Israeli attack all the talk in DC

I feel Hezbolllah MUST accept responsibility for deaths/destruction that occur because THEY chose to launch rocket atacks from civilian populated areas. To do so (hide behind the skirts of civilians) is an act of utmost cowardice.

I am a father and a grandfather. Of course, I hate to think of innocent children being killed in ths conflict. However, I feel Isreal would be justified to drop the most powerful non-nuclear bombs they have on any areas harboring the Hesbollah and put an end to this. It would be like the well justified American bombing of Japan with the A bomb , ending the Pacific conflict in World War II. Terrible but very, very necessary.

Very sincerely,

David Danner, D.D.S. (retired)
Captain, US Army 1968-71 (retired)
Visitor to Hiroshima Memorial (slightly moved)
Visitor to Pearl Harbor (very, very moved)

Muslim Hindu Christian Jewish Peace Plan
By William Glick
www.equalsouls.org (The Jewish Hindu Dialogue)

The desire to bring peace to the world is most likely the inner
mood of most of us today. To-do that we need to come to a
common understanding of religious terminology and beliefs.

For example most of us have no idea that the name Allah comes
from the Hebrew letter Alef, our A, in the English alphabet.
This simple point contains enough information for every
Christian, Jew and Hindu to accept Allah as a name of God.

I will explain further, in the "Old Testament" which Jewish
people call the 5 books of Moses, God explains that He is the
beginning to the end. This same idea is expressed in the New
Testament. Revelation 22:13, I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. This
English usage of Alpha is based on the Hebrew Alef. Also in
the Hindu (Vedic) scripture, Bagavad Gita, Krishna says "of
letters I am A."

Has God sent so many messengers each with a different
message? Is He sitting in the Garden of Eden laughing at us?
I think not! We have twisted His message based on our own
material desire, creating our own Hell on Earth.

The objection we find from our Muslim brothers today comes
from the desire to bring the world back to God and His ways.
We find this mood in our Jewish-Christian tradition also.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

This lack of discipline, this foolish rush of insane
materialism is what every deeply religious person objects to,
no matter which faith he or she is coming from. We can take
good example from our Amish brothers and Hindu (Vedic) sages.

An error of modern society and religion is to identify the
body as the self. The Bhagavad-Gita clearly explains that we
should see and accept the spiritual essence (the soul) of
each living being as spiritually equal. There it is said,
"The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with
equal vision a learned and gentle Brahman, a cow, an
elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcast]."
[Bagavad Gita 5.18]

How does the learned sage see every living entity with equal
vision? He sees the spirit soul within the heart of each of
God's creations. He understands that although living forms
may appear different, those appearances are only the external
coverings of the soul, and that spiritually we are all equal.

A careful analysis shows that all problems result from our
first mistake of identifying the body as the self. If we
identify ourselves by race, religion and ethnic group we will
then suffer or enjoy the results of that identity, but the
fact is we are spiritually equal and the bodily identity that
we accept is both temporary and insignificant compared to our
eternal spiritual identity. We suffer due to birth, disease,
old age and death; we need not identify with the body, which
is being afflicted by these difficulties.

If everyone understood and acted on the level of the soul
rather than the body, the world's problems would practically
cease. Understanding the difference between matter and
spirit, and that God is the controller of all things, is the
essence of knowledge.

It is natural that when we become overwhelmed by
difficulties, we become aware of our dependence on God.
Unfortunately, due to our deep attachment to materialism, we
are drawn to perceive religion in much the same manner, as we
perceive ordinary social activities. That is, we become
attached to identifying with the external or social side of
religion, while we forget its essence-loving service to God.

Our modern use of the word religion, expresses an external
alterable faith, while the Sanskrit word dharma, implies an
internal or essential eternal relationship with God. Our
religion or faith can change but the soul's relationship with
God is eternal. For example, I may claim that I am a
Christian today, but I may adopt the practices of a Hindu or
of a Jew tomorrow. However, whatever faith you my follow, the
essence of that faith is loving service to God.

We must understand that our Muslim brothers and sisters who
have come to understand the true message of Allah accept all
of us as children of God based on this verse from the Koran.
2.62: Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and
the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah
and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward
from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall
they grieve.

We should also understand that as a nation, nay as a human
race if we do not come to follow God's laws and develop our
love for Him and His creation, our future is all too clear.

For Our Lord says: Isaiah 46: I make known the end from the
beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say:
My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Thank You and God's Blessings
William Glick www.equalsouls.org

Hezbollah and their Lebanese supporters finally got the war they've been wanting for years, so what are they complaining about? War is hell.

Daniel Ayalon, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., went further. "It was a war crime committed by the Hezbollah," he said of Hezbollah's practice of using Lebanese residential areas from which to fire their rockets into northern Israel.

Israel's warnings for civilans to get out of southern Lebanon after the Israeli air force has destroyed all the means to get out and even when an evacuation is attempted, convoys are attacked, is also a war crime.

Daniel Ayalon's logic suggesting Hezbollah is responsible for the deaths of the people of Qana is tantamount to claiming the Jews are responsible for their own deaths during WWII.

If Condoleeza Rice desisted in having her photo taken during her visits to Jerusalem wearing a beaming smile and sometimes carrying bunches of flowers, she may be more accepted by those who are being bombed by her administration's bunker busters.

My heart is full of pain for the so many inoccent lifes that were lost the last years from wars and terrorist attacks. Hate brinks hate and blood brinks blood.
Now in Libanon I don't know what to say.
A terrorist organization Hezbollah the No 2 up to now killer of USA Citizens is everyday launching more than a hundred rockets, special made to kill civilians. They are orchestrated with Hammas , Iran and Syria to whipe out Israel.
Israel is defending and trying to hit Hezbollah targets which are mixed up with civilians using them as shields.
It is really very very sad to see these killings. I wonder ,why we are so much suffering from what is happenning and Hezbolah is not? why they don't stop to launch their rockets and ask for a cease Fire? but instead threaten for even more deadly missiles that will go further inside Israel? They don't care for the libaneze lifes that are getting lost because of them? they are not patriots and are not protecting them? they are not feeling any merci for them?
I wish I new a way to make all these killings and wars stop.I wish I could help for a lasting peace on Earth.
Only Love, and understanding, communication and justice may brink this.
We have forgoten that God is pure Love, and if we don't love eachother we don't have any kind of relation with God.
In our so much degenerated world we are full of hatred and greed and suffering.
There is not International Community to force a stop on these? To educate the world that we have to follow some eternal values that God has written in our hearts? Love, compassion, forgiveness and merci for our brothers and sisters?
Then we are getting very close to our self catastroph.
Something must be done for our children. It is a must.
We should all pray for that, and spead this message around.

Sincerely,

Peter Kikareas

What I'd like to know is where is the condemnation from Kofi Annan or anyone else at the UN of Hezbollah for using civillian areas to launch rocket attacks on Israel? Some of the leaders of middle east nations (Jordan, Egypt) have condemned the original Hezbollah attacks and kidnapping, but they haven't said a thing about the terrorist, non-Geneva convention tactics Hezbollah uses.

