The VOICE

Well, here you have it. And from no less a valid source of news and info than.... THE VOICE. Meaning, the Voice of America! Which, as you possibly know, is the United States' OFFICIAL purveyor of opinion via internet and short-wave radio. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-un-condemn-israeli-attack-on-un-run-school/1968595.html For those unrepentant Commies among us, though, it just FEELS better citing the Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2014/jul/30/gaza-another-un-school-hit-in-further-night-of-fierce-bombardment

What effect does the "World Community" have anymore?

You know why I have decided to comment as extensively as I have on the latest Israeli blitz vs. Gaza? It's not just because conditions on the ground are so horrible for Gazans, and not just because Israel is so criminally liable. It's because widespread international condemnation of Israel's massively lethal practices seemed, in the past, to be a factor in the eventual cessation of hostilities. But I'm not sure that the "World Community's" outrage is having much effect currently, as it did, for example, in 2008-2009. Five years ago, in the wake of "Operation Cast Lead," Israeli forces actually ended up in a short-term withdrawal from Gaza - by comparison, nowadays the IDF seems to be dead-set on forever escalating the conflict.

Questions Re: Israel/Palestine, again

As others "on both sides of the issue" (or ostensibly on no side at all) have noted, the entire Israel/Palestinian issue frequently appears insoluble. I'm certainly not saying Hamas is innocent. However, that said, there is hardly any contest as to who is the greater aggressor. A commentator on a web forum where I'm active recently claimed there can be no no cease fire, until "....Hamas runs out of rockets." Interesting to remember in this connection, that thanks to the enormous annual bestowal of military largess upon Israel by the USA, Israel will realistically never face such a prospect, at least not in the present geo-political reality. Still, three questions for those who support Israeli policy with no reservations: 1. Why is it morally permissible in your mind for Israel to engage in such a "dis-proportionate response?" (That presupposes, for the sake of avoiding useless argument, that highly-provocative Israel is ONLY "responding" in this latest Gaza invasion, a claim about which I'm massively skeptical.) 2. Does Israel bear any culpability for civilian deaths whatsoever? 3. Do you honestly believe a garrison state like Israel can achieve genuine peace and/or security by perpetually waging war?

Bagderland's GOP killed more than just the train!

That whole "Kill the Train" move on the part of Wisconsin Republicans has had worse repercussions than I even anticipated. Good jobs were needlessly lost in Milwaukee following the Walkerites' breach of contract with Talgo, Ah well, other states stand/stood to benefit; I'll just have to be happy for Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and possibly Iowa and Minnesota. But seriously, we MUST vote this governor OUT in November. http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=43235

War Crimes are neither "accidental," nor "Collateral Damage."

Supposedly, when the Israeli air force so desires, it's capable of hitting specific Gazan Apartment buildings with pin-point accuracy. I doubt this, but if it's true, how then can one legitimately maintain that strafing little boys playing on the beach, bombing UN facilities for refugees, and even hitting mosques is not targeting civilians? Answer: One cannot legitimately assert these killings are in any way accidental, REGARDLESS of Israeli capabilities. They are WAR CRIMES of the worst variety, the same type of atrocities for which the "civilized" world once condemned other powers throughout the 20th and 21st Century. Examples: the indiscriminate Nazi German bombing of Warsaw and London, and the massive US bombing of North Vietnam. And I don't care if the comparison to WW2 Luftwaffe tactics strikes some readers as "extreme;" such "extreme" rhetoric pales in comparison to what Israel is doing in Gaza even as I write this. Try as one may, one can't justify Israel's criminal conduct. There's a little thing called international law, after all. The same sort of international law that resulted in the US being found guilty of war crimes by the World Court, in the wake of its aggression against Nicaragua back in the 1980s. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/12/us-palestinians-israel-gazans-idUSKBN0FH0DB20140712

Israeli War Crimes occuring now in a theatre of war near or far

Various pro-Zionist media organs are portraying Gaza residents as being "caught in the crossfire." That's complete BS. Fact is, Israel is DELIBERATELY targeting non-combatants; therefore the Zionist state is clearly committing many "spectacular" war crimes. The kill ratio now stands at about 6-1 in Israel's "favor," and 76% of those Palestinians who've been killed were civilians. Tragic, that the UN is so pitifully powerless to thwart this ongoing CRIMINAL Israeli aggression. I'm not defending Hamas, but bear in mind over 600 Palestinians have been killed in the latest Blitz, and "only" 28 Israelis have died. It's time for Washington to cut off the $4 billion it sends Israel annually. No wait, the time for that was in 1982, or even earlier! http://news.yahoo.com/un-school-gaza-caught-cross-fire-15-killed-165931322.html Here's a far better source for news on this subject. IMO: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/gaza-crisis-israeli-shells-kill-15-un-school-compound

More Bombs Over Baghdad - and boots on the ground, too?

A fine indication of the military madness USA is trapped in, were "we" to return in large numbers to Iraq! http://org.salsalabs.com/o/2488/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=16070

"Military Occupations Don't Work"

Except for the grossly understated Iraqi casualty figures, this is a fine letter I agree with wholeheartedly. And it may have been an editor's decision, not Bonnie's, to understate the number of fatalities and injuries beginning in 2003. http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/mailbag/bonnie-block-military-occupations-do-not-work/article_721d6108-3c51-5852-b31c-0941d93105ed.html