Muslim “outrage”

I suspect the following post will come out as an emotional rant, but I am again outraged.  This time it is in response to the current expression of Muslim, as well as world, outrage on Israel’s “over reaction” to Hamas’ rocket attacks from in Gaza.  The calls for a “cease fire” from all quarters (Muslim, German, French, et al) are a euphemism for Israel to stop military action in Gaza; there is no call for Hamas to stop the rockets from flying.  Fortunately, the US “blocked” a Libyan sponsored proposal in the Security Council last night that would have called for an immediate cease fire without any blame or restrictions put on Hamas or any hope for a permanent peace.

As an aside to this particular situation, isn’t it time for the US to stop supporting and providing money to the corrupt, useless UN?  Even had the resolution passed in the UN, there would have been no mechanism to enforce any proposal to which the Security Council had agreed.  The only thing resembling agreement within the toothless Security Council according to the French Council President was that there were "strong convergences" to express serious concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the need for "an immediate, permanent and fully respected ceasefire."  What a dysfunctional group.  It will be interesting if the Arab League, meeting later today, will have anything useful to add.

How the voices of outrage can call for Israel unilaterally stopping their efforts while saying nothing about the rockets going into Israel daily is ridiculous; it lacks any balance or recognition of the reality of the situation.  It is intolerable for Israel to accept daily rocket attacks—plain and simple; they must be stopped.

The caterwauling the civilians killed in Gaza is mendacity at its finest.  There has not been a single Muslim leader say one word (that I have been able to find but I’d love to be corrected if I’m wrong) about Hamas’ rockets which are intentionally designed to create fear by indiscriminate killing and destruction.  This goes along nicely with Hamas’ charter, which says (among other things):

"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."
"The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. "
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."

Thus Hamas has its stated goal that the entire country of Israel is to be destroyed; discussions about it are “a waste of time and vain endeavors.”  This is the group with whom the world wants the Israelis to negotiate?  Note that they tie the entire religion of Islam into their viewpoint, not just the Palestinians.  Islamic leaders world-wide should stand up and denounce the tie of Islam to a terrorist group; if not, they must accept the obvious conclusion that they agree with the Hamas position.  There is no moral equivalence between the actions of Israel and Hamas.

The Palestinians situation is truly abhorrent, but a good deal of it has been self-inflicted.  The amount of money that the Saudis, Iraqis, and the rest of the oil rich Muslim states have had at their disposal to improve the lot of the Palestinians is enormous, but notable only in their lack of help (with the notable exception of the Jordanians who have been tremendous).  The vaunted Arab hospitality has never been as lacking as in their assistance to the Palestinians.  I am convinced that they are willing to let millions of their fellow Muslims suffer to keep the hatred and violence toward Israel alive and on the front pages of a willing MSM.  It is disgusting on their part, as well as the MSM’s, to not to give a true accounting of what is going on over there.

No question the blockade and other Israeli actions have hurt civilians in Gaza, but it was the civilians that put Hamas in power knowing their goals.  While my heart goes out to the innocent children, I have no sympathy for the “civilians” who allow Hamas to hide arms in the Mosques, build bombs in their homes, etc.  If the civilians in Gaza want the Israeli bombing to stop permanently, all they have to do is renounce the violence and rocket attacks.  It really is that simple. 

Comments

[Jon M]

It takes a bit of chutzpah for a people to return to a land after an absence of 2000 years and claim their right to it based on what a space alien posing as God supposedly told one of their ancestors 3000 years ago and at the same time expect the displaced people to forget what was theirs after a mere 60 years. Keep on dreaming, the forever war is on.

[Willi the Pimp]

Israel should not be there.Move it to Germany.

[Jerry Scarborough]

Jon M.

You need too study a little more middle east history. There is a significant group of Israeli's (referred to as Sabra's) that have been there a lot longer than 60 years. The diaspora didn't get them all.

By the way. i have a question for our participants. If a 17 year old Palestinian girl walks into an Israeli shopping mall, and blows herself up (yea it has happened), is she a civilian, or a militant? Ifs she is killed before she gets to commit suicide, does her civilian status change?

[Jerry Scarborough]

That was supposed to be "yes it has happened". I am certainly not cheering murder.

[Jon M]

So the Sabras were there a bit longer than 60 years. They were not the majority of the people there. A minority cannot lay claim to a land belonging to a majority regardless of whatever divine authority they may claim. It was still a land grab displacing a majority group of people. Theft is theft.

And war is war. The displaced want their land back and they will use whatever means necessary to make the land grabbers uncomfortable. The fact that they are civilians does not change their status as occupiers. In the end either Israel will have to have a "final solution" for the Palestinians and exterminate them or the Jews will have to leave or face extermination themselves. I see no reason why the Palestinians should give up their claims to what was stolen from them.

[Timo Kokko]

Hard to disagree with Jon M's analysis but a final solution that calls for the death of a large number of a specified group is abhorrent to me; does anyone have a proposed solution to the problem?

[libertarianman]

We could invite the Israelis to have the U.P. as their honorary homeland. Just think of the economic growth and heightened political clout associated with 7 million new residents!

Would they be happy with that, or insist upon a sovereign nation?

[Jon M]

The Israelis would not be happy in the UP. We do not have universal healthcare nor many other "socialist" amenities. In any case the Jews that are already here are doing super well in everything considering that they are only 2.2% of the US population. No other minority comes even close.

[Jon M]

Would that mean that the UP would get the money that goes to Israel as foreign and military aid to the tune of about $5 billion a year?

[Andrew Smith]

While I share the sadness at the continued loss of life in the Middle East due to this conflict, I'm still trying to figure out why the US government spends so much time and money supporting countries which do virtually nothing for us, even to the extent that such support damages our reputation, credibility, and undermines our national security. Our constant interference, even with attempts to broker peace, has done nothing to assauge the suffering there. Sometimes I believe our leaders think it is more important to help those overseas than it is to help their own population. Nevermind, I think that all the time.

[libertarianman]

Andrew:

Why do they do anything? For the money.

[Populista]

Why is it that Timo is the only one starting discussions anymore?

[Eva Dodsow]

They fired Dave Woods.

[Michael Schils]

If I recall correctly, Dave Woods was banned for one month, which was to expire sometime around the election. He hasn't returned either because he gave up on LSJ or because the banning was extended indefinitely. LSJ still has not posted its 'Terms of Service' (link at right goes to "The page could not be found."), for which Woods was purported to have violated.

[Aubrey Marron]

Populista, thanks for the kick in the butt. I've drafted several, but haven't posted them. I'll try to get several more out in the next few days.

Michael, I thought Dave Woods was banned from writing columns completely, but perhaps Elaine could tell us. Or Eva...

[Michael Schils]

Aubrey, my only information regarding this site's banning of Dave Woods came from a comment by Elaine:

"There are many factors that we consider when revoking access to the site. Most bans are temporary, in increments of a month. There have been a few permanent bans; cases are considered on an individual basis." - http://noise.typepad.com/peoples_politics/2008/10/editors-note-ab.html#comment-133987257

From Elaine's words here, I had concluded that Dave's banning wasn't permanent because I was considering the silly reason he was banned. But apparently I was wrong.

It's funny how Dave's post, picture, and column were all removed from the site, but the little card pic with the question that got him in so much trouble still remains. My name below is linked to it.