What Makes Ahmadinejad Smile?

Dear Mr. Zakaria

I agree with what you say but would add more to your arguments. Israel's scale of the attacks on Gaza were specifically planned in order to incite Islamic violence against not only Israel by America and force Obama's hand from words of peace and mutual respect to war mongering in the Bush style. Under Obama Israel will not be able to force its alignment (falsely) of its security with that of the USA unconditionally. Fact: None of Israel's wars on Lebanon and the Palestinians of the last 30 years gave Israel the peace it claimed its launched the wars for instead they all led to more wars and reprisals on bigger and bigger scale against Israel and the west creating the illusion that Israel's interests were America's always. I wrote this in my blog 11 days before yours. Also when you look back at the Iraq war did that really serve US security interest? or did it Israel's interests? . you may want to read it at my blog or at http://khaledfattal.blogspot.com/2008/12/president-obama-lookout-trap-israels.html or you may want to read my blog on Iran and Obama titled http://khaledfattal.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-can-obama-focus-on-in-first-100.html all on my blog www.khaledfattal.blogspot.com

Dear Mr. Zakaria

I agree with what you say but would add more to your arguments. Israel's scale of the attacks on Gaza were specifically planned in order to incite Islamic violence against not only Israel by America and force Obama's hand from words of peace and mutual respect to war mongering in the Bush style. Under Obama Israel will not be able to force its alignment (falsely) of its security with that of the USA unconditionally. Fact: None of Israel's wars on Lebanon and the Palestinians of the last 30 years gave Israel the peace it claimed its launched the wars for instead they all led to more wars and reprisals on bigger and bigger scale against Israel and the west creating the illusion that Israel's interests were America's always. I wrote this in my blog 11 days before yours. Also when you look back at the Iraq war did that really serve US security interest? or did it Israel's interests? . you may want to read it at my blog or at http://khaledfattal.blogspot.com/2008/12/president-obama-lookout-trap-israels.html or you may want to read my blog on Iran and Obama titled http://khaledfattal.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-can-obama-focus-on-in-first-100.html all on my blog www.khaledfattal.blogspot.com

It was Israel that broke the ceasefire and not Hamas. This is common knowledge among those who know the facts. Furthermore, as long as the Israelis keep the crossings shut Hamas will dig more tunnels to bring in the necessities of life. What would you do if you were hungry or ill?

As much as I would like to agree with Zakaria, I don't believe Israel had any choice. They were under almost constant rocket attack; inaccurate rockets to be sure, but still under and bombardment that no responsive democracy could possibly tolerate.

And I have to question the credentials of your unnamed Arab moderates. If your moderates had no issue with the Hamas rocket attacks that provoke this response, they are not moderates. If they did oppose the attacks then they must at least understand, if not agree, with Israel's need to end them.

Yeah, Israel really screwed the pooch with this latest incursion. I really hope they are paying attention because, while they may not care what happens in the Arab street, they are firmly undercutting the support of the American street right out from under them. If that reaches a certain point then our politicos will have to withdraw their support for Israel. They threaten the support of the only country in the world who has their backs.

If that happens, and Israel loses our support, we will see Israel stand alone and friendless in a region surrounded by enemies. I hope they are paying attention because that is a situation I would hate to see even if I personally think they are earning it as fast as they can.

Zakaria tries to say that Israel's actions are making moderate Arabs into extremists, but could you not also say that they are exposing what he terms 'moderates' as extremists in disguise? Also, if Hamas is winning favor for Iran, Ahmadinejad, and the Ayatollah at the cost of their citizen's lives.......is there any better definition of "pawn"?

The arab street gets highly upset when Israel defends itself and its citizens. The arab street gets highly upset when Israel is "disproportionate". The arab street would be highly upset if Israel proportionately lobed 6,000 unguided missiles in the general direction of the inhabitants of Gaza. Yet I am supposed to take the arab street seriously. And Israel is supposed to die very very quietly so as to not upset the arab street. Is that what he said?

