Thank you, Dave, for taking the time to sort out the ME mess. I've been rather depressed watching the unfolding events, and I just couldn't find the words to express the despair I've experienced over what is happening -- again!
DAVE MILLER:
All of us should be aghast at the recent attacks on Israel at the hands of the terrorist group Hamas. All right thinking people should be able to acknowledge terrible wrongdoings from all sides in this case as precipitating this attack, yet at the same time, condemn that violence.
Simply put, there are no saints in the long running struggle between Israel and her neighbors.
Senator Lindsey Graham has called for a strong response against, wait for it, Iran. In a broadcast yesterday, he called on the US and Israel to give Iran an ultimatum to end their support of terrorist organizations, or risk catastrophic bombing of all of their oil facilities.
Others are calling for Hamas, and by extension, millions of innocents living in the Gaza Strip to be bombed back to the stone age.
In light of the barbarism on display from Hamas, these are solutions many in the US support.
For the first time in years, it is not difficult to imagine the entire Middle East erupting into a wider conflict bringing death and financial disaster to many around the globe.
Like the US House of Representatives, the world does not seem to want to work together for peace, or even work at real solutions. Israel is as divided politically as the US. Our allies across Europe are facing that same reality. Latin America is once again cleaving as the left returns to prominence, and Asia is trying to divine the intentions and plans of China.
Our world is interconnected to a degree that retreat into ourselves seems impossible. If the US has a terrible grain harvest, the entire world suffers. If an Iraq or Iran cuts back on oil production, the average Joe is left looking for a way to pay for his ride to the office. One large country unable to pay its bills spells a global financial mess.
In light of all of this, are solutions to the Middle East crisis, and what’s happening elsewhere on this third rock from the sun possible?
What say you?
20 comments:
A Buddhist Prayer for Peace
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid and may those bound be free.
May the powerless find power and may people think of befriending one another.
May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wildernesses—the children, the aged, the unprotected—be guarded by beneficent celestials, and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.
Golden Chain Prayer
We are a link in Amida’s golden chain of love that stretches around the world, we will keep our link bright and strong.
We will be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than ourselves.
We will think pure and beautiful thoughts, say pure and beautiful words, and do pure and beautiful deeds.
May every link in Amida’s chain of love be bright and strong and may we all attain perfect peace.
— Buddha
Perhaps when the people of the world realize it is their ignorance, fear, othering of those who are different from themself, need to dominate, control, protect the ego, greed, and more maybe, just maybe, the world will become a safe and loving place. Until then, BEST of LUCK.
It is neigh on time to discontinue the stupidity that has the planet in its present state. And now, so long for the work that needs be done is not enhanced by the hate filled othering internet we'll maybe see ya all on the flip side from time to time.
Every crisis is fueled by the deadly effects of religious fanaticism and authoritarian leaders. The majority of the human species seems unable to grasp this reality.
Israel is under the control of their version of Trump. Netanyahu is an authoritarian, and likely a criminal as well. We've learned he was warned by Egypt of trouble brewing in Gaza.
Like Bush ignored the PDB of an impending al-Qaeda attack, Netanyahu ignored Egypt's warning. War and conflict only serve their consolidation of power.
Iran and Hamas are run by authoritarian religious fanatics. China, North Korea, and Russia are dictatorships admired by the neo-Nazi leader of the Republican Party.
Too many American cultists are eager for a dictator.
But they all think "wokeness", "BLM", and "CRT" are tearing our country apart.
All this amounts to an insurmountable barrier to a species that needs to evolve into valuing conscience and consciousness over dogma, power and greed.
Apparently the only insurmountable barrier seems to be overcoming the egos and deluded minds of the majority of the worlds population.
Dube, I was wondering who would blame trump and you can through. The middle east has been at war since the beginning of time. Several presidents brokered a lasting peace and one even got a nobel for it. Problem is that it is always short lived because when you are covered on all sides by people who want you off the face of the earth it is tough to rest easy.
More humans and animals have been killed in the name of religion than any other cause so if there is a blame to be placed that would be a good place to start.
Rev, I was confused by your statement that graham blamed iran and you found that odd. Since all fingers point to them and all news agencies point to them who else would you blame except trump of course. Americans come together in a time of crisis and one SS actually said never let a good crisis go to waste. Hopefully we will be spared from attack but it would be nice to stop blaming and start solving. I meant that for our political elite because the rest of us just have too much fun slinging arrows.
It's a total mess.
Take this out of Israel for a moment. An attack of this sort, on any other American ally, an attack where babies and women were burned alive on tape, where more than 200 ppl were shot, raped and tortured, would warrant a US response.
But now, as in the run up to WWII, we have a group of people in this country that can best be described by this statement, from a former US Marine...
What makes anyone think that this is any of our business? A squabble between two sets of Semites is not worth one ounce of blood of any young American.
Read that twice. Not one ounce of American blood. So sure is he of his rightness, so sure of his opinion. So sure in fact that there's no use even considering it.
Would he feel that way had it been Great Britain? France? Was he upset at countries who did not stand with America after 9/11? If so why?
I admit I don't know all the answers.
But right now, Jewish ppl are mourning around the world. And while the people who perpetrated this attack are most likely Palestinian, they do not speak, or act for all Palestinian people.
Again... it's a total mess.
I woud venture it is the Islamic militants, just like the tRump militants in the US, that are responsible for this horror.
Skud... is Iran involved in this? I guess we'll find out. I'm just not a savant like conservatives. I prefer to wait for the evidence. Even Israel is hedging on Iran.
