idrankwhat

each is monochromatic, together, we make a rainbow... I like that one! America got its strength from the melting pot idea of the sum being greater than its parts. I hope that idea's contagious.

Quite to the contrary, my posts are all about balance. There is no shortage of info in the US media pointing out Hamas' war crimes but there is a void when it comes to coverage of Israel's war crimes, although the internet is beginning to shed a bit more daylight on the conflict. Both commit war crimes. Both should be held equally accountable. We don't do that. It's a deadly, counterproductive double standard, which is why I post on the subject.

That they are war crimes, just as Israel's are war crimes. Both should be held equally accountable.

They weren't celebrating the death and destruction counselor. The were celebrating their "win", as in not being completely wiped out. It's spin, although I think they were over selling the idea.

yes, the majority suffers because of Hamas' leadership. I don't care if they elected Hamas or not, its their government and it is responsible for their situation. I do care if they're elected. We purport to be champions of democracy. Democracy is not democracy if it only applies when our candidate wins. Fatah lost all of its grip in Gaza in the (violent) takeover of Hamas. And Fatah has been useless in their attempt to alleviate the Palestinian suffering in Gaza. They haven't done much to stop the settlement expansion or violence in the West Bank for that matter. Hamas is the only reason there IS a blockade, as long as they refuse to accept existing treaties, stockpile rockets and use them, the blockade is justified. They maintained a cease fire with Israel for six months. What did Israel offer in return last month when it had a chance to negotiate? Nothing but a continuation of the blockade in honor of the upcoming election. And the blockade is not justified. Collective punishment is a war crime. I don't support it when Israel does it in Gaza just as I wouldn't support a similar action against Israel.

Actually, I really don't have that much anger in me. However injustice and hypocrisy does tend to get me riled up from time to time. Amazon's posts on this particular issue can be irritatingly counterproductive to any meaningful dialog. I made an assumption that, given her stated ancestry that she might have a problem with the deplorable treatment of the Native American population by our forefathers. That was/is a particularly dark stain on American history. I'm disgusted by it whether it happens on my homeland or in the Middle East, in Sudan, or anywhere else. To my surprise, she doesn't appear to have a problem with it. It's a "might makes right" mentality that we just kicked out of the Executive branch of our government, one that I was convinced that she didn't support. I was obviously wrong. (I think I may have an idea why but that's not important.) My main problem with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (besides the inhumane treatment of the Palestinians) is that the US has an official policy and an actual policy. We have made demands of the Israeli government yet we fail to hold them accountable for spitting that policy right back into our faces. We have no problem facilitating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza when Hamas violates international law. We have no problem turning a blind eye to the settlement expansion, settler violence and IDF violence in the West Bank or the collective punishment, the use of cluster bombs, flechette shells and white phosphorous in one of the most densely populated regions on the planet. It's that sort of double standard that we hold with regard to this conflict that is a primary justification used by terror groups to wage their war against us. If we would cease the hypocrisy by closing down the Guantanamo prison, renounce our policy of torture while holding the guilty parties accountable, and hold both Israel and its enemies to equal standards, not only would we go a long way towards solving our terrorist problem, but we'd save a hell of a lot of our own money in the process.

Like Lebanon? The "No Reservations" show with Anthony Bourdain made it look like a nice place to spend some tourist dollars, until the bombing started. When you start talking that way I can trace ancestry to a couple differnt first nations peoples... if you dont like it here GO THE FUCK HOME to Europe. Why? Might makes right, correct? The Native Americans that we let live finally decided to live on their reservations peacefully regardless of how many treaties we busted with them. Who cares that cultures were brutally crushed, women and children were massacred, hundreds or thousands of languages were lost as well as what we might have learned from a people who could live in harmony with their environment for thousands of years. Those uppity natives finally "made peace" and quit being "goat fuck stupid" right? Fucking terrorists got what they deserved and should be happy that we allowed some of them to live. That about sum it up?

Yea, casinos go a long way towards repairing the the damage done to nations of people.

Maybe here in the US it would. Most people in Gaza are sitting down. There's not much more to do right now other than sit down or look for a meal. And there's plenty of international criticism, but you rarely hear that here. And things other than weapons do come through the tunnels. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7673893.stm Your cited article points out the obvious - launching indiscriminate missiles against cities is not defensible behavior. It also points out the obvious, that Israel's exponential response in kind is not defensible behavior.

I agree, but not fighting gained them nothing as well. How long should they sit and wait for the blockade to end?

