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The Spectacle Blog
Right now IDF soldiers are in the hospital because they walked into an ambush aboard the Mavi Marmara carrying paintball guns, with orders to unholster their firearms only as a last resort. Here’s video that clearly shows them being attacked as soon as they hit the deck of the ship.
Predictably, quite a few members of the violent floating mob ended up dead. This is being widely portrayed as a brutal Israeli attack on peaceful activists attempting to deliver humanitarian aid. There are angry protests in capitals all over the world (“Saw anger at London protest at Israeli embassy I’m more used to seeing in Mid-east than Europe,” says ABC News correspondant Jim Sciutto on Twitter). The UN has convened an emergency session for the extremely urgent purpose of condemning the Jewish State just one more time.
Make no mistake: This is a fiasco for Israel. Former US Mid-East peace negotiator Aaron David Miller lays it out for Eli Lake of the Washington Times: “This feeds the efforts of those in the international community who seek to delegitimize Israel. This has undermined Mahmoud Abbas, who will have to toughen his position in negotiations or even suspend them. This hands Hamas a huge political windfall.”
Israeli commentator Avi Trengo blames Defense Minister Ehud Barak for “ordering the IDF to adopt an impossible policy: Stopping the flotilla using force, while doing it without using force”:
So how would any other navy enforce a naval blockade? First, a clear warning in English: Turn back or we shall fire. Next, A shot across the bow - a last warning to show the seriousness of our intentions. Finally, firing at the vessel’s propeller, in a bid to paralyze the ship’s sailing and steering capabilities.
Only then, and only after allowing the ship to be tossed from side to side under the sun, the time would come for taking over the vessel using massive force: Clearing away the decks using water hoses, splashing oil on its windows, ramming into the vessel, and finally staging the takeover.
This is how any self-respecting Navy would conduct itself. However, there is only one problem here: The utilization of force and fire, which is precisely what Barak wanted to avoid. He feared the images, and therefore ordered the takeover to get underway at early morning hours, much before the ships crossed into Gaza’s territorial waters.
If Israel had proceded that way, is there any doubt that we’d hear exactly the same chorus of condemnation? As British media watchdog Just Journalism points out, the flotilla to Gaza was openly spoiling for a fight, with one ‘activist’ declaring before they set sail ‘We are now waiting for one of two good things - either to achieve martyrdom or to reach Gaza.’ Short of ending the blockade — which would mean allowing the delivery of weapons that would be used to kill Israeli civilians — there was no way for Israel to win. Barak’s kid-glove approach (which, to be fair, did succeed at bloodlessly intercepting five of the six ships in the flotilla) earned Israel exactly no credit in the eyes of her critics, for whom Israel is ipso facto in the wrong whenever she defends herself.
Traditionally, Israel has had a friend in the United States. A large majority of the American people support Israel’s right to exist, and most American presidents have understood the strategic importance of our alliance. To the Obama Administration’s credit, they’ve been much more cautious than most goverments in responding to this incident, issuing a statement that “The President expressed deep regret at the loss of life in today’s incident, and concern for the wounded, many of whom are being treated in Israeli hospitals. The President also expressed the importance of learning all the facts and circumstances around this morning’s tragic events as soon as possible.” This compares favorably with the statement by William Hague, the UK’s new Foreign Secretary, whose first instinct was to “call on the Government of Israel to open the crossings to allow unfettered access for aid to Gaza.” (Actually, Israel allows lots of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.)
A meeting between President Obama and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had to be cancelled so that the latter could return home to deal with the fallout. There’s been tension between the US and Israel in recent months that’s been contrary to the interests of both nations. If the Obama Administration can now step up and support Israel in this time of crisis, it will do more to repair the frayed relations between our two countries than any meeting could have.
View all comments (75) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
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Ferruccio Fortini| 5.31.10 @ 10:59PM
But what's the _legality_ of Israel's blockade? While the PR is no doubt the bulk of the present issues, I'm personally very interested in the legalities. Per the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea -- e.g., http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Col.....p322-e.htm -- and I quote: """Blockades are, however, prima facie breaches of the LOSC as they interfere with freedom of navigation on the HS. The law of the sea does not, however, exist in isolation from all other international law; naval blockades may be legitimized if they are supported by a United Nations Security Council resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter.""". What UNSC resolution are you claiming authorized Israel to blockade? I'd also appreciate links to other legal texts *above suspicion* (written about the 1982 convention _before_ the current crisis, so they can't be self-serving on one side or another) which contradict LeGresley's clear and well-argued text (I've only quoted a snippet of course: if you DO care about Law, not just about serving one side's or another's interests, I heartily recommend reading it all).
