http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100531/ap_ ... lestinians

Israel commandos raided a flotilla from Turkey with activists and aid in international waters, with people from 32 nations+. At least 10 dead and 30+ wounded. Turkey is pissed. They pulled their ambassador from Israel then called a UN meeting. At the UN meeting the 15-member nations asked Israel to lift the Gaza blockade. And Turkey just sent another supply ship to Gaza. Israel will either back down or attack it again and risk war. But they've put themselves in a bad corner no matter what happens... Turkey was their closest Muslim ally. You'd think they'd back down but Israel has clearly lost its mind right now so who knows

Fuck Turkey!

It's time for a change we can believe in.

Turkey sez the next aid flotilla will be escorted by their navy. Hmm...

Not exactly the whole world as of last night, Obama wasn't making a statement.

But then President Obama was on celebrating the Memorial Day USA holiday.

Either escort the stupid aids this time or air drop the supplies with air escort.

No worries! Egypt opened up its border with Gaza.

BTW, how many of those of you who lashed out at Israel even knew that Egypt's border with Gaza was closed?

So pretty much a watered down no nothing response from the US.

Wonder if Obama would have been so cool about it if it was a US ship, with dead Americans on a peace going mission.

Anyway think a harsher statement should have been a given.

The US is not going to get in the way of two allies. It never has. Even TR probably wouldn't have.



Don't tell me you sympathize with Israel on this...

I'm sorry I forgot to run my sympathy check by you.

No, actually, scratch that, I'd love to hear a justification for this. Oh dear, they threw CHAIRS AND METAL RODS AT US after we dropped onto the ship at night on international waters? I thought the IDF was supposed to be badass, and Israel the beacon of civilization in the Middle East...

Not entirely sure what you're seeking justification for.

Is it the fact that Gaza is under naval blockade?
Is it the fact that the flotilla in question tried to break through it?
Is it the fact that Israel warned it not to?
Is it the fact that they did so anyway?
Is it the fact that Israel tried to stop it?
Is it the fact that people on the Turkish ship turned violent?
Is it the fact that Israeli soldiers responded to the violence?

Kill'em All!

Are you being glib? The blockade is illegal, not that Israel gives a shit about international law. The ship was attacked OUTSIDE OF ISRAELI WATERS. Sounds like a good reason to get violent. But seriously, they were fired at with automatic weapons, after attacking with metal rods and chairs. Are you saying the commandos are such pussies they can't take people that DON'T have automatic weapons? I bet you think Cortez versus the Indians was a fair fight. WHO THE FUCK thought bringing in trained killers was a good idea versus, say, riot police?

But hey, they were warned. That chick that got raped? She shouldn't have worn that.

Illegal? How so? Last I checked, Israel was at war with Gaza.


Irrelevant, under the law of blockade (though I don't understand why anyone would care about it).

I guess the commandos forgot to bring THEIR metal rods, chains and chairs.

Trained killers? These are soldiers. Do you always refer to soldiers like that or just when it comes to IDF? And I'm sorry, riot police? At sea? Umm, Ok!

Also I'm not sure who you're comparing to Indians here. The activists knew exactly what they were doing in seeking confrontation with Israel. Well, they got what they wanted.

You seriously need to understand what exactly is going there before jumping around frothing at the mouth at Israel. When was the last time David Paterson called on destruction of the state of Connecticut?

It's called collective punishment. Fourth Geneva Convention. Oh yeah, nobody cares about it. Nah, screw it, I'll drop it.

Also, it was INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Attacking a foreign-flagged ship in international waters is an act of war by any definition I've read. They were, what, seventy miles out in international waters?

Commandos *are* trained killers. That's why it's heavy-handed as hell to use them against a bunch of angry activists armed with metal bats and chairs. Why didn't they use tear gas or something? Why did they rope down into the middle of the crowd? These are IDF commandos, supposed badasses and highly effective. Who planned this?

Speaking of tear gas, it seems they did use it, but I can't seem to find a decent link or video. In which case, the hell happened? It seemed the planning for this was completely fucked. I'm sure musical chairs will get played for this.

Naval blockade is a part of war. Collective punishment of whom? Gaza residents? Well, they are the ones that elected Hamas, the group that calls on destruction of Israel, to power. So they are the ones to suffer consequences. Notice you don't see any other Arab states helping them out. Why is that?

It doesn't matter, since the ships were bound for Gaza and ignored repeated requests to turn around. You seem to be keen on bringing up the international law (which, like I said, I don't see why anyone would care about it), so why don't you actually read up on it?

You seem to be missing the point that this happened AT SEA. Jesus, it's not a fucking hard concept to understand!

It probably could've gone better, but could've gone worse too. What if the activists were actually armed - then it could've been much uglier for everyone.

The thing is, you're expecting Israel to apologize over this; it won't. The activists did their job - they brought international attention to Gaza blockade, but that doesn't mean that Israel will simply back off it now. In the eyes of Israelis they are in the right, so why should they back pedal now? It would just show weakness to Hamas and their sympathizers - which, make no mistake about it, those activists were.

So another ships on the way. More killings ahead. And Obama still will say nothing,???, as both are friends?

I don't expect the government of Israel to apologize, as they are entitled little shits, and always have been. If the intent was martyrdom, the Israelis played right into their hands, stupidly. They could have stopped that ship when it got into Israeli waters without turning it into a massacre.

Plus, as bad as Hamas is, I can see why a Palestinian would back them. Compare how the average person in Gaza lives to the average Israeli close by. That, and an occasional attack from a crummy rocket =/= white phosphorus and poor nutrition/access to meds. That being said, Hamas needs a boogeyman, and don't really want to drive Israel into the sea. They want power too, after all. If it wasn't for Israel, there would be no Hamas. Would they want that?

Please note when I said Israelis above, I mean the government. I think people forget the debate that rages internally there. Even with the many stunning problems with racism culturally.

Entitled little shits? Excuse me?

And no, the intent wasn't martyrdom, the intent was to highlight the naval blockade of Gaza. Well, guess what - they succeeded. Which doesn't take away from the fact that Israel was completely right to do what it did. You don't win wars by succumbing to the enemy.


Thanks for the laugh! I can only imagine that thought process: "well, Israelis live really well, so I guess we'll vote for the government that wants to destroy Israel". Yup, perfect logic. While you're in the explaining mode, pray tell me why it is that other Arab states are not supporting Gaza?

OK, makes sense! Let's get rid of Israel to get rid of Hamas. Oh wait, isn't that EXACTLY what they want?

How about Palestinians stop acting like little children and start acting in their own self-interest. Is that too much to ask?