tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post618271353957511536..comments2024-02-25T09:45:48.931-05:00Comments on Lally's Alley: COWBOYS & INDIANSLallyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05310472614196384595noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-73151636554263165662009-01-12T10:21:00.000-05:002009-01-12T10:21:00.000-05:00. ‘Gaza Bombing’ Video Is BogusSeveral left-wing W.... ‘Gaza Bombing’ Video Is Bogus<BR/><BR/>Several left-wing Web sites have displayed a graphic video purporting to show Palestinians killed or wounded by a recent Israeli airstrike in Gaza. <BR/><BR/>In fact, the video shows the aftermath of an accidental explosion of a truck full of rockets at a Hamas rally nearly 3.5 years ago. <BR/><BR/>One of the Web sites that posted the video on Jan. 5, The Raw Story, quoted a Palestinian source as saying the video was shot “immediately after a terrorist Israeli airstrike hit a busy market where kids with their mothers and fathers were searching for food to eat from one of the local markets early on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009.” <BR/><BR/>The Web site Question Everything reported: “Saturday, before Israel launched a full-scale invasion of Gaza, a Palestinian with a camera witnessed a devastating bombing. His video shows the brutal, bloody results of an airstrike on what appears to be a civilian area . . . <BR/><BR/>“In the footage, scores of bodies — men, women, and children — lay strewn about a Gaza market as abject chaos spirals around them.” <BR/><BR/>But a poster to the site reddit.com, which also displayed the video, disclosed: “This video is from September 23, 2005, and was taken in the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. <BR/><BR/>"A Hamas pickup truck carrying Qassam rockets detonated by mistake during a Hamas rally, leaving at least 15 killed and dozens more injured. <BR/><BR/>“The pickup truck in question is visible for a split-second at the start of the video. The section of the video showing the pickup exploding has been edited out.” <BR/><BR/>The BBC reported at the time: “At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and scores injured in a blast during a parade by the militant Hamas group in the Gaza Strip. A truck carrying gunmen and homemade weapons blew up during the rally in the Jabalya refugee camp.” <BR/><BR/>The Web site Little Green Footballs confirmed that the video is “a fraud — it actually shows the results of an accidental explosion of a truck full of Hamas rockets.” <BR/><BR/>The Raw Story issued a correction and removed the video. <BR/><BR/>But Noel Sheppard of NewsBusters observed, “I guess that’s all it takes to get anti-Israeli propaganda spread throughout the liberal blogosphere these days.”JImhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795849285955713444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-14764748631782215362009-01-12T08:47:00.000-05:002009-01-12T08:47:00.000-05:00If it was an all out war against Palestinian civil...If it was an all out war against Palestinian civilians, Israel would be able to end it quickly, leveling the area. Hamas has a CNN strategy to maximise their own civilian casualties to gain political advantage with the West.JImhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795849285955713444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-76673408015167780282009-01-11T13:25:00.000-05:002009-01-11T13:25:00.000-05:00"Men who believe absurdities will commit atrocitie...<I>"Men who believe absurdities will commit atrocities." - Voltaire </I><BR/><BR/>The mathematics of the real world:<BR/><BR/>http://warincontext.org/2009/01/06/this-is-an-all-out-war-against-the-civilian-palestinian-population-in-gaza/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-71956337288675612032009-01-10T00:41:00.000-05:002009-01-10T00:41:00.000-05:00Whenever I find myself getting aroused to either a...Whenever I find myself getting aroused to either attack or defend a person or a people, I try to wonder from where my emotion comes. And it does come. But, when I am at my most removed from emotion, I know this: people do not tend to act in ways that stray too far from what can be expected, given their particular set of circumstances. This is true for a man. This is true for George Bush. This is true for Jimmy Carter. This is true for Israel. This is true for Palestine. For the Zionists and for the Radicals. There actions are