raising the stakes

[larvatus]

In “Why I’m a Pacifist: The Dangerous Myth of the Good War”, published in Harper’s May 2011 issue, Nicholson Baker argues that Hitler’s Jewish policy was that of a hostage-taker. Baker concludes that the Allies should have heeded the pacifists such as Abraham Kaufman, Dorothy Day, Jessie Wallace Hughan, Rabbi Abraham Cronbach, Vera Brittain, Arthur

Comments

[sentjao]

I'm all for Palestinians having their state, it's Israel's greatest interest. But there's no slightest chance to reach agreement with the Palestinians when Hamas is not just considered a legitime political force, but even is part of the Palestinian government. Oslo accords, by the way, state explicitly:

"The nomination of any candidates, parties or coalitions will be refused, and such nomination or registration once made will be canceled, if such candidates, parties or coalitions:

1. commit or advocate racism; or
2. pursue the implementation of their aims by unlawful or non- democratic means."Hamas is all of these: racist, unlawful and undemocratic

[tristes_tigres]

>"The nomination of any candidates, parties or
> coalitions will be refused, and such nomination or
> registration once made will be canceled, if such
> candidates, parties or coalitions:
>
> 1. commit or advocate racism; or
> 2. pursue the implementation of their aims by unlawful
> or non- democratic means."
>
> Hamas is all of these: racist, unlawful and
> undemocratic.

So is Israel, but that' s still no reason not to make peace.

[sentjao]

Oh, common.

[tristes_tigres]

Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said in remarks broadcast Monday that Israeli policy in the West Bank represented instances of apartheid worse even that those that once held sway in South Africa.

[larvatus]

It must be true then. In my country, moral stature of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter is exceeded only by current president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Jesus H. Christ.

[tristes_tigres]

At the very least, it is deserving more than offhanded dismissal as inconsequential trolling.

[larvatus]

Not.

[tristes_tigres]

The angry reaction to his book would seem to suggest otherwise.

[larvatus]

Don’t you have better venues in which to whore for attention? В России девушки самые дешёвые лучшие, в этом не может быть сомнений никаких.
Go ride a bus. Or something.

[tristes_tigres]

That's probably sound advice. I waste too much time arguing with people who hold manifestly irrational positions.

[larvatus]

On teh internets, no one knows that you’re a duck.

[tristes_tigres]

By the way

> The Israeli south was for years under the daily rocket
> shelling, the normal life there was impossible.
> When Israel, after years of restraint, when no other
> choice remained, launched the military operation in Gaza

You're trying here a little history rewriting. Before the beginning of operation "Cast Lead", Hamas observed agreed to with Israel cease-fire for six months. It was ready to negotiate extension, but Israel was unwilling.

[sentjao]

This is a nonsense. First of all, no agreement ever was signed between Israel and Hamas. The decrease in rocket attacks (not the complete halt, by the way) was the result of military deterrence. This sort of lull was broken by Hamas, which used as a pretext Israeli military incursion, aimed to destroy a tunnel, dug under the border between Gaza and Israel. The tunnel was intended for terror or kidnap attack.
What is the most striking in your comments is that you are trying to equate Hamas terrorists with Israel and then even to depict Hamas in a good light and Israel as a "bad guy". This is ridiculous (and it's an obvious lie, too).

[tristes_tigres]

> This is a nonsense. First of all, no agreement ever was signed between
> Israel and Hamas.

Now _that_ is what I call nonsense. There could be no signed agreement between Hamas and Israel, because Israel does not recognize Hamas. Nonetheless, there was a truce, brokered by Egypt, as you know perfectly well. It was agreed to by the prime minister and defense minister of Israel. You rhetorical ploy above is transparently dishonest.

> The decrease in rocket attacks (not the complete halt, by the way) was
> the result of military deterrence. This sort of lull was broken by
> Hamas, which used as a pretext Israeli military incursion, aimed to
> destroy a tunnel, dug under the border between Gaza and Israel. The
> tunnel was intended for terror or kidnap attack.

So the cessation of rocket attacks was both a result of military deterrent, and ended due to scaling up of military deterrent ? You don't seem to be able to keep your story straight

[sentjao]

Look, it's really boring to argue with you. Nothing of what you wrote is correct.

[tristes_tigres]

Really? You are denying that there was a truce, brokered by Egypt and officially agreed to by the prime minister and defense minister of Israel? That the number of rocket attacks fell tenfold, despite the continuing incursions into Gaza by IDF?

Astonishing. I just can't fathom why would someone try to deny what can be verified in 10 sec flat by cursory web search.