[Blackmirror]

BBC NEWS | UK | UK protesters call for Gaza peace

Make the bloodshed stop please leaders of the world
We cant sit back and do nothing

[Jason]

Ah, but didn't you say we had no business in Iraq? If so, then what business is it for us to go over there?

They're complete idiots.

[Blackmirror]

This is a little different to Iraq Jason....
Gaza is landlocked and at the mercy of Israel.

[Howard]

The only way to stop Israel from taking action is for Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel That's what prompted Israel's action in the first place.

I dare say we'd be pretty pissed off too, if someone was firing rockets into the UK?

[Blackmirror]

But there is always more to it than that Howard

The largest backer of Hamas is Saudi Arabia, with over 50% of its funds coming from that country

"The Hamas movement is prepared to stop terror against Israeli civilians if Israel stops killing Palestinian civilians ... We have told (Palestinian Authority Prime Minister) Abu Mazen in our meetings that there is an opportunity to stop targeting Israeli civilians if the Israelis stop assassinations and raids and stop brutalizing Palestinian civilians

They are both as bad as one another
The Palestinian death toll rose to at least 846 dead, with more than 3,200 injured. Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, have been killed.

[Howard]

At the end of the day, the conflict between Jews and Arabs will only ever be solved via the negotiating table.

Until that happens, the sporadic attacks by both side will no doubt continue and there's nothing we or anyone else can do about it.

You have to remember that the underlying problem is the Palestinians refusal to recognise Israel's right to exist.

I don't pretend to know what the answer is, but the current conflict can most certainly be stopped by Hamas stopping their rocket attacks.

The link below will go some way to explain what the middle east conflict is all about.


Middle East Conflict - Why

[Gunner]

What is there to do? Nothing? Well not really. The U.S. gives Israel a train load
of money every year and Saudi, and other countries, fund Hamas.
Maybe that's why the demonstrations in Greece show U.S. flags burning. Go figure.
Moses looked for 40 years and that's the best he could come up with?
If it's part of the Middle East it will be in turmoil forever and ever...AMEN. (Randy Travis)

[Blackmirror]

[Taima]

I'm gonna take the Israelis side on this one. The only reason this particular conflict started was because they got sick of rockets hitting them in their backyards. If Hamas were to stop the rockets/mortars/etc., then the Israelis would definitely pull out. But because they're not, I'm all for the Israelis going and tearin Gaza to pieces >

It's nice to see an ally who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty with civilian blood. (As bad as that looks, I don't mean it in a bad way.)

[Blackmirror]

In Gaza the main hospital is close to collapse, according to two Norwegian doctors who have been working there during the conflict.
They said patients at al-Shifa hospital are dying because of a lack of specialist doctors and basic medical equipment.

Medics in Gaza say latest casualties include at least 60 people affected by suspected phosphorus shells fired illegally near civilian areas.

Now If the target is indeed Hamas wouldn't a ground invasion have been more Civilian friendly
Not just bomb the strip to the ground
As for using illegal weapons well we know who did that as well

The US military in Iraq admitted using white phosphorus as a weapon in the assault on Falluja in 2004 - after initial denials, although it insisted the use was legal.

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Israel denies banned weapons use

[Howard]

Sorry BM, but you understanding of military tactics leaves a lot to be desired.

Trying to go into Gaza with a ground offensive, without first softening the targets up with some kind of aerial bombardment would be tantamount to gross military negligence. Something that no modern military power would contemplate doing.

Originally Posted by blackmirror

The US military in Iraq admitted using white phosphorus as a weapon in the assault on Falluja in 2004 - after initial denials, although it insisted the use was legal.

What has that to do with the original thread?

[Blackmirror]

What Really Happened In The Middle East - Terrorism Awareness Project

interesting

[Howard]

That's absolutely brilliant BM and thanks so much for posting the link.

[Rik]

I also am on the side of the Israelis, what Hamas was doing to provoke them was no different to what the IRA used to do to us but on a larger scale.
The use of violence in an attempt to force ones views upon another absolutely cannot be tolerated.

One thing that has been overlooked is the years of indiscriminate rocket attacks that the Israelis have had to endure without retaliation.

There is also the fact that the Israeli forces originally spent many months surgically attacking known militants with precision missile attacks from helicopter gunships at great risk to themselves. I remember seeing a documentary about just such an attack, they only launched a missile once they confirmed the target was in a car by himself and that there was no other traffic about.

[Gunner]

"Surgical strikes are not without collateral damages most time." IMHO
Israel has the distinction of being a country/state smack dab in the middle of
of other countries/groups that do/always hate them based on religion.
Whether Lebanon, Syria, Iran, or Hezbollah, Hamas and PLO, it will always be so.
Muslims vs. Jews...Catholics vs. Protestants...Hindus vs. Muslims...Ad nausea(m).

[Blackmirror]

[Taima]

Props to Israel for continuing to kick a-- after 3 weeks of fighting. They're not wasting any time either, as they've shown by not being afraid to blow up anything. Schools, churches, cemeteries, they're all free game.

~Current Death Tolls~

Palestinians - 1,133
Israelis - 13

Ouch

[Blackmirror]

I am trying to understand the whole Jew and Arab conflict/history and its doing my head in ,
Why is the USA so Pro Israel? , Has it anything to do with the amount of wealthy Jews that live there..

I came scross this quote

- Citizens of the Western world: Don't hungrily swallow up what the media spoon feed you - look at alternative news, read into the subjects, make YOUR OWN mind up! Ask yourself 'WHY?'

I am doing that

[Gunner]

Why is America pro-Israel?
For one, Israel is located smack dab in the middle of the Arab oil region
and has nuclear weapons. Of course we are going to protect our interests.
But the U.S. can't continue to give money and weapons to Israel and then claim no
responsibility as to how they use it.
Gunny Highway said it best: "It's a cluster f&ck." Semper Fi
It always sounds better when Clint Eastwood says it.

[Blackmirror]

Thanks Gunner
I try to understand this big crazy world but sometimes it makes me think too hard