Spicy Joker| 5.31.10 @ 11:05PM
Can't wait for all the Paultards to start whining about Israel.
Rhett Butler| 5.31.10 @ 11:47PM
A blockade is an effort to cut off food, supplies, war material or communications from a particular area by force. Since Gaza receives everything but war material from either Israel or through the Gaza/Egypt border crossing, smuggling rather than blockade running is a better description for this activity.
Yosemeti Sam| 5.31.10 @ 11:53PM
" ... The UN has convened an emergency session for the extremely urgent purpose of condemning the Jewish State just one more time...."
For old times' sake.
Well then, Israel - sling em right between the eyes.
Sorta like David did!
Ahrrghonaut| 6.1.10 @ 12:29AM
Doess Yosemiti Sam refer to David Jones?
Absent Letters of Marque and a state of war with Turkey , this marks the recrudescence of a grand old levantine tradition:
Piracy on the high seas , complete with repellent boarders and blood in the scuppers
Yosemeti Sam| 6.1.10 @ 1:39AM
Letters of Marque?
Hmmm.
Israel don't need no stinking badges - withstanding Philistines.
Recrudescence?
Hmmm. And again - hmmm.
Folks - I ask you - did I miss some halcyon
era in the Mideast vis a vis Israel and its',oh,so,
ardent neighbors?
Leftoids and Philistines and useful idiots - so abundant. So full of flatulence.
Yo, anyone want the straight skinny on Israel and
its' plethora of bloodthirsty enemies and anemic
'friends', please see Caroline Glicks' periodic
columns at http://www.jpost.com/ for straight up perspectives. Sobering contrast to otherwise flourishs of oblique mumbo jumbo from Israel bashers.
Yo - um, that Mao Maw White House Christmas tree ornament. Might it have been on that flotilla of ships - lately in the skews?
PCC| 6.1.10 @ 2:37AM
Dear Mr. Tabin,
You write, "Traditionally, Israel has had a friend in the United States. A large majority of the American people support Israel's right to exist, and most American presidents have understood the strategic importance of our alliance."
And you think that will persuade the current administration to support Israel?
Time to wake up and smell the coffee methinks, sir.
Rachel| 6.1.10 @ 3:06AM
Why don't we let Jewish people send money to Israel instead of every american taxpayer.
they would have the budget they deserve to survive, and Americans would not be connected to their dishonest shenanigans.
NATO, are you listening? I think you must defend Turkey's ships in international waters, and Israel screwed up big time.\
Rachel!!
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 9:49AM
Israel doesn't receivc US aid. They receive credits to buy US made weapons which provide thousands of jobs for Americans at the very least. Why don't you and other anti-semites , talk about the cost of having troops in South Korea, Germany , and allowing Japan to have a small military because we protect them.
William R| 6.1.10 @ 10:31AM
Hamilton, you're a delusional crank.
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:23PM
And you're a vicious anti-Semite, racist troll.
Phronemophile| 6.4.10 @ 5:20AM
Wally, please explain the logic that led you to this inference. Last time I checked, expressing skepticism about the behavior of Israel (or any other country) was not proof of racism.
Red Phillips | 6.1.10 @ 1:15PM
"They receive credits to buy US made weapons which provide thousands of jobs for Americans at the very least."
So conservatives are supposed to be in favor of corporate welfare in the guise of foreign aid? Newsflash Joe: conservatives don't support either foreign aid or corporate welfare.
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 4:13PM
Newsflash Red: Germany ,South Korea and Japan cost the US much more per year than the alleged "aid" to Israel
Red Phillips | 6.1.10 @ 4:38PM
"Germany, South Korea and Japan cost the US much more per year than the alleged "aid" to Israel."
Israel receives the most foreign aid of any country. Egypt is second. But you are absolutely correct if you count all the money we pour into those economies because we have permanent bases and troops stationed there.
