More destruction. In Gaza.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1868859,00.html?imw=Y

Israeli women are hot.

World peace may never happen, but at least Youtube comments suck everywhere.

I didn't even look that far down the page.

Why can't these guys just stop fighting? Don't they ever get sick of it?

EDIT: Just started catching up on my history... wow, kinda hard to pick a side.

I had a housemate for a couple of years. She was from Israel. She had served in the Army (as everyone does) and she's smoking hot.

I don't think women in Israel are conscripted?

They are.

Israel attacks an organization that exists solely to destroy Israel. And I'm supposed to be upset about this?

I can't feel any sympathy for the people of Palestine if they actually elect things like Hamas to lead them.

But I have faith for the only group of human beings that I believe to be God's Chosen people. They will triumph. If only America stopped wasting time on crap countries like Iraq and just bombed Iran, Lebanon and whatever to oblivion, their lives would be a lot merrier!

What a jolly way to ring in the New Year...

.

yeah, im not terribly torn up over Gaza being bombed. of course civilian losses are never a thing that i celebrate, however, Israel gave quite a bit of warning to civilians. also while in conventional warfare you might have military leaders meeting in isolated bunkers or hidden camps or whatever, very often with groups like hamas you will have leaders and other military targets hanging around in houses filled with their families.
they also seem to like to set up anything that could be a 'target' to Israel, like rocket launchers or morter launchers, in the middle of urban areas where if blown up there is almost guaranteed to be civilian casualties.

o israel

bein a dick again I see

Resolution 106: "...‘condemns’ Israel for Gaza raid"
Resolution 111: "...‘condemns’ Israel for raid on Syria that killed fifty-six people"
Resolution 127: "...‘recommends’ Israel suspend its ‘no-man’s zone’ in Jerusalem"
Resolution 162: "...‘urges’ Israel to comply with UN decisions"
Resolution 171: "...determines flagrant violations’ by Israel in its attack on Syria"
Resolution 228: "...‘censures’ Israel for its attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control"
Resolution 237: "...‘urges’ Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees"
Resolution 248: "...‘condemns’ Israel for its massive attack on Karameh in Jordan"
Resolution 250: "...‘calls’ on Israel to refrain from holding military parade in Jerusalem"
Resolution 251: "...‘deeply deplores’ Israeli military parade in Jerusalem in defiance of Resolution 250"
Resolution 252: "...‘declares invalid’ Israel’s acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital"
Resolution 256: "...‘condemns’ Israeli raids on Jordan as ‘flagrant violation"
Resolution 259: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s refusal to accept UN mission to probe occupation"
Resolution 262: "...‘condemns’ Israel for attack on Beirut airport"
Resolution 265: "...‘condemns’ Israel for air attacks for Salt in Jordan"
Resolution 267: "...‘censures’ Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem"
Resolution 270: "...‘condemns’ Israel for air attacks on villages in southern Lebanon"
Resolution 271: "...‘condemns’ Israel’s failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem"
Resolution 279: "...‘demands’ withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon"
Resolution 280: "....‘condemns’ Israeli’s attacks against Lebanon"
Resolution 285: "...‘demands’ immediate Israeli withdrawal form Lebanon"
Resolution 298: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s changing of the status of Jerusalem"
Resolution 313: "...‘demands’ that Israel stop attacks against Lebanon"
Resolution 316: "...‘condemns’ Israel for repeated attacks on Lebanon"
Resolution 317: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s refusal to release Arabs abducted in Lebanon"
Resolution 332: "...‘condemns’ Israel’s repeated attacks against Lebanon"
Resolution 337: "...‘condemns’ Israel for violating Lebanon’s sovereignty"
Resolution 347: "...‘condemns’ Israeli attacks on Lebanon"
Resolution 425: "...‘calls’ on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon"
Resolution 427: "...‘calls’ on Israel to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon’
Resolution 444: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s lack of cooperation with UN peacekeeping forces"
Resolution 446: "...‘determines’ that Israeli settlements are a ‘serious obstruction’ to peace and calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention"
Resolution 450: "...‘calls’ on Israel to stop attacking Lebanon"
Resolution 452: "...‘calls’ on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories"
Resolution 465: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s settlements and asks all member states not to assist Israel’s settlements program"
Resolution 467: "...‘strongly deplores’ Israel’s military intervention in Lebanon"
Resolution 468: "...‘calls’ on Israel to rescind illegal expulsions of two Palestinian mayors and a judge and to facilitate their return"
Resolution 469: "...‘strongly deplores’ Israel’s failure to observe the council’s order not to deport Palestinians"
Resolution 471: "...‘expresses deep concern’ at Israel’s failure to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention"
Resolution 476: "...‘reiterates’ that Israel’s claims to Jerusalem are ‘null and void’
Resolution 478: "...‘censures (Israel) in the strongest terms’ for its claim to Jerusalem in its ‘Basic Law’
Resolution 484: "...‘declares it imperative’ that Israel re-admit two deported Palestinian mayors"
Resolution 487: "...‘strongly condemns’ Israel for its attack on Iraq’s nuclear facility"
Resolution 497: "...‘decides’ that Israel’s annexation of Syria’s Golan Heights is ‘null and void’ and demands that Israel rescind its decision forthwith"
Resolution 498: "...‘calls’ on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon"
Resolution 501: "...‘calls’ on Israel to stop attacks against Lebanon and withdraw its troops"
Resolution 509: "...‘demands’ that Israel withdraw its forces forthwith and unconditionally from Lebanon"
Resolution 515: "...‘demands’ that Israel lift its siege of Beirut and allow food supplies to be brought in"
Resolution 517: "...‘censures’ Israel for failing to obey UN resolutions and demands that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanon"
Resolution 518: "...‘demands’ that Israel cooperate fully with UN forces in Lebanon"
Resolution 520: "...‘condemns’ Israel’s attack into West Beirut"
Resolution 573: "...‘condemns’ Israel ‘vigorously’ for bombing Tunisia in attack on PLO headquarters
Resolution 587: "...‘takes note’ of previous calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and urges all parties to withdraw"
Resolution 592: "...‘strongly deplores’ the killing of Palestinian students at Bir Zeit University by Israeli troops"
Resolution 605: "...‘strongly deplores’ Israel’s policies and practices denying the human rights of Palestinians
Resolution 607: "...‘calls’ on Israel not to deport Palestinians and strongly requests it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention
Resolution 608: "...‘deeply regrets’ that Israel has defied the United Nations and deported Palestinian civilians"
Resolution 636: "...‘deeply regrets’ Israeli deportation of Palestinian civilians
Resolution 641: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s continuing deportation of Palestinians
Resolution 672: "...‘condemns’ Israel for violence against Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount
Resolution 673: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s refusal to cooperate with the United Nations
Resolution 681: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s resumption of the deportation of Palestinians
Resolution 694: "...‘deplores’ Israel’s deportation of Palestinians and calls on it to ensure their safe and immediate return
Resolution 726: "...‘strongly condemns’ Israel’s deportation of Palestinians
Resolution 799: "...‘strongly condemns’ Israel’s deportation of 413 Palestinians and calls for their immediate return.