The fact of Lebanon's chosen failure to build a sufficient army and decision to harbor and enable terrorism has been a consitent crime against Israel and the world for some time now.

The fact that Hezbollah is backed by Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and other Arabic and non-Arabic countries is a crime against Israel and the world.

The fact that Iran and Pakistan have developed nuclear weapons to wage "Jihad" and that Pakistan has declared its nuclear abilities as the "Islamic Bomb" is a crime against Israel and the world.

The fact that Hezbollah was involved in the U.S. hostage situation in Iran, killed U.S. Marines and bombed the U.S. embassy and its annex in Beirut, kidnapped 10 Americans, including the CIA station chief William Buckley, hijacked TWA flight 847, etc...is a crime against the U.S. and the world.

The fact that Islam calls for the destruction of all non-believers/infidels and will continue its quest for world domination as practiced by Muhammed and his followers for centuries is a crime against humanity.

Every US citizen taxpayer shares the guilt with Israel for this crime. The US is the world's largest arms dealer and the weapons that Israel used to kill women and children and old men were sold or even given to the Israeli's by the US government.

Please write to your representatives and demand that we stop arming Israel and every other nation. It is easy to understand why the Arab world is so angry at the US and Israel. We are arming the Israeli's and they are using those arms to massacre innocent Arabs.

Dear Sir:

Why everytime innocents are the target? It is cowardice act to kill innocents.

Is the status of killed in 9/11 and in bombing by Israel different? Never. In both cases innocents are killed. May their souls rest in peace.

May peace prevail in the world.

Jayesh Shah

There is no justification for making innocent women and children the targets of military attacks. Why do the people of the world let their leaders use them to gain their own selfish objectives. Ultimately we all share the blame for turning an apathetic eye on leaders of governments that trade arms. Unfortunately it will take the deaths of your own children to see the error of your apathy.

Israel always wanted to kill all muslims or to destroy all muslim nations and i.e why always blame syria,iran,lebenon or any muslim country for harbouring terrorism.tell me how many people killed in 9/11? 3000 or may be 5000.I am not justifying the killing of civilian on either side but NOW tell me how many muslims men, women, childrens killed since the day US invaded iraq.I tell you that rougly 200,000.What about Afghanistan? may be 100,000.what about palestine? how many? may be 100,000. you name the muslim country i will tell you the massacure these so called preacher of democracy had done. How funny US invaded iraq because saddam got so called WMDs which never found and they killed milions of iraqis for the crime they never did or not ever planned to do (they haven't got it at first place).
America warns north korea of testing missile in sea and not even publicly condemned what israel is been doing since many many years using tanks, rockets, war planes etc. is this justifible?
And tell you(David Charak) Islam never ever said/command to kill innocent peoples.Islam means Peace and it give peace to even people who ask forgiveness even in battle.If you don't know about islam or its Prophet you must not say any thing against them before reading it by your self but not reading it on web or those who wanted to disgrace islam."Jihad" means to fight in the battle field not in streets with innocent civilian.
hope you understand it if not send me an email i will remove your all misunderstandings about Islam.

There's no justification in killing innocent people. No matter who is right or wrong.

If the Israeli choose to act like the terrorist group Hezbollah, then they themselves becomes the terrorist.

Every US citizen taxpayer shares the guilt with Israel for this crime. The US is the world's largest arms dealer and the weapons that Israel used to kill women and children and old men were sold or even given to the Israeli's by the US government.

Please write to your representatives and demand that we stop arming Israel and every other nation. It is easy to understand why the Arab world is so angry at the US and Israel. We are arming the Israeli's and they are using those arms to massacre innocent Arabs.

Well said, Bob S.

David: It has not been proved. It is suspected that Hezbollah carried out those crimes, but not proven.

Bill: The UN has condemned them for it. It happened a week ago (approximately).

Pater: Get real. If anyone is spoiling for a fight, it is ever Israel and your "precious" America.

David Danner: They should take responsibility for their actions of firing missiles, yes. Israel and the US should take responsibility for the deaths caused by their horrific munitions.

The civilian : military ratios for each group stands as follows

Hezbollah - 50 civilians to 33 Israeli Military (ratio approx 1.5:1)
Israel - 500+ civilians to 26 Hezbollah (ratio approx 19:1)

Take responsibility, BOTH sides.

Israel have no right to commit crimes such as these. Blaming Hezbollah for hiding with civilians, please, how is that an excuse for commiting WAR CRIMES??
Dropping a bomb on a house as opposed to sending troops in. 30 Children???

Yes Hezbollah should accept responsiblity too.

Israel has the backing of the US and the firepower to commit these crimes. At least the US could provide some real intel and guidance on how to handle a conflict like this, or is the US trying to see how another approach works since the complete mess in Iran?

I condem the US, Israel and Hezbollah for this.

The Arab nations have turned on the US, Europe and Asia will follow until the US stop meddling in others affairs.

Not only does every US tax payer share the guilt but also the financial cost. We pay Israel billions of dollars every year in military assistance. They subsequently use this money to destroy the lives of the Palestinians living in the West Bank, Gaza and now Lebanon. Once a truce is announced, the US and EU will probably agree to pay to fix things up once again.

Clearly, the problem lies with the morons running the US government. When you see two people fighting in the street and you claim that both are your friends, what would be the right thing to do? Allow them to settle it fair and square or pull them apart, knowing that once the fighting is over one or both will blame you for doing nothing.