little more than products of complicated equations, centuries in the making. To judge their actions is to judge the rules of addition. To attempt to impose extrinsic change is to force 3 + 3 to equal 5.Brian Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04548583460681626491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-63755411438035729112009-01-08T11:38:00.000-05:002009-01-08T11:38:00.000-05:00As the visiting/resident "Clash of Civilizations" ...As the visiting/resident "Clash of Civilizations" nut may I offer the following:<BR/><BR/>1- I am unaware of any right wing Christian group that has as a core philosophy of convert, conform or suffer death or second class citizenship. There have been many historical times when Christians acted violently to other religious groups but that behavior was not as the result of the core Christian philosophy of "turn the other cheek and do unto others etc." The core philosopy, in my mind is the key point. All the other stuff; priests, churchs etc. is fluff. The pope may disagree.<BR/><BR/>2- The 'Clash of Civilizations" has been durable. It has waxed and wained for 1300+ years.<BR/>3- The Vatican does not advocate "Kill, kill, kill" nor does it advocate be killed. There is the concept of a "Just War, which I believe Aquinas and or Augustine address. Israel's battle for survival with Hamas, after suffering 4000 rocket attacks in last two years, is I believe a just war.<BR/><BR/>4- Israeli war effort has shown incredable success against state Arab armies, whose sholders are were not necessarilly highly motivated. The Hamas/Hisbola(sp) sholder is highly motivated by Islamic doctrine. The long term outcome is far from assured.<BR/><BR/>PS: Great prayer from the Kid. If only if it could come true for all the children in the region.JImhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795849285955713444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-17672335147307132022009-01-08T05:57:00.000-05:002009-01-08T05:57:00.000-05:00The resident cheerleader for the "Clash of Civili...The resident cheerleader for the "Clash of Civilizations" has a big task ahead of him. Apparently the Vatican doesn't understand the thoroughly dangerous of nature of Islam that requires good Christians and Jews to kill, kill, kill.<BR/><BR/><I> THE Gaza Strip has been turned into a "concentration camp" by two weeks of Israeli bombardments, said a senior Vatican official.<BR/><BR/>Cardinal Renato Martino, the Vatican's justice and peace minister, was quoted by the online Italian daily Il Sussidiario.<BR/><BR/>"Let's look at the conditions in Gaza: these increasingly resemble a big concentration camp," said Cardinal Martino.<BR/><BR/>Cardinal Martino said it was in neither parties interest to carry on fighting and urged both to show more willingness to hold peace talks.</I><BR/><BR/>[http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Vatican_Gaza_now_concentration_camp_0107.html]Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-3692870747087407912009-01-07T21:40:00.000-05:002009-01-07T21:40:00.000-05:00Butch I was going to make the same point. Jim seem...Butch I was going to make the same point. Jim seems to think comparing fundamentalist radical Islamists with moderate or liberal Christians makes sense. As if there aren't fundamentalist Christians all over the right-wing of his Republican party who believe that the Bible is the word of God and therefore must be obeyed (though selectively to save their own skins, but they sure get literal when it comes to evolution or gays etc. etc.).<BR/>And TPW, good point about Gerry Adams being treated by Clinton like a human instead of a label. Tomorrow evening it is.<BR/>And "kid," thank you for passing on that heartfelt prayer and its sentiments. Let's hope it's heard.Lallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310472614196384595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-24718292923011778902009-01-07T20:50:00.000-05:002009-01-07T20:50:00.000-05:00A Jew's Prayer for the Children of GazaBy Bradley ...A Jew's Prayer for the Children of Gaza<BR/><BR/>By Bradley Burston<BR/><BR/>If there has ever been a time for prayer, this is that time.<BR/><BR/>If there has ever been a place forsaken, Gaza is that place.<BR/><BR/>Lord who is the creator of all children, hear our prayer this accursed day. God whom we call Blessed, turn your face to these, the children of Gaza, that they may know your blessings, and your shelter, that they may know light and warmth, where there is now only blackness and smoke, and a cold which cuts and clenches the skin.