I also claim to not be really read-up on this subject, but what the hell.
I didn’t have time to read all the posts, since I’m sorta in a hurry, but I have time to write. I think that yu’re all right…if the oil situation was slightly different. I recall someone (don’t have time to go back and look up who, sorry!) said that we were draining all the OPEC oil but leaving our (US’s) alone. Well, that’s not strictly true, both countries are used over here. Plus, it’s approximated unless something happens, fossil fuels will be exhausted within the next 30-50 years, and that could be another reason the oil prices are up. The trouble in the Middle East? There’s always been problems there (i.e. the Crusades, all of them.)
I don’t think this is the final war. (See the First World War. THAT was called the War to End all Wars at the time. Ironically, there were Two.) This also wouldn’t escalate were it not for the secretive methods of the US. Why do they feel the need to TRY and hide their intentions? Almost everybody knows that the US is trying to put a stop to the chemical weapons manufacturing etc. We’re even backed by quite a few countries, and a quick, effective, fast strike would completely render them harmless, especially were it unexpected. And can someone explain to me why all the “wars” today involve attackin targets where no one gets hurt? I mean, what’s the point of war if not to either kill or eradicate?
For the record: I am not an Israeli, I am an American (yes, I’m Jewish). I lived in Israel from July 1998 - June 1999 and I love it; I would happily relocate there if the opportunity came up. I’m also pro-Palestine, and the current problems with the peace talks are very frustrating to me. I would very much like to see peace come to that area of the world. So would most people who live there - Israelis, Palestinians, Lebanese, everyone. Fifty years of fighting and enmity has made everyone, except maybe politicians, exhausted and eager to see the end of this balegan.
If you have any actual, sensible questions regarding the situation in Israel, I’d be happy to answer them. I have yet to see anything that indicates you’re capable of asking such a question, however. Most of what you’ve said so far is silly, ignorant, and hateful. Do you understand that it is not okay to belittle the death of 10 million people? That is a major event. Just thinking about it makes me cry. Seriously, I’m sitting at my computer crying. My great-grandparents left Russia at the turn of the 20th century; I don’t know whether to thank god or feel guilty that I am sitting here in California right now, an educated American citizen with the right to speak my mind and practice my religion without fear.
Dopers, wouldn’t it be better to actually try to fight ignorance first, without automatically labeling everyone a troll? That’s what we’re all about, isn’t it?
Sorry for the emotional post, but this thread has made me just really infuriated. So many generalizations and bizarre prejudices! There’s still so much work for the SD to do…
On this whole Israeli-American ally thing, let us not forget that this IS a symbiotic relationship. Virtually our entire (successful) UAV program is based on Israeli technology, as well as quite of the few advanced guidance systems that allow us to engage in major operations with only two to five deaths. Israel might very well be what saves the armed forces from its ingrained tendency to avoid change, not a single major American aerospace manufacturer ever seriously studied UAVs, but now there are very few military commanders who would like to have to do reconnaissance without them.
You know, doing what is right is easy. The problem is knowing what is right.
I hope you dont think I try to brand every ignorant person a troll, but check out the other thread he started about homosexuality being illegal.
J
Because Fido ate the Hand Grenade for me,
When the Tans came round to search the house at tea,
I said, “Take this, dog, and eat”,
He thought it was a can of meat,
It was the hand grenade that Fido ate for me.
Sorry if I hurt your feelings, but the anti-arabic attitude from Rainbow.(and some others) made me angry. I wanted to provoke because I got the impression that most of the repliers was very anti-arabic.
If USA have trouble getting oil, -I just think that they should try to get it somwhere else, or by el-cars or something. They can’t attac a country just because they don’t want to sell them oil. It was the arrogance from some of the replyers that ticked me off. (not you).
But I must say that I think that most of the politicans in Israel is way to aggressive. They seems to like war too much. (like the Hizbollah etc.)
With the exception of Rainbowcsr’s OP, I think you’re jumping to conclusions. I don’t think anyone here is anti-Arab. (Arab is the people, Arabic is the language, by the way, and I hate UBB.)
I think that’s definitely the way the international media portrays Israel. I don’t think that’s the way Israel actually is. I went to Israel expecting to disagree with a lot of the politics, but I was wrong. I think that the problem is that since the US has a two-party system, the American media turns all international political systems into two-party systems. Through the American media’s lens, Israel has two main parties, Likud and Avoda (Labor), which are roughly equivalent to Republicans and Democrats, and are too centrist to take a hard stance on ending the fighting (although Avoda makes noise that they’re going to bring the troops back from Lebanon). This is a supersimplistic view of things; Israel has a multiparty system, and while Likud and Avoda have the most seats in Knesset, Shas - which is an ultra-religious party, but it does support the peace process - has only a couple fewer seats than Likud. A couple other important parties, like Yisrael b’Aliyah, which is the main Russian party (about 1/6 of Israelis have immigrated from Russia within the last ten years or so) and Meretz, the biggest of the left-wing parties and my personal fave (I have a t-shirt that says Meretz on it on back in Hebrew and on the front in Arabic), also want the end of the fighting. There are definitely a few parties that want to see the occupation of Southern Lebanon continue, but IMO, they’re pretty much out of touch with the people. I could go on, but I’m hijacking, and I apologize.