>>Daniel Ayalon's logic suggesting Hezbollah
>>is responsible for the deaths of the people
>>of Qana is tantamount to claiming the Jews
>>are responsible for their own deaths during
>> WWII.
How can ANY rational and thinking human even attempt to claim that a comment like that has a scintilla of truth or any validity whatsoever?
The cowardly Hezbollah – though armed to the teeth – launch missiles from locations on or next to buildings into which Hezbollah places—or keeps – unarmed women and children. Hezbollah does this precisely to induce Israel to respond to the source of the missile so that those civilians whom Hezbollah placed and kept near the missile launching site will be killed or injured. And the Hebollah perpetrators themselves? They will not stay to fight – they know that Israel’s response will be swift and strong, so these cowards run as far away as they can get – and deliberately leave the innocent people to be killed.
These "tactics" of Hezbollah are absolutely despicable and inhuman. Yet, while it is so clear that Hezbollah plans for and intends this carnage, you assert that the killings and maimings were not Hezbollah's fault at all – precisely what Hezbollah hoped to hear. This only encourages Hezbollah to continue to launch missile into Israel from sites near innocents just to force Israel to attack more innocents.
Unquestionably, Hezbolah's fanaticism has overwhelmed and erased their morality and their own humanity. NO ONE could have less respect for or concern about human life than these cowardly Hezbollah who "fight" by pushing innocents out to be killed.
While these civilians are alive, Hezbollah does not consider Lebanese women and children to be "innocents"; only after Hezbollah has arranged for them to be killed does Hezbollah hypocritically feign concern. In truth, Hezbollah believes itself justified in condemning these people to death, because Hezbollah wants to put Israel in a Hobson's Choice – either to respond to Hezbollah’s missile attacks and risk harming the civilians whom Hezbollah has intentionally "tied to the sacrificial altar” – or, because they suspect Hezbollah may have put people out to be killed, to not respond and allow Hezbollah to continue firing missiles at Israel's cities and civilians.
At no time during WWII did ANYONE ever fire missiles at Nazis from behind innocent Jewish civilians for the purpose of having the Nazis attack the innocents.
But that is precisely what Hezbollah does with Lebanese civilians. In effect, Hezbollah conscripts women and children and places them to die for the glorification of Hezbollah. Yet, Mr. Carey thinks Jews during WWII did the same thing that Hezbollah is doing now? Comparing Jews in WWII to Hezbollah in Lebanon shows an incredible depth of ignorance and prejudice.
It is horrible that Hezbollah deliberately places innocent Lebanese people in locations that Hezbollah KNOWS Israel will attack. And how does Hezbollah KNOW this? Because they know that Israel can and will track back to its origination point each missile that Hezbollah fires. So Hezbollah makes sure to place its missile launchers as close as possible to Lebanese civilians.
Obviously, Hezbollah knows that Israel will attack the missile launch location; but does Hezbollah do ANYTHING to protect Lebanese citizens – such as taking their missiles out away from the civilian population before launching them? No, because that would deprive Hezbollah of the propaganda value it desires from the injury and death Hezbollah knows and intends that those people suffer.
It is as if Hezbollah has spent years building schools and hospitals just to "fatten up" the civilians for the slaughter that Hezbollah now intends these innocents to suffer on Hezbollah's behalf.
Mr. Carey – I don't know who you are or what your background is, but it seems that you have a political agenda that must overpower any logic and sense of morality that objective people possess.
Before you ask – no, I am not Jewish. But I don't have to be Jewish – nor does any other rational human being – to see that this conflict was wholly and completely of Hezbollah's own making for its own propaganda purposes. That was confirmed recently by their leader, who said that Hezbollah has been planning this campaign for six years. And Hezbollah picked the time and method for starting this conflict –Without even a hint of provocation, Hezbollah breached the Israel border specifically to kidnap Israelis (and to kill others), and then take the kidnap victims back into Lebanon specifically because Hezbollah wanted to induce a reaction from Israel.
Well, they have gotten their reaction and now the whole world can see that their real purpose was to launch missiles from civilian sites in order to draw an Israeli response that would kill or injure Lebanese civilians, so that Hezbollah could generate propaganda. Truly, the ordinary Lebanese people do not deserve any of the carnage that Hezbollah is forcing upon them.
But will Hezbollah permit the innocent Lebanese to stand clear of the fight? No. Because these cowards who call themselves "Hezbollah" “need” to push those innocent civilians out to die. That is why Hezbollah will not allow those innocents to remove themselves from the battlefield. The deaths of these innocent Lebanese are too important to Hezbollah for it to risk letting those people get to safety; because, if they cannot arrange the deaths of these innocents, Hezbollah will not be able to spread the propaganda it has long-planned to foist onto the media.
Admittedly, looking at the situation objectively, one might argue that Israel's response has been too strong. And I think would be rational to take that position. However, the fact that the Israelis had to pull back from one town as a result of the strength of Hezbollah’s resistance suggests that is not the case.
But there is no rationality whatsoever in elevating the cowardly Hezbollah to the level of the massacred Jews of WWII. That position is simply 180 degrees from any truth. If you can demonstrate that any of the European Jews attacked Nazis in force and then ran and hid behind innocent Jews in the hope that the Nazis would kill those innocents, THEN and THEN ONLY can you begin to have an y basis for making the comparison that you seem to be trying to foist onto the media.
I am truly sad that so many innocent Lebanese have been duped into misplacing their trust in Hezbollah, but I am far more saddened that Hezbollah has so horribly abused that trust and now deliberately sacrifices those people solely for Hezbollah's own aggrandizement.
I wish there was some way we could help those people see what is being done to them by Hezbollah, but I can only conclude that they just do not want to believe it.

i wonder how the people from the bush administration can sleep at night ?
almost all statements start with telling that hezbollah started this with kidnapping 2 soldiers
nobody says that this started decennia ago
that Israel has builded the biggest prisson in the world, that every time there is economic development in Palestine or Lebanon, they simply destroy all infrastructure, making it impossible for the region to build a economy and thus improve living conditions for the population
the US every time (for decennia) blocks the work of the UN, all possible critics on the adress of Israel, and thus forcing israel at the table , are waved away
the US is always with israel where it concerns condemning others (Arabs)
The US and israel fail to see their own responsibillity in this conflict by handling those double standards for decades, these feelings of frustration pushed moderate people to the fundamentalists
israel is a occupying force for decades, and they even say it themselves when they talk about the settlements on west bank and gaza
in other conflicts, Palistinians would have been called for example 'partizans' or 'freedomfighters', here they are simply called terrorists
i am not a anti semitic man, i live in the middle of the Jewish community in Antwerp and have friends there.
and of course i condemn terrorism, but also state terrorism, and in my book Israel has been committing state terrorism with the help of US for a verry long time already.
i never got the impression that Israel was ever intrested to develop the occupied territory for the Palestinians, for the settlers yes, in their nice settlements, good infrastructure, schools etc, but they never build it to improve the situation of the normal Palestinian family and whenever there were things build with EU donations, the Israelis bombed it away again on the first excuse they could find, dont misunderstand me , i also dont like suicidebombers, but if i look at the double standards wich are used my entire life (i am 42 and social-humanitarian reportage photographer and also seen a lot of shit while making reportages) i can perfectly understand how Hamas and Hezbollah could grow so much and become the groups they are today and in my book both US and Israel have a big responsabillity in this, i am not saying that hamas or hezbollah are nice organisations and dont do wrong things, but today they are thanks to double standards politics big players in the field and if there ever are going to be serious peacetalks then israel should start to regard them as part of the sollution instead of blowing their leaders away, and demanding they would disarm, and of course if you look at recent history....it will be not easy for both parties to start with even trusting eachother
if both israel and US would had invested the money they spent on weapons (in the past and still today) in developing the palistinian occupied territories so that the average Palistinian youth could see and feel that he could build himself a future (good education, work etc)and israel should have started that 40 years ago, then i am pretty sure that we did not have the shit today that we have now and yes i think that israel and US have a verry verry big responsabillity in that, and i hope that 1 day i can see some israeli politicians and for example mr Bush, Blair, Puttin (chetjenija) sitting at the international court of The Hague in the Netherlands, boy have they got some explanations to do, but i guess that is naive thinking
the so called leaders of the so called free world created this monster we now call terrorism, and again, dont misunderstand me, i dont like terrorisme, but sometimes it is the only option which is left for desperate people
the Jewish people in the Warshaw getto were in the eyes of the nazi's also terrorists, for me and the rest of the world they were desperate people who fought for their survival in the only way that was left for them, but in the eyes of the occupying nazis they were terrorists.... and f...k i hate nazis and all what they stand for, but this simply to illustrate how leading regimes so easy can put different names, and use them in their pollitics, on desperate people, it is more easy than to really accept people and find ways in how to live together and build a future together (the nazis of course did not want to have a future with the Jews, and i am not comparing israel with nazi germany!!!)(not yet)
but maibe it is time that both US and israel start to think in another way, this thinking till now ....well we all can see where it took us, and no the bush doctrine did not bring us a safer world
i really hope that the president can not sleep at night

What is worse than committing such appauling illegal and monsterous atrocities is sitting back and justifying these crimes against humanity on both sides.

