Barukh Dayan Emet.
“woe to the nation that at this time celebrates the release of an animal who crushed the skull of a four-year-old child.”-Ehud Olmert
May our hearts and prayers be with the Regev and Goldwasser families, and the Israeli people. And may peace be upon the souls of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.
This was not a victory for anybody. Not for Hezbollah. Not for Lebanon. Not for Israel. Not for Nasrallah. Not for Olmert. Not for the families of the captive soldiers. Not for the families of the released prisoners. Not for Samir Kuntar. Not for the Haran family. Nobody is a victor.
My personal reflections after the jump.
We will likely never know when exactly Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev died. We may get an understanding of what happened to them, we may not. I will never know why they died. It is hard to suppress the rage I feel right now towards Hezbollah and Hassan Nasrallah for capturing two young men, triggering a completely unnecessary war and not divulging more information in a prudent fashion. It is hard to suppress the rage I feel right now for the war that was fought with reckless destruction, with seeming little regard for “collateral damage”–whatever that cold term means.
What I have ultimately learned from this drawn out saga is that when it comes to government, lives are bargaining chips. That when it comes to war, winner or victor are inaccurate terms. These young men were victims of terror and they join a long list. And the terror wreaked on the Lebanese people in their “defense?” “revenge?” created and added to its own long list. For me, this is not a time for debate on the equity of tactic in war. Unsuspecting victims are unsuspecting victims.
I was educated and raised to revere, respect and admire the IDF. I do not. I was educated and raised to revere, respect and admire Israeli politicians. I do not. I cannot. The utter contempt that the Israeli government has for its people, its neighbors and the world is becoming nauseating. It is challenging to watch and I see little change in the near future.
It seems to me that the reverent, respectful and admirable thing to do would have been to negotiate a prisoner exchange two years ago, from a position of strength, rather than now from a position of utter-weakness. And that weakness does not mean to me that Israel lost, got a bad deal, was had; none of that. Hezbollah, too, negotiated from a place of weakness–many of their utterly insane demands and requests were not honored. Israel was not weak because they freed a notorious murderer–Kuntar was a symbol, Danny and Einat Haran have become a symbol. Kuntar’s continued imprisonment may be just, but it will not prevent more Israelis from being killed. Israel is in a place of weakness because, well, it would seem moral erosion.
There is something slightly honorable and slightly disconcerting in the fact that hundreds of prisoners could be swapped for two people, dead or alive. That does, in fact, make a stated equivalence. And to witness the foot-dragging and political jockeying regarding the back-and-forth in the shaky days of the swap, to read about the attempts of the intelligence community and the PMO to try and scurry the deal–for what interests? And in light of whatever is happening in Olmert’s brain in light of his recent experiences, if these accusations are true, and his ethics are as challenged as they appear, God only knows why he saw fit to wait two years to make serious moves to free Goldwasser and Regev.
I never imagined I would see a day when Israel would be in a place as it is today. It has been 8 years since I last visited Israel–and I know worlds have changed since then. I am in regular contact with people in Israel, and stay insanely on top of Israeli news, but I no longer know Israel. The incredibly racist statements I hear from my Israeli friends (not the olim. well, some of the olim, too) are shocking–even in the company of some racist Americans I have not heard ridiculousness. For example, an Israeli recently told me the reason Israeli skies are so polluted is because the Jordanians and Palestinians don’t have clean cars and they drive so much that it pollutes Israel’s skies… Who thinks like that? Unfortunately, apparently not a small number.
It takes serious collective moral erosion to come to that place. I do not know the experiences that make a nation collectively xenophobic, and I imagine lifetime of war will do a pretty good job. But why, on earth, democratic citizens would sit while their government steals money and land, blatantly ignores their own and international courts, blatantly ignores their own opinions and the opinion of the world, why a people would sit back like that and watch as the pride and honor of their young government is raped and plundered, how this is happening, is beyond me.
We, in America, have responsibility in this as well. We pay for it, we support it, we encourage it. We blindly accept and we passionately defend. We trust. We retell the same tales, repeat the same “party lines,” and make completely unreasonable statements and decisions. When the Jewish community of America discusses Israel and the conflict, all logic, all reason, all semblance of normalcy is gone. We are culpable in allowing the situation to deteriorate to where it has. Our unbridled support for Israel despite all reasons to cease support has aided and abetted the moral erosion. We and Israel brag of its superior clandestine abilities and it wages free-handed, brutal war campaigns…
Whatever happened to the intelligence community that “could listen to toilets flushing in Damascus,” that masterminded brilliant covert operations to extract captives and to eliminate threats; that now relies on carpet bombing and dropping cluster bombs; that lets three of its soldiers sit in captivity while the PM piles scandal upon scandal, no-confidence votes NOT being made, early elections NOT being held, and no protests in the street. How did this happen?