Our news won't show what's happening in Gaza regardless of what they're doing. If suffering and starving won't get you on the telly, what's to make them think that a sit-in will? And the vast majority of the Gazans have been peaceful. It's gotten them nothing, as I pointed out, even Fatah has been useless. The only people that the Gazans see as working towards an end to the blockade is Hamas. Their tactics are counterproductive but in many Palestinian's eyes they're at least trying to bring about a change. That's one of the reasons that support for Hamas is still strong, and quite possibly, stronger.

I'm sorry that you're sad. If it makes you feel any better, most of us are happy. Happy that we have a President who was able to make it to the White House on his own merit, one who has succeeded at just about every endeavor he's undertaken. Happy that we have a President whose election is symbolic of the notion of the freedom, fairness and opportunity that we espouse and promote as the backbone of our nation. Happy to have a President who doesn't embrace torture or an "ends justifies the means" approach to absolutely everything. Happy to have a President who is satisfied with a 1/3 stake in our balance of government. Happy to have a President who has gained the respect of most of the world's leadership, his peers. And we're freakin' ECSTATIC that we have a President who doesn't make us wince and cringe every time he makes a public address.

I suppose that depends on the ethical definition of "appropriate" - say, from the standpoint of the best interests of the Palestinian population. The blockade has been punishing the Gazans for over a year and a half. Then the (relative) cease fire does nothing to lift the blockade. The international community can do little to help. Fatah is no help. So what's the "appropriate" thing to do? Wait some more? Darfurians would probably advise against that tactic. This whole situation stinks. Hopefully today's "end of an error" will be the end of this error. I'm not going to hold my breath but I'll cross my fingers for good luck. Maybe Obama will utilize his Secretary of State elsewhere and bring in a special envoy to deal with the matter, someone like Jimmy Carter. Although admittedly, bringing in ANYONE to deal with the matter would be a step in the right direction.

I just took a quick look at a list and noticed a pattern forming. Looks similar for commutations as well. Party on! 4. William Thomas Alvis III (Possession of an unregistered firearm, distribution of cocaine)[8] 9. William Sidney Baldwin Sr. (1981 conspiracy to possess marijuana. Pardoned December 21, 2006) 18. Marie Georgette Ginette Briere (1982 possession of cocaine with intent to distribute) 24. Carl E. Cantrell (1967 moonshining)[16] 28. Steve Doyle Cavender (Conspiring to import, possess, distribute and dispense marijuana; importing and causing to be imported marijuana; possessing marijuana with intent to distribute) 39. Randall Leece Deal (1960 and 1964 liquor laws)[6] 42. William Henry Eagle (1972 moonshining)[6] 45. Marie Elena Eppens of Lynden, Wash. (conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana)[8]to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute marijuana)[8] 49. Harper James Finucan (1980 marijuana possession with intent to distribute)[16] 60. Adam Wade Graham (1992 Conspiracy to deliver 10 or more grams of LSD)[15] 64. Andrew Foster Harley (wrongful use and distribution of marijuana and cocaine)[2] 65. George Thomas Harley (1984 aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine. Pardoned December 21, 2006) 66. Rufus Edward Harris (1963 Possession and selling tax-unpaid whiskey)[15] 73. Patricia Ann Hultman (1985 conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and other controlled substances. Pardoned December 21, 2006) 75. Bobby Frank Kay Sr. (1959 operation of an illegal distillery)[16] 82. Larry Lee Lopez (1985 Conspiracy to import marijuana)[15] 89. Charles McKinley, (1950 moonshining)[16] 95. Robert Earl Mohon Jr. (conspiracy to distribute marijuana)[2] 97. Ronald Alan Mohrhoff (unlawful use of a telephone in a narcotics felony)[2] 103. Eric William Olson (1984 military conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute, possession, and use of hashish. Pardoned December 21, 2006) 114. James Edward Reed (1975 marijuana possession with intent to distribute)[12] 116. John Louis Ribando (1976 and 1978 marijuana dealing)[6] 121. John Gregory Schillace (1988 conspiracy to possess cocaine for distribution)[16] 124. Wendy St. Charles (1984 conspiracy to trade narcotics and cocaine distribution)[16] 133. Jerry Dean Walker (1989 cocaine distribution)[6] 135. Mark Lewis Weber (1981 Selling Quaalude tablets, selling, using, and possessing marijuana )[15]