Yes, many are suggesting that Hezbolla got the war it wanted, my friends, this war will find its way in the subways, the under grounds trains and public places in USA, UK and other supporters.

Bush, Blair and others are doing what the Nazis did to the jews, what Amin did to the Asians, what Talibans did to Afganistan and what Saddam did to iraq. NO one is innocent, the world, you and I will pay for this appauling crimes.

600 lebanese were killed and around 60 israelis are killed and for the Israelis most of them are soldiers...Is this war justified?? No, I don't think so,even for the sake of the two kidnapped soldiers. They are soldiers, its their job but what about the 30 innocent disable children.These are human life for god sake..The blood of all those innocent people are in Mr Bush and Mr Blair hands and the people who put them into office.They are the one who have the power to stop the war. They did nothing until today. These war is creating more terrorist and suicide bombers..There will be no end to this carnage...

The killing of Lebanese civilians is a war crime as is the killing of the UN Observers. The US doesnot have to agree with it, this is International Law. So is the destruction of the infra structure of a country, a heinous war crime meant to destroy a people by ruining their livelihood and indirectly making the lives of innocent children, women and men, a torture.

If the Lebanese were returned the land that Israel usurped in 1982 from Lebanese sovereignity and released their illegal detained prisoners, there would be no justifications for Hizbullah to fight. The same would apply if Israel honoured the many UN resolutions against it like Resolution 242, the Palestinians wouldnot have to undergo the tortures of the brutal occupation and would live in peace with its neighbours. But while Israel arrogantly denies the basic human rights and dignity to the people its Arab neigbours, then the saying says, “Where there is injustice, there is violence”.

Here are some observations from someone who has spent 7 years of my life in the U.S. (1989 to 1996).

Just to put this in context, I would like to highlight the fact that I'm an Indian Hindu (although I don't believe in any religion) and not Middle Eastern or Muslim. Thus, what I write here is not an emotional knee jerk reaction, rather its a non biased opinion / observation from someone who has no religious affiliations and as importantly as a person who spent 7 enjoyable years in the US and still count some of it’s citizens as my closest friends.

Over the past few years, I have been amused, appalled, bewildered and confused at the "American point of view" and the US government's actions on several issues this world is facing. Now I'm outright MAD.

For a nation that is hell bent on exerting its influence and "way of life" around the world,a vast majority of you'll come from a starting point of shocking ignorance.

This ignorance comes from the fact that most of you'll have never stepped foot out of your country and from the fact that an even larger majority of you'll don't have any real friends who are NOT American (this is despite the fact that there are people from almost every country in the world in every major US city). A reflection of this ignorance is highlighted by the fact that just this week 65% could not find Iraq on a map!!! (poll done by National Geographic)

This harmful ignorance is unfortunately further fueled by a pathetically skewed / biased media industry that is being used by the Bush administration as a powerful tool. On this note, the US media has been going through frightening consolidation over the past few years and thus, you'll are unfortunately getting your news from fewer, albeit more powerful and biased sources (The Clear Channel makes for a good case study here).

This lethal combination of your ignorance coupled with the biased media monopolies that feed you your daily dose of world politics will only serve in isolating your country and in due time (much faster than you might think) killing the power that the user US once had.

This is especially so in the case of The US government’s recent stand on the Israel / Lebanon conflict. Just as an example, Manmohan Singh (the Indian Prime Minister for the 95% of you who will not know who he is), gave one of the strongest speeches ever made in Parliament, denouncing Israel's actions and causing for an immediate ceasefire.

As the Indian Prime Minister, he speaks for 1 billion people. Fortunately, he is not alone. Here is a brief list of countries who have publicly denounced the current state of events in Lebanon and have asked for an immediate ceasefire; Russia, China, Spain, France, Germany….you get the picture.

It amazes me that a nation that has achieved so much in the past 100 years can now be so blind to the brainwashing and pathetic actions of its current government.

While you’ll can’t stop the inevitable slide of the power you once had on this planet (apart from your government’s Middle East policy several other factors will drive this slide including the rise of China, India, Russia and Brazil), what you’ll certainly can do is stop your leaders from making you’ll the object of long term hate and the butt end of many a joke!
You’ll can take one step toward this objective by GETTING YOUR GOVERNMENT TO PUSH ISRAEL TO AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.

PS: Do not underestimate the depth and breath of the sentiment in this letter

PPS: Do not underestimate the seriously long term fallout and resulting speed of the slide down this slippery slope you’ll are on.

PPPS: Please spare me the “you don’t get it” response, as 200 people were killed in bomb attacks in my city just 2 weeks ago (Mumbai, for those of you who missed the news)

The Lebanese need to realize that when they harbor terrorists in their midst that they are legitimate military targets. Israel needs to take the gloves off and flatten Southern Lebanon - there are no civilians there. No cease fire, no halt for so-called humanitarian purposes, no apologies. To paraphrase General Patton: the Israeli army's job is to kill terrorists and their enablers. They need to get on with it with our full and unqualified support.

On to Damascus!

I think the Israelis are doing exactly the right thing and should continue because, if you kill enough children, then the Tooth Fairy will come and put a peace treaty under Prime Minister Ohlmert's pillow.

Why it's a war crime to attack missile bases but it's not a war crime to fire missiles at civilians' homes? why is the only country in the world that warns the enemy's civilians before it attacked and allowing people to escape is called a terrorist but no one gives that same name to a militia that fires rockets at civilians without warning and with no hesitation whatsoever? why all the countries are so quick to condemn Israel but refuse to condemn the Hizbollah and Hamas for their hideous terrorist actions? Why does the world expect us to just seat and watch our citizens die? why are the lives of arabs more important than the lives of jews? why does the whole world stay silent while Israelies are murdered by Hamas, Hizbollah and the likes? why doesn't the world do someting to stop nations who seek to destroy Israel and kill all its citizens? why, more than 50 years after the Holocaust, the world still does nothing when Jews are being murdered?

Well said Malla,

90% of people outside US and Israel will accept that what Israel is doing in Lebanon and Gaza are nothing short of war crimes.

For those who does not know history, the crimes started not in June or July 2006- It dates back to the World War I - From the days of Balfour declaration.