The Israeli people used to march to Jerusalem, rally in the squares. I know the anarchists are out protesting the separation barrier that the Supreme Court demands moved and the army won’t budge. but where is the citizenry to protest the injustices wrought against them and in their name?
It may never have been possible to bring Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev home alive. For all we know, they were alive until yesterday (God forbid). It may not have been possible to bring Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev home sooner; I think it probably was. If there was a soul who believed that injuring, maiming and killing thousands would bring these captive men home, they were wrong. If there was a soul who believed that any amount of war was going to bring these captive men back to their families, they were wrong. After so many long, bloody years, they have learned that war will not bring them their desired peace. The war two years ago was not about peace, not about releasing captive soldiers. The war two years ago was about appearance, and it backfired horribly. The Second Lebanon War, for Israel, is that drunk guy on the 4th of July who doesn’t throw away the firecracker soon enough. It was stupid and unnecessary. Nothing was achieved, no success was made.
Finally, after two long years, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, may peace be upon them, are home. May it be the will of the Most High that no more of God’s creation be held captive by another, that we all live to see the word’s of God’s prophet come to light: May nation not lift against nation a sword, and may we not learn any more war.
Israel’s in a stalemate. Olmert continues in power because, in the event of an election, either Labor or Likud may take control, and neither Likud nor Labor can abide that possibility. Will the liberals march and risk a Likud Government? Will the right wing march and risk a Labor Government? That’s the issue - Israel has feinted toward mediocrity.
—Rich · July 16th, 2008 at 11:59 am
[...] Israel, Hezbollah exchange prisoners Posted on July 16, 2008 by Brown Shoes I have no comment: read this. [...]
—Israel, Hezbollah exchange prisoners « Modern Mitzvot · July 16th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I wasn’t going to post anymore, but I can’t help it–this is a first-class cite.
I love it because of people like Justin, who writes with great passion.
But, Justin, stating something like “The utter contempt that the Israeli government has for its people,” is a very serious indictment. Can you be more specific please about how the government is showing this contempt for Israelis?
Also, if I understand, you are suggesting that Israel should have made a prisoner swap immediately after the abductions. Have you not considered that the war, as inconclusive as its conclusion was, may prove to be a deterrent to Hizbollah? Nasrallah himself said on two occasions that he would not have ordered the abduction had he known what Israel’s response would have been. By what you are suggesting, had the Israeli government acted with less contempt for its people, Hizbollah could cross the border, kidnap and kill (maybe torture too?) Israeli soldiers, and then receive live prisoners in return, without facing any retribution? What sane government would allow that to happen?
—Jonathan · July 16th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
[...] It makes me incredibly proud of Jewschool that we find space to be both outraged at Hezbollah and centered confidently on our own house also, as Justin Goldstein says so eloquently today. [...]
—Judaism Without Borders » Blog Archive » Said better than I could, on the return of the Israeli soldiers · July 16th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Jonathan-
I consider it contemptuous to continue and expand the occupation, despite decades of public opposition. I consider it contemptuous that the Knesset operates without hindrance despite just 15% of the public having faith in its operations. I consider it contemptuous when the Supreme Court rules one way, and the government acts another.
I find much about the Israeli government to be contemptuous–not more or less than any other government, necessarily–but trustworthy and deserving of praise? certainly not.
—Justin Goldstein · July 16th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
American Jews…great…
“I was educated and raised to revere, respect and admire the IDF. I do not.”
No surprises here.
“We pay for it, we support it, we encourage it. We blindly accept and we passionately defend. We trust. We retell the same tales, repeat the same “party lines,” and make completely unreasonable statements and decisions.”
I can’t wait for the day America (the Government and its people) stops giving money to Israel, so we can stop hearing all the time about how you pay for it, support it and encourage it. Plese stop, please stop today!
“It takes serious collective moral erosion to come to that place.”
That or 60 years of conflict, we can’t all have the high morals you guys have.
There is a big problem between Jews in America and Israelis, you are getting tired of us and we are getting very tired of you. I can’t wait to go back home and never return here to all this crap. It must be great to sit in America all your life and be able to yap endlessly about how everything is so screwed up in Israel.