Hello by Fareed Zakaria, I am Turkey written, you congratulations

I am Zekeriya ÇAVU??

msn & e posta
zekeriyacavus@hotmail.com

Fareed's pro-hamas comments is not surprising nor his attempts to deny the fact that Hamas is financed and directed by Iran. During the seige,Iran tried but failed to smuggle weapons into Gaza.And after ceasefire, Iran gave hamas $52 million dollars to distribute as reparations but in effect to buy support and silence any critisms of hamas failed policies of confrontation.
These are the facts Fareed would not discuss.Rather than criticising Isreal's every action in the region;his anti-jewish bias have blinded him to the tangible success of the war.One, only military action could stop hamas firing rockets into Isreali cities.Two, hamas and Gazans have been taught the price of supporting a terrorist organisation.No sovereign state can tolerate a terrorist organisation to target and shoot rockets and kill its citizens at will, never.
I lived in the arab world and I know the arab mind.Arabs understand one language only,military force.The 1948, 1967 and 1971 wars were important because it bought Isreal the security it enjoyed until the Oslo Accords.
Now, hamas knows because they have tasted death.Infact their cowardly leaders who order the killing of innocent civilians are still hiding like rats. Why are they afraid to die and become matyrs???.Fareed and pro-Islamic, pro-arab camp have been selling the myth that these terrorists are not afraid to die.Why are the Hamas leaders hiding?.The military action greatest success is to put the fear of death into these cowards!!!.

Sdavuid21's comments are really frightening. Do we really want a war between India and Pakistan? We have no proof that Pakistan instigated the attacks on Mumbai. Let's hope that Obama sends mediators there too. We need to resume our role as peace keepers of the world. Remember what Jesus said, "Blessed are the peace keepers, for they shall see God."

Three cheers for Zakaria for once getting the facts right. Before the attacks, I bought a copie of Afrique/Asie. Although Obama did receive positive reviews, the cover of the magazine featured an Iranian, the leader of the Iranian resistance, with the title "Ni guerre; ne mullaa" (No war, no mullahs). According to Afrique/Asie, the Iranian government is particularly unpopular, particularly among the young. I only dread to think of the ways that Israel's attacks on Gaza have changed all of that.
Obama is correct in condemning Hamas' attacks on Israeli citizens and stating that Israel had the right to defend itself. But as Martin Luther King pointed out, there is a thin line between self-defense and aggression. However, Obama has also urged a cease fire and aid to the Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza, and his actions this week clearly show that he recognizes the complexity of the Middle East situation. I strongly support Obama's efforts, so should this country.
Perhaps with a renewed peace offensive on our part, coupled with a concerted effort to cut back our oil consumption and a conscious effort to develop alternatives to oil, we can wipe that smile off Ahmadinejad's face.

Someone really needs to read history.
Pretty simple question. What would you do if I occupy your house, lock you in your rooms, humiliate you, restrict your movement in your own house, and if you raise your voice or try to resist my occupation, I call you terrorist, and kill you?
Also, in regards to Mumbai attacks, you need to know what the facts are.

Simple question to all who commented. What would you do if I occupy your house, lock you in your rooms, feed you as and when I will, humiliate you, and if you try to raise your voice or fight againt me occupying your house... I call you a terrorist and kill you.
As far as Mumbai attacks are concerned.. someone need to know the truth.

Mr. Zakaria doesn't know history. His article is a farce. The worlds problesm are created by only one group of peoples and let me be clear it is not, I say not Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists or Animists. Israel is the only country in the world which has guts and tries to defend its citizens rightly so even when its hands are tied by the US and Europe. Look at the impotent Indians, they didn' do q squat. According to me the Indian army should have been near karachi by now.

Have the Jewish people become the thing they hate? I am of the mind that Israel has the right to and must defend itself against all harm, however, six million Jews were massacred in Germany under Hitlers rule; somehow the suffering of Palestinians has to resonate with the Jews. The Jews continue to keep memories of the Holocaust in front of the world so that this atrocity may never happen again, God forbid.

What is the Palestinian story beyond Hamas? Where are the pictures of human suffering in Gaza since forming a Jewish state? If the Jews are doing to do to the Palestinians what was done to them in Germany then I ask the Jews to stop the Holocaust propaganda machine because that is hypocrisy. If the Palestinians do not want peace, only war, then destroying Palestine is the only option. The only way to determine the mindset of the Palestinian people is for Israel to give Palestine some room, meet them halfway; open some of the border crossings, supply most of their needs and if they blink; suicide bombers, firing missiles, etc., then eliminate. Game Over.