Newsflash Joe: we shouldn't have troops in Germany, Japan or South Korea either. Funny how interventionist "conservatives" oppose domestic welfare for able bodied people but support defense welfare for able bodied countries. Authentic conservatives support neither.
Wesley Mouch| 6.1.10 @ 9:49PM
I want to know if any of these countries who are receiving military aid are selling it to other countries, and if so, to whom.
Nick| 6.2.10 @ 12:45AM
Mr. Phillips,
Come on, I know you are smart enough to know that the bases in Germany, Japan, and South Korea were part of fighting the Cold War, so we wouldn't have to have any more D-Days, with nuclear weapons.
But, I agree, those bases should have been closed, long ago. They were not unconstitutional, however.
Article 1, Section 8, gave Congress the power "To raise and support Armies [...]." Article 1, Section 9, did not prohibit Congress from stationing these Armies on foreign soil.
By the way, you never answered my questions about WWII. How come?
Marco| 6.2.10 @ 5:18AM
Hamilton you are an idiot, don't bother with facts and do the usual Jewish/Israeli thing in calling anyone who is in the least critical of Israel or its policies/actions as being "anti-semitic" By the way, Israel doesn't just get grants - it gets straight aid so about 26% of its defense purchases can be made from Israeli firms.
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:24PM
Bigot.
Toni| 6.1.10 @ 5:48AM
Rachel, why don't we let Arabs send money to Egypt, PLO and UNWRA instead of every American taxpayer. And why should NATO defend Turkey's ships after they have denied us their bases during the war in Iraq and contributed 0 soldiers, either in Iraq or Afghanistan? Not in this life time. Once upon a time, Turkey had a secular government, now it is fast following in Iran's footsteps. Rachel, you want to defend Turkey, you are on your own. I question Turkey's motives in organizing this jihad on water against Israel. Wasn't Turkey a friend of Israel, until recently, that is before they made Mein Kampf into a bestseller and before they chose to ditch secularism and went Islamic.
Timothy L. Pennell| 6.1.10 @ 7:17AM
"It's time for America to support Israel"?
What is it about Barack HUSSEIN Obama, that makes EVERYBODY wanna give him a benefit of the doubt, that he doesn't deserve? Is it cause he's Black?
Everybody acts surprised that this guy wants to turn the U.S. in to Venezuela. Everybody acts surprised that he would go AGAINST the will of the people. That he's SPENDING us in to OBLIVION. That he's DECIMATING our Armed Forces and RAISING OUR TAXES through the roof. He OWNS the Car Companies. He has a PAY CZAR. He OWNS the BANKS. He CONTROLS the Money that's loaned to Kids, for College. He wants to CONTROL the Financial Institutions, and the AIR we breathe. SIEG HEIL! And so many people act SURPRISED. Even though it was WELL KNOWN.
Which brings us to the JEWS.
Barack HUSSEIN Obama was BORN MUSLIM. His FATHER was MUSLIM. His STEP FATHER was MUSLIM. His MOTHER converted to ISLAM. He grew up in KENYA and INDONESIA, where he attended MADRASSA. MUSLIM School. That's where the children are taught: "Barack. Look out! There's a JEW behind that rock. KILL HIM!"
He attended JEREMIAH WRIGHTS' HATE 'CHURCH' for 20 Years. This White Hating, Jew Hating, America Hater became his MENTOR. He MARRIED the Obamas'. He BAPTISED their kids. He was "Part of my Family." Obama attended LOUIS FARRAKHAN Rallies. Louis (Judaism is a GUTTER RELIGION) Farrakhan. His 'Church' gave him a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
Barack HUSSEIN Obama SURROUNDS himself with JEW HATERS. Read his BOOKS.
He is an ARAB. He is a MUSLIM. He has been raised to HATE THE JEWS, all his life. We know this. Yet we STILL act, like we don't. And that is why the World, will soon be on fire.
James| 6.1.10 @ 12:56PM
Tim,
Couldn't have put it more plainly myself. You have hit the nail on the head!
Phronemophile| 6.4.10 @ 5:25AM
Funny thing, Tim: Last time I checked, Rahm Emanuel was not a "Jew-hater." Also, he is not an Arab, nor is he a Muslim, nor an anti-semite, nor ....
