KeyStone

I hope to God you are not looking to Saudi Arabia for answers. Saudi Arabia is one of the most corrupt, vile nations on the planet. The only reason there is no revolution there, is because they kill anyone talking about change with the help from American allies, while they syphon off the oil money to the royal family. They don't want anyone who might rise up and resist, their multi-generational dictatorship of theft. The West all gives them a buy because they buy Western goods and weapons. Saudi Arabia violates so many international laws and standards, that one more hardly makes a difference.

Angus, so if they are trying to kill terrorists, but they kill chidlren, are the children not still dead, maimed, or otherwise disabled? Do you think telling their parents that the IDF were trying to kill terrorists makes everyone feel better? The fact of the matter is, that regardless of intention, Israel has killed a lot more Palestinian children, than Palestinians have killed Israeli children. It seems quite clear that Israel has a wonton disregard for human life, given their lack of accuracy, despite having some of the most sophisticated military spyware on the planet. As for human shields, the Palestinian militants blend in with the civilian population, it is true. Given their vastly inferior military, they can not march in a phalanx in an open field wearing glow in the dark neon uniforms, while Israeli drones disintegrate them. Israel does not have the right to kill innocent women and children, simply because the militants are not making it easy for them to distinguish between military and civilian. I believe that lesson was already learned in Vietnam. If you want to talk about human shields, let's talk about the IDF cowards, holding Palestinian children at gunpoint and marching them in front of the IDF cowards to open doors and go first in areas where they expect their might be danger.

Because the damage that the Israelis inflict on the Palestinians is in far greater proportion than the Palestinians inflict on the Israelis. The other Arab nations and Iran use Palestine as a pawn in their own game against Israel. I don't generally bring it up for debate, because there isn't anyone defending Syria etc, in the context of how they abuse the Palestinians. Israel has ensured that there is no need to boycott Palestinian goods, haven't they? Not Arab, but certainly there is much talk of boycotts and sanctions against Iran. Boycotts are what you do to powerful entities who don't listen to reason, when it is the only thing that will make them listen. There are many ways that Israel punishes the Palestinians. Other than Galloway, none that I am aware of. Occasionally, some hateful cleric gets denied, but no one is banning Palestinian academics as a whole. It is done on a case by case basis, as it should be for Israeli academics. No, and it is a fair point. Considering that Arab nations treat Jews much worse in Arab nations than the Jews treat the Arabs is Israel, why the inconsistency? I believe that there are two reasons. One, Israel is looked at, as prosperous. They are not a desperate people trying to eke out a living. The Palestinians on the other hand, barely survive, living conditions are deplorable, and unemployment rates are over 40%. Two, while Palestinians launch the occasional rockets, the state is not sanctioning activity that is in direct violation of international law (the settlements ). It is about who we feel sorry for - Israel or Palestine. Palestinians have a far worse life than your average Israeli. Israel is not to blame for that obviously, but when we hear the stories about how dire it is in Palestine, it makes us side with them. It is human nature, for many to cheer for the underdog, particularly when the disparity in wealth is so great. I guarantee you that the people of Palestine would be quite happy to have their nation chastised by the UN. Since, they don't have a nation, the UN really can't do much. There, of course, is also a very big difference between state-sanctioned terrorists, and rogue groups.

What an awesome list! Hey everyone, let's all drop out of school and/or quit our jobs. With this awesome list of white priveleges, we can live off the land forever! I can't wait to demand to talk to a supervisor and get a white person. So awesome!

There are a few differences, of course. Firstly, Canada's actions are internationally sanctioned, unlike those of Israel. Secondly, Canada, is not violating international law in the pursuit of terrorists. They aren't using depleted uranium shells or white phosphourous. Thirdly, Canada is not inflicting collective punishment on the Afghani people. They are precisely targeting the terrorists. While Israel claims to be doing the same, collateral damage is barely a consideration for Israel, in their pursuit of the militants. Fourthly, there are many Afghanis who actually want Canada there. I suspect there are few Palestinians who welcome the Israeli tanks when they move in. But you are right that Israel has a credible threat while Canada does not.

Those must be produced by the same people that supply the IDF with the special non child killing missiles. Oh, I forgot. The children aren't really dead, as long as the 'intention' was to get a terrorist.