what else is new

Most of the casualties have been militants, but Hamas wants civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis in order to get the media on their side. That's why they set up weapons in civilian areas.

Its amazing how this is the "Holy Land"

Cause those people hang out with innocent civilians resulting in unpleasantness all round.

I can't really think of a good solution to this problem. Even if Israel did totally withdraw and was started sending aid and everything into Palatine, they'd still be attacked by idiots who want to wipe Israel off the map. I think if Hamas stopped the violence, Israel would sooner or later stop bombing and laying siege to Palatine, but even if they wanted to I don't think that they could totally end violence against Israel. There are too many people who are will to act on their own to screw with Israel.

I don't think Israel is responding well, but then I didn't grow up in a country that was constantly being attacked by terrorists. If I didn't I'd probably have a lot of irrational hatred and frustrating toward people who may not be involved in the attacks. I don't think Israel's attitude is right, but it pretty understandable. Then again, Israel has to do something, and I'm not exactly an expert. There are far too many people who are shocked that war, does in fact, result in loss of life.

Also, the UN continues to demonstrate is impotence. Remind me, why does it still exist?

God only knows, I've thought the UN totally pointless for a long time. Team America had the UN down to a T with the Hans Blix (I think that was his name) scene.

The UN is a hindrance to world peace now. They are all pansy-assed, when it should be pretty clear to everyone by now that the only peace some people will agree to is a peace where everyone else is dead.

I thought the UN was established to prevent war. They haven't done a very good job at that.

The UN was established to prevent another great depression from happening, as well as making sure another World War doesn't happen.

Apparently, small Genocide's (in comparison to war of course, no genocide is "small") don't count.

Most of the work the UN does is through specialised agencies and funds, like:
[URL="www.unicef.org"]United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)[/URL]
[URL="www.unesco.org"]United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) [/URL]
[URL="www.unep.org"]United Nations Environment Programme[/URL]
[URL="www.fao.org"]Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)[/URL]
[URL="www.wfp.org"]World Food Programme[/URL]
[URL="www.ilo.org"]International Labour Organization[/URL]
[URL="www.undp.org"]United Nations Development Programme[/URL]
[URL="www.unhcr.ch"]United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees[/URL]
[URL="www.ohchr.org"]Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights[/URL]
[URL="www.unifem.org"]United Nations Development Fund for Women[/URL]

Each of these organisations exists specifically to provide specialised aid around the world.

