Article

2007-03-15 Israel-Palestine-Jordan

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Posted by tu3031 2007-03-15 09:55|| || Front Page|| [10 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Does the fact that I hope he'll get killed, makes me a bad person?

Posted by gromgoru 2007-03-15 10:19|| 2007-03-15 10:19|| Front Page Top

#2 Only a little :-)

You'll need to do an act of contrition. Perhaps you could sweep up in the O-Club tonight?

Posted by Steve White">Steve White 2007-03-15 10:31|| 2007-03-15 10:31|| Front Page Top

#3 Marco.

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2007-03-15 11:34|| 2007-03-15 11:34|| Front Page Top

#4 We may see the conversion-ransom-release dynamic again.

Posted by Baba Tutu 2007-03-15 13:02|| 2007-03-15 13:02|| Front Page Top

#5 Grom, I understand the sentiment but let's continue to be better than some by hoping for safe return. Followed by a very unsafe ending for the perps, at the hands of undercover border police or some other worthy outfit. I'm all for killin' them that needs killin' today, but let's limit our reaction to the BBC to fisking, debunking, and humiliation (and let's have more and more of that).

Posted by Verlaine 2007-03-15 14:55|| 2007-03-15 14:55|| Front Page Top

#6 I'm still waiting for Israel to "ransom" its kidnapped Israeli soldier - preferably with two brigades of infantry, backed up with tanks, artillery, and airpower.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2007-03-15 15:06|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2007-03-15 15:06|| Front Page Top

#7 Wish I could afford to think like you Vervane, but I've a child---so I cannot.

Posted by gromgoru 2007-03-15 15:21|| 2007-03-15 15:21|| Front Page Top

#8 Oops, sorry. No disrespect intended Verlaine.

Posted by gromgoru 2007-03-15 15:22|| 2007-03-15 15:22|| Front Page Top

#9 "undercover border police"

You mean Israelis? Im not rooting for the Beeb guy to die, but I doubt that going after some local kidnapping ring is a particularly good use of Israeli covert assets in the Strip, they being a scarce and valuable resource.

Note to world - its NOT Israel's responsibility to maintain order in the Gaza Strip. Not anymore, at any rate. (Of course if say, MI6 requested assistance, and offered something in return, at least good will, and maybe something more tangible, that might be different)

Posted by liberalhawk 2007-03-15 16:04|| 2007-03-15 16:04|| Front Page Top

#10 Understood, grom - no problem.

LH, it was a throw-away line - I agree with you on the substance. But as I see most Pal criminality as being along a continuum, all of which is inimical to Israel and the civilized world in general, I'm always happy to see bad guys iced. Today's kidnap-for-$$$$ operative, tomorrow's vest-bomb courier ....

Posted by Verlaine 2007-03-15 16:31|| 2007-03-15 16:31|| Front Page Top

#11 i understand it was a throwaway line, and im not blaming you. Just kinda taking issue with the larger mindset (not necessarily yours) thats held both by some folks here, and by folks on the left, of as Israelis as being all powerful. Their assets in general are scarce and limited and must be rationed carefully.

Basically if bad stuff is happening in the strip, its for the most part NOT their business, even if its indirectly inimical. They cant go after every kidnap artist in the territories - thats what an occupier has to do, and the flip side of withdrawl, with its dangers, is freeing your assets from having to pursue such things. Let the Pals, who have far more at stake, do something about it (and I mean either the Abbas Pals or the Hamas Pals) If its a threat to the whole civilized world, let the whole civilized world do something - at least let the Brits do something.

Israel hasnt gone into Gaza overtly even in response to months of Qassams. As long as they dont hit, I think Israel will continue to hold back. Any covert assets in the strip should be reserved for A. Intel gathering and B. Hitting VERY high value targets. Not for playing cops and robbers, or for fixing "broken windows" Fixing broken windows is a great strategy, but its hard to do when you cant move freely somewhere - basically Israel doesnt have the wherewithall to do it in Gaza and shouldnt try. (Again, this is not aimed at you Verlaine, but more at some other concepts of what Israel should do in the territories)

Posted by liberalhawk 2007-03-15 16:55|| 2007-03-15 16:55|| Front Page Top

#12 The Beeb reporter decided to look for stories and glory, or whatever, in Gaza---land of entropy, corruption, bad sanitation, criminals, terrorists, and a dearth of rational thinking. He made a choice to go here and report, and now he is facing the consequences of working there. Such is life in a sh*thole like Gaza. That is why rational people don't go there if they do not have to.

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2007-03-15 22:57|| 2007-03-15 22:57|| Front Page Top

#13 LH all your points well taken. Agree. Your analysis is especially compelling when one starts to ponder the likelihood that Israel will have to undertake some serious actions in the territories in response to the upcoming Nth Fruitless and Idiotic Palestinian Offensive (new term just coined here).

Posted by Verlaine 2007-03-15 23:23|| 2007-03-15 23:23|| Front Page Top

23:52 anonaminie
23:52 Bunyip
23:28 Eric Jablow
23:25 Verlaine
23:24 gromgoru
23:23 Verlaine
23:19 gromgoru
23:18 Verlaine
23:18 Frank G
23:10 Verlaine
23:07 RD
23:07 anon1
23:04 Verlaine
23:01 twobyfour
22:58 anon1
22:57 Alaska Paul
22:56 Danking70
22:55 Verlaine
22:37 Zenster
22:35 twobyfour
22:35 anon1
22:35 Chuck Simmins
22:32 anon1
22:18 gromgoru