If Obama Is Serious

To HBWink,

Looks like you may have seen what I saw in the article. Just wondered if I was... I don't know, somehow reading the point incorrectly in what Aaron David Miller was trying to make.

every time israel defends itself against these free roaming terroists (palestinians and hamas) the world leaders decry and action on behalf of israel. since when is it the worlds business what goes on in a nation trying to protect itself from terrorism. if this same principle applied everywhere then we should just all cave in and let the little scum of the world terroists rule over us. wake up jerks before it is too late. let isreal deal with these people in the only way that terrorism should be dealt with. live by the sword die by the sword. kill them all and let god sort them out.

TO FedUpWithBias,

I did hear on the radio this morning there was a cease fire for about and hour, while Isreal provided aid to the people in Gaza, sounded like food and water stuff.

I did not agree with the article, to me it seemed as if the writer was saying what we have been doing with Cuba and Fidel Castro, is ok for America, but not ok for Isreal to do the same thing. I am not trying to argue, but actually really wondered if I was reading and understanding that correctly.

If anybody else noticed this as a HUGE contradictory statement, (Isreal providing some aid this morning), and US policy not to send anything to Cuba as long as Fidel Castro is in charge, please let me know? I just want to learn

Thanks.

Why does "peace in the middle east" always seem to focus on Israel being more flexible, or Israel giving up something? I'm sorry, but if Mexico began lobbing bombs into San Diego I don't think we would have the level of restraint Israel has been forced to show. Every time Israel makes concessions, it was supposed to result in increased peace. This has not happened. Let's not forget who began these crises immediately after Israel's creation. I think peace needs to begin with the surrounding countries and territories not vowing to kill all the Jews. I deeply disagree with this author.

If anyone would care to read the Holy Bible. They would see that the Jewish people are still the "Chosen People of God"!!!
And when you read the bible you will see that GOD had told the Jewish People when they took the land, God commanded them to kill all the people in the land of Canaan.
They did not do this, so God told them that, "These people will forever be a thorn in their sides"!
I really don't care if any of you believe me or not. Just educate yourself and read for yourself, what is says in the bible.
Last of all, this is all prophecy coming true. I am so excited, that we are so much closer to the return of Jesus Christ!!!!
Soon, all of this will be over, then, "Every knee shall bow and every mouth confess that Jesus is indeed the Christ"
I am ready for this, ARE YOU?????

This author gives us yet another example of the liberal bias that pervades U.S. media. It is a bias that reflects a naive and ignorant world in which the criminals are justified in their evil behavior and the victims are villified for seeking to protect themselves. Make no mistake, the stated goal of Hamas (and most of Israel's neighbors) is to see Israel wiped off the map. Israel has every right to protect themselves and we have an obligation to support them. If this author's comments reflects the best scholarship we have to offer on the Middle East, then we are in for some dark times ahead.

We are surrounded by water and we are still in danger from islamic extremist. Just imagine the USA sharing borders with North Korea, Irag, Iran and Russia. These extremist want the destruction of Israel and they won't stop until that is acomplished. Wake up people Israel can't just close there eyes and hope everything will be okay. They must defend themselves not for money or oil but for there exsistence. And to blame Israel for the deaths of innocent civilians when hamas hides in the midst of them is a media bias. Its easy for the world to judge from there safe havens.

Your article implies that Hamas is just a bunch of innocents with "evil" Israel the villians. Are the Israelis just supposed to walk quietly in the Hamas ovens to satify your rantings?

Hamas started the rocketing in hopes of drawing Arab nations into declaring war on Israel. Hamas cannot fullfil its goal of the destruction of Israel and the death of Jews, so it lauches attacks and uses its own women and children as cannon folder for propaganda gains. Obvioulsy, NEWSWEEK has falled for the propaganda.

The solution to the problem is for the Palistinians to retake control from Hamas. Stopping Hamas rocketing will stop Israel cold.

Miller makes a distinction between the poor Gazans that are "held hostage" and Hamas - wasn't it the Gazans that elected Hamas? No doubt there are Muslims and Arabs willing to get along with Jews - but Fatah and Hamas fought it out in Gaza and Fatah lost. If anything - Hamas is who holds Gaza hostage - not Israel. A truly bigoted and stupid article. I hope Jews are cancelling their subscriptions to Newsweek as we "speak". Larry Lowe

are you kidding me israel has every right to defend the small piece of land they have left! i cant imagine the fear and frustration they have continually dealt with ,the suicide bombs in the cafes , stores , buses ect. all they have ever asked for is to be left alone with in a small piece of land that was thiers in the first place!! the muslims have plenty of land and places in the world they are excepted ,jews have israel and they used to have america but it seems that even the u.s. is going to leave them hanging , i pray the obama administration will continue to support Israel , and defend them and the u.s. from extreme radicals who find it a privilage to commite suicide and murder!!!

