Israel, War and the US role?

[soulatom]

Hey MM, I am hoping you pop in on this thread, am actually surprised that you didn't start one on it as I now youhave alot of knowledge on the Middle East, and have been to Israel. This is such an intense issue and I go to bed at night after watching the news trying to fathom what position the US will take if a war erupts with Israel,Hezebolah and Syria and Iran jumping into the fray or supporting it in anyway.Would like to hear how you weigh in. SA

[Jupiter]

Bush expressed his frustration with the United Nations and his disgust with the militant Islamic group and its backers in Syria as he talked to British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the closing lunch at the Group of Eight summit.

“See the irony is that what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this s--- and it’s over,” Bush told Blair as he chewed on a buttered roll.

I am sure it is as simple as that, don't you think?

[Magnet Man]

Bush expressed his frustration with the United Nations and his disgust with the militant Islamic group and its backers in Syria as he talked to British Prime Minister Tony Blair during the closing lunch at the Group of Eight summit.

“See the irony is that what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this s--- and it’s over,” Bush told Blair as he chewed on a buttered roll.

I am sure it is as simple as that, don't you think?

In your dreams!

Each of our monotheistic systems claims that our God is the one and only true one - and we and no one else is the favored son.

The hate between Arab and Jew can be cut with a knife. Nor are the Crusades forgotten, Ending the Middle East conflict will never be solved over a buttered roll.

The Jew is no longer an Semite. After 27 centuries abroad, he is 90% European. He comes "home" rich and treats his poorer Arab brother like dirt. European support for Israel rubs salt into an ancient racial wound.

A whole new generation of global children have to be reeducated in our common brotherhood before world peace is achieved.

[Jupiter]

Israel may have the right to defend themselves. But then, so does anybody else. Problem is, the Israeli army is the fourth biggest army in the world, and they are armed to the teeth with modern American military hardware. Expecting guys like the Lebanonese or pissed off Palestinians, or Syrians, or even Egyptians, or basically anybody in the Middle East who don't like the Israelis too much to take them on in a conventional war, is asking a bit much, and they have no outlets for exacting fairness from the Isaraelis either.

I feel sort of sorry for many of the Lebanese civilians. Think about it, they are probablly afraid of both the terrorists and the Isrealis. At least when an Isreali citizen sees one of their soldiers they feel secure. The Lebanese civilians are feeling terror from both groups of soldiers.

The old testament says an eye for an eye. This is retail justice and Isreal appears to be going for wholesale justice, ten eyes for one. This would be OK on the battle field but is harder to justify with civilians who may be just expendable pawns to the terrorists. (And what about all those Arab prisoners for those 2 lone Israelis?)

I would think also that there must be many young people growing up as you say who would want peace but then there are just as many or more who are polarized with the same hand me downs as their parents have worn. It's an impossible situation and one can only fear the outcome and the impact on world politics today. And Bush having received so much critiscism fromthe left on his foreign policy from within the country and without is left a sitting duck with diminished capability to act effectively on either front, towards diplomacy or incapable of exerting any force whatsoever. Hence World War III hints at us on a distant horizon, no?

[Jupiter]

Well it's been weeks now and it's not getting any better. Today Israel decided to move 8,000 more troops into Lebanon. How many troops do they need? How many innocent people need to be killed before they get around to just releasing the Arab people.
The only chain a man can stand is one of the hand.

[murex]

I think we should stay out of it.

It's not going to end anytime soon, and funding a side only funds violence.

[Jupiter]

murex said:

I think we should stay out of it.

It's not going to end anytime soon, and funding a side only funds violence.

Yah I get that Murex but what do we do about the fact that we are already in it. At least the US is. The question would be how to disengage from our covert and overt activities in these nations? Without de stabilising what we have already accomplised.

[MagnetMan]

jupiter said:

murex said:

I think we should stay out of it.

It's not going to end anytime soon, and funding a side only funds violence.

Yah I get that Murex but what do we do about the fact that we are already in it. At least the US is. The question would be how to disengage from our covert and overt activities in these nations? Without de stabilising what we have already accomplised.

The Middle East dilemma of the American super-power was the Middle East dilemma of the Roman super-power.


A young Jewish carpenter pondered on it long and hard
His conclusion:
Turn the other cheek
Love thy neighbor as thyself.

The war-mongers didn't like it.

He got crucifed for daring to preach it.
No Christian nationhas yet practiced it.
Maybe we should give it a try.

[murex]

Such a simple solution. It only works if the majority takes part in loving their neighbor.