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| Middle East |
| Western ’Human Shields’ Battered in Mideast |
| 2003-05-02 |
| EFL Young Western activists living with Palestinians to act as "human shields" against Israeli raids are debating how to minimize their risk of dying after suffering a sudden rash of casualties. In March, an Israeli military bulldozer killed a 23-year-old American woman while demolishing a Gaza home alleged to belong to a Palestinian militant. A British man aged 21 and a 25-year-old American were shot and gravely wounded this month."The whole issue is under discussion. We have to find better ways of protecting ourselves," Tom Wallace, spokesman for the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement (ISM), told Reuters."Maybe we will have to (keep more distance) from areas near soldiers or where they are carrying out action in the refugee camp because this provokes them too much," said Tom Dale, 18, a British ISM activist in the violence-torn Rafah area of Gaza. In the words of Orin Hatch...."Dumbass!!" |
| Posted by:Yosemite Sam |
| #12 Human Shields are used as cannon fodder by both the socialists and the anti-Israeli palestinians. they are pawns. They are taking the gamble with their lives but they are also being manipulated. therefore they are brave but silly. Notice they are all young? Nary a one is over 30. I think that speaks volumes. Get them home get them safe, they will change their minds by the time they're 35. |
| Posted by: anon1 2003-05-02 18:34:21 |
| #11 Scott---good point. Regardless of the cause, the human shield must go in there with the understanding that they're betting their life on the issue, and they may take the big fall. Whether or not it is worth it will be something that the H.S. must weigh carefully. The cause, ah the cause---that is the question. One palestinian, Provo, etc. martyr may be another person's dumbshit. Who do we honor, and who does the approving? That is a good question. It is obvious that the Palestinian H.S.'s believed in the cause enough or were stupid enough )depending upon one's point of view) to try to stand down the IDF. If at all possible it is smarter to not be a martyr. That is a last resort thing. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-05-02 17:29:48 |
| #10 Maybe not, AP. Not if they believe in what they're doing. The individual soldiers may be good enough, but the people that send them (and their policies) may be far from it. Take Tiananmen for instance, who do we honor, those under the tanks or the tank drivers? (or just those who stopped?) Or must the cause be approved, for us to regard the sacrifice and it's message? |
| Posted by: Scott 2003-05-02 16:44:36 |
| #9 The human shield depends on the goodness and humanity of the soldier or airman attacking the installation that the human shield is protecting. Once the soldier or airman realizes that the human shield is aiding and abetting the enemy, then the human shield is now an enemy combatant and is subject to the same treatment as the protected enemy. A couple more shield pops and they will become a non-issue to everyone. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-05-02 16:21:04 |
| #8 What to do in case of a bulldozer threat. |
| Posted by: growler 2003-05-02 14:56:01 |
| #7 "We have to find better ways of protecting ourselves" Ride buses in Tel Aviv, frequent cafés, restaurants, nightclubs... Ummmm maybe not? |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-05-02 14:33:44 |
| #6 The concept of a human shield is puzzling at best. Even a suicide bomber seems to have a more straightforward reasoning. But they're more properly called 'homicide bombers', and for murdering others, they deserve no sympathy. But these misguided protesters are 'suicide activists'. Possibly endangering soldiers, but mostly not. Their purpose is not to shield anything, but rather to attract attention. The big question is why. I'm not jaded enough to rejoice at other people's deaths. And laughing it off as insanity just doesn't smack. It kind reminds me of those buddhist monks who self-immolated protesting Vietnam. I don't hold to the method, but it sure made me stop, stare and wonder, Why? |
| Posted by: Scott 2003-05-02 14:32:37 |
| #5 And here we see the difference between Human Shields and Soldiers: Soldier: I will die to bring peace to your land. Human Shield: I am not willing to put myself in harm's way to bring peace to your land unless someone can convince me that I won't be in any actual harm. Otherwise, you're on your own. It's the liberal way! |
| Posted by: FormerLiberal 2003-05-02 14:28:39 |
| #4 Not only did the "activists" get shot and bulldozed, but one of them got blown up in an Israeli bar! /sarcasm |
| Posted by: someone 2003-05-02 13:48:10 |
| #3 Not to worry, the Israeli's are not going to let any more in: Meanwhile, an Israeli government official confirmed on Friday that Israel intends to crack down on pro-Palestinian peace activists, although the official said it had nothing to do with the case of the two British citizens.From now on, so-called peace activists will be denied entry to Israel, said the official who asked not to be named. Anyone visiting a Palestinian Authority area must pass through an Israeli airport or seaport or cross through Israeli border controls. If activists are already in the PA areas and are found in a closed military zone, they will be detained and deported, the official said. "The army will be less lenient toward peace activists. They'll be sent back to their country," he said. According to the official, the decision was taken after an unnamed British woman, working for one of the activist groups was found to be hiding a wanted Palestinian terrorist in her office last week. The two British suicide bombers posed as human shields in order to get into Israel. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-05-02 13:45:13 |
| #2 TU - NOOOOOooo! We don't want them here! They're achieving their highest best use as fodder |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-05-02 13:42:55 |
| #1 We have to find better ways of protecting ourselves Here's one. GO HOME! |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-05-02 13:39:27 |