How many of US residents know that Israel was bankrolled by the US - and that still continues - $5 billion of taxpayers' money every year to prop up Israel! That is almost $1000 per Israeli citezen per year - More than the per capita income of India or China.

American media is too biased - not just Fox News - most of the American media does nothing but feeds hatred for Muslims.

I can only pray - God save America!

Very nicely put Malla

Hey dsingh....sounds like you are trying to scare us. Isn't that the tactics of terrorists? you talk this talk of how we will be unsafe anywhere, like hammas and hezbolla tell the Israeli's, and then you can't understand why they react in such a way. The only answer to the situation according to the arab world is to have Israel wiped off the map. Iran is the only country that comes out and says this but the rest of the arab world wishes this. It is the intolerence of the Islamic world. We are the infadels and they will not rest until Islam is the only religon of the world. I for one say bring the jihad on!

Gillerman said. "I wouldn’t be surprised if this was scheduled and targeted exactly to happen while Secretary Rice is there.
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He's accusing Hezbollah of scheduling Isreali airstrikes? That's too much.

We repeatedly hear that the Israeli military is one of the best trained. Yet they have repeatedly killed civilians in this conflict, not combatants. Hmmmm...

Secondly, why is Rice working so hard to "reach a lasting peace"? Certainly she does not believe that she can achieve a "lasting peace"? Who does she think she is, Jimmy Carter? These people have been at each other's throats for centuries. They will be fighting or preparing to fight long after Rice has left the stage.

I just wish people would be upfront and honest here. Rice should just admit, "Look, we're just buying time until Israel can wipe out Hezbollah and all of its supporters, including any women and children- i.e. future Hezbollah fighters. That's why we're negotiating with the Lebanese government, who we've already told you had nothing to do with this conflict. You see, it's not about Lebanon and Israel, this fight is between Hezbollah and Israel."

Ah.... at last. Some honesty.

why is the only country in the world that warns the enemy's civilians before it attacked and allowing people to escape - Ariel

How many times must you be reminded that Israel,is the only country which warns people of their forthcoming strikes AFTER they have obliterated all means of escape?

Do you really envision a convoy of wheel chairs holding disabled children getting pushed along on shell scarred roads with cluster bombs bursting all around, out of harms way by aging people who probably did not eat or drink for days before they were wiped out?

You do not know the reason why those civilians are still there even with the obvious danger. They could just be desparate citizizens unable to move out for various reasons. No body can willingly sit there waiting for the next bomb to kill them just because thy support hezibolla. Remember the US tsauni. The rich were able to run away from the oncoming floods while the poor were left to die and suffer.
Let us be more human. we should look for a short term solution to reduce the sufferring of the innocent. Then we should follow this up with more comprehensive and long term peace and disarming plans.
My honest opinion is that there is more to this than we are made to believe. Otherwise, how do you avenge the killing of eight soldiers and abdution of two by killing civilians and desdroying thier infrustructure just because the enemy is living amongst them. I think this is wrong even in natural justice. You cannot cut off my hand beceause my brother is a theif. There should be a different way to do it unless the motive was to get me not my brother thief.
I believe this world has better means to deal with the hezibolla than the human catastrophe we are inflicting on our innocent brothers and sisters.

Israel needs to show irrefutable and tangible evidence that the strikes against civilian houses in Qana were aimed at rocket launchers.

Since they cannot do that it can only be presumed that they are carrying out their threat of bombing ten houses for each rocket that hits Haifa.

This policy of revenge reminds me of the nazis lining up and shooting civilians for every attack carried against their forces during the occupation of France.

Malla, oooh you scare me, you mean people are telling jokes about us? How awful!

The point of the United States' foreign policy is not to be liked by the rest of the world. We tried that. Nearly 3,000 people died in 9/11 because we didn't react to continued terrorist attacks (U.S.S. Cole, embassies in Africa, Khobar towers), now is the time to react strongly. U.S. foreign policy is, instead, based on deterrence and eradication of terrorism. If you support or harbor terrorists, you will be attacked and deterred. Plain and simple. Israeli foreign policy is similar. After what's happened to Lebanon, do you think any other terrorist group like Hezbollah is going to attack Israel anytime soon?

And if you really think this foreign policy isn't working, I suggest you look at Libya, which voluntarily disarmed after Iraq refused to. Q'addaffi has been declawed and put in his place. Pakistan has become an important ally in the war on terror and there's a stable government in Afghanista for the first time in 20 years. Iraq will follow.

Of course, if your enlightened worldview keeps you from understanding and appreciating how this foreign policy (that's very similar to "speak softly and carry a big stick," and the U.S. Military is THE uncontested most powerful armed force on the planet) really is affecting the world in a positive manner, then you can always go back to Mumbai. I'm sure you'll find the opportunities there much less appealing than those here the U.S.

The Israelis are giving these people what they want. DEATH.

I felt physically ill watching Israel blow up power plants, airports, bridges, hospitals, and everything else in sight in “shock and distress” while the world stood largely quiet. Can you imagine if Lebanon had bombed Israel? The problem though is that most Americans don’t see it like you and I do. We (Americans) feel that a strong ally in the region will allow us the chance to influence what is a very important region for the world’s well-being. We don’t really care about how holy Jerusalem is, or that the “right to exist” applies to a nation formed several decades ago but not to the nation they displaced. Historians don’t run countries. I think we believe, truly, that supporting Israel will help us better fight the terrorists who “hate our way of life.” But what those our crippled leadership doesn’t realize is that nobody hates our way of life. If they bothered to go abroad and talk to the masses, they would realize that America’s biggest and most beloved export is our culture. Kids all over the Middle East love our films, our drinks, our jeans, and our music. They don’t hate our way of life. What they hate is that we unwaveringly support a country, Israel, whose policies make it an oppressive, occupying, terrorist nation. That we supply this country with F-16s, Patriot missiles, billions in aid, and then divert our eyes when these are used on civilians. This policy, this single reason is the reason most of the world, Arab and non-Arab, loathes America’s rulers. Loves American culture, but loathes American policies. It all stems from this. But it’s hard to criticize Israel without being called an anti-Semite. It’s hard to criticize its policies without being compared to Hitler. You think I’m joking? Come to work with me any day.

I seethe with Anger on a daily basis as I read the news of the war. Anger towards those causing terror, both Hizbullah and Israel. But just as much at the politicians in the US, whose perceptions of the world have become so convoluted that they actually believe that this attack on a sovereign nation can be called “defense” who don’t realize that every day of silence, every opportunity to reign in their ally is creating dozens more enemies, both Arab and non-Arab across the world.

I take solace in the fact that the only silver lining in this tragedy is that perhaps this, at last, finally, will open some American eyes who will realize that our unwavering, blinding, and illogical support for a terrorist nation makes us a mockery abroad and a target as we sit here. I think things will get worse before they get better. The last thing I’ll say to you – sadly, I don’t really see a peaceful solution to all this. Israel, as long as it exists will build walls, discriminate against Arabs so that their proportion within Israel remains small, and try to fortify and defend itself from its neighbors. The Arabs, for as long as they exist, will want access to Jerusalem. A hundred years from now, one of the two will be gone. I’m just hoping that at some point, someone takes over who will give Jew, Muslim, and Christian equal access, fair treatment, and complete respect, but I think the odds of my Cubs winning the World Series are much better than that ever happening.

