At 10:40 PM 9/13/01 +0200 J. van Baardwijk wrote:
>Allow me to make a contribution to that list:
>
>- Mess around in a region where you are not wanted.
This is very interesting.
I've done some checking around, and since the Bush Administration started,
the following have called for increased American involvement in the Middle
East:
Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan, the EU
Wow, we sound really unwanted.
>- Support a country that uses excessive violence against Palestinians.
I know that you disagree on this count, by Israel is being systematically
attacked by the Palestinians within its own borders. Moreover, in those
cases when Israel *has* used excessive violence, the United States has
spoken out strongly and bluntly against that excessive use of violence. On
at least two occasions, the US speaking out brought about an immediate
curtailment in the amount of force used by the Israelis.
>- Support a country that keeps other nations' soil occupied.
Actually, Palestine is not a nation, any more than the Cheyenne, Sioux, and
Iroquois are a "nation."
In that sense, the US is a country that keeps other nations' soil occupied.
I'd also point out that the United States has probably done more than any
other country, perhaps save Norway, to secure true countryship for
Palestine. Indeed, over the past decade we have pressured Israel into
doing what was previously unthinkable - giving up a bit of military
security and handing Palestine an independent State on the West Bank, with
its capitol in East Jerusalem.
>- Support a country that oppresses the Palestinian people.
Israel does not oppress the Palestinian people. Palstinians living in
Israeli have full and equal citizenship in Israel.
To the extend it engages in oppression, it engages in oppression of people
living in the occupied territories regardless of ethnicity. More
importantly, it only engages in this oppression when the government of
those occupied territories begins to support and inflame attacks upon
Israeli civilians.
This, however, exposes the inherent contradictory nature of your logic.
If Palestine is a country, then Palestine is a country at war with Israel,
and Israel is acting in self-defence. If Palestine is not a country, and
part of Israel, then Israel is not keeping another nation's soil occupied.
It can only be one or the other.
JDG
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ #3527685
"Freedom itself was attacked today, and Freedom will be Defended."
-U.S. President George W. Bush, 09/11/01
