criticizing isreal is racist!

Criticizing Israel is fine. Criticizing only Israel, and in a manner that suggests you honestly believe the Jews are motivated by nothing but pure malice and bloodlust, that is sort of racist.

the idiot makes up his own version of the past yet again.

You missed these two and oddeye fighting for the coveted office of President of the Buttholes. The race is still too close to call, but EvilHomer came in a distant third.

Sorry buddy!

Also you just got 1-starred by SolRo, who hates you and/or farts.

and/or fake farts, I should add.

your universally stupid and confused conclusions about what I'm saying would put you just behind evilhomer's consistently racist whitewashing of Israel's history.

You're like it idiot yin to his moron yang.

SolRo, please, there's no need for name calling. You don't need to bring the discourse down to that level; I'm sorry if I offended you by insinuating that you're a racist, that was unkind of me, and if it makes you feel a little better, I wouldn't judge you for it, even if it is true. Racism is a character flaw, but most everyone is a *little* racist against at least one group of people (I am racist against cab drivers and the French), and it's not something I'd stop being friends with you over! Nor would I ever discount your position merely because you hate Jews; that would be ad hominem. I discount your position because you haven't been able to articulate it very well, and whenever someone challenges you to defend or refute a specific point - like baleen, for example - you crack and revert to one line insults and vague comments about "propaganda" or somesuch.

Perhaps I have misinterpreted your position...? Help me out here: why do you think the Israelis do what they do? Do they have a motivation beyond an irrational need to kill children? If so, what is it?

Also, in what way have I been "whitewashing" Israel's history? Can you cite some specific examples? I have often criticized Israel, and I have never denied, nor celebrated, a single instance of Israeli violence. I look at both sides of the issue, and I try to place the actions of both Israeli and Palestinian forces within their proper historical context, but this is hardly "whitewashing".

If you ever managed to stop using leading questions the same way fox news does, there's a miniscule chance for me to take you seriously.

I attack you because you're like our own retarded pony-loving Sean Hannity. You're just catharsis and little else.

Hahahaha ohhh SolRo.

Welcome back OZ!

Oops, I didn't mean to post this on Poe-News.

See SolRo, this is what I'm talking about. It's an interesting issue, and I'd really like to think you take it seriously, but here again: name calling (sentence 2) and vague comments about propaganda (sentence 1).

Let me try an experiment. Mr Baleen, you are in favour of Israel, correct? Allow me to ask you a question: why do you think the Palestinians do what they do? Do they have a motivation beyond an irrational need to kill Jewish children? If so, what is it?

I'm not "in favor of Israel" any more than I am "in favor of Palestine," I just feel it's an extremely complicated issue and that much of the taking of sides in my culture is hypocritical and based on fad or some unspoken seething hatred for a particular type of people, rather than a genuine concern with the parties involved, let alone any objective study of the history of the area. In the 90's all the lefties had Free Tibet bumper stickers. Things still fucking suck for Tibetans, they're still be oppressed and killed, but apparently it's just not that cool to be interested in that oppressed minority anymore.

Since this is poetv, I enjoy pushing the buttons of people who are clearly full of so much bullshit that it's leaking out of their nostrils, i.e. SolRo and a few others.

One of the problems with your question is that Palestinians are not a united force all in favor of one particular course of action.
Are you talking about Palestinians or Hamas, Fatah, and the many other factions vying for power? You can read, in their own words, what their motivations and ultimate aspirations are. As for "common Palestinians," I think they'd like the blockades to be lifted and they'd like jobs. The refugees outside of Israel would like to be permitted access to the opportunities that other citizens of their countries have instead of being confined to ghettos and deprived of jobs.

Some Palestinians want to destroy Israel, some want their own nation alongside Israel, some want a binational state.
The state of things is so dire among refugees that for many revenge is the only possible option, and besides, Hamas and Fatah offer "social services" for those who cooperate and death for those that do not.

"I just feel it's an extremely complicated issue and that much of the taking of sides in my culture is hypocritical and based on fad or some unspoken seething hatred for a particular type of people"


"Hamas and Fatah offer "social services" for those who cooperate and death for those that do not."

So you see, SolRo, this is why I find it difficult to take your position seriously. Same question, two radically different styles of response.

I do not like the way Mr Baleen makes fun of you, saying things like "Solro is leaking bullshit". I do not believe that is helpful, and I can understand why you'd get defensive over comments like that. But Mr Baleen is capable of answering direct questions, and he demonstrates a very nuanced, informed understanding of the issue. He makes insightful observations, addresses criticism in a manner that suggests he both understands and compensates for counterarguments from the other side, and just generally presents his case in a firm and compelling manner. He may be wrong! And I'd love to see you prove him wrong. But in the meantime... surely you can understand why I'm thinking your position is not entirely rational and objective?

But I would like ot thank you again for turning me on to War Thunder. It is not as good as Sturmovik, and it has some of the problems I'd anticipated, problems carrying over from the IL-2 console ports and the general MMO-yness of this game. But it is still a very fun game, and I find myself enjoying it immensely!