<BR/><BR/>Almighty who makes exceptions, which we call miracles, make an exception of the children of Gaza. Shield them from us and from their own. Spare them. Heal them. Let them stand in safety. Deliver them from hunger and horror and fury and grief. Deliver them from us, and from their own.<BR/><BR/>Restore to them their stolen childhoods, their birthright, which is a taste of heaven.<BR/><BR/>Remind us, O Lord, of the child Ishmael, who is the father of all the children of Gaza. How the child Ishmael was without water and left for dead in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba, so robbed of all hope, that his own mother could not bear to watch his life drain away.<BR/><BR/>Be that Lord, the God of our kinsman Ishmael, who heard his cry and sent His angel to comfort his mother Hagar.<BR/><BR/>Be that Lord, who was with Ishmael that day, and all the days after. Be that God, the All-Merciful, who opened Hagar's eyes that day, and showed her the well of water, that she could give the boy Ishmael to drink, and save his life.<BR/><BR/>Allah, whose name we call Elohim, who gives life, who knows the value and the fragility of every life, send these children your angels. Save them, the children of this place, Gaza the most beautiful, and Gaza the damned.<BR/><BR/>In this day, when the trepidation and rage and mourning that is called war, seizes our hearts and patches them in scars, we call to you, the Lord whose name is Peace:<BR/><BR/>Bless these children, and keep them from harm.<BR/><BR/>Turn Your face toward them, O Lord. Show them, as if for the first time, light and kindness, and overwhelming graciousness.<BR/><BR/>Look up at them, O Lord. Let them see your face.<BR/><BR/>And, as if for the first time, grant them peace.<BR/><BR/><BR/>_____________<BR/><BR/><BR/>With thanks to Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman of Kol HaNeshama, JerusalemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-35664174688167353992009-01-07T13:45:00.000-05:002009-01-07T13:45:00.000-05:00Dear M:Great post. As far as N. Ireland goes, it ...Dear M:<BR/><BR/>Great post. As far as N. Ireland goes, it is also instructive to remember that, before the Clinton administration, Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein were regarded (by the US and the Brits) as terrorists with no right to sit down as equal and legitimate negotiating partners with the Brits and orangemen. The actual voices of Adams and other republicans (the Irish kind)were even forbidden to be heard on t.v. and radio. It was only when Clinton invited Adams to the US and treated him as someone who had to be included in any peace process in N. Ireland that an actual peace process became a real possibility. <BR/><BR/>Labels and nomenclature in many of these disputes tend to be very powerful. All through the '70s and '80s, the US media consistently reflected British attitudes towards Irish nationalist aspirations in the north. Irish nationalist were invariably "terrorists." I don't want to defend the worst of the IRA's activities, but to many nationalists, the British army, the RUC, and the various Protestant paramilitary groups engaged in behavior that was every bit as terrorist in nature as anything the IRA was up to. Similarly, I'm positive most Palestinians regard the Israeli army as a terrorist force.<BR/><BR/>See you tomorrow,<BR/>TPWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-66159298729530436412009-01-07T07:25:00.000-05:002009-01-07T07:25:00.000-05:00There is plenty of violence to go around in the Ol...There is plenty of violence to go around in the Old Testament. The difference is that, Judea Christian believers recognize that it was written by men and can be reinterperted by men. Since the Quran is the actual words of Allah ,it can not be changed or reinterpeted. Practicing Muslims must accept it as written and follow the teachings.<BR/><BR/>Butch, Violent religions are irksome as, apparently are people with contra world views, are to you.JImhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795849285955713444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-88691733618382347082009-01-06T21:21:00.000-05:002009-01-06T21:21:00.000-05:00Mike, I appreciate this post and I imagine it was ...Mike, I appreciate this post and I imagine it was fueled in part by the horrifying images we've seen of the slaughter in Gaza. <BR/><BR/>You are correct that this will end only through negotiation, but the nub is "who gets the land?" The metaphor in your poem is more true than you might have imagined - early Zionist leaders wrote approvingly of the US's Indian removal policy. The Gaza attack put the final shovel of dirt on the "two state" solution. What's left?