[Reez]

speaking on the Geneva Convention, it's damn near impossible to not violate it. I mean, it even declared the POWs had to be paid every day they were held. I mean, I wouldn't be suprised if there was a clause in there to give them pink bunny slippers and free toothbrushes.

With that said, I don't think the UN condemning Israel is gonna stop anything. Sharon is supposed to be a moderate in his party, so I'd hate to think what the radicals would do. And Palestine isn't even really a nation per say, and I don't think someone saying it's bad to blow yourself up is gonna make em stop and think about why a bomb is strapped to their chest. They'll keep killing each other until one of em runs out of people able to use weapons.

But with that said, if I had to pick a side, I'm a Muslim, so let's see Palestine hit that three-pointer at half time.

[Rictor]

Exits are to the sides and rear, emergency flamethrowers can be found under the seats. And if you run into a large 5-limbed creature while wandering around in the air ducts, give it your lunch and maybe toss it a shoe as well. Hopefully it's just Carl, and he'll leave you be. If you notice any funky changes in the scenery outside the windows, don't worry, it's only the SCP team messing around with reality.

Enjoy your stay!

_______

True, Sharon is a moderate withing the Likud party, but they are pretty far to the right. He served in the infamous 101st and was involved in the Shatilla and Jenin murders. Coming from a background like that, its pretty hard to call him a moderate.

The UN condemnation is important for two reason. First, it reaffirms the world statement to Israel and the US that this is not acceptable.  A symbolic gesture, true, but an important one. And secondly, it shows the world exactly where **** and the US stand, since they abstained from comndending it. Also, it serves to show the ABB (Anyone But ****) crowd just where Kerry stands too, which is squarely with **** and Israel, since he has not comndended these attacks ad the demolition of the Palestinian homes. Hopefully, this will send some more people to Nader's camp, away from the Democracts-who-aren't-anything-resemebling-progressive-or-peaceful.

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Corsair
It all begs the question, is Israel actually fighting a war? I mean, there was never exactly any declaration of war, so to speak, was there?

I'm not up on my history. Maybe there was (sort of).



Personally, I think it is a war...but...yeah. I'm not making sense again, am I?

I dunno what the definition of "being in a war" is legally, but I do know that the Israeli government has had special wartime powers granted to it ever since the day after the declaration of independance in '48. Israel has been in a state of war for her whole existence.

Reez:

Cool to have you around - you'll probably be able to clear up a number of contentious points we've had over time.

[Reez]

Thanks for the welcome! I bought a used copy of Freespace 2 for 10 bucks at a pawn shop 2 weeks back. Best 10 bucks i ever spent, I'm a hardcore junkie now.

The reason why he's considered a moderate (practically a hippy for the Likuds) is because he says he favors pulling Israeli troops out of Palestinean land. More than can be said for the rest of his party, but hopefully, their next election will vote in an actual moderate party, since his party's popularity is going down faster than an intern looking for a promotion (This comment is rated R, viewer discretion advised).

Heh... good point on Kerry. If my dad was reading this, he'd be responding by typing out "THAT'S CUZ JEWS RULE THE WORLD AND WANT TO KILL US ALL". I have strange family. The fact is though, that Nader won't stand a chance, since most Americans don't know who he is. It will be funny to see him screw the Democrats out of Presidency again, though.

The fact is, that the symbolic gesture is what it states, it's just a symbol. Israel has shown it doesn't give two sh*ts about foreign policy or what anyone else thinks, and i guess deservedly so because they've been fighting since the day that Israel was declared a country, and won every battle so far. They've been condemned by the EU, Canada, Japan (i think), Russia... the list goes on. They really don't care. They're like a really bad kid. Sometimes time-outs don't work, and you gotta backhand the little sh*t across the room.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Reez
Thanks for the welcome! I bought a used copy of Freespace 2 for 10 bucks at a pawn shop 2 weeks back. Best 10 bucks i ever spent, I'm a hardcore junkie now.

Hope you've noticed the SCP forum

[TrashMan]

Originally posted by Liberator
I think the hundreds of dead every month from homicide bombers equals a declaration of war, Rictor.

There was no formal declaration of war, nor is there ANY proof that the Palastinian government is sending those bombers.
Yet, Israel wages war against the whole country.

If fact is that the Israelians begun with terrorist attacks first, before Israel was formed and that Palestinian territory was taken.

