On 2009-Jan-04, at 14:08, Chris Gehlker wrote: >> They have no obligation other than to not *directly* target >> civilians. > > Legally maybe. Morally, if somebody throws a rock at me or even my > child from an apartment building and I respond by spraying the > apartment building with automatic weapons fire then I'm worse than the > rock thrower. Israel is spouting the 'ethics' of a gangster engaged in > a drive by.
I know there is some exaggeration to make the point, but it is also about the guy you're shooting at hiding behind women and children. Honestly, if they could settle it like gentlemen with pistols at dawn then we would all applaud them. If the Israelis were in the situation of the Palestinians, then they would also be firing rockets from behind schools. And vice versa. I think whilst we can condemn Israelis... there is also just a pattern, and it doesn't much matter who the people are who are involved. Given a particular situation, two forces of differing strength and so on, what strategies tend to arise? What should the party playing the Israeli side do ? The world keeps telling them to go back to negotiations. Well that's never worked. What else is there? Personally I'm very easy going. When 9/11 happened, I was surprised the Americans went and invaded someone (even if it had been the right country). When 7/7 happened, I'm like, yeah well shit happens. But if I thought that the enemy were really in a position to harm this country, you know like, cause severe problems, stop food arriving on the shelves, or compete over land, then I would feel deep fear and loathing like anyone else. We need to remember that these people have been at each other's throats for decades. The slightest provocation just unleashes all that hatred. So sure, a few rockets, paaf, so what. No, those rockets are just a reminder that you are deeply hated. And a part of Israel's response is, no, we will not tolerate your hatred and desire for our destruction. We can and will destroy you first if you persist. Hamas replies, "we will turn Gaza into a cemetery for Israeli soldiers". Now how do you suppose they are going to do that, without accidentally hitting some of their own? Stefano _______________________________________________ OSX-Nutters mailing list | [email protected] http://lists.tit-wank.com/mailman/listinfo/osx-nutters List hosted at http://cat5.org/
