Our BetterMost Community > The Polling Place
Your view on recent Middle East crisis
JennyC:
Thanks for taking the poll, David (in Hartford), David (in Indianapolis), Celeste, and Giancarlo.
I would like to clarify that I didn’t mentioned Hezbollah's role in starting the conflict in the question because everyone here is all well informed, and I assume that goes without saying. It’s definitely not my intention to give them as well as other parties that support them a free pass. The recent debate, however, is more focused on whether or not Israel used excess force. Israel definitely has the right to defend itself when under attack. The question is whether it’s morally right to protect it’s own citizen and to reshape Middle East political layout by taking other innocent lives (even though it’s not the intent, but nonetheless the result). Is the world’s goodwill on Israel at the beginning of the conflict fading away.
Secondly, I just realized that the poll that I created is not scientifically correct (?), where one option only says that US government’s response is not balanced, but didn’t specify whether it’s more in favor of Israel or the other side. But again, that goes without saying. ;) So just to clarify the option “No, US government’s response is not balanced” translates to US government’s response is more in favor of Israel, i.e. not putting enough pressure on Israel to end the conflict.
vkm91941:
As long as you have two factions who are so diametrically opposed, each believing in the aboslute rightness of their claims and absolute wrongness of any opposing point of view, each believing they are right in the eyes of GOD and this land is their GOD given birthright, as long as these nations do not function 100% in the 21 century and are still seeking recompense for preceived wrongs hundreds if not thousands of years old; there will be no peace in the middle east only escalation. I agree David God help us all....
:'(
delalluvia:
Israel has the right to defend itself, but I agree with David that they're using a wrecking ball to squash some mosquitos.
Thinking of sending in land troops to another country because they were shelled - on a limited basis - and 3 soldiers were kidnapped?
I believe Israel is going for an aggressive show of strength to keep their enemies at bay.
Mess with us and this is what you get.
And who can blame them since they are surrounded on all sides by people who do not like them?
I have read though that a lot of Israel's economic and military budget comes and has come from the U.S.
Israel is in a very precarious situation. Unless they keep their borders firm, they will not exist much longer as a country. And not from warfare. There are enough Arab-Israelis who live there and near enough that they might reproduce in enough numbers that sooner or later, the Jewish people of Israel might find themselves in a miniority position in their own country and be - legally - voted out of existence.
I'm not sure that they as a people might not react with extreme violence to the potential loss of their way of life there.
"Apres moi, l'deluge." as the saying goes.
David In Indy:
--- Quote from: Giancarlo on July 19, 2006, 11:07:07 pm ---WWIII? Overstatement. In fact saying that we might end up in WWIII is an emotional statement. This is pretty much involving one area of the globe. Iran nor Syria would ever think about attacking Israel because they would lose. It is that simple. Israel has a military machine that is unprecendented in the entire middle east. It has been known to defeating a 500,000+ military (Egypt) in 6 days.
--- End quote ---
It doesn't really matter what Syria or Iran would or would not do at this point.
Were you ever a boyscout Giancarlo? If so, do you remember what they taught you the very first time you went camping? In my boyscout troop they taught us to completely clear the area, 10 feet in diameter, of anything flammable before we built a fire. Why? Because fire has a tendancy to jump as it burns (the wood popping and throwing off sparks for example).
This conflict in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon could easily incite war in other areas. Many officials have speculated this conflict is an offshoot of the Iraq war. There was a major terrorist attack in India several weeks ago. The FBI and CIA tell us there are Hezbollah sleeper cells in the United States and more than likely they are ready to strike. North Korea has already tested some medium and long range missles and the country says it will test some more. Iran may not want to "play war" today, but apparently it is more than happy to supply weapons to others who do feel like "playing".
You are still very young Giancarlo. I love your optimism (and I am not patronizing you when I say that). You may be correct. In fact, I hope you are correct.
It's as if the Mideast is a warehouse full of gunpowder, dynomite and gasoline, and some of our world leaders want to stand inside and play with matches. :(
Giancarlo:
--- Quote from: David925 on July 20, 2006, 11:17:58 pm ---Were you ever a boyscout Giancarlo? If so, do you remember what they taught you the very first time you went camping? In my boyscout troop they taught us to completely clear the area, 10 feet in diameter, of anything flammable before we built a fire. Why? Because fire has a tendancy to jump as it burns (the wood popping and throwing off sparks for example).
--- End quote ---
No I wasn't, so that's completely irrelevant. I don't get why you are bringing up that comparsion. Israelis were attacked and soldiers got kidnapped. I'm sorry that I do not believe in the same soft approach that some believe around here.
--- Quote ---This conflict in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon could easily incite war in other areas. Many officials have speculated this conflict is an offshoot of the Iraq war. There was a major terrorist attack in India several weeks ago. The FBI and CIA tell us there are Hezbollah sleeper cells in the United States and more than likely they are ready to strike. North Korea has already tested some medium and long range missles and the country says it will test some more. Iran may not want to "play war" today, but apparently it is more than happy to supply weapons to others who do feel like "playing".
--- End quote ---
Not really. Especailly not at this point. Many officials have speculated this conflict is an offshoot of the Iraq war? Incorrect. This has been going on for decades. Israel was in Lebanon for years (since the 1980s), so it can be stated that this is an offshoot from that war, not the Iraq war. You made a big assumption that isn't really true. There have been several major terrorist attacks in India because of their occupation of Kashmir. That wasn't even the biggest terrorist attack they had. That terrorist attack was to push India's withdrawl from Kashmir. The FBI and CIA tell us that? Really?
North Korea's missile technology is ancient.
--- Quote ---You are still very young Giancarlo. I love your optimism (and I am not patronizing you when I say that). You may be correct. In fact, I hope you are correct.
--- End quote ---
You're bringing up my age? Why? I'm sorry but if you think my age makes me inexperienced you are dead wrong. I have seen a lot of this world, and have visited something near 30 different countries. I have lived in a half dozen different countries. Many people in the US haven't even left the country. I myself have lived in Ecuador for three years, and have visited Colombia about a dozen+ times.
If I'm so young and complacent, why do I know so much about the history of the wars that occurred between Israel and other middle eastern powers? Age is not the measure of wisdom or intelligence in my opinion.
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