I'm siding with Palestinians on this one, since that IS the right side. (NOTE: I'm saying Palestinians, not suicide bombers - )

b.t.w. - reez..I know a lot of people who think the same as your dad (alltough without the kill prat). The strange thing is - they're not that wrong either!

[Jiggyhound]

"We're sorry that innocent civilians got hit, we don't aim at Palestinian civilians," he said."

meh....

[DeepSpace9er]

Surprise, surprise
IMO, if the UN condemns something, they are either:

1) Getting kickbacks from the other side (highly unlikely in this case)

2) Getting global attention for trying to look competent

3) Showing the country they condemn in a hint, hint fashion that they need to take control of the situation and try to bring peace through their presence. (Doesnt work... blue helmeted soldiers make even more obvious targets)

In this case i think its a mixture between 2 and 3, but mostly 2.


Here is why i think Israel is sort of in the right. whether the Palestinian goverment has authorized it or not, Palestinian militants blow themselves up in crowds targeting civilians. For that alone Isreal has the right to respond, and notice how them respond.. by killing the leaders of the militants which is a brilliant strategy.

IMO, Yassir Arafat is a puppet who has almost no power over his people and his country is really run by these Jihad extremeists. He may have a good say over the civilian populous but i doubt these leaders that order these strikes are taking them from him.

[Setekh]

Welcome to HLP, Reez. Awesome job picking up FS2, she's a keeper - and it'll be great to have your voice around here to chat.

[Turambar]

Originally posted by Jiggyhound
"We're sorry that innocent civilians got hit, we don't aim at Palestinian civilians,"  

No, they just aim next to the Palestinian civilians, where  the "suspected gunman" (which can be just about anyone) was standing.

And seriously, who bulldozes a refugee camp.  They've already fleed from where they were, now they need to flee again.. Barring politics and religion and all other circumstances, thats just mean

[an0n]

Originally posted by Carl
well then you can't let any of it out, aka, no smiting.

Any why might that be?

[Kazan]

Rictor: ever person who goes to nader is waisting his vote in this election - and is helping **** stay in office - idealism is fine, but not when it get's in the way of getting that madman out of office!

[karajorma]

Originally posted by an0n
Any why might that be?

Cause then the evil is leaving you and going out into the world again.

[an0n]

The evil is in the actions, not in the people.

Basically I'd be seperating society into two factions. One would be everyone who wanted to follow the rules and be nice to each other and live in peace. The other would be the mother****ers trying to rock the boat, who'd fall into my 'evil' group.

So everyone would get what was coming to them.

[Rictor]

Regarding Nader:

Yes, a vote for Nader probably will help **** stay in office. But thats how its going to be EVERY election, if Nader just tries to keep a low profile and never run. You're thinking of the short term consequences. It stands to reason that the Democrats aren't going to be getting their act together any time soon. And as more and more Democrats grow to hate their policies, they need a viable alternative to turn to. Someone has to break the chain of voting for the lesser of two evils. Democracy is, quite simply, picking the best candidate. The best way to imlpement true democracy is the way a 10 year old would. Put your little checkmark beside the person you agree most strongly with, and you're done.

And it should be said, however much I hate Gore, it wasn't Nader who put **** in the White House. It was the Supreme Court, the media and Gore himself, for being so utterly incompetent as to not be able to outsmart a hillbilly cokehead like ****.

___________________________

DeepSpace9r: but the trouble is, Israel is not killing exclusivly militants. In fact, statistically speaking, they kill more innocents than militants. Not to mention the whole tearing down of houses, which leave innocents homeless. Or are you going to tell me that the 100 houses they recently tore down ALL belonged to militants?

[Reez]

well, as long as Kerry doesn't say anything, he'll win. Let **** make himself look stupid on his own, I say. Kerry shoul just wait for **** to talk, and after he's done, point at him and say "That's why you should vote for me." BAM! Instant Presidency in a Cup.

[Sandwich]

Originally posted by Rictor

DeepSpace9r: but the trouble is, Israel is not killing exclusivly militants. In fact, statistically speaking, they kill more innocents than militants.

[Rictor]

check that website you linked to a while ago, that shows the casualty statistics since the start of the second intifada. As I remember it, the numbers where thereabouts, though I can't be a hundred percent sure.

[an0n]

Remind me again why Israel needs to clear the Palestinian side of the border instead of just moving their own **** back.

[Nico]

I wonder what I'm gonna eat tonight... pasta? Mmh, or lasagna maybe. Yeah, lasagna. Lasagna is good.