Because I read the news. Also, I get their e-mails forwarded to me by some Jewish friends who are less blind in their support of Israel. Now, you're just being an idiot. I can not follow and discuss every nation and conflict on the planet. Israel certainly gets its share of news - mostly good, but some bad in Western media. So, it is an easy area to follow. I would much rather discuss Venezuela and/or Saudi Arabia, but there is less coverage and less people to debate. Interesting, of course, if all Israelis were Muslims, they probably wouldn't have felt a need to displace all of the Muslims from Israel when they moved in. Then the Muslim nations wouldn't have needed to invade Israel, so Israel wouldn't have occupied territories. But, you are still partially right. Many of the Muslim nations against Israel care far less about helping the Palestinians than they do about removing the infidel Jews from the holy lands. Well, then it's a gamble by Harper, or his pro-Israel sentiments are really just masking his Islamopohbia. Perhaps all support of Israel, is really Islamophobia. I mean, why else would this tiny country with a nebulous regard for human rights and international law get such positive attention. Huge gross generalizations with no supporting evidence once again.

If you think that voting is the only way Israeli supporters can influence the election, you are a bigger fool than I thought. I think if you're going to make a gross generalized bigoted statement, the onus is you to support that, not me to refute it. In your words: "Oh really? You have done your research and have a cite [sic] to back that up? " How could their influence, participation and organization possibly be irrelevant, when we are discussing whether or not it might be to Harper's political advantage to support Israel? Besides which, you are making gross generalizations about the Jewish people. The fact is I don't know if Jewish voters vote for the Conservatives or Liberals and I suspect you don't either.

Ahhh, one of the most common Israeli apologist responses. Because Israel gets more criticism than other regimes, those singling her out, must be anti-semitic. There are some unique behaviours in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The most important difference is that Israel's incursions take place outside of Israel and they inflict cruelty on non-Israelis. Yes, there are worse regimes in the world, but they inflict cruelties on their own people, and so the international body has ruled it an internal conflict (unless genocide is occuring). Secondly, Israel wants a seat at the table of respectability which means that they are being held to a different level. If they want their behaviour held up to that of Al-Qaeda any of the various opressive regimes in the world, than they should be entitled to no more respect than those regimes. If, on the other hand they want to be treated like Canada or Sweden, them they need to hold themselves to a similar level of conduct. Thirdly, Israel's army of spin doctors keeps putting themselves on the front pages, telling us half-truths, and exerting its considerable influence over Canadian politicians. If Israel doesn't want the attention, then stop getting your supporters to write op-ed columns, about how great Israel is.

Go sit in the corner with Dog on Porch if you are going to bring up the Mufti conspiracy again. Let's try to stick with present day as opposed to what some dead guy said about some other guy who has been dead every longer. Alright, this is significant. Or, at least it would be if the quote could actually be verified. Since, there is only one alleged witness of him every saying this, we can hardly use this as proof irrefutable that Hezbollah wants all Jews around the world killed. Curious how you arbitrarily decided not to use the full quote this time. Could it be that the full quote which puts it in proper context, doesnt' really support your argument? This reeks of intellectual dishonesty. Here is the full quote: "If a day comes when the world of Islam is duly equipped with the arms Israel has in possession, the strategy of colonialism would face a stalemate because application of an atomic bomb would not leave any thing in Israel but the same thing would just produce damages in the Muslim world", Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani told the crowd at the traditional Friday prayers in Tehran." Not really the same thing as what you have paraphrased, now is it?

Simply because those groups are not under threat in the way you describe does not mean that they are not under threat. The Roma were also a victim of Nazi Germany, still have no homeland, and are under constant persecution in pretty much every country where they exist in large numbers. Homosexuals are killed throughout the world, often in Muslim countries, but also in North America and other countries. Incidentally, I bitch about Saudi Arabia all the time, simply because there is a disconnect between what a vile regime they have, and the amount of negative media they receive. One thing that you will find about Western media, as long as they nation buys Western goods in sufficient quantity, they are often given a pass by the media. Saudi Arabia routinely ferrets out terrorists and kills them - of course, and the media says nothing. Of course, these terrorists are simply people wanting a revoltion in Saudi Arabia - because they are tired of a multi-generational dictatorship lining its pockets with the oil wealth of the nation. No other nation is that egregious in the way its rulers abuse the wealth of the land, and yet we say nothing. Iran is leap years ahead of Saudi Arabia, and yet they are continually vilified for every misstep. Incidentally, there are no nations trying to acquire nuclear weapons to destroy Israel either. It's all made up on the basis of a few misinterpreted sentences.

Wild Bill, let me give you a hockey analogy. Tie Domi instigates and throws the first punch. Brashear then takes off the gloves, and pummels Domi into the ground, breaking his nose, and fracturing his collar bone in the process. Now, we can point out that Brashear never started the fight and is therefore different than Domi, but the fact remains that both players deserve penalties, and that Brashear used disproportionate force in his response. In the ongoing conflict, we can agree that Israel conducts itself better than the Palestinians, and we can agree that Israel respects human rights more than Palestine, but neither of those facts means that Israel is blameless nor does it justify every action that Israel does against Palestine.