Well, I could go on and refute every one of your false and paranoid-schizophrenic statements, but then I'd just be feeding another troll, wouldn't I?
Phronemophile| 6.4.10 @ 5:29AM
*Edit to preceding: "Also, *Obama* is not an Arab..."
JP| 6.1.10 @ 7:21AM
Is the IDF succumbing to the kind of politics we see here in the US? I mean commandos armed with paint ball guns, and ROE which make ours look like something out of the OK Corral?
If I am not mistaken, our Navy would have had a destroyer wiht chain guns pointed the ships, while a fully armed contingent of Marines boarded the ships. Safeties would have been off, and shoot to kill orders issued to all involved. In the end, the naval commanders have one and only one responsibility -the safety of Americans. The IDF should have forgone the politics of the UN and put thier commandos safety first and foremost.
If all esle fails, they could have torpedoed the ships after issuing orders to turn around.
Richard Baker| 6.1.10 @ 7:24AM
Amazing. Only Israel HAS to leave herself defenseless to her enemies. I find it amusing that people who would condemn Israel find the seeds of her destruction by her enemies to be acceptable and , in fact, mandatory.
William R| 6.1.10 @ 7:54AM
Turkey is part of NATO. Attacking a Turkish ship in international waters is going to create an international incident.
The U.S.S. Liberty and the culture of impunity
http://mondoweiss.net/2010/05/.....unity.html
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 9:56AM
William R.
I knew this incident would bring out Nazis from under their rocks. USS Liberty was 43 years ago. How about how vicious Jew haters who would not allow any Jews into the US up to 1949 although our country with a population of 130 million was empty compared with today? Every time one of you slimy Nazis mentioned the USS Liberty I mentioned the SS St Louis .STFU
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 10:24AM
Are you a psychiatrist? If you are your license should be revoked. There is nothing unhinged about calling someone like you a Nazi. Would you like to called Jew hater or how about neo-nazi ? All 3 describe creatures like you very accuratelyI would call you a buffoon but I don't want to insult buffoons. Mondelweiss.net is a radical Jew hating website with ties to David Duke.
William R| 6.1.10 @ 10:35AM
Hamilton, besides being an unhinged buffoon, you are an American hater. It is so obvious you put the interest of Israel ahead of the United States.
http://tiny.cc/jxws7
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:26PM
Ugly racist. Sieg heil, Nazi!
Tim*| 6.1.10 @ 10:48AM
Uh Oh , discussing The IDF attack on The U.S.S. Liberty has an Israel Firster
upset.
Let's see ya run that apologist crap by the remaining surviving U. S.S. Liberty Seamen ,Traitor .
martin j smith| 6.1.10 @ 7:56AM
On this topic everone has an oppinion so I will give mine.
This scenario was a rehearsed and arranged peice that could go on Broadway and no doubt might--or perhaps a Hollywood movie. There is nothing about this so called "peace flotilla" that was not predictable in every way including the so called UN and so called International and MSM response.
In the framework of this world, there is NOTHING that Israel could that was " RIGHT".
Oh, I have seen all kinds of views on the web like in the Jerusalem Post and US blogs who give all
kinds of well meaning advice but the point that is trul missing in their heads is a sad simple truth: Israel is alone. It has no allies. That is a fact that
many support Israel fail to account. And even some Israeli leaders are in denial about it. Netenyahu is not one of them.
It is a very sad state of affairs but if I were able to say something to Netenyahu I would say this:
If you want to basically continue to blockade a Gaza run do so with much more force in overwhelming numbers of sailors and soldiers and Have good quality video equipment at the ready to immediate show what is really happening and outpace the media. That is all you can do.
The other option--not a good one to let the flotilla in--a major disaster. Not viable.
And here is more the UN is a lost cause. The international media is a lost cause. The Left politically you know where they are. So in the end
you could consider two ways of looking at this situation; Hope to see a major blow out of Obama
and the Democrat Party. . This couyld help a bit.
Now: Here is a cautionary note to those who have no sympathy with Israel. There could be a major world war and these incidents which many on the Left are so happy to cheer way lead them--and all of us to rue they day of such "joy". If there is a major world war there will be wmds of every kind.