—Efrat · July 16th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
“carpet bombing”?
the caliber of writing/thinking on here has seriously deteriorated.
—rootlesscosmo · July 16th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Rootlesscosmo-
In defense of my carpet bombing allegation, here is a quote and link to an article written on the Second Lebanon War by an International Law professor at Northwestern University.
“Although statements and reports out of Lebanon are notoriously unreliable, there appears to be a sufficient confluence of internet posts that Israeli planes are now dropping their bombs and firing their missiles indiscriminately against civilian targets. Grain silos, food production, and storage plants have been destroyed. Bombs have reportedly been dropped on hospitals and on convoys of villagers fleeing from the Israeli shelling. It is getting close to the kind of carpet bombing that occurred during the Vietnam war against Hanoi.”
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfqp47qb_25dvnnwccc
—Justin Goldstein · July 16th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I suppose I could accuse Israel of using poison gas against the Palestinians and then offer an account of their alleged use of DU munitions as proof. Not sure how that would prove Israel’s use of poison gas against the Palestinians though…
Now what were you saying about “carpet bombing” again?
—rootlesscosmo · July 16th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
RC, you pick apart this ONE little epithet (that still has basis in truth) in an otherwise phenomenal article, and then claim that the quality of writing has deteriorated? Just WHO are you trying to fool here?
—B.BarNavi · July 16th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
a. there is NO basis in truth actually.
b. where you see “ONE little epithet” I see the type of laziness, poor web journalism and total lack of historical perspective that plagues the blogosphere (right and left, pro-Israel and anti-).
“phenomenal article”? the author laments the decline in the Israeli intelligence community, an apparatus he clearly knows zero about (might I add that the age when Israel’s intelligence agencies could “listen to toilets flushing in Damascus,” was also an age when these agencies were largely unfettered by the types of international humanitarian norms and legal strictures that the author would no doubt now champion).
He then goes on to indict the entire country — one that he has admittedly not even visited in the better part of a decade — on the basis of the casually racist remark of one resident.
Oh and then some snoozers about how the US Jewish community doesn’t criticize Israel, blah, blah (all of this of course posted on a US Jewish community-based blog that is more-or-less devoted to criticizing Israel…).
If this is what passes for a “phenomenal article” in your mind (tired platitudes about Israel’s brutality, hackneyed accusations leveled at Israel’s American Jewish enablers), well, I can only conclude that you don’t read much.
—rootlesscosmo · July 16th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
“Oh and then some snoozers about how the US Jewish community doesn’t criticize Israel, blah, blah (all of this of course posted on a US Jewish community-based blog that is more-or-less devoted to criticizing Israel…).”
It really is amazing, rootesscomo. I don’t have any problem that this blog is dedicated to bashing Israel–it is healthy. But the whole–we are the few noble souls, battling against the mindless, amorphous zombie that is the Israel-supporting-American-Jewish community–act gets old.
—Jonathan · July 16th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Jonathan and Rokhl, the Jewish community is a mindless, amorphous zombie about Israel. Who are you kidding? Trust me, it gets old on this end, too!
I don’t need to stand up for Justin because his compelling moral frustrations speak powerfully for themselves. I identify so strongly with his post, all I have to tell you two is that it must be nice to live in a world without doubt or second thoughts. Take a second to listen to what he’s saying and not how he’s saying it.
As far as the carpet bombing allegations go — what have you been reading? The US slapped Israel’s hand for illegally using US-made cluster munitions. Israel admits to firing over a million cluster bombs into Lebanese civilian areas. A few more over at Human Rights Watch’s Israel-Lebanon campaign.
I find the cluster munitions appauling because I interviewed an IDF vet from one of the artillery units in question. The enthusiastic deployment he described, acting without orders, captures well the moral erosion of 60 years of war and 40 years of occupation. Sadly, despite his reporting to the Winograd Commission, they decided not to prosecute his commanders.
—Kung Fu Jew · July 16th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
This is a perfect example, KFJ. Read my post above. I too loved Justin’s post–as I wrote–(as I do with yours usually) even though I might disagree with the both of you.
Why do you say that someone who disagrees with you lives in a world without doubt or second thoughts?
Could it be that the majority of the US-Jewish world simply disagrees with you as well, and actually has the cognitive capacity to form an opinion that differs from yours?
As a “progressive,” is that the best you can do, achi?
