The New Newspeak

“Any country will be great regardless of its political ideology if it has an abundance of natural resources.”

“China is only around because we say so. If we shut down our trade to them, they wouldn't last 6 months.”

“Not necessarily Spock. However it has the potential to be great.
If that ideology gets in the way of utilization of it's resources then the economy flounders.”

“Of course it was a defensive move SH. The Syrians used the Golan Heights to shell Israeli farms and villages from 1965-1967 and terrorists became very active. By May 1967 approximately 250,000 troops, more than 2,000 tanks and 700 aircraft ringed Israel from the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

On May 27th Nasser announced "Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight". On May 30th he announced "The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel...to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not declarations."

No, Israel didn't just sit there and wait for Nasser to make good on his promise: "We shall not enter Palestine with its soil covered in sand, we shall enter it with its soil saturated in blood." They attacked on June 5th and achieved a stunning victory with minimal losses.

Sounds like a defensive war to me.”

“I believe this sums it up fairly accurately.”

“Thanks Violin for making clear how complex the Israeli Palestinian issue is.

There is a history of terrorism on both sides that goes back more than 50 years to before the foundation of the state of Israel. There is a history of massacres on both sides that goes back that far. The terrorism and brutality of the Zionist right (like the Stern gang, including Shamir) and of the Palestinian extrremists has made life much worse for Jew and Palestinian alike.

There is a rabid pro-Israel lobby in the US, with many members in congress. I heard Lantos harranging Colin Powell on the radio for being critical of Sharon's policy of "targetted killings," while arguing that the assasination of a far right Israeli cabinet member (who was a strong advocate of "targetted killings" and of expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank) justified more "targetted killings."

I am not saying that the Palestinian movements have been any better. But the US double standard... pouring hundreds of dollars per Israeli per year into Israel and offereing at best mild criticism of outrageous policies is a huge problem. And people like Lantos would have the double standard become even more extreme.”

“Any country will be great regardless of its political ideology if it
has an abundance of natural resources.
Spock
7:05:42 PM
10/24/01

Hmmm, Arguably the Continent with the most natural resources is Africa.”

“Le Subtil, You just got mugged by a speed freak? Wow too bad. If you were simply using this as some sort of analogy to show that wealth is bad, you failed miserably.”

“I think he just made a case for concealed weapons permits. LOL!”

“Amen HPM. When that happens, communism will fade. We are outspending communism in China, just in a different way.”

“In the wake of all that is happened, I can't help but be a heartless cynic and quote Kurt Vonnegut in "Slaughterhouse Five", so here it it...."So it Goes".”

“Oh no! I'm crushed!”

“And they (Israel)grabbed a chuck of land that wasn't and still isn't rightfully theirs. Quit making excuses for a country whose behavior is unacceptable.”

“SH, I think we need a grass roots movement in the US to ensure Israel stops it's land grabbing and the Palestinians have a homeland.

The rest of your ideas are too wacky for me to consider.”

“Almost all nations were initally formed by a "land-grab" if that's what you want to call it. What makes other nations land grabs more righful than Isreals?”

“HPM, didn't we do some sort of "land grab" from the Native Americans.”

“Buddha Bear gets a gold star.”

“As a part Cherokee, I'd like to ask the rest of you to go home now.

joke

”

“As part Cherokee also, I invite Violin to join me in reclaiming all of the Smokies.

joke”

“Oh yeah, I'm part Cherokee too...can I stay?”

“Of course you can.”

“Got room for a Crow?”

“USA is only around because we say so. If we shut down our trade to them, they wouldn't last 6 months.
OPEC
10/24/01”

“I'm part Cleveland Indian , does that count?”

“Yeah Nigal. You can stay.”