Comments on: When Make Believe Makes Us Believe

By: Thomas O. Meehan

Thomas O. Meehan — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Bravo Harriet, You beat me to it. The US gains nothing by taking sides in an internal semitic grudge match far away.

As for Arab Christians, they are being driven from their homes and the region in general by our foolish adventures. They are the real losers in all this. They have lost Lebanon, are being driven from Egypt and Iraq and are non too welcome in Israel either. Jersey City is full of displaced Coptic Christians.

By: DirtyHarriet

DirtyHarriet — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 15:28:33 +0000

You’re reaching for straws, Bill. Nobody is talking about ‘sacrificing the jews’. It’s ridiculous to believe that all of those groups – even taken together – could take down Israel. Not even close. And some of us happen to be on AMERICA’s side, and choose to stick to the ideals upon which THIS nation was founded – liberty and justice for all.

As to your statement about Christians – I’m one of them, and there are many in that region that are being targeted all the same by the Israelis, whose missiles, bombs and gunfire do not discriminate between Arab Muslim or Christian.

If you have a passionate attachment to another nation, that’s fine. But when that nation’s problems become OUR problems, to the detriment of our citizens, then do the rest of us a favor and take it somewhere else.

By: Bill Pearlman

Bill Pearlman — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 02:01:45 +0000

I just saw that Israel hit a Hamas leader and got TWO OF HIS FOUR WIVES. Also, Hamas has approved the reinstitution of crucifying. complete with being nailed to a steel cross. Your either on Israel’s side or on the side of those happy go lucky lads from Hamas and Hezbollah. And I’m going to remind you of one major fact. You can sacrifice the jews here but if you think that the Christians are going to walk away from this your nuts.

By: DirtyHarriet

DirtyHarriet — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:32:00 +0000

“I can´t understand the almost unconditional support this conservative magazine has for the Palestinians”

Most thinking individuals, including former CIA, understand that the Palestinians – even if they all wanted to (which they do not) – could never destroy Israel. And they also understand that Israel is a grave violator of international law and has been since its inception. This is the Orwellian nature of this conflict and how it is presented to Americans.

Look at the maps. 100 years ago – where was Israel? How did it come to be? Was most of the land taken by force? Is that legal? Is Palestinian land still being taken by the state of Israel? And what became of the people that lived on that land, does it relate to one of the longest-running refugee situations in modern day history? Did the Palestinians bring this war to the Israelis (or Jews)? Look at those maps again, from 100 years ago, and then now. Just exactly who is pushing whom into the sea? Wbere was Hamas, Hezbollah, PIJ, and others BEFORE the advent of Israel? Who has the f16s, the Merkavas, the bunker busting bombs, the unqualified support of the world’s superpower (thanks to the Israeli lobby therein), etc etc etc.

Just a few questions one might reflect on if they wanted a larger picture of the conflict. No, it has not been going on ‘for thousands of years’ as some assert. The Turks occupied the area for hundreds of years – when Jews, Muslims and Christians largely lived in relative peace throughout.

Something to ponder.

By: eep

eep — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:43:09 +0000

The trillion dollar question is what business does the US have in their cycle of violence and could it do anything if American politicians did want peace? I don’t think the Israeli government, Israeli settlers, Hamas or the Palestinians firing rockets into Israel want peace.

By: T. Chan

T. Chan — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:46:42 +0000

Has Israel followed the advice laid out by Martin van Creveld? I think not.

By: kishnevi

kishnevi — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:02:17 +0000

“a gruesomely disproportionate military response”

A very perceptive point.
Israel is indeed guilty of a massive disproportion in its response.

Hamas seeks to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible, with the ultimate goal being the killing of all of them.
Israel does not seek to kill as many Gazan civilians as possible, and has the ultimate goal of killing as few as possible of them.

That indeed is a gruesome disproportion.

By: Jack Tracey

Jack Tracey — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:55:02 +0000

“So, what would you do?” can be a good question in response to criticism. Critics always have an easier time than those that must take action. But are you saying that you think the Israeli response is fitting and effective, or would you do anything differently?

By: AnteBragd

AnteBragd — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:29:14 +0000

Good point Pearlman
I can´t understand the almost unconditional support this conservative magazine has for the Palestinians. It´s a childlike “If the Neo-Con says that we say the opposite” attitude. I guess the right to self-defense don´t applies Israel.
What is interesting is that this site has the same arguments like the hard-core socialists here in Sweden when it comes to Israel, it´s always Israels fault, the Palestinians are always the victims. Both socialists and this site seems to forget that Israel returned Gaza to the Palestinians as an act of good will hoping this would encourage the peace effort. The only result was that Hamas first turned it to a ghetto, then moved their rockets positions forward. But of course, Israel is the aggressor I guess.

By: conradg

conradg — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:03:15 +0000

Unrelated to this topic, I have a question about Daniel Larison’s blog. Unless there’s something wrong with my browser or the server, it hasn’t been updated since December 12, and there’s no explanation. Is something wrong with him, or is there some way for me to access his blog? I recall having this problem once in the past, but this has been going on for very long time. Any explanation?

By: Bill Pearlman

Bill Pearlman — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:55:11 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me that what is ostensibly a conservative magazine. And believe me it’s not easy being a Republican Jew in New York City. Has an editorial board and a readership that almost unfailingly takes the side of those happy go lucky lads from Hamas and Hezbollah over Israel. And again. I ask the people here this; If you were the PM of Israel. And the southern part of your country was being hit constantly with missiles. And they were coming from an area where the government was TOTALLY devoted to your destruction. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN REPONSE. Not a rhetorical question. I really would would like to know. And keep in mind that the Rafah crossing is in Egyptian hands and they are keeping to closed. Please keep that in mind. But I really would like to hear the responses. No boilerplate. Tell me what your plan would be.