Middle East Conflict

[BringBackSwales]

Surely governments are held to much higher moral standards than terrorists?

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

Are the poets sane, due to them being the lifeboats?

Poetry often gets deployed by mystics to convey their non-dual understanding of reality (the haiku and waka poems of Zen Buddhist masters being the most obvious example). The Sufis are the (often unconventional) mystics of Islam, so maybe that’s what Hafiz was alluding to.

Are mystics any saner than the rest of us?

Not having been vouchsafed any kind of mystical experience myself, I simply don’t know.

 

[Palerider]

Surely governments are held to much higher moral standards than terrorists?

It would be nice to think so BUT I don't think there has been a government in the history of the world that put protecting the innocent of an enemy country above protecting the innocent of their own country. Somehow I do not think Israel will be the first. For me International Law only works if justice is served. i.e. International Law should go into Gaza and pull out all the Hamas terrorists to face a court of justice.

 

[BringBackSwales]

It would be nice to think so BUT I don't think there has been a government in the history of the world that put protecting the innocent of an enemy country above protecting the innocent of their own country. Somehow I do not think Israel will be the first. For me International Law only works if justice is served. i.e. International Law should go into Gaza and pull out all the Hamas terrorists to face a court of justice.

Personally I dont see how governments can indiscriminately bomb civilian housing, hospitals, schools, children. Hamas terrorists are vile scum but the blanket bombing of densely packed civilian areas, as well as deprivation of food, water, electricity and shelter isn’t how governments should behave, is it? What a dogs bollocks of a mess

 

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

*nobody play The Fall for a while, or Frank Sidebottom

I own more than 50 albums by The Fall. Still took longer than a minute for the penny to drop.

 

[Ducado]

Surely governments are held to much higher moral standards than terrorists?

They are meant to be

The big problem is that Israel had disproportionate response as their go to weapon, and to be fair it worked in some circumstances, but enemies lean and adapt

I honestly believe there is a much bigger game going on here, as Hamas knew what would happen, I think some in Israel are starting to worry there may be trap being set, I think the US suspects this as well

 

[lust overlord]

They are meant to be

The big problem is that Israel had disproportionate response as their go to weapon, and to be fair it worked in some circumstances, but enemies lean and adapt

I honestly believe there is a much bigger game going on here, as Hamas knew what would happen, I think some in Israel are starting to worry there may be trap being set, I think the US suspects this as well

The trap looks as though its been sprung already, to be honest.
We're all,mainly focusing on Israel using the sledgehammer approach to exact revenge.
The Israeli victims pushed to the back of people's minds,replaced by Palestinian victims.

Madness.

 

[Ducado]

Apparently there is a massive concern in Arab capitals that the real aim is to push the population out, and annex the land and just brazen the outrage out

I doubt in the cold light of day they would get away with it, but it’s a major concern, personally I think it would be a disastrous move for the world in general

 

[Palerider]

Personally I dont see how governments can indiscriminately bomb civilian housing, hospitals, schools, children. Hamas terrorists are vile scum but the blanket bombing of densely packed civilian areas, as well as deprivation of food, water, electricity and shelter isn’t how governments should behave, is it? What a dogs bollocks of a mess

Yep, it's a mess. Historically, battles were fought on a battlefield, often with hugely differing manpower and weaponry. Hamas though are using their own people as human shields so we are in a whole different ballgame. For me, and I know this is tough as fuck, but the Palestinian people have to get themselves a proper government with as you call it "high moral standards". They have to rebel against Hamas not Israel. Once you have a reasonably decent government then you can negotiate a two state solution in good faith. i.e. both sides could live without the threat of massacres.

 

[trueblue1972]

They are meant to be

The big problem is that Israel had disproportionate response as their go to weapon, and to be fair it worked in some circumstances, but enemies lean and adapt

I honestly believe there is a much bigger game going on here, as Hamas knew what would happen, I think some in Israel are starting to worry there may be trap being set, I think the US suspects this as well

I'm almost certain there will be many traps set