Sure, that's what I think, but I get my info from books and movies. I haven't researched it or gone to Auschwitz. But there is a big difference doubting, and saying he doesn't know. Furthermore, questioning the numbers does not make him a holocaust denier. It would seem he agrees there is a holocaust but is unclear on the details.

I certainly don't need to take lessons on racism from a racist who uses a term like this. Go back to your little friends in Edmonton and start using that term, and see how long they put up with you. Thought someone on such a high horse, would be a little more aware.

Yes, your brand of anti-semitism is called New anti-semitism., also known as criticism of Israel. That is the new load of BS the Jewish lobby groups are pushing. Clearly, because Israel is so awesome and blameless, anyone finding fault with Israel is engaging in new anti-semitism, or so the flow of logic goes. I'm absolutely amazed how Israel not only whitewashes the killing of children on a fairly large scale, but also villainizes anyone who finds fault with the killing of innocent children.

Alright, it was Cotler, not Harper. I can't stand Ignatieff and don't intend to vote Liberal until they remove him. In Ireland, there was a terrorist group (Sinn Fein) who decided to become part of the legal process for change. They were supported in this, and no longer operate as a terrorist entity. The world could have tried to do the same with Hamas, but instead we chose to be morally righteous and 'refuse to negotiate with terrorists', even if that same support might hurt Israel in the long run. I mean, shit, we're talking about talking to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and they weren't even elected. The problem is that Israel no longer needs peace. The powers of the world are on their side. If the Palestinian negotiators have influence over the terrorists, than Israel refuses to bargain with terrorists. If the Palestinian negotiators are unable to control the terrorists, then Israel sees no point in talking, since they are unable to deliver what Israel demands as a requirement for negotiation.

Alright, fair enough. Do you think the quote from him is enough to label him a holocaust denier?

No DOP, he did not. Please do your research before you throw out accusations such as holocaust denier. You were a little quick on the draw when you did your cut and paste. What I am curious about, is what source you used when you accepted without question that he was a holocaust denier. Their obvious bias, should provide a clue as to the accuracy of the information you're receiving.

It's amazing how Israeli apologists like to throw the term holocaust denier around. He's not a holocaust denier and I challenge you to come up with some shred of evidence that he is. But then again, intellectual dishonesty is your raison d'etre.

Yeah, any theories as to why all evidence and testimony was classified for thirty years? Any idea how difficult it is to prove the forensics after 30 years? He vehemently denied that he killed the 4 year old. For someone wanting to believe in his innocence, there is plenty of room for doubt. Regardless of whether he is guilty or innocent, the Syrian PM believes him to be innocent. I would hope that if the Syrian PM believed him guilty, the award would not have been granted.

"In a word, Israel is the only state in the world today - and the Jews the only people in the world today - that are the object of a standing set of threats" Hamas was told that they should try to effect change through the political process. So, they ran, got elected and what happened? Did they have a voice? No, Canada and other countries refused to speak with them and cut off aid to Palestine effectively undermining their authority. Hardly. There is nothing nuanced about my position and Ignatieff would never have the courage to stand up to Israel. True. Ignatieff likes to surf the polls, to determine which of two 'uncompromising' positions he will take while still leaving a little wiggle room to change his mind, should the polls go the other way.

It is curious. I believe it is because they believe that Kuntar did not kill the young girl. He claims not to have, and there is something rather suspicious about the trial. The evidence was classfied for thirty years, and was only made public long after any of the forensic evidence could be verified. Now, I don't know whether he did or didn't kill the child, but the Lebanese seem to believe that he did not kill the child, and his crime was to try to kidnap Israelis. Certainly, if the Syrian leader believed that he killed a four year old child with the butt of his rifle, I would be appalled. Regardless of whether he did or didn't do it, I believe that the Syrian PM believes that he did not do it. He is a man who spent close to 30 years in prison for an action he committed when he was 16

Not sure why you think that if I don't like what Harper is saying, then I must like Cotler and the Liberals. But then again, it would seem that you live in a very black and white world.

I did some research. As it turns out, everyone here is racist, except Charter. Charter is a true champion of all that is good and right with the world. Thank you Charter for pointing out what horrible racists we all are. I can only hope that one day we can achieve your level of enlightenment. All the rest of you racists, stop posting, unless it is to acknowledge the greatness of Charter.

So? Does that mean Israel is good and Palestine is bad? Canada recognizes gay marriage and the US doesn't. Does that mean Canada is good and the US is bad?