I've been making some custom textures. I have a Pikachu Zero fighter and a Rainbow Dash panzer tank so far:

http://punchysonichu.deviantart.com/gallery/50694513/Game-Mods -and-Textures

And no, Israel's hatred of arabs isn't irrational. They rationalize plenty as "self-defense" and that arab cities and civilians are military targets by default.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahiya_doctrine

Why do they think Arab cities and civilian areas are targets?

The Dahiya Doctrine is a modern school of thinking - the very article you cite indicates that it was first proposed only six years ago, which means it cannot possibly explain the IDF's activities for the sixty-plus years worth of conflict prior to that. Furthermore, there is no obvious indication that this is the main school of thinking in the IDF today, let alone the only school of thinking. There may be speculation, sure; am I correct in assuming that you think that is why the Israelis do what they do? But you'll have to provide two things:

1. evidence that the Dahiya Doctrine is something far more than a threat made by an angry Israeli general, and
2. an explanation for the IDF's actions prior to 2006-2008. Preferably in your own words, not Wikipedia's.

SolRo, I've gathered that you feel that Hamas is capable of negotiating peace or that they somehow represent the interests of a free Palestine and Palestinians in general. At least from those quotes, you seem to be implying that I am "taking sides" with Israel by condemning the actions of Hamas and Fatah.

What do you believe the end goal of Hamas is?
Do you understand that they murder and extort their own people? If a large city 20 miles away from you were controlled by such a faction, how would that inform your daily routine?

I've said as much before, but both Likud and Hamas have to abandon their fundamentalist doctrines and make actual sacrifices that amount to more than rhetoric in the international propaganda war. Israel is in a better position to make sacrifices in any deal, but sacrifices are often not met with any kind of productive move forward. The Hitnatkut was met with a war between Fatah and Hamas and the abduction of an Israeli soldier, which hardly sends the message that either of these parties can be negotiated with.

Personally, I enjoy coming up with black swans that can alter the dialog fundamentally; like allowing the UN full administerial rights over Gaza and West Bank in return for a massive Keynesian investment plan, multibillion dollar desalination infrastructure running across Jordan, Sinai, and even Yemen. I believe the key to peace is to outgive and out-help at every opportunity, but this requires those in power to relinquish their control.

"And no, Israel's hatred of arabs isn't irrational. They rationalize plenty as "self-defense" and that arab cities and civilians are military targets by default."

SolRo, the opposite of irrational isn't rationalize. Your statement makes no fucking sense.

Taking a pro-Palestinian stance is inherently pro-semitic since they're more 'semitic' than the Ashkenazi jews who came out of Europe with plenty of non-Levantine admixture.

OZ you missed the local JDF sleepers coming out of hibernation.

It's "The Levantinian Candidate" with EvilHomer reprising the role first made famous by Frank Sinatra.

"Taking a pro-Palestinian stance is inherently pro-semitic since they're more 'semitic' than the Ashkenazi jews who came out of Europe with plenty of non-Levantine admixture."

ZOINKS

I just love baleens 'Israeli war crimes can be excused because it's a very complex and nuanced situation...Hamas and the PLO are only evil murder zombies.' mindset.

I wonder if he cant follow his own broken logic or if he just embraces his inner shit-heel.

And that's why you never ask what you missed.

"In the 90's all the lefties had Free Tibet bumper stickers. Things still fucking suck for Tibetans, they're still be oppressed and killed, but apparently it's just not that cool to be interested in that oppressed minority anymore. "

About 15 years ago I met someone who had spent 18 months traveling in rural Tibet, mostly on foot, living in different communities and making a documentary film. He said that in his experience the actual citizens of Tibet resented the "FREE TIBET~!!" fad in the west because it drew media attention to them and that resulted in more pressure from the Chinese government. The less attention people outside Tibet paid to them, the less attention the Chinese paid to them and the more they were able to go about their daily lives.

Not only is he dead, but everyone hates him now.

if only we could all be as trendy as a celebrity death

I could be wrong, but I feel like we are going to be saying the same thing about Carl Weathers next year.

Criswell Predicts!

Criswell's on my shit list until he makes good on

"Rhode Island (p. 105)

I predict that Rhode Island will be the center of a new movement of the youth of the nation that will make the hippie movement look normal. The next movement will be youth's rebellion through nudism. And this movement will begin in Rhode Island and spread throughout the land."

Oh man, the Braves are just awful this year, just awful. Thankfully I'm an A's fan, best record in baseball as of today, August 15, 2014. Sorry about your daughter, but I also have a hard time liking Kate Bush, and I haven't even outgrown Tori Amos.

man, them a's are playing incredible ball, and i don't even really follow american league shenanigans. the braves aren't terrible. we were hobbled even before the season started with some pitching injuries, but we still got one of the best defensive teams in the majors right now. andrelton simmons might just be the best shortstop in the game. ahhh, it doesn't matter now, our division is full of garbage. always next season!

the kate bush stuff i can get over, long as she doesn't stop dancing.

In more enlightened times, not liking Kate Bush was grounds for being exposed on a hillside Oedipus Rex style.