Is Iran a good actor? Not at all, and there may yet be evidence of their involvement. But isn't it a little premature for Graham to call for bombing Iran?
The Middle East will not and has never given itself to easy solutions. And anyone who thinks they can just look at it and have it all figured out, like the extremists on both sides of the aisle, is an idiot.
IMHO
Rev, No matter what the outcome a lot of innocent people will be killed. Reports from mcdnc, cnn, abc, cbs all point to iran being involved and who can argue with these iconic media. Do you believe hamas had the resources to coordinate this attack. If you do then you know what it is like to be in the minority. We should never have paid ransom for hostages and we should never have sent hundreds to their death in Afghanistan. Like it or not countries and especially terrorist leaders react to weakness.
Now is it a good idea to allow 2 million illegals to remain in the US and let more in. Ask the students of harvard what their opinion is. They stood up for BLM but are against Israel. Yep lets pay off their student loans as a thank you.
Skud regurgitates another Republican propaganda lie: "Like it or not countries and especially terrorist leaders react to weakness."
This is truly despicable.
He is saying Hamas murdered all those Israelis because of illegal immigration here.
He's attacking Biden, while covering for Republican obstruction of our ambassadors and military leadership. Or he thinks the Israeli military is "weak".
Something tells me it's the former. And it is 100% bullshit.
Dube, No one in the right mind would think Israel is weak or won't avenge the attack. What makes you believe that we have showed strength in anything. Even democrats are chastising joey for his open border policy and allowing two million people to enter the country without knowing who they are is just foolish.
Don't let your hate for the republican party totally cloud you judgement because you can engage your brain if needed.
Lots to unpack there Skud. before I start, let me ask you something. Are you able to stay even close to on topic? Really, immigration in the US?
Now onto stuff related to my post.
1. Yes, no matter what, a lot more people will die. That's always what happens with terrorism.
2. I know FOX News is naming Iran as complicit, but I think I'll stick with the view from Israel that there is no clear evidence of that. I understand that lots of Americans want Iran to be guilty here, and I don't deny they certainly have funded terrorist activity in both Israel and other countries.
3. Your question about the finances of Hamas is fair. Look, Iran has not any of the 6 billion of their money we gave back to get Americans back from them. But, as the admin has said, and we all know, money is fungible. If they know there is 6 billion in the food bank account, that frees up other money for bad stuff. But, this attack was weeks and months in planning, practice and subterfuge. At least according to all the security ppl I've heard and read. And it was a mostly guerrilla attack with a lot of everyday vehicles. So apart from the rockets, which Hamas has had for years, it doesn't seem there's a lot of recent, post 6 billion, weapons investment there.
Sadly, it was just a well planned, practiced, and effective surprise attack. No one saw it coming, except, maybe Egypt.
4. Ransom... we used to say America does not negotiate for our hostages. But of course, we do. What should we do? Mustang over at Geez says nothing, they knew the risks. Do you agree?
Because as it relates to hostages, that is the central question. Should we act, or leave them behind?
Skud,
Stop projecting.
You're still blaming Biden for a Hamas attack.
Scapegoating IS FASCIST HATE!
You're still ignoring Republicans' obstructing of OUR MILITARY LEADERS and AMBASSADORS!!!
Shame on your hate and willful ignorance.
Your bullshit has been called out. Why double down?
Rev, Immigration is what the country was built on. My in-laws and my wife are all immigrants but they entered the country legally and went through the process to become citizens. Now we have thousands of people crossing the border and entering the country with little tracking except that they will be in court in five to six years. We have needed a comprehensive immigration policy for decades but our political climate won't allow it. Everyone knows the republicans won't touch it and the democrats has higher priorities so here we sit.
As to the question of paying for hostages I believe it just encourages more kidnapping and hostages because it is profitable business. I heard about the iran issue from abc so just figured it was true because they don't lie unlike fox. I find it difficult to believe hamas has the knowledge and infrastructure to coordinate an attack of this magnitude but there are enough countries who hate Israel.
Avenging, like the aggression, will have the net effect of skyrocking hate and ignorance. Thus actually increasing the depth of both and insuring it continuation and repeated occurannce.
And so, the beat and delusions continue.
I, for one, am NOT "aghast" when terrorists who proclaim "Death to Israel!" very loudly and steadfastly act like terrorists. At least the IRA primarily targeted symbolic structures or military personnel.
David Corn
@DavidCornDC
·
10h
It continues to be amazing that a major political party considers this guy to be its leader. Here he says Obama is ordering Biden to let terrorists into the US. Also amazing, I suppose, that his audience buys his BS.
The Captain of the Mother Ship and her sailors believe this too. Almost every day she, or one of her commenters, asserts that it is former President Obama who's running the Biden presidency.
They're neck deep in conspiracies, lies, and phantasmagorical nonsense. They smugly think they know this to be true.
These people vote!
Dervish Sanders assures me that no Jihadi's have crossed over the southern US border. Guess we'll find out tomorrow.
I can assure -FJ/JC that no Jihadis have stormed our Capitol, terrorized Congress, and beat cops bloody to overturn our election.
I can assure him no Jihadis have stopped Blacks for "driving while black" or shot them in the back.
I can assure him no Jihadis have massacred Blacks and Jews in American places of worship.
I can assure him no Jihadis have massacred Mexican Americans in a parking lot.
One AMERICAN sicko DID massacre gays at a nightclub, but nobody on the White Right cared about that because no hetero white Trump supporters were killed.
Really Dave?
How soon they forget.
...the difference between "success" and "failure".
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