Israel thoughts...

[Captain Michael Buffington]

I know this aint mix it up but I'm staying out of there as much as possible. Me and Carom have had some lively discussions lately about Gaza and the us role in the world.

First question is do you feel Israel is within their rights defending their citizens from rocket attacks?

Second is what do you feel the us role in worldwide events is and what would you change about it.

The rican promises to get involved in the discussion and I promise his views are very different from mine. Apparently we yanks are the dark side.

Hope noone is offended by the placement of this thread.

Mike

[BYRD]

I look at it like this, if some launched rockets into one of our American cities what would we do? We would attack! I think we are fighting two wars right now because some worthless cowards knocked down two of our buildings. Hell yes Israel is right to defend its citizens.

Not sure about the second. We are damned if we don't and damned if we do. If we don't react the world accuses us of not caring and being indifferent and selfish. If we do react then the world says we should mind our own business and not try to control other countries. I wish we didn't do so much sometimes. (Grenada, Mogadishu, Somalli, etc. (sp)) to name a few.

[Ace1st]

Yes.....
I do think Israel has a right to defend itself against these rocket attacks. If you are bombarded daily with those things, wouldnt you get tired of it? I would and I would do the same thing they are doing.

The problem here in lies that these people have been fighting for thousands of years and that will not change no matter what happens.

If the world would leave Israel along and let them tend to their business, they would fix the problem! In fact they would fix the Iranian and other rogue country problems too. All these countries run there mouth about Israel, but you dont see any of them actively picking fights with them do you. They are cowards! Terror is there weapon. Mainly children or individuals with limited mental capacity. You dont see any of their top guns blowin themselves up for the cause do you!

As far as America is concerned, I think that we do need to police the world. Both my G fathers fought in WWII and so many times they have said that the world did not need another world war. With the new technology, their may not be a world next time around. We dont need to be asleep at the wheel thats for sure.

[clt_capt]

IMHO, Hamas is really stupid. Israel has historically responded to violence with force.

If someone goes lobbing bombs and roctets, then HELL yes Israel (or any other country) has the right to defend themselves.

The only possible beneficial outcome for Hamas is if the conflict escalates and other Arab nations react to attack Israel. I think that could get really ugly - but we'd have a new source of ready made glass...


I also think it is time to quit imposing our will and sending our brave young men where they are not respected. If these countries want us there, that is one thing - and I think it is justified. If they don't want us there, then to heck with them - Keep our guys home.

[Captain Michael Buffington]

But please stay tuned so you don't miss the ricans viewpoint. Just count your blessings you don't have to debate it in person!

Mike

[flatbottom]

Yes they have a right to defend their selves.

No matter what the out come The USA will be the bad guy for arming Israel. But at the same time Russia, China, Iran, North Korea sell arms to Hamas. With out weapons there would be rock throwing and name calling. As I see it.....the world does not want peace in the middle East....it is not profitable to have peace in the middle East.

[RWW]

Yes Israel has the right to defend themselves. And if the US would let them I suspect they would further protect their intreasts throughout the middle east. Of course the world knows the US has Israel's back if another country attacked them....

Given the situation over there now and how easy it would be for the situation to escalate.... even the discussion, media attention, and the general negative feeling towards Isreal would the new administration change the US's support of Israel? Would that be the test Biden spoke of? Scary stuff, the whole world could easily get pulled into the middle east... as flat said it is very profitable as the blood of the worlds economy originates from that area.

As far as the US being the worlds police, yes I believe we must have a presence not only to keep peace but to protect the worlds economy. As a veteran who has spent time over there, I can tell you without a presence our world wouldn't be as peaceful as it currently is... not that it is perfect now but it is amazing how fast "activity" calms down when they see an aircraft carrier off of their coast.

[maguro]

I absolutely think Israel has every right to defend, and protect it's citizens from these cowards, who hide behind civilians, and schoolkids to attck the israelis!
As for the US's role as world police, I say it's a tough job but somebody's got to do it!
I know that especially in Europe (whis is where I happen to live) most people would tend to disagree with me - I say screw them!!
I lived in Berlin for many years, that city would have fallen to the Soviets if it wasn't for Americas engagement!
I remember vividly the first war in the Gulf, when all those peace activists ran to the streets, demonstrating against US aggression! Where were they when Saddam tortured and killed millions of his own people, or Kuwaitis??
At the same time the civil war in Yugoslavia started - no peace freaks on the streets then!!
As soon as the NATO under US leadership decided to end this conflict, by dropping a couple of bombs on Belgrade, guess who was demonstrating again??!!
All those people probably didn't realize that if it wasn't for America they would not even have the right to demonstrate!
IMO there is no alternative to the US playing the role it does now.
The European Union could grow into taking a similar role, if they would finally get their act together and agree on a mutual foreign policy.

[seapower]

It really doesn't matter what we think! Isreal is going to defend itself and the world knows it. Those that lob rocket's into Isreal know full well (when they are doing it) that Isreal is a force to be reckoned with. They are counting on Isreal to get fed up and attack, this in their minds would light the fuse for thier Arab Brothers to come and join the fight. Isreal's not going to back down until it's main objective is taken care of. When your back is against the wall you have to choice but to fight, I think this is how Isreal see's itself. Hamas has a choice either to launch rockets or stop launching rockets, they are choosing to launch. What else can be said? Frank

[carom]

First off, I couldn’t care less about what happens in the Middle East. Why? Because those guys have been at it for centuries, and I think that no one has all the information to make an intelligent decision. I told Capt. Save a Ho, that if he feels that he has all the info from what FOXNEWS and the other networks say, that I’m ok with it, but I disagree, and therefore I don’t take sides.

As for the US been the police of the world, I say that the US only helps when they can get something out of it or when the have any interest (economic, military, etc.). Otherwise they just sit and watch. They don’t do anything out of the goodness of their harts as they claim to. And, I don’t have a problem with that either; it’s just that I hate that people think (such as Capt. Save a Ho) that the US does things just because they are so kind and not looking for anything else. If you are doing something, cause you want or need something, do it, just don’t try to make me believe you are doing it just because your so nice.