Israel suspending air bombing

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

Excuse me for butting in Pat.
I think you and dala have a nice debate going.
But if we're going to talk about China now, and leave out Tibet...
oh nevermind.
Continue to discourse about Somalia.
Somehow that connects with Israel and Lebanon.
I'm very surprised that nobody brought up Grenada or Panama.
Chile or Libya anyone?

Back to my question, Pat....
Just suppose that somehow you got yourself elected to be president of the USA...
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Go with what Israel is doing...bomb the sh-t out of Lebanon at all costs to "get" Hezzbollah...and incur the negitive fall out from many Arab allies,
or hope for a cease fire and bring in the UN and/or NATO?

I would continue to ask for the UN resolution of the total disarming of Hezbollah. I would ask Israel to try harder to miss civilians. My problem is that I wonder how many of the people they have hit have armed, or are armed Hezbollah. Obviously the children killed and hurt is absolutely chilling.

I really dont know what I would do. Its a very difficult situation. I guarantee one thing. If Israel is actually ever left alone, the will not harm anyone. And if commerce between the Israelis and the Arab neighbors ever takes place on a large scale, wonders can happen. See Northern Ireland. I understand the power of putting people to work and allowing them to leave peacefully while taking care of the family. Northern Ireland has become a shining example that there is still some hope.

[Downthestretch55]

Originally Posted by pgardn

I would continue to ask for the UN resolution of the total disarming of Hezbollah. I would ask Israel to try harder to miss civilians. My problem is that I wonder how many of the people they have hit have armed, or are armed Hezbollah. Obviously the children killed and hurt is absolutely chilling.

I really dont know what I would do. Its a very difficult situation. I guarantee one thing. If Israel is actually ever left alone, the will not harm anyone. And if commerce between the Israelis and the Arab neighbors ever takes place on a large scale, wonders can happen. See Northern Ireland. I understand the power of putting people to work and allowing them to leave peacefully while taking care of the family. Northern Ireland has become a shining example that there is still some hope.

Pat,
Northern Ireland is a very good example, and so would be Japan, or Germany for that matter.
I take your point that trade can only flourish in mutally agreed (peaceful) circumstances.
On that I agree.
Unfortunately, as conditions apply to Israel and those that would wish to trade with her, each day that the destruction continues, the fewer potential trading partners will play.
Israel has done a great deal to generate animosity. The US has gone along for a very long time...
and, as an aside, I DO like Israel (but not current actions).
What does Israel export besides citrus, olive oil, and produce?
I know she imports a lot of armaments financed and supplied by the US.
Therein the vulnerability to the US to our "allies".

The old Arab saying goes something like this, "If you're friends with my enemy, you are also my enemy."

It will take many years for Israel to restore "trust relationships" with potential trading partners.
I hope they start on that path sooner than later.

What does Israel export besides citrus, olive oil, and produce?
I know she imports a lot of armaments financed and supplied by the US.
Therein the vulnerability to the US to our "allies".

The old Arab saying goes something like this, "If you're friends with my enemy, you are also my enemy."


Brains (education) and hard work. Like Japan. Japan has very few natural resources, is a huge consumer of oil, and has made it on the back of innovation which is just getting ready to bust open in today's world if only peace would break out.

Thats why the Sunnis and Shiites kill each other right back. Thats why Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others want Iran to get their hands out... Persian Muslims, they hate the Persian part.

Oh yes. imo Yassir Arafat got Sharon elected by his deeds. Sharon is/was (he is barely alive) a "right wing take it to the Arabs".

I know that if Israel were ever left in peace... not bombed, kidnapped, suicide bombed, etc... they would help commerce take hold. They would gladly trade with the Palestinians and other Arab nations, they already have at some points in time. Israel understands the importance of education and commerce and understands the dangers of mindless zealotry. Remember they had their own Prime Minister's life take by a right wing Israeli fanatic.