Every war brings the death of innocents, that is why war should be avoided at all costs. Look at history. How many innocent people--men, women, and children--have been killed? Why are people surprised at what is happening today?

Seening the Hate here and in other sites. All I will say is just for a moment stop for a RIP for the childern. They are the ones who have nothing to do with both sides of this war. Who is right who's wrong does not matter to the childern who have died. God Rest Thier Souls

bill
before you start defending the great american foreign policy, new regimes in afghanistan and irak

who killed allende and put pinochet in his seat
how many south american dictators were protected and armed by US, how many in Africa, sorry bill if i look at the list of dictators formed or protected by the americans over the last 30 years, well i really cant say that the US foreign policy is scoring well

i am verry sorry for 9-11, but.... neither hezbollah, or hamas or osama or any other arab militant group could have become so strong if israel and us would have had another foreign policy , and i am pretty sure that also this escallation and the lack of political will, both from the isrealis and US, will create a new generation of future so called terrorists and i am afraid that they will bring this battle to the us and europe, hey i live in the middle of the jewish quarter of antwerp and for the last years my fear that it will come here is growing, i hope it will never happen, it would be horrible, but at the other side....i could also understand it and see where it comes from, and then i will blame it on the US and Israel, so far for your US foreign politics, hey and do you really believe irak is better of today? more than 100 000 people are dead, maybe twice that much or even more and the country is at the edge of civil war, it is called a democraty by bush and blair...i call it occupied territory with a puppet regime, which defends the oily intrests of washington and the industry, sadam was a monster, but so is your president and his administration
no bill, i absolutely disagree with you
i really whish that there was 1 reason for saying the states are doing a good job internationally but i cant find 1 and i really really regret that
cordially
franklin

Bill,

You seemed to have missed an important fact in the very first line of my original posting, so I will repeat it for your benefit. I left the US in 1996 (and apart from the occasional holiday to meet my better informed American friends, I have no desire whatsoever to return).

Also, if you believe that your foreign policy is designed so that the US is not liked, then you must be one happy man, as it's working brilliantly! However, I fail to understand the objective of such a foreign policy, especially when you'll are in desperate need of allies around the world to fight this so called "war on terror" and will be in even more desperate need for friends in the coming years, as a result of the imminent fallout related to this cowboy style foreign policy.

On a closely related point, I agree that your country is THE military power. However, you'll are still not powerful enough to take on a determined enemy as is clear in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Also, while on the subject, you'll will never be so powerful as to take on Russia, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea (among others) despite your relative military advantage, as each of these countries has a well trained military establishment and more importantly each of these countries has that big bad "WMD", the N-bomb that you'll are so paranoid about.

This last point has been made to get you back down to earth and hopefully make you realize that you are no where near as powerful and untouchable as your government and media lead the average American punter like yourself to believe.

I strongly suggest you book yourself a flight (assuming you're one of the handful of US citizens that has a passport) and travel around the world to get a better idea of where I'm coming from (i.e. not my country India, but my point of view).

My intention was not to scare you, but with your mindset, I have a feeling that fear (coupled with embarrassment) is exactly what you will experience once you begin this journey around the world and experience first hand what the citizens of the world think about your current President and his administration’s policy.

Then again, you might just return home a better informed, wiser and more compassionate human being who realizes that his current government and media has simply fooled him all these years!

PS: the opportunies in India are pretty appealing these days. You can check some out on your around the world journey.

Malla, why don't you stick to figuring out how to get running water in India. We could end the war in Afghanistan & Iraq whenever we choose. We just CHOOSE to give the civilians an opportunity to live for now, but I suppose we'll tire of trying to save unnapreciative lives at some point and end them with one little flyover.

I quess the opportunities in India wouldn't happen to be any jobs from US companies would they? such as Dell or such. The dreadful attack on innocent people on your transit came from Islamic terrorists didn't they? But I suppose we are really to blame...aren't we?

Better check the facts.

This was not the first time Israel has warned the lebaneese. it does so each and every time, even before they destroyed the roads. it's not Israel's fault that the Hizbollaha forces the civilians to stay there and uses them as human shields. Hizbollah is infamous for that.

Please remember that Hizbollah initiated (and planned) this whole situation. Israel has left Lebanon 6 years ago (and Gaza less than a year ago)and did nothing to provoke Hizbollah's attack. They must have expected Israel would respond.

Do you think that any other country would react differently if it was in the same situation? I think not. I think it's very easy to criticize Israel's "disproportionate" reaction when you live in the safety of your homes and coutries.I wonder what would you do if you would be under the constant threat of rockets and terrorist attacks.

Despite what many people think, Israel has a right to defend itself and the Isrealies have a right to be safe in their own country.

It's not Israel who wants to wipe out Hizbollah and the Arabs but the other way around (and they say so themselves!), just look at what they teach their children in schools and summer camps (but the media doesn't even bother to show it, so you wouldn't know anything about it).

And regarding Ash's comments
(1) wake up! in what world are you living? there are many people (mostly muslim extremists) who hate your way of life, just look at what happened at 9/11 and the cheerings for this hedious terrist attack. Look at the burnings of American flugs by Arabs in the Middle East. The fact that they love your products and music does not mean they like Americans, it's just means they love your products.(And i'm sure the Amrican way of life is not only Jeans, Coca Cola and music). Thinking that everyone loves the American way of life is naive.

(2) A few years ago the Arabs had an opportunity to get their own country and almost everything they wanted. Their answer to Israe's offer was terrorist attacks. All they had to do was accept Israel's offer, very simple (but again it's Israel's fault that they refused, I guess...). Arabs do have access to Jerusalem and they enjoy many liberties other minorities in Muslim countries don't enjoy. And don't worry about them - they get enough weapons, bombs and so on from Syria and Iran. And by the way, if you would have bothered to check, you would have seen that the Arab population in Israel is actually growing...

Like an Arab journalist said, It's not Jews that are blowing up Mosques, synagogues or Churches. Jews don't physically attack presidents/prime ministers when they say something they don't like to hear or threathen coutries with terror when unflattering cartoons are being published. It's not Jews that are blowing themsleves in malls,towers, pubs and so on for the sake of murdering as many people as they can. it's not Jews that kidnap people and execute them, it's not Jews that burn American flugs, It's not Jews that use women and children as human shields and the list goes on and on..

bravo jay, man you have brains, maibe you can get a job at the current administration they need big thinkers like you

great Malla ! i also think that it is about time that the americans should travel the world, see and listen where the fustrations come from, and see how their governement is lying to them for years

oh and bill, another example of US foreign policy, it was US that secretly started bombing cambodja (of course it was not a secret for the cambodian people) and after cambodja was invaded by vietnam and the kmer rouge went into hiding, the US delivered the weapons to pol pot to fight the vietnamese (and keep oppressing and distroying his own population), instead of hunting down this monster and bring him to trial, oops did you forget that fine example of US foreign policy, sorry that i had to remind you, or did you simply dont know
have a nice day
franklin

Jay,

We're actually having a wonderful monsoons. Plenty of rain this year! You should join Bill on his around the world trip to learn a little more about planet earth and the other 5.8 billion citizens that share this world with you.