Here's another interesting piece. It's a few weeks old but the argument that the Gaza offensive was political is one that you don't hear about on CNN. The timing certainly seems to fit. The whole article is pretty good but skim past the war crimes argument and you get to this: Timing of Israel’s Attack on Gaza The Israeli decision to launch the attacks on Gaza was a political, not security, decision. Just a day or two before the airstrikes, it was Israel that rejected Hamas’s diplomatic initiative aimed at extending the six-month-long ceasefire that had frayed but largely stayed together since June, and that expired 26 December. Hamas officials, working through Egyptian mediators, had urged Israel to lift the siege of Gaza as the basis for continuing an extended ceasefire. Israel, including Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, of the “centrist” (in the Israeli context) Kadima Party, rejected the proposal. Livni, who went to Egypt but refused to seriously consider the Hamas offer, is running in a tight race for prime minister; her top opponent is the further-right Benyamin Netanyahu of the officially hawkish Likud party, who has campaigned against Livni and the Kadima government for their alleged “soft” approach to the Palestinians. With elections looming in February, no candidate can afford to appear anything but super-militaristic. Further, it is certain that the Israeli government was eager to move militarily while Bush was still in office. The Washington Post quoted a Bush administration official saying that Israel struck in Gaza “because they want it to be over before the next administration comes in. They can’t predict how the next administration will handle it. And this is not the way they want to start with the new administration.” http://www.ips-dc.org/articles/983 Edited to add: IMO, to say that Hamas could have been just a bit more patient after the failed December proposal is an understatement. Then again, if Israel won't open the blockade after a ceasefire then what would have been the appropriate response?

Straightforward to the claim that Israel won the war and took the land so "too fucking bad". Not in Gaza anymore, but they are, and have been doing just that in the West Bank No, they don't claim that they're doing it because the US won't support an overt action like that. They just take it and we ignore it, the West Bank land grab that is. The Gaza component consists of different war crimes.

Fourth Geneva Convention, which I believe Israel signed in 1952. ARTICLE 47 of the Convention reads: "Protected persons who are in occupied territory shall not be deprived, in any case or in any manner whatsoever, of the benefits of the present Convention by any change introduced, as the result of the occupation of a territory, into the institutions or government of the said territory, nor by any agreement concluded between the authorities of the occupied territories and the Occupying Power, nor by any annexation by the latter of the whole or part of the occupied territory." ARTICLE 49 (para. 6) reads: "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies." added by idrankwhat: Sounds pretty straightforward to me.

I did. I'm off to buy a new TV today

Were they? And who is "they"? Hamas militants or non-combatant Palestinians? I don't know yet and I don't know that we will. But one thing is certain, the IDF has a history of shooting at the UN, even the Red Cross for that matter. It also has pretty lousy history of investigating itself. I trust them for the truth as much as I trust my outgoing Vice President.

Well, this sort of thinking finally explains what "conservative" means. The first law of conservatism must be that hatred is conserved. That's too bad because that means that you guys think that you can never rid yourselves of hatred. I can't speak for everyone but when this lib has a splinter in his ass, he hates it. But when that pain in the ass is gone, so is the hatred. Why, its absence is damn near euphoric. I feel haaaappyyyyyyyy!!

Because Israel won't cease provoking the Palestinians through their policy of collective punishment. But that's not what makes me upset. It's our government's unofficial policy of ignoring our official policy with regard to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that torques the shit out of me. The marginalization of Hamas began the day after they won the majority of the Parliament. The blockade began after Hamas overthrew the Fatah government because they were doing little to help the people in Gaza and the Fatah leadership was living the good life while their people suffered. Not for long. The US, Israel and Egypt closed it. Do some more research. BBC is ok, Btselem.org is pretty good for the overall conflict, and Human Rights Watch isn't bad for Gaza info. But don't stop there. Keep digging into reputable news sources and decide for yourself.

Because it IS a fact. They are your prisoners and Israel's actions in Gaza violate international law. Just because Hamas breaks similar laws doesn't mean that it's ok for Israel to do the same, or worse. And the only reason that Israel is allowed to break international laws with no consequences is because of us. Then who allows Hamas to break the laws? If someone, or some country, had stopped the rockets then Israel wouldn't have gone in. What can anyone else do? Sanction a group whose greater population resides in a concentration camp behind a US enabled Israeli blockade? Send in Multinational troops to help patrol and the borders? Good luck getting Israel to agree to the latter. I'm all for it, West Bank included.

Because it IS a fact. They are your prisoners and Israel's actions in Gaza violate international law. Just because Hamas breaks similar laws doesn't mean that it's ok for Israel to do the same, or worse. And the only reason that Israel is allowed to break international laws with no consequences is because of us.

you're right. Next time the fire rockets at our towns we should send them flowers... They'd rather have a sandwich. Actually they'd rather have about 1.5 million sandwiches. That might get them up to minimal subsistence levels for a day.

The humanitarian crisis that Israel has created with the blockade. http://www.hrw.org/en/search/apachesolr_search/gaza+language%3Aen+createdyear%3A2008? This is the stuff that isn't reported in the US media.