—Jonathan · July 16th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Well said, Justin. Thanks for this post.
—The Girl Detective · July 17th, 2008 at 12:28 am
hey KFJ, ‘Rootless Cosmo’ is NOT me. Get a clue.
-rokhl
—rokhl · July 17th, 2008 at 6:48 am
It might have been the fact that you advertised yourself as a “rootless cosmopolitan” on your site that may have confused him.
And Jonathan, way to miss KFJ’s point.
—B.BarNavi · July 17th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Let’s try a new thing, B.BarNavi–explain to me the point. I realize that I live in a world without doubts or second thoughts, but try anyway–at least for the benefit of those who haven’t yet fallen victim to the Dark Side.
—Jonathan · July 17th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Rootless & Rokhl — sorry for the confusion. I seriously thought you were the same person.
—Kung Fu Jew · July 17th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Please explain to me how Israel making an extremely lopsided trade based on Jewish values is an excuse for your attack on Israel and its morality. But I guess for you guys, you take any excuse you can.
—MS · July 17th, 2008 at 9:39 am
This was not a victory for anybody. Not for Hezbollah.
Wishful thinking.
—DK · July 17th, 2008 at 10:47 am
PEOPLE: CLUSTER MUNITIONS AND CARPET BOMBING ARE DIFFERENT.
You see what I have posted as nitpicking; well I see what was originally posted as dangerous and irresponsible writing.
It’s the same mentality that lets people get away with accusing Israel of “genocide” or creating a Palestinian “Holocaust.”
hey what’s the big deal, right? it’s just words. who cares if they are accurate so long as I evoke a response, right?
And as to the content of the wider post: Of course I, too, am frustrated with the state of Israel’s government and with its inablility to magically make her hostages reappear for Shabbat dinner.
But this post is utterly lacking in direction or focus: Justin, you lament the decline in Israel’s intelligence gathering community, but offer no solution. You recount a cute story about a racist Israel friend and then state that “We, in America, have responsibility in this as well. We pay for it, we support it, we encourage it. We blindly accept and we passionately defend.”
Support what? Your racist Israeli friend’s belief in Palestinian air pollution? What, praytell, are you talking about? If you mean we “defend and support” the growth of settlements, or the erosion of Israeli-Arab rights, OK. But that’s not at all what you wrote. You’re rambling.
You no longer revere the IDF. Ok. Why is that exactly? Because they lost a war to Hezbollah? So maybe they should have been more forcefull in prosecuting the war two summers ago? Maybe, I dunno, they should have employed carpet bombing. What’s that? They did carpet bombing? Really? LOL. You are all over the map, dude: Israel uses too much force. Israel doesn’t use enough force. Which is it? All I’m asking for is some clarity in your writing. A frustrated rant only goes so far to contribute to intelligent debate (read: not far at all).
And finally this whole “the-prisoner-swap-was-not-a-victory-for-anyone” thing is nonsense. It was a HUGE victory for Hezbollah. I don’t see how anyone can dispute this. Israel has shown the world (and partiucularly the Hamases and Hezbollahs of the world) that it will trade live terrorists with blood on their hands for dead bodies. Do the math. Hamas and Hezbollah have.
—rootlesscosmo · July 17th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Rootlesscosmo, the math:
Dead Lebanese: 900 - 1100
Dead Israelis: 44
Who won?
—Kung Fu Jew · July 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Number of dead is a strange way of measuring victory KFJ, considering that a theme of your postings seems to be that the use of military force is futile in the Middle East.
But, I do agree with you, KFJ, that Israel did win the war, in the sence that it will likely deter Hizbollah. Baruch HaShem that the government did not simply make a deal in July ‘06 (trading live prisoners for dead bodies,) as Justin suggests it should have done.
—Jonathan · July 17th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Kung Fu Jew: Uh, you serious? Dead civilians is your measure of success for a modern war? You’re living in the Middle Ages dude. Do you also view a country’s population size to be directly proportionate to its strength and influence in the world LOL?
The only “victories” I see were: (very) short-term degradation of Hezbollah’s military capacity and long-overdue exposure of the IDF’s operational deficiencies.
Though, admittedly in the case of the latter, “victory” would only be achieved if steps were/have been taken to remedy the situation. Not sure they have.
—rootlesscosmo · July 17th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
What do you mean, rootlesscosmo? Clearly Hezbollah must be completely demoralized at this point…you know how immobilized and defeatist the fundie Islamic groups get — especially in radical Shiite circles — when it comes to martyrs. They can barely think straight.
