Israel thoughts...

[carom]

Because doing whats right should be done because its right.

precisely my point.!!!

and if you have something else for a reason say upfront loud and clear....don't give me any bullcrap about it being only done cause it's right!!!!

[SeaPro238]

Having worked in several countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa (Israel, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, etc) I have a different view than most see on the evening news.
Of course Israel has the right to defend themselves from rocket attacks. What people forget is the constant threat of suicide bombers/car bombs that the Israeli people live with everyday. Try getting on any bus there, you'll notice a "terrorist cage" at the doorway. If a driver observes someone acting sketchy coming toward the bus, they close the person in the "cage" so they can't blow the bus up.
What do you think would happen here if we had this threat? Look what happened after 9/11 the aviation industry was shut down. Imagine what would happen if a suicide bomber or worse a group of bombers walked into a large shopping mall and blew themselves up. This is something they live with everyday.
As far as the U.S. being the worlds police force. I have differing views of this. There are situations where we should be involved, Sudan (Darfur) is a good example. The "spread democracy" argument is often used. But, I can tell you from first hand experience, most third world dung heaps niether understand nor want the type of government we have, the vast majority of thier people are more than content to maintain what they have always known. You cannot change a culture overnight or even in 10-20 years. If a people have lived a certain way for hundreds or in some cases thousands of years, they will resist change.
But hey, what do I know, I could be wrong

[Reel Fanatic]

Israel should bomb the everiliving shiat out of any Hamas strong-hold. If the Palestinians choose to harbor and protect the terrorists, then they will need to deal with the consequences of their actions. Palestinians wishing to flee the area and side with peace should make their intentions known and get their sorry arses to the nearest check-point or surrender to the nearest Israeli soldier.

As far as any other hot bed area on the face of this planet, we need to give those countries every option to live right and be peaceful or else blow the shiat out of them as well. If that sounds contradictory, so be it. We have one planet and either you play nice and get along, or off you go. Right is right and wrong is wrong...no gray area as far as I'm concerned.

As far as what's in it for us... our safety and freedom as a country is good enough for me. Whenever we've had to jerk a knot into some buttheads from the land of sand, the libs always start crying "Blood for oil! Blood for oil"! Well guess what, our pansy arse leaders in the State Dept. are listening to that crap and have become afraid to cut deals of the sort for payback- at least publicly.

There are bad people in this world who want to see us dead whether we mind our own business or whether we offer our sons and daughters lives up to help them keep whatever crap hole they live in. You have to manage them as long as possible and then deal with them with lethal force when they don't straighten out. There are jealous dictators and leaders of countries who want to see us brought to our knees just so they can chop off the head of America. The f**king fools don't realize that when America sneezes, the whole world gets a cold. If they had their wish, these petty little bass turds would be kings and rulers of a big pile of nothing without us.

[hedjug]

Next to the fact that the US is the only country, that is militaryly, and economically able to play that role. What is the problem with next, to bringing democracy, stability and peace to any region (however long that may take), to also pursue the USA's interests??
I don't know the exact figures, but the recent US involvement in Iaq, Afaghanistan, Kuwait are shurely costing billions and billions of $$$. What is the problem in getting something in return?? Even if it's just a contract securing Oil shipments, or US companies being able to exploit a countries Oil resources??
Why is everybody expecting the US to fight for free???

First, we are NOT nation builders. At least until the last 10 years we were not. Using force to spread democracy & our values around the world isn't part of the deal. Also, We are not the worlds police. Our tax dollars shouldn't be spent to do any of the above.

Second, the wars/conflicts we are in are by choice. Some are good choices, some not. We don't get re-paid for that. No one gets paid to fight there own fights.

-We need to be in Afganistan with no returns required.

-Iraq?? Is it our motto to take over & take the spoils? I didn't think thats what we were about.

[seapower]

You say that war's come from choice right? Where were you on 9/11? Afghanistan allowed the terrorist training camps to run in their country, I think that makes you guilty. They had the choice to shut them down themselves, oop's BAD Choice.
As far as I know Iraq does in fact have oil, read your own word's. Iraq was a serious problem in the making, for years. Hussien was given chance after chance to come clean, with his weapon's inventory. This was mandated by the rest of the "sane" world. This was a regime that killed his own people with a "WMD", he had already invaded another sovern country. What makes anyone think that unless he was stopped on our term's that time would not have been on his side to act again. Look at the past. You mention taking the spoil's in Iraq, I kinda like the sound of a 51st state myself.
Yes we sold arm's to the Saudi's, oil was always in the equation, no secret there. We also trained their naval officer's, I know,I was there. If the Saudi's weren't sold arm's do you think Hussien would have stopped at Kuwait?
What have we gotten from Isreal is a "no backdown" partner in a very troubled but crucial part of the world. I can assure you that a very large part of our intellegence comes from Isreal. That's part of what "they won't tell. We (the public) don't know the attempt's that have been thwarted because of Isreal's help. As far as us arming Isreal, I don't have a problem with it because I know who's side Isreal is on.
You make the point that I shouldn't ask someone to leave because they disagree with the US. You talk about positive change, what would that be. Maybe we should just sit on our hands and wait for a known enemie to get so big, that it's a more fair fight when we decide to take action? Maybe we should wait for France to get on board first, yes that would be plenty of time. I'm not a very smart guy and don't pretend to understand the politics of the world at large, but don't ever expect me to apologise for Bleeding Red, White and Blue. Frank,SeaPower