Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GST who wrote (238139)	7/28/2007 5:46:21 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Having said all this, Israel is a country with problems that you don't seem to be able to view objectively. Well thank you for that. "Objectively", now there's a word. What is "objectively"? Basic definition to me includes some history, some context, and the use of a scale of judgement that judges all participants on more or less the same scale, allowing for circumstances. Not responsible adults vs irresponsible victims. This is just what the world won't do when it comes to Israel. Case in point: an urban slum has been taken over by violent extremists and turned into a large concrete minefield. The place is full of civilians who are starting to run away as confrontation with government forces comes closer. The government is committed to clearing out the extremists. Case One: the government sends in foot soldiers, but does not bomb. There is hand to hand fighting on the ground including suicide bombings. Final total of casualties: fewer than 100 killed including both sides, vast majority fighters. Case Two: the government's infantry attack being repulsed, it decides to level the place with heavy artillery. It shells for weeks as the remaining civilians run away. Final total: nobody knows. Maybe hundreds. Maybe thousands. In one of those two cases, headlines went around the world screaming of the Massacre of Five Thousand Dead! If you guessed that the reports of massacre went abroad far and wide in Case One, Jenin in 2002, and not in Case Two, Nahr el Bared in 2007, you are correct. Is this "objective"? Israel is a country that has done some things that are not helpful to its own peace and security True enough. Oslo tops that list, for sure.