Casualties will be in the multiple thousands with many zeroes . Here is why: Iran and its "allies" will feel more and more confident about attacking Israel. But, they do not know how Israel will respond. The people of Israel I believe are very angry at Obama and this administration in large numbers. This anger no doubt to one degree or another is reflected in the Netenyahu government. So as the saying does: Be careful of what you ask for... Israelis may feel that if under siege they have nothing to lose--if they go down let the rest of the world go with us. That may be
the scenario down the road.
Sean| 6.1.10 @ 8:49AM
Why would Israel want to video tape an attack on a ship from a NATO country in international waters? In international waters the Turkish ship has a right to defend itself from piracy.
JP| 6.1.10 @ 9:08AM
Sean,
No nation has the right to ignore a blockade. And this ship wasn't in international waters (nice try). Isreal has jurisdiction over those waters, as does Egypt (many forget that Egypt also has a security stake in this).
Sean| 6.1.10 @ 9:39AM
Read some of the news reports. You will find that the ship was in international waters. What Israel did was an act of war against Turkey a NATO ally to this country.
JP| 6.1.10 @ 10:11AM
This ship was less than 20 miles off shore. International Law allows soveriegn nations to patrol waters beyond thier border limits. Our Coast Guard does it all the time. International Law allows soveriegn nations to board civilian craft, as well as order them to heave-to. And no, it wasn't an act of war. Please, dispense with the histronics.
Sean| 6.1.10 @ 10:17AM
The ships were 80 miles offshore JP. It was an act of war against Turkey. Try getting your facts straight.
Interested Conservative| 6.1.10 @ 10:34AM
Why an attack against Turkey? I thought this was an "international peace flotilla"?
If the USCG intercepts Haitian or Cubans refugees far out at sea is that an attack against Haiti or Cuba? Or Columbian/Mexican/Venezualan drug runners? Japanese whalers running down Greenpeace? All attacks against sovereign states?
You might want to study up Admiralty law a bit.
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 10:34AM
It was not an act of war since Hamas the current ruling terrorists are in a state of war with Israel. By international law , Israel has a clear right to institute a naval blockade of a an entity which is an active belligerent against Israel. Why don't you get your facts straight.
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:27PM
Sean's a pissant bigot and always has been.
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 10:11AM
Sean;
All you Jew haters think Turkey which was an ally of Israel when admitted to NATO is the same nation as the jihadist run Turkey of today?
Of course you know this. Turkey 7 years ago, would cooperative with the US military in any way, when we invaded Saddam's Iraq. Turkey has become much more anti-American, anti-west since. Jew haters' motto is : anyone who hates Israel and/or Jews is a friend of us Nazis.
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 10:15AM
Corrections: Turkey WOULD NOT COOPERATIVE with the US military in any way and Jew haters know Turkey of today is a totally different nation than the Turkey which was admitted to NATO.
Sean| 6.1.10 @ 10:22AM
NATO is a defensive alliance. Turkey had no obligation to help us in Iraq. We DO have an obligation to help Turkey when it is attacked. Are you capable of making any sort of arguments? Seems your only capable of using the ad hominems.
Joe Hamilton| 6.1.10 @ 10:29AM
Israel was attacked by a rogue member of NATO. If Turkey sent a war ship into Tokyo harbor and the Japanese boarded the ship would the US be obligated to attack Japan ? Duh!
Sean| 6.1.10 @ 12:05PM
I can see you are delusional. First Israel was not attacked by Turkey. Israel was the aggressor by boarding a Turkish ship in international waters. Second Turkey can not legally send warships into Tokyo harbor just like Israel can not board Turkish ships in international waters. If Turkey sent warships against Japan that would be an offensive action. NATO is a defensive alliance. Israel created an offense against Turkey. Turkey is the defending nation here. DUh!
JP| 6.1.10 @ 11:05AM
Turkey was not attacked. And Isreal had every right to board the ship. And no, it wasn't 80 miles offshore.
