# Discussion for the Israel-Hamas War: A thread in the Pit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** israel-hamas-war\ **Created:** [November 5, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653 "2023-11-05T21:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/1 "2023-11-05T21:57:34Z")
The Israel-Hamas War is likely to continue for many more months, so it probably deserves a thread in the Pit where it can be discussed more freely. In the Pit, of course, one is able to viciously attack other posters, if necessary, and even go so far as to inform them that they have misrepresented your posts. So let’s get going… I’m going to start by saying I fucking love the fact that I’m on exactly the same page on this issue as Barack Obama. He’s somebody that believes in looking at things from bOtH sIdEs, which surprisingly many people consider to be a controversial point of view to take these days. President Barack Obama: > [@](#): > > If you want to solve the problem, then you have to take in the whole truth and you then have to admit nobody’s hands are clean. That all of us are complicit to some degree. > ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2 "2023-11-05T22:14:50Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > President Barack Obama: > > If you want to solve the problem, then you have to take in the whole truth and you then have to admit nobody’s hands are clean. That all of us are complicit to some degree. Obama is amazing as always. An intelligent guy with thoughtful responses and very well spoken. I agree with him as well. But, while Obama is eloquent, what he is saying is not particularly new. He is not the first person to notice this. Peace in the Middle-East has been a problem many US presidents have grappled with and none were particularly successful. Israel has been in this position for 70 years. It’s not new. It seems an intractable problem. While some want peace (from all sides) all too many have no interest in it and work to maintain the problem (I think Iran has a particular interest in stirring the pot and opposing any peace). Indeed, some make killing the other side central to their outlook (explicitly so). I doubt it will be fixed for many more decades. The problems will continue. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/3 "2023-11-05T22:26:38Z")
“I got banned from the thread, please come and talk to me in this other thread.” I suppose that makes sense. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/4 "2023-11-05T22:29:32Z")
I have a certain amount of “NOW he tells us 🙄” in my reaction—I mean, where was this plain speaking when you were President?—but the basic premise of Obama’s viewpoint, that we are all complicit in this ongoing problem, is one I agree with. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/5 "2023-11-05T22:29:40Z")
Wow, you’re smart! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/6 "2023-11-05T22:30:59Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Wow, you’re smart!.. I know you are, but what am I. Hold on, I haven’t quite got the hang of this PIt thing yet. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/7 "2023-11-05T22:36:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Obama is amazing as always. I don’t recall ever disagreeing with Barack Obama on anything. Even the tan suit. > [@Riemann](#): > > I know you are, but what am I. I know from the other thread, you’re definitely not on the same page as Barack Obama! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/8 "2023-11-05T22:44:11Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > I don’t recall ever disagreeing with Barack Obama on anything. When Obama admitted to making mistakes, did you agree that he had? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/9 "2023-11-05T22:51:44Z")
It’s certainly possible. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/10 "2023-11-05T23:01:42Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > I don’t recall ever disagreeing with Barack Obama on anything. Even the tan suit. I disagreed plenty with Obama. I still think he was a good president and I have always thought he was a very intelligent guy and very well spoken. I also thought he looked good in the tan suit. Of all the things to get fussed about that has to be at the bottom. That and his choice of mustard. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/11 "2023-11-05T23:06:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > That and his choice of mustard. Wow, I just looked it up. I fucking love Dijon mustard. It’s my favorite mustard. My respect for the man has gone up by another level. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/12 "2023-11-06T00:18:35Z")
It’s funny how the MPSIMS thread has become a right-wingers’ convention. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/13 "2023-11-06T00:22:10Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > the MPSIMS thread Are you missing it? If you slip me a note with an insult I can pass it over for you. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/14 "2023-11-06T00:23:31Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Are you missing it? If you slip me a note with an insult I can pass it over for you. I don’t want to get you banned from the thread. Or do I…? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/15 "2023-11-06T00:44:09Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > > > I don’t recall ever disagreeing with Barack Obama on anything. > > When Obama admitted to making mistakes, did you agree that he had? [It’s OK when a Non-Jew does it](https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2017-01-17/obamas-covert-drone-war-in-numbers-ten-times-more-strikes-than-bush) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/16 "2023-11-06T00:45:08Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I also thought he looked good in the tan suit. Of all the things to get fussed about that has to be at the bottom. That and his choice of mustard. Yeah, but what about the [Selfie Stick Scandal](https://youtu.be/Xflb7C8x2IY?si=K2XszaVQ9i4HNqbV) or [Date Night Debacle](https://youtu.be/5K5HQF22bQc?si=ACS3kWvgEAd1cTLg)? And what of the [Latte Salute Ignominy](https://youtu.be/ool3zz_ws60?si=rI72BYnmQCNrMMgF)? Downplaying these offenses which border on insurgency just shows how much bias you have. At peril of bringing facts and actual insight into **The BBQ Pit** from someone who has been on the inside of both Israel and Gaza, here is [an interview with Nathan Thrall](https://youtu.be/Xflb7C8x2IY?si=LDU7DjuEX5ofKw-E), former Director of the Arab-Israeli Project at the [International Crisis Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Crisis_Group). Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/17 "2023-11-06T00:51:39Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > [It’s OK when a Non-Jew does it](https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2017-01-17/obamas-covert-drone-war-in-numbers-ten-times-more-strikes-than-bush) Thanks for the link. > [@](#): > > A total of 563 strikes, largely by drones, targeted Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen during Obama’s two terms, compared to 57 strikes under Bush. Between 384 and 807 civilians were killed in those countries, according to reports logged by the Bureau. That’s interesting. So in eight years, the United States drone program killed between 384 and 807 civilians, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. Israel accomplishes that number in one day, every day! (It should also be noted that the US’s own estimate of the number of civilians killed was between 64 and 116). ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/18 "2023-11-06T00:56:12Z")
Today I learned that the US controlled the Gaza Strip and fought Hamas under Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/19 "2023-11-06T00:58:18Z")
One weird old trick: [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F-IDEM6XgAAsdrw?format=jpg&name=900x900) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F-IDEM6XgAAsdrw?format=jpg&name=900x900) ---
**Author:** ![nitter](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nitter/32/15360_2.png) [@nitter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitter)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/20 "2023-11-06T01:30:17Z")
I feel like there’s a trend on the street, people who pro-International Jewish conspiracy (right wing) and Pro-Palestinian (left wing) is unconscious sticking together in some rallies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653.md?page=2)