Gaza and Israel

[Bibio]

marmite is the answer.

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Err... What?

I genuinely cannot manage the mental gymnastics necessary to draw any parallel whatsoever between the three conflicts to which you refer.

Really quite baffled by this post.

Glad it wasn't just me....

WW2 was about world domination, without getting into the morals of carpet bombing this was two side of equal destructive capabilities slowly persuading the other they were going to win...

This is not about being fair, this is about what would I do that is best for the Palestine people.

The UK IRA thing could get out of control here, lets stick with the IRA being a terrorist organization that wanted an "invading" neighbouring force out of their country, Hamas on the other hand want the destruction of neighbouring force. That is two completely different scenarios if you are the neighbouring force.

In short I think Israel could walk into Gaza anytime they want and completely take over. They don't because that isn't what they want and they would lose a lot of support if they did. Hamas on the other hand don't have any chance whatsoever of ever defeating Israel and by prolonging the "war" all they are doing is bringing continued death and suffering to their people. A responsible government in that position surrenders and gets the best deal they can. A bit like Germany and Japan did in 1945 if you want history comparisons, or do you think we were wrong for bullying them into submission as well?

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Red Herring

A bit like Germany and Japan did in 1945 if you want history comparisons, or do you think we were wrong for bullying them into submission as well?

Oh gawd don't bring that into it! We'll be "discussing" the US motives and justification of their nuclear strike forevermore!

[Red Herring]

Yeah, sorry. Still, they seem to have come out of it OK.... or is that going to start a Brit bike v Jap bike thread!

Originally Posted by SvNewbie

Why is the Palestine response to Israel any different from that of the IRA (who killed over a hundred English men, women and children)? And if its not that different why wasn't the British response to the IRA to engage in collective punishment killing thousands of civilians?

Leave well alone, trust me leave this WELL ALONE

Originally Posted by davepreston

Leave well alone, trust me leave this WELL ALONE

Apologies Dave I didn't mean to draw the conversation down that path, the only point I was trying to make is that it is that the British response didn't involve killing thousands of civilians in collective punishment for the crimes of a few.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Err... What?

I genuinely cannot manage the mental gymnastics necessary to draw any parallel whatsoever between the three conflicts to which you refer.

Really quite baffled by this post.

Your right, I'd had too many beers. As above the point I was trying to make poorly is that carpet bombing the place wouldn't have been a reasonable response. Not trying to compare the origins or merits of both conflicts.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by SvNewbie

I'd had too many beers.

You, sir, are a gentleman - I greatly admire your candour!

[MisterTommyH]

Originally Posted by Red Herring

They don't because that isn't what they want and they would lose a lot of support if they did.

I don't believe that those statements are mutually exclusive. It could well be that Israel DO want to do that, but still don't because they know exactly where the tipping point is, and that that would lose them most if not all support.

I don't pretend to know what Israels motivation is, just that it could be as above, and that I don't like the continuing reports of deaths of non-combatents.

Originally Posted by Red Herring

This is not about being fair, this is about what would I do that is best for the Palestine people?

I think fairness is exactly what it is all about. Until there is some deal which is fair to the Palestinian people then I think support for the radical factions will not stop.

The international community needs to stop paying lip service to condemning Israel's operations in the Gaza strip and the west bank and put in place meaningful sanctions.

They then need the kind of international support given to Germany in the years after the war to rebuild their country.

Of course, the cynic in me thinks it's too far away for anyone to care enough.