So let everyone go back to the, “War is bad, and thank you, Justin, for having the courage to say so,” self-congratulatory hug-a-thon.
—DK · July 17th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
The victory might be deterrence. The jury is still out.
We know for sure that Nasrallah has stated twice in interviews that he would not have ordered the kidnappings had he known what Israel’s response would be. And I don’t know if anybody caught the pictures of him at the rally with Kuntar–but he looked scared to death (granted he might always appear that way, I don’t know.)
Even if we say, for argument’s sake, that Hizbollah achieved a battlefield victory (on points) in ‘06, there indeed has been a concerted effort to remedy those operational problems exposed therein; there is a more capable defense minister and chief-of-staff; and there is a feeling in Israel that the next war must be won by “knockout” and not on “points.” While it is impossible to defeat Hizbollah conventionally, a “knockout” implies that the next war might entail again the destruction of Hizbollah’s rockets, killing even more of their fighters and Lebanese civilians, an Israeli occupation even past the Litani River, and billions of dollars more of damage to Lebanon.
Nasrallah is no fool. It is not inconceivable that the war had value…in spite of all of the horrors of war for everybody.
—Jonathan · July 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Rootless-
I appreciate your criticism, at least where it is constructive. I don’t have the care to take your comment step by step, but let me say this. I am well aware carpet bombing and cluster bombing are very different. this is why I said both happened. I am not alone in labeling the style of non-precision bombing indiscriminately over civilian areas as carpet bombing. I showed you one example of a respected international law prof from one of the country’s top law schools who said the same, there are other citations as well. I squarely reject your claim that calling some of the bombing in Lebanon in ‘06 as carpet bombing, and people accusing Israel of genocide as comparable.
It is not a slander to call a tactic what it is. Rambling, perhaps I was. I did not call my post “news” i referred to it as “personal reflections,” it was a rant, and it was not edited closely. I did not intend it as news, and if you take personal opinion as news, well, I’m not sure what to say about that. I am not a pacifist (or a friggin’ journalist, for that matter); but there are rarely times I’d say Israel didn’t use ENOUGH force. Force does not always win wars, strategy does–Germany was much stronger than Russia, Russia was much smarter. The only war I can think of that brute force alone “won” was the first Gulf war, which many non-American military historians hesitate to call war because the force was so lop-sided.
I know more about the Israeli intelligence community than you may think, and my point was not that they COULD still do something like this, more that they carry themselves as IF they could… but didn’t. This “whole…thing” was not a victory for anybody because nobody wins in these things. They freed a heartless murderer and a bunch of people, many of whom probably had no reason to be imprisoned. Tactically, they can claim as many victories as they want, most of the world is pretty grossed out by them.
I claim widespread moral erosion in Israel not because of the anecdote I shared, but because that anecdote represents a general decline in the moral compass of a society that has become eroded by conflict and occupation. When 3/4 of Israel, the link should be easy to find on ha’aretz, say that they believe non-Jews should NOT have equal rights, that says worlds. And, listen, regarding the monolithic nature of the American Jewish community on Israel–I present the debacle of Spertus closing their art exhibit, referenced on jewschool a few weeks back, easy to find on google. Also, I am learning to become a rabbi, and I can tell you that rabbis are afraid to say things that I said, whether they believe it or not. Rabbi Yosef Kanefsky of Los Angeles wrote a rather impassioned, but altogether moderate and bland approach to coming to terms with a Jerusalem that may not be unified, and LA was reeling over it for weeks. The article was in the Jewish Journal, easy to find. It is a sad day when presidential candidates are too afraid to say mum about Israel’s illegal policies (and the whole world has been pretty clear in re-affirming their illegality) in front of AIPAC. When Norman Finkelstein cannot get a visa into Israel, there are problems. So don’t make it seem like we’re over reacting. The reason a place like jewschool was created, where we can healthfully and constructively criticize Israel, was because there was almost nowhere else. I have been told RIDICULOUS things by my colleagues in rabbinical school regarding the conflict, that otherwise incredibly wise and intelligent people shouldn’t make. One told me the Jewish people collectively has come to terms with what Israel has done to the Palestinians… really? Another told me that they did not want to visit the territories during their year in Israel, “to not let their suffering jade perspective…” I didn’t and still don’t have a response to that. So I see moral erosion, I see it in the news, I hear it in Israelis, and it concerns me, as a Jew.