Mimi| 6.1.10 @ 9:17AM
The enemy of ISRAEL has succeeded and getting what they wished and planned for. This was a sure set-up, the trickster, slickster enemy has again sucked in the MSM to continue the on-going "WE'RE THE VICTIM" ...."SEE GAME" This is how this enemy PLAY'S it!!! They robe the militant's in burka's, hide their missiles among innocent civilians. I would love to know the percentage of weapons aboard the flotilla of humanitarian?....ships. Thank God the state of ISRAEL has Netenyahu for a leader! This will pass. The U.S. should defend the state of Israel more than ever before... WE CAN NOT LOOK WEAK.... NOW!!! We also must defeat all the politically-correct non-sense in our own land, our populous need to wise-up!!!
mark hope| 6.27.10 @ 6:54PM
SURE AMERICA WILL ALWAYS DEFEND israel, BECAUSE AMERICA JUST ISRAEL SLAVE.
ncatty| 6.1.10 @ 9:36AM
"...firing at the vessel's propeller.." With what? A torpedo? Someone will have to explain that one to me.
Interested Conservative| 6.1.10 @ 10:37AM
Apparently the IDF fired nets into the ships propellers, thus fouling and disabling them. The largest ship, a cruise line size vessel, was too big for such treatment.
I don't think any report included plans for torpedoing to sink, though the IDF certainly has such capability.
martin j smith| 6.1.10 @ 9:49AM
sean: Israel has the right to defend itself ( what stupidity to not understand that ) and to do so as to prevent harm to its people. Hamas is an enemy of Israel and israel isat war with Hamas ( Iran ). So being at war with an enemy Israel has the right to operate a blockade was was done say in WWII.Nexty, the so called "peace flotilla was not as advertised. They knew exactly or close to what would happen --'they asked for and got a confrontation. They from Turkey were no innocents at all and videos prove it conclusively.
So, Sean-- I hope sincerely that if these same thugs try the same thing that Netenyahu gives them a verbal warning, a warning shot and then blows that out of the water. This si not a wresting match or polo this war--suck it up Sean.
Sean| 6.1.10 @ 10:31AM
Israel is at war with (Hamas)Gaza? It is right next door to Israel. Israel could take control of it or destroy it in a few days if it wished. Doesn't sound like much of a war at all.
What the videos prove is that Israel, in international waters, boarded Turkish ships. The passengers tried to repel the boarding and some of them were killed.
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:29PM
Sucks to be a "peace activist" who launches stun grenades and attacks with knives and metal rods.
Some "peace."
mark hope| 6.27.10 @ 6:53PM
ATTACKING HUMANITARIAN SHIP AT INTERNATIONAL WATER PROVES THAT israel, THE BIGGEST TERRORIST IN THE WORLD, IS JUST A FUCKING PIRATES.
Margie| 6.1.10 @ 10:54AM
"Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; and this will be My covenant with them when I take away their sins." As regards the Gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that He may have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?""Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?" For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory for ever. Amen." Rms. 11:25-36.
~Read it and weep, you anti-Semites everywhere! You stand in judgement against Israel and therefore God will judge you accordingly. Why would anyone want to be found on the wrong side of the will of God?
"You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His purpose? Yes, rather, O man, who are you answering against God? Shall the thing formed say to the One forming it, Why did You make me this way? Rms. 9:19&20;.
No one is able to change the will of God. You may as well shut up and get out of His way.
REPLY TO THIS
megapotamus | 6.1.10 @ 11:18AM
Even in the days of muzzle loading cannon a rake across the stern was used as a disabling maneuver. I doubt whatever arms the Israelis ship would not be up to that challenge.
The legalities are complex to say the least. Admiralty and LOSC make the tax code look like a brownie recipe. But I don't really care what Den Hague has to say on the matter. As far as I am concerned these pukes made a public declaration of war against Israel when they concocted this obvious provocation and media event. Sinking those tubs would have been a mitzvah to the earth as well as to Zion and that would have been some truly epic youtube material.
As a practical matter however things are much more difficult. Turkey and other muslim nations hate Israel with a religious fervor. Turkey seemed to be secularizing and otherwise moderating for some years there but with the acension of an explicitly muslim party, if not islamist, we see that they have moved to a position of leaderhip on the anti-semitism that is quite nearly universal regionally. Sure, we have it tamped down here and there but there is scarcely a single nation in the middle east that would not throw in with exterminationist war in Israel absent repurcussions from us of one sort or another. Yes, that includes Iraq and Afghanistan and our alleged ally, Pakistan. Add petro-economy complications and there is no obvious path here either for Israel, us or the other western actors in the area. Therefore I counsel a bold course for the Israelis as any action holds serious dangers. I would hope the Obies likewise be bold if they were ideologically disposed to do anything that would not be utterly disastrous. So in this we can be a bit thankful that Obama is locked in a tactical crouch.
