OrnotBitwise
Watermelon
Every nation that has nuclear weapons says that they're purely retaliatory. Big deal.
You know they do have a point.....
- Thread starter uscitizen
- Start date
LOL
You'll be waiting a long time, for a link from gaffer to back up that assertion.
Gaffer
Sanctimonious Prick
Well by gaffers own statement, if 90% of the UN wants Israel gone, democracy rules right ?
fortunately in the case of the un...no
US veto power prevents that. Just like the russians and chinese prevent us from doing anything useful.
ManU1959
Left Coast
not really.... israel never threatened to wipe iran of the map......for if they wanted to they would have done so by now
uscitizen
Villified User
So democracy does not rule because of a few major powers lopsided veto priveledges ?
So why do many people that support Israel also want the US out of the UN ? Does this make sense if the USA is preventing actions against Israel by being in the UN ?
OrnotBitwise
Watermelon
No, I don't agree. I think there are two problems with this syllogism.
Militarily, yes, Israel could have "wiped Iran off the map" by now. That is to say, they could have invaded Iran and defeated their army. What would they gain by such an act though? They'd immediately lose all or nearly all of their international support. All peace and trade agreements with all of their neighbors would go right out the window. In short, they'd win the battle but lose the war: they wouldn't get away with it and might doom themselves in the process.
More importantly, who cares about threats? That's just political maneuvering and play-acting. Threats don't tell you much of anything about intent. Not when issued by politicians. Israel is, I submit, as much an implacable enemy to Iran as Iran is to Israel. It's just a matter of a different style. The Israeli government is dealing from a position of strength: they don't need to impress their populace and supporters with their bravado.
Annie
Not So Junior Member
Other than the US, what international support does Israel have? What happened this summer/fall between Iran's proxy, Syria and Syria's proxy, Lebanon, was not play acting. It wasn't just threats.
Annie
Not So Junior Member
And exactly what do you think Israel should have done, with Hezbollah basically keeping civilians hostage and hiding amongst them?
maineman
Banned
use more smart weapons. They blew up entire neighborhoods of the southern suburbs of Beirut.... I can vividly remember the day over 25 years ago when they put one smart bomb into the top floor of a multistory building on the outskirts of Sabra refugee camp in West Beirut...the top of the builiding housed Arafat's offices and the bottom floor was a clinic and the next floor up was a daycare. the clinic and the daycare were unharmed. Their bombardment earlier this fall was indiscriminant.... and did more harm to their cause than good
Annie
Not So Junior Member
That makes sense, though I remember reading that even the US was having problems getting enough 'smart bombs?'
Annie
Not So Junior Member
Perhaps. I'm no expert at actually strategery.
Hmmm. That's interestiing Mainman because I've read some pretty educated people theorizing that Israel intentionally killed and maimed civilians this time around. Because they wanted to send a message to the general population; get Hezbollah out or you and your kids are fair game.
And that's pretty disgusting. Even the mafia doesn't do that right? Where is the humanity there?
Annie
Not So Junior Member
Then again, Hezbollah did that more. Suicide bombers, prepped since preschool also seem to have civilians as their targets. Funny how only one side is called to task.
OrnotBitwise
Watermelon
Considering the unrelenting, bellicose bloviation in the media about the evils of the Palestinian "terrorists" and the plight of the poor, pitiful Israelis, helpelssly huddling in their hovels, such a charge is hard to take seriously.