PS. I'm glad you referred to your presence in Iraq and Afghanistan as "war" and not "operation Iraqi freedom" or whatever it is your administration named it. You're already one step ahead of your adminstration!

And Bill,

Two points on outsourcing to India.

1) It accounts for a very very tiny percent of our working population

2) Your corporations are outsourcing jobs to not just India, but several other countries around the world only because it's better for their P&L statements and thus their share holders. I.e. they get more value for their money by outsourcing theses jobs to countries like India.
Thus, you, the Dell management, the Dell shareholders and all the pension funds who have invested in the Dells of the world should be thanking us...and yes, you're welcome!

I'll pass Malla. I know enough about India to know that I'll pass. I don't like "roughing it" on my vacations.

This is a war Malla, and it won't be ending any time soon, especially when politicians continue to rely on the UN for solutions.

As for that bloak Franklin Van den hoser, or whatever your name is. That's pretty rich. Yah, I'm gonna take a trip to Europe and the MidEast to see how governments should behave. Why don't I just go to a local prison to learn about tolerance and love for all??

Malla, actually my passport was stamped 18 times last year. How many times was yours? Most of those trips were to Canada, France and England (my company is an international magazine publisher based in London) but it also included trips to Germany (World Cup 2006!), Japan, China, and, yes, India.

I understand your only real argument is massive assumption that anyone who could come to a conclusion that's different than yours must be a total ignoramus who's never set foot west of New Orleans or east of Pensacola and whose only contact with the outside world is an RCA victrola, but you really shouldn't assume. You know what it makes of u and me, don't you?

On the contrary, what I've seen in the Europe and the developing world has only strengthened my resolve that the economic engine of the world is the United States of America. I've seen the 18% unemployment in the streets of Paris and the mud huts some people call houses in India. No thank you. This isn't any real kind of progress. How's that running water thing going, by the way? You're right that there are great opportunities in India (I even visited the Dell call center in New Delhi!) but it's clear that those opportunities are only being enjoyed by a fraction of the people.

I always have compassion for the people I see living in these horrible conditions but I don't have any for the corrupt regimes in many nations that enrich themselves off foreign aid (mostly U.S.) while their people starve. It's an all too common scene. That's what's helped convince me that the United States can't solve any of these problems with foreign aid. I don't know that we should be nation building, either, but the alternative is allowing terrorism to fester and build in these environments.

Franklin, you make some good points, but when I was detailing the policy of deterrence I was mainly quoting the "Cheney Doctrine" which officially became U.S. policy in 2002. Therefore it really can't have anything to do with Pinochet or the other historic examples you cite.

The U.S. has certainly put some bad people into power around the world over the years but the current policy wasn't spawned by those decisions. For instance, you can't blame Zbigniew Bryzinksi for Robert McNamara's decisions on Vietnam. Let's isolate this discussion to current U.S. policy.
Sure, we intervened on Pol Pot's behalf in Vietnam and millions suffered for it. What's that have to do Israel and Hezbollah?

Finally, I never said U.S. Foreign Policy was designed for the U.S. not to be liked around the world. The image that even the G8 nations have of the U.S. is largely immaterial to a good foreign policy.

The purpose of foreign policy is chiefly to protect the interests of the nation that said foreign policy represents. For instance, Teddy Roosevelt wrote the "Roosevelt Corrolary" to establish that its in the United States' interest, as the most powerful nation in the western hemisphere, to mediate disputes between other nations in the western hemisphere. This kept England, France, Russia, Germany and the other former colonial powers out of our sphere of influence. Many presidents have made mistakes in placing dictators on thrones and other improper interferences in the mediation of disputes involving nations within this hemisphere but the mere fact that it was our mistake and not Russia's or England's protected U.S. interests.

That's why the Cheney doctrine was written and adopted as policy after 9/11. It states that no quarter will be given to nations that harbor terrorists. If it angers some nations (like Iran and North Korea) that we shoulder such influence they are welcome to object but they have to realize they will be in an indefensible position even with outside help from sympathizer nations.

You're wrong that the U.S. doesn't have any friends, either. Australia, England and many other nations still stand with the U.S. on its anti-terrorism policy.

As for your comment on the WMDs in Iran and North Korea, I'm fairly confident that the U.S. is still far ahead in any arms race you'd put us in. True, we'll never be strong enough to take on China, Pakistan, India and Russia but I firmly believe our economic advantage over of these nations is just too strong. Russia is still a post-soviet economic mess. Even with all the modernization goine on over there, China is still a woefully backward communist state from what I've seen. Human rights are a joke over there. Pakistan and India are still bitterly divided and always on the precipice of attacking one another and North Korea is the plaything of a powerful madman.

The U.S. became the only superpower in the world by using its economic and military advantages to be the arbiter of other nations' disputes and I don't see that changing anytime, soon. Hating America has always been a popular tactic for the propagandist whether it was Hitler or Lenin. I see no reason to believe it will be any more successful today than it was when they tried it.

p.s. I sure hope the running water thing turns out okay for you.

I think they should get rid of the old ruling dudes and let the young people who WANT peace and democracy take over. The majority of the population should be the ones to take the reins and stop all this nonsense. These grown men are acting like a bunch of selfish children...both sides.

Please. First, enough with the accusing finger that the Jews and Israel have and continue to commit war crimes. The Jewish people have been the target of destruction by Christians, Muslims, and others for millenia. Do the Jewish people defend themselves when necessary, yes?; but do they start all the wars in this world as Mel Gibson just stated? No. The war crime argument is weak, if tenable at all. Regarding the Balfour Declaration days as proof of Jewish crimes, please, again. Get the objective facts, not the facts that support your ad hominem nonsense.

Second, regarding Islam, it is a sad fact that a great deal of those who practice Islam seem to learn its teachings in an anti-semetic context. Indeed, the Qur’an insists that Abraham, Moses, Noah, and other central Jewish figures were in fact Muslims, whose original Islamic message was changed by the wicked Jews referred to in 5:13. As an influential radical Muslim theologian, Syed Abul Ala Maududi, noted: “Adam and Eve invited their children to follow the Islamic way of life.”

Professor Prof. Khaleel Mohammed, more of a moderate, states the Qur’an sees two parties of Jews: ­ one which recognized Muhammad as a prophet and became Muslim and the others were accursed heretics and renegades. And since the Jews of today don’t recognize Muhammad as a prophet, traditional Islamic theology regards them as the descendants of those heretics and renegades. They have no right to the holy land, or to respect. They are the descendants of those whom Allah called apes and swine in Suras 2:62-66, 5:59-60, and 7:166 -- for all the Jews who obeyed Allah and thus did not incur this curse have long since become Muslim.