I am all for diplomacy. I am all for a peace agreement between the two sides. I have seen this same plot play out over the last 30 yrs. These groups will probably never see eye to eye on many issues. But I must suggest that Israel in some ways act like highschool bullies. The reason I say this is because of the 7 day war that really started this land disagreement. Excuse me if my figure is wrong. The point is Israel has the most advanced weaponry of any the countries in that region. So that is to say of course their going to kick tail through out the area. Research how many nations went against Israel during that time. It was a slaughter for those that opposed Israel. Causing the land to be seized. Bringing us to the present. If Israel had not recieved arms from the U S and Britain they may have gotten their cans kicked.
Their weaponry makes them more powerful than the others. Being this is the case Does Israel have the right to just go through the middle east and consume all the land for the sake of expansion. I look at the middle east as one of the last unconquered frontiers. Israel plays a large part in the expansion of the democratic way of thinking. Nothing has changed in regard to the colonial thinking. If we cant swindle you out of the land we will take it by any means. Hints the illegal settlements in the area. Israel need to expand because of the influx of jews. More people equals more land for them to live. I am all for using the spoils of the 7 day war to benefit the Israeli people. But dont keep incrouching on the rest of the area year after year til you have conquered it all. Beside I feel most of the Jews that were placed in Israel after WW2 I believe were from germany. They simply brought the barbarics of Hitler to the Holy Land. Now these same tactics are being imposed on the Palestinians as well as the other countries in the region. Some of my facts may be personal bias. But Israel has transgressed in its attempt to make peace with its nieghbors. Sharon was a warlord as well as Benjermin N. I pray that this will be the last we here of this conflict. I pray that the incoming admistration will get tough on Israel to not galavant through out the area claiming land. I pray that the two groups that have apposed Israels methods can put down the weapons and really hammer out some type of peace accord. It would do all of the world a greater good. Beside Id like to travel there knowing all is peaceful.
Allah Hafiz.

On this blog here I swim in a sea of ignorance. thick, muddy ignorance. Many just comment so they can be heard. Very few actually makes sense here. very few have a keen grasp on things from all sides. To those of you I appreciate your intellect. Keep contributing smartly.

I now feel 10 times dumber for even reading this article. What an ignorant Moron this Miller guy is. To believe I actually took time to read this hogwash from such a stupid Human being. I would gladly send this man on a vaction to Gaza my treat.
"Note to self...it is illegal to stab stupid people"

Aaron David Miller is the one who should get serious. He repeats the assertions of his fellow "journalists" and the "international community" mindlessly:
"The Gaza crisis is a case in point. Israel has every reason to defend itself against Hamas. But does it make sense for America to support its policy of punishing Hamas by making life unbearable for 1.5 million Gazans by denying aid and economic development? The answer is no." -- This paragraph contradicts itself. So, America should oppose Israel defending itself against Hamas? Even though Miller admits Israel has every reason to do so? It is Miller who does not make sense.
"Israeli ... settlement activity" damages " the peacemaking process." -- So, Jews living in the ancient Jewish homeland in areas they re-acquired after 1967 were the cause of violence against Jews in 1948? What other ethnic group does Miller and his ilk want to deny access to their ancient homeland?
"Second, Obama will have to maintain his independence..." -- Actually, this is Miller's third assertion, but why bother making sense of this article. Miller's attempted point, "Giving Israel a veto over American negotiating tactics and positions..." is a straw man. The paragraph refers to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barack, blaming him and President Clinton for the failure to reach an accord with Yassir Arafat at Camp David. This turns the facts on their head twice. Clinton recruited Barack to run for Israeli Prime Minister, interfered with a sovereign country's election by sending his own campaign advisors to Israel to help Barak's campaign -- all with the goal of getting an Israeli administration that would be more "flexible" with the Arab Palestinians. When this occurred, and Barak offered unprecedented concessions at Camp David, Miller protests that Israel is calling the shots for the U.S. When Arafat rejects these unprecedented concessions, Miller blames Israel.
Having people like Miller advise Republican and Democratic presidents, for "25 years of working on this issue for six secretaries of state" is no small reason this "issue" is such a mess.

Israel has done more than most countries ever would do in an attempt to preserve loss of life to innocents. All the rhetoric created by the media still shows the obvious anti-semitism the world maintains. Give these people a break.
Name another country that shows this kind of compassion and restraint for their enemy. If Hamas and the PLO use their own people as human sheilds, then perhaps the, "good", Arabs should come to their defense. I have yet to see the day where the non terrorist Arab community joins together as a people to fight the extremist that blight their people.
Instead they are content to air their dirty laundry on Al Jazira and hide behind their borders, playing political volley ball while lobbing verbal attacks against the US and Israel and those who wish to create a stable, safe, environment for all. If Syria, Iran, Iraq, Jordan or any other predominantly Arab nation really gave a rat's wrinkle, they should form a coalition to remove the radicals from their ranks.
You in the free press should be mindfull of where you got your freedom. It was paid for in blood. So quit your bitching. Let Israel remove the malcontents.

I am sick to death of all the media coverage depicting the dead & wounded in Gaza. It is difficult to shed a tear for a people that allows Hamas to control their government. You cannot allow a terriorist group to hide behind your women and children then complain about the casualities. Can anyone cite one time where the media has done a story on how Hamas rockets have caused mothers to be in grieving in Isreal for their murdered children? It is clear what the past "Land for Peace" trade accomplished - not one thing for Isreal. Hamas has an agenda that demands the death of all Israelis. All the peace treaties in the world will not change that or stop the rockets or the Israeli mother's sorrows. We should not only applaud the action taken by Israel but we should throw enough support behind it to make future terrorist evaluate the cost of their actions.