Thanks Mark, this should provide some reality and avoid some pointless
argument.
Ed
Mark S Bilk wrote:
Here's a good description of the history of Israel
and Palestine, by a jewish author:
http://takingaimradio.com/hhz/
The Hidden History of Zionism, By Ralph Schoenman
On Sun, Jun 08, 2008 at 09:41:28PM -0600, Edmund Storms wrote:
I don't like the situation either, Philip. However, when a nation has the
oil we need, it is apparently easy to be nice. If not, we have to pay an
even greater price for our principles. This is actually the way the world
works these days. In the past, the US called the shots. Increasingly, the
oil suppliers and China will call the shots. Get use to the idea, because
it is only going to get worse. You should ask why such a situation was
allowed to develop. These situations do not occur by accident.
As for Israel, it is hard to choose words carefully and still be honest.
The situation is not based on scientific logic, but on faith and religious
belief. A significant number of people in the US believe that Israel was
given to the Jews by God. These people have significant influence and they
vote. Therefore, any criticism about how Israel behaves is unpopular, being
called anti-Semitism. As a result, Israel can cause the US to do things
that would otherwise be impossible if demanded by another country. History
shows why is is true. Creation of the country displaced millions of
Palestinians. These people were forced from their homes and land. This is a
fact. As a result, these people and people in the surrounding countries
have been and continue to be angry at the unfairness of this, regardless of
the justification based on God's will. Nevertheless, the US has sided
heavily in favor of Israel. Because the Palestinians do not have modern
weapons, as supplied by the US to Israel, they fight with the only tools
they have. The US labels this method terrorism, which it is. As a result,
the situation is made more one sided and desperate. No body wins and the US
is dragged deeper into the conflict. No matter which side you favor, this
is the situation. The policies used in the past have clearly not worked no
matter how "correct" you think them to be. The question is, what do you
suggest we do now?
Ed
PHILIP WINESTONE wrote:
I personally don't like the idea of playing nice with people whose
greatest wish is to cut my throat. The leader of the greatest and most
benevolent country in the world (I didn't say it was perfect) has to "make
nice" to people who by their teachings precipitated the 9/11 disaster, and
who incidentally benefit greatly in many ways, many of them most
unpleasant, from current oil prices? Just a little strange to me. I'm no
politician, but I do respect - as the Soviets did - a nation whose leaders
make it perfectly clear what would happen if America were to be
jeopardized. Not so with the Saudis. We "make nice."
As for "supporting everything the Israeli government wants." Can you be a
little more definitive? You say, "... the Bush gang is so incompetent and
so under the domination of Israel..." Perhaps you could reword this so
that we could all understand (if we're interested, which I'm sure most
people here aren't) exactly what this tiny nation in this tiny sliver of
land (about the size of New Jersey) is using to "dominate" the most
powerful nation in the world. I guess it could be Viagra... Whatever it
is, I'd like some of this "domination juice."
Please choose you words a little more carefully if you can't offer
"scientific explanations." They're a dead giveaway...
P.
----- Original Message ----
From: Edmund Storms <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, June 8, 2008 7:03:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Vo]:Oil Gang responds
Well, Philip, you did see Bush holding hands with the Saudi king. He was
trying to get the Saudi to pump more oil, which they refused to do.
However, I see no conflict with playing nice with the Saudi and
supporting everything the Israeli government wants. One is done for
money and the other is done for politics. Unfortunately, the two have
now formed an explosive mixture.
Ed