<BR/><BR/>I usually ignore your most prolific poster but his "clash of civilizations" bullshit really irks me. The following will be as helpful in understanding the current Middle East as the asinine citations in the first comment.<BR/><BR/><I>The Israelites slaughter Hamor and his city and plunder it (Gen 34). <BR/><BR/>Moses is commanded by God to exterminate the Canaanites, the Amorites and the people of Bashan "and show no mercy" (Deut 7:1-2, 9:3, Num 21). <BR/><BR/>Moses orders "every man" among the Israelites to slay his brother, companion and neighbor, as a punishment for the idolatry of all, and 3000 die (Ex 32:27-28). <BR/><BR/>God commands Moses to slaughter 24,000 people and hang their heads in the sun (Num 25). <BR/><BR/>God commands Moses to slay the Midianites because the Israelites are seduced by them. All males (including infants) and adult women are killed; virgins are enslaved (Num 25:17, 31:1-2, 7, 15-18). <BR/><BR/>God's annihilation of Sihon's people and others (Deut 2:30-35, 36, 3:1-7). <BR/><BR/>God commands Moses, in any city near the promised land which does not agree to become a vassal state of the Israelites, to kill all the males and take the women and children as slaves and the animals as booty, but in any city in the promised land the Israelites are to kill every living thing, sparing no one (Deut 20:10-17). <BR/><BR/>Joshua, with the help of God, annihilates numerous tribes and cities, "left none breathing," "destroyed all that breathed, as God commanded" (Josh 6:21, 8:24-27, 10:, 11:11,14,21-22). <BR/><BR/>Judah slays 10,000 Canaanites (Judg 1:4) and 10,000 Moabites (Judg 3:29) <BR/><BR/>Danites destroy "peaceful" Laish and kill its people for no reason (Judg 18:27). <BR/><BR/>Judah and Simeon utterly destroy Zephath (Judg 1:17). Samuel tells Saul that God wants to annihilate the Amalekites, including infants and women, which Saul then does, slaying all the inhabitants except Agag the king (1 Sam 15:1-9). <BR/><BR/>David leaves no man or woman alive in the countries he invades: Geshurites, Gezrites and Amalekites (1 Sam 27:9,11). <BR/><BR/>David takes Rabbah and puts its people "under saws...and harrows ... and axes of iron and made them pass through the brickkiln" and does the same to all the cities of Ammon (2 Sam 12:31, 1 Chr 20:3).<BR/><BR/>"Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children," says God (Ezek 9:6)</I><BR/><BR/>and on, and on, and on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4567168789336947243.post-68162341152205256772009-01-06T16:42:00.000-05:002009-01-06T16:42:00.000-05:00Here is just a sampling of the, at lest 109 Qurani...Here is just a sampling of the, at lest 109 Quranic war verses, that call Muslims to war on non believers. Contrast the war verses with “Turn the other cheek” and “Do unto others”. Or the Jewish belief that Jews are Jews by birth. Conversion is discouraged. Catholic fought Protestant in Ireland for economic, demographic and political reasons. Religion was a factor, but the base philosophy of Christianity teaches peace. Obviously, there have been numerous lapses from that philosophy. With Islam, it is believed that Allah’s own words are in the Quran. Mohammed was just a scribe. The religion and the Islamic philosophy teach and urge forcible conversion, repressive taxation or execution for non believers. Peace came to Christian Ireland. Peace can never come in Gaza and Israel, unless the Quran is rejected by Muslims. That is unlikely. The West has prevented Israel from achieving victory over their attackers. If Israel is allowed to finish the job, the country will have a chance of achieving at least a long cease fire and possible accommodation. Until there is a clear winner and loser, that is not possible.<BR/> <BR/> <BR/>Sura (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Sura (5:33) - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement"<BR/> <BR/>Sura (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"JImhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795849285955713444noreply@blogger.com