Victor Lama| 6.1.10 @ 11:42AM
The ultimate gall is to claim that the international peace workers, including Nobel Prize winner and a holocaust survivor, attacked the Israeli brownshirts as they parachuted on to an unarmed ship in international waters.
Gaza does not belong to Israel.
The waters off Gaza do not belong to Israel
The coast of Gaza does not belong to Israel
International waters do not belong to Israel.
Once more Israel is guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity.
The world sees its action in all its ugliness
This "violent floating mob" as The American Spectator suggests was traveling in peace, had been inspected for arms before leaving their point of departure. They included had a Nobel Prize winner and holocaust survivor on board.
Who are the aggressors here? If some people simply didn't lie down peacefully when they were attacked by Israeli brownshirts that hardly makes them a "mob."
Israel's supporters are truly a despicable bunch of human dregs.
mark hope| 6.27.10 @ 6:51PM
don't forget about sabra shatilla massacre where IDF let the palestinian refugees to be slaughtered, killed almost 2500 people and deir yassin massacre where IDF brutally cut off women stomach. WHAT IS THIS IDF, ARE THEY MONSTER OR WHAT? AND DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT 9/11 THAT EXECUTED BY israel MOSSAD SPYING AS ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS IN ORDER TO MAKE AMERICA GO INTO WAR AND BANKRUPT
martin j smith| 6.1.10 @ 11:58AM
Victor Lama --you are a toad. Go jump in the lake of your choice and drown. But serious, how would like it if I said this to you: I hope you,your family including your children and elderly--your friends even your pets die in a terrorist attack ? Basically that is your attitiude towards Israelis.
You do not have the slightest understanding of what Israel means. I will not spend and waiste time trying to tell you. I will simply say this--if you do not care about us--we do not care about you--
marco| 6.2.10 @ 5:38AM
martin smith - it is you who are stupid or a political hack. If Victor Lama were a Palestinian, living either in Gaza or the occupied West Bank, that is exactly what has been happening to friends and family and even pets. People being driven from their homes, homes demolished by bulldozers(even sometimes with the occupants still inside) or fired upon by missiles from fighters or helicopters. Thousands of civilians have been killed, many of them children. Read the reports. Or a good book for you would be "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" - written by a well know Jewish author whose name escapes me at the moment. In the US west the settlers had a saying "The only good Indian is a dead Indian". Seems that Israel has adopted that and just exchanged the word Indian with Palestinian.
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:31PM
The stench of anti-Semitism is all over this thread.
Crawl back under your slimy rocks, ugly Hitlers.
martin j smith| 6.1.10 @ 12:46PM
Victor Lama if you believe what you state then you are either: Stupid,a political hack or a Islamic plant.
Oh and by the way
all three may apply. Your verbiage is a programmed repetition of those who are among the most hateful people in this world. I would advise those who support Israel to consider my mistake in responding to you and put your posting in garbage heap of history.
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:32PM
Waaay past time for you to shut up, Nazi Red.
Red Phillips | 6.1.10 @ 1:11PM
"Time For America to Support Israel as Most of the World Condemns Her"
Time for America to mind her own business.
RonL| 6.1.10 @ 11:18PM
Clearly it is in our interest to walk away when the Jihadis and European left pull a stunt like something out of Camp of Saints.
S.L. Toddard| 6.1.10 @ 2:00PM
“Nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded.”
- President George Washington
“Not seldom it has seemed as if some eminent Neoconservatives mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of the United States.”
- Russell Kirk
axbucxdu| 6.2.10 @ 7:23PM
Kirk erred, they mistook nothing...
Wally| 6.3.10 @ 7:33PM
Toddard's a fool and a tool of the Left.
Bigmo| 6.4.10 @ 12:21PM
Stop mass immigration. Rescue America and protect its identity from the alien elites:
http://www.kevinmacdonald.net/CofCchap7.pdf
mark hope| 6.27.10 @ 6:46PM
america for sure will always defend israel, THE BIGGEST TERRORIST STATE IN THE WORLD, no matter where israel had attack USS Liberty and destroy WTC in 9/11 tragedy because UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JUST israel SLAVE.