I am disappointed when teachings of this sort pervade the Islamic community. When the masses are inculcated with these beliefs and blasted with other propaganda (missles not being fired into Israel by Hezbollah), it makes much sense that they dress up in military outfits and goose-step for all of their admirers.

The frustrations that the Islamic world has with Israel and the U.S. should not be funneled into its support for terrorism and totalitarian, religious governments. When people fall for this authority and psychotic zeal, they are only being used as pawns. The people of Islam deserve better rather than subjuagte themselves to a limiting way of life. And the world needs a break too; humanity has additional problems of its own.

Hey lochness, people like you are the reason some of us "young" dudes aren't taken seriously. The majority of the population are "old" dudes dummy. Learn a little something about current demographics.

Religion is at the heart of all this killing in the middle east. Why? Think about these three viewpoints:

Jews: We are the chosen people of God.
Muslims: Islam is the only right way.
Christians: Christianity is the only right way.

We will never have peace as long as these primitive beliefs rule so much of the world's population.

How about these beliefs:

Buddhists, Hindus, Native American, Taoists: There are many paths to the one truth. We must respect the many differences that we have in the world today.

If we want world peace we need to recognize that we are going to think differently from each other and respect that fact. There is no one way to ultimate truth.

Bob S.

bill,
i also have manny stamps in my passport, mostly to russia where i have been photographing in siberia for the last 5 years (and in europe i dont need stamps)
no i am not a communist, i believe in capitalism and a good social security system

my point in whole the discussion is that the majority of the people here in belgium and the rest of europe, despite what some of their governements decided (we came with millions on the streets), dont follow the double standards when it comes to the american version on war on terror, and the double standards which are used where it concerns the palestinian problem

this problem was created long before the cheney doctrine and today we are dealing with it because it was neglected for decades and if for example the US and EU and UN had been stronger in developing lebanon and a palestine state, than the hezbollah or hamas never could have taken their role as a social organisation which it is for a lot of people there, we refer to them as terrorrists but 1 of their roles overthere is also a social one and that could only become so strong because neither the states nor un nor israel (as occupying state you still have a responsabillity !) nor europe, really made work of it !

if this was a fresh problem created in the last 3 weeks, ok, bomb them and try to avoid civillian cassualties
but it is not and your administration and israel perfectly know, and they perfectly know that they also have a big responsibillity in it because how they dealt with it in the past, but it is of course much more easy to say that it was those 'bad bad boys from hamas and hezbollah and much badder suporters iran and syria)

it should be a sign of courage if both israel and US would now look at the problem like 'ok, what did we neglect to do for the last 30 years and how can we solve that instaed of pumping more weapons in the region and building 'berlin walls' ' ,but than they have to admit that mistakes were made, that maibe from time to time US had to say to israel 'hey guys this is a bit to much, you cant simply bomb new infrastructure that was build by europe and us last year (gaza), this is getting us nowhere'

(or Sharon, the butcher in lebanon.... the guy who provoked the second intifada simply to get elected... i really wonder if anybody at any given time ever thought about how repulsing it can be for the palestinians to have to deal with this guy? its like doing bussiness with some high ranking nazi for the israelis)

i was drinking a beer tonight with a friend (also photographer) and he said to me that this situation reminded him of the impotenty of the world before world war II, and i must admit that he has a point

i am not somebody who is against america, but i think that serious mistakes are made and that those mistakes also helped create the terrorrist organisations as they exist today and that the current situation only helps growing those organisations
and i think it is naive thinking to create a 'war on terror' when half of those terrorrist where first trained by the US, because at that time they were usefull to fight the russians for example in afghanistan, sadam was also a allie in his better days....
and this cheney doctrine....i dont get the impression that it bothers about the basic human rights or the geneva convention or international law if i look at the different secret prisons abroad where they can torture and us governement can say 'it wasnt us'
i personally think that mr cheney should be put to trial, and i think that in our history books in let say 50 years from here, the bush administration will not come out as a good one

about us domination.... i think you will be suprised about the speed with which russia and china are developing, i would say 10-15 more years and then they are the superpowers

but bill , we both have to admitt that writing on a blog is far better than bombing eachother and you, malla, me, some other guys have spent a lot of time today writing and thinking, so there is hope

at least 1 third of the dead in this crisis are children, it is a shame for the whole international community that this could happen and i still think that the US has a verry big responsabillity that there is no cease fire today
have a nice evening
franklin

I agree with all that, David. Israel must be allowed to defend herself. I long ago came to the realization that the only way any meaningful change can happen in the middle east is to create more democracies there so Israel won't have to stand alone amongst a nation of anti-semitic theocracies surrounding her. Sadly, that doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon.

p.s. Yeah, what is up with Mel Gibson? Does going to rehab cure you of anti-semitism?

My last post guys. It’s been a pleasure!

Bill / Jay,

You guys can take pot shots at India all you like, but the fact is the global press (based on sound macro economic facts among other data) has been unanimous in their praise for India and in the last 12 months they have repeatedly highlighted the fact the country is well on its way to super and long drawn progress. I.e. we have a good 3 to 4 decades of growth ahead of us on every possible front (refer to the Goldman Sachs report on the BRIC countries to enlighten youselves). If that isn't enough proof, then simply read the transcripts of your own leaders including your President on their / his thoughts on India. Thus, your comments are as insignificant as they are ignorant (and while on the subject Jay, according the World Tourism Organization, India will be the 3rd fastest growing tourist destination between 2005 and 2014)

Having said that, we Indians are well aware of our short comings and have no illusions about reality. Once again, let me enlighten you'll here. Mud huts and water are not our biggest problems. Rather, Aids, communism (Maoism in particular), corruption, population and other issues are our bigger concerns.

There are two points you'll will hopefully take away from the above statement. Firstly, you'll are terribly misinformed about my country (not surprising and consistent with the ignorance theme) and could not highlight the real issues we face. Secondly, unlike you two blindly patriotic Americans, we openly acknowledge our countries problems. We do not claim to be perfect and we certainly don’t force our way of life around the world.

I wish I could say the same for you’ll!

So this ties in full circle to the whole point of my original thread. Your problems are a frighteningly ignorant public and a very biased media establishment. As a result you'll continue to allow your administration to make gross foreign policy errors. These errors include the current position on the Israel / Lebanon conflict.

The result of this lethal combination is an accelerated decline of your power (you'll certainly have none over my country!)

The two of you seem to be kicking and screaming in all directions during this inevitable slide down the slippery slope of power erosion.

May I suggest a deep breath along the way…and possibly some yoga (an ancient Indian practice may I add). It will make the journey and ultimate landing easier to manage.

Peace to all in the Middle East!

Just having a little fun with you Malla. I know India is making progress and I guess if I was given the choice of visiting India or Syria, I would stay home. Just kidding again. I hope India keeps up the good work.