.

Haven't any of you felt like that before? Haven't any of you been told not to play in your favorite baseball/soccer/football field because you and your friends might step on a mine? Did anyone else get a Superman coloring book in school that taught you not to pick up or step on round/disc-shaped metal objects in the ground?

Man, I thought these were normal childhood experiences.

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:It's a possibility that I'm so Pro-Peace because I can empathize with the families that are afraid for their lives.

True peace only comes with the defeat of evil anti democratic regimes and their terrorist allies.

When Hamas talks of peace what they mean is exterminate the Jews.

You should be concerned that your elective representative (Dennis Kucinich) has wrapped himself in the bloody flag of Palestinian terrorsim. He is silent when terrorist kill Jews and outraged when a Jew cries "Enough"!

scratches head and leaves thread

Bill Call wrote:

Ivor Karabatkovic wrote:It's a possibility that I'm so Pro-Peace because I can empathize with the families that are afraid for their lives.

True peace only comes with the defeat of evil anti democratic regimes and their terrorist allies.

When Hamas talks of peace what they mean is exterminate the Jews.

You should be concerned that your elective representative (Dennis Kucinich) has wrapped himself in the bloody flag of Palestinian terrorsim. He is silent when terrorist kill Jews and outraged when a Jew cries "Enough"!

Hey George... err Bill.

One man terrorist is another man freedom fighter.

While I agree they are both acting like a bunch of children there is always two sides to a coin. Both sides are in the wrong. I do not have the answer but wiping out one side or the other is never the answer.

Hey George... err Bill.

One man terrorist is another man freedom fighter.

Did you cheer for the freedom fighters on 9-11?

Stephen Eisel wrote:

Hey George... err Bill.

One man terrorist is another man freedom fighter.

Did you cheer for the freedom fighters on 9-11?

Stephen, don't be silly. You know full well the point I am trying to illustrate. There is always two sides to a coin.