I also just wonder, and I could be off base, if you would be as free with your digital laughing in people’s faces (LOL) if you used your real name? It’s just not nice; you probably wouldn’t laugh in our faces if we were civilly discussing in person, it might be nice to accord the same respect even online.
—Justin Goldstein · July 17th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
“The reason a place like jewschool was created, where we can healthfully and constructively criticize Israel, was because there was almost nowhere else.”
Fair enough Justin…
but I hope that all of the posters (including myself) will healthfully and constructively criticize one another, instead of slipping into gross accusations (ie, your views are incorrect because/so you are under the spell of Sheldon Adelson, you are a racist, you have no second thoughts, etc.) I’m sure I am as guilty of making such accusations as the next person.
—Jonathan · July 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I am happy the soldiers are back and the families (and larger public) can have some sort of closure, but let’s be honest: the only way this exchange would not have been a victory for Hezbollah would have been if Israel had publicly executed Kuntar and dropped his body from a helicopter over a Hezbollah training camp.
—EV · July 17th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Justin:
1. Re: carpet bombing: I couldn’t open the first link. The subsequent four links you provided, however, make NO reference to carpet bombing.
2. my point was not that they COULD still do something like this, more that they carry themselves as IF they could… but didn’t. I am still baffled by this critique of Israel’s intelligence services. It just doesn’t make sense to me as written. So the intelligence services were posturing? How so? And if so, did you consider perhaps the tactical utility of such posturing? Are you really equipped to accurately assess the types of leaks, releases, etc. that the intelligence services may use in the course of these negotiations? Are you aware, for instance, that the Israeli gov’t’s stated intention last month to pronounce Regev and Goldwasser dead was perhaps merely a tactic to pressure Hezbollah, and was probably not based on any new intel at all? Again, I just don’t understand what you wanted/expected from Israel’s intelligence services other than a speedy return of the hostages (which we all wanted, and which by all accounts was no easy task).
3. You are no doubt in rabbinical school with some insensitive, and maybe even unintelligent, people. We are all surrounded by people like this, no matter what we do or where we live. Your classmate’s suggestion that the Jewish people collectively has come to terms with what Israel has done to the Palestinians lacks context. Perhaps he meant “when compared to Palestinians’ coming to terms with their measure of responsibility for the Arab-Israeli conflict”? Seems an undeniable fact. And as for your 2nd classmate’s unwillingness to venture into the W Bank, I’d say that’s unfortunate but hardly “RIDICULOUS”. But maybe they are both just insensitive, unthinking people. I dunno. What I do know is that your anecdotes about ignorant people do not justify my ceasing to “passionately defend” Israel.
4. re: LOL: I was “laughing out loud,” but not at you. More like to myself. Just internet frustration. It’s hard to read something that makes no sense to you and not be able to talk directly to the author. Your post was so full of contradictions that I was just overwhelmed. As for Kung Fu Jew, I admit my LOL in that case was indicative of some small bit of derision. When someone offers an enemy CIVILIAN body count as proof of a military victory, I don’t know what other reaction is even appropriate (disgust, I suppose, but I don’t know the internet abbreviation for that one).
—rootlesscosmo · July 17th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
EDIT: It was Kung Fu Jew who provided the subsequent news links re: cluster bombs. My apologies. Still, so far I haven’t seen any evidence of carpet bombing. But hey, who cares? Carpet bombing, racist Israelis, Finkelstein, Syrian toilet-flushing…
I’m hungry.
—rootlesscosmo · July 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Israel lost because of the massive erosion of trust between the leadership and the reservists. Those last three days…. man. Someone dig up the testimonies of people who lost friends those last few days, when Israel was trying to prolong the war to ‘teach those Hezzies a lesson’ but without any legitimate strategic military objective.
Israel lost the moment the former chief of staff went to the bank to engage in some war profiteering right after the decision to engage in war was taken.
—jew guevara · July 17th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
[...] Posted on July 18, 2008 by CPO In a depressing week dominated by posts about the prisoner swap deal with Hezbollah, where can one find solace? [...]
—Shabbat Surfing: Fashion, Turn to the Left « The Blog at 16th and Q · July 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
[...] who committed horrible acts of murder. I see anger at Hezbollah, and Lebanon. I even see anger at Israelis for being apathetic, at the least. (For more, click [...]
—Grief in short: Eldad & Ehud « Oy Bay! · July 24th, 2008 at 12:48 am