50 military conflicts around the world have been resolved as a result of UN peacekeeping operations, with 15 missions currently active. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the most translated document in the world, has helped bring political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights to people across the world. The United Nations was largely responsible for ending apartheid in South Africa and overseeing elections. The UN has provided aid for over 30 million refugees fleeing war and famine. The World Health Organization eradicated smallpox in 1980.

Clearing landmines, providing clean water, providing meteorological warnings, protecting ozone layer, improving sea and air travel, preventing over-fishing, improving global trade, protecting the rights of workers to organise, improving global communications, safeguarding historical sites, generating commitment to protect the safety of children.

These are all things that the UN does, and does better than anyone else.

A RAND Corp study compared peace-keeping efforts of the UN to the US and found that for UN operations 7 out of 8 cases are at peace while for the US only 4 out of 8 cases are at peace.1

With regards to UN involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict, it is the US that is constantly vetoing the suggestion of any UN intervention (and then US media complain that the UN isn't doing anything. what.) This is an incredibly complicated and difficult issue, and the UN is an organisation of sensible and reasonable discussion (not the garbled nonsense that inhabits this thread) and the only thing they can do for the moment is act on each conflict as it arises and provide aid to Palestine when possible. The arrogance and paranoia of Israel that is constantly supported by the US really isn't helping anyone. At some point, Israel is going to have to back down and accept that they are occupying lands that they have no claim to. They currently justify this as 'maintaining a security barrier', while the attacks they receive from resistance organisations are precisely in response to this occupation.

I hope they kill each other.

To be honest, this is Britain's fault. And Isreal's. And Palestines.
Oh i'm seeing a pattern emerge here.

if(getThingFlags(source) & 0x8){
  do her}
elseif(getThingFlags(source) & 0x4){
  do other babe}
else{
  do a dude}

Mort, for every pro you post for the United Nations (and I don't doubt them, they seem to be well documented) there are just as many cons.

For instance, the countries elected to the Human Rights Councils were prominent human rights abusers (apparently, blind eyes were turned towards places like Cuba, China, Nigeria, etc). Do I want these countries running a "human rights" council? I certainly don't. These are countries not only with histories of past human rights abuse, but CURRENT human rights abuse as well.

The UN made Zimbabwe the head of the "Sustainable Development" Commission. Should a country with the WORST INFLATION RATE ON EARTH really be heading that department? A country with some of the worst inflation and hunger problems really be heading the "sustainable development" commission?

The UN refused to send help/aid to Somalia just a couple days ago, arguing that there was "no peace to keep". It's true that when contacted, many countries just refused to send help there, and only 2 I think agreed to send troops. Even with this fact though, hasn't the UN and its intended purpose failed?

The UN has been around for a long while, and to me it seems there has been no real decrease in violent acts between countries. Whether or not you believe these are US caused are irrelevant, the UN still "failed" in their mission if they couldn't stop it.

I don't doubt anything you've posted. I sincerely believe the UN has done some good. But that does not mean that it's overall a good thing. There are some serious bearucratic problems with it, and they have shown that they have absolutely no clue what they are doing sometimes.

Why is no one concerned about Hamaas killing innocent civilians in suicide bombings and such? I mean, it works both ways. I know it doesn't justify Israel's actions, but at the same time, Hamaas is just as guilty.

As a Jew with family in Israel, I'm firmly of the belief that the only way this struggle will ever end is if one side or the other doesn't exist. That said, I hope that the Palestinians get the short end of the stick, so bombing Gaza seems like good news to me.

The US is better at doing the UN's job than the UN is.

heck yeah, well said

...except, it's not and demonstrably so. Read this. The US has a terrible record for nation-building and peacekeeping. The world doesn't want the US as a 'world police' because it isn't very good at it.

I agree, I don't think there will be a resolution.

The police aren't for rebuilding. The police are for going in and kicking the criminal's asses.

The US is the police. The UN is social services.

I see this as just another conflict of militant Palestinians versus an Israel with an understandably twitchy trigger finger. The difference is the militant Palestinians are more than just some rogue group now. They are the actual government. Their actions have even greater consequences and the need to change their modus operandi is even greater. However, it seems that they are not capable of changing into a stable establishment and have regressed into open violence against civilians. They reignited the fight and I have zero sympathy for Hamas. I have all the sympathy in the world for both the Palestinians and Israelis that wish for there to be peace and are stuck between two factions where peace will never exist.

edit: I was mistaken. Peace is not impossible. Israel and Egypt found peace, so it's obvious that it is possible.

Israel is no shining beacon of righteousness.

Their total lack of humanitarianism toward the innocent Palestinians is, frankly, horrifying.

Whose to say that these same things wouldn't just be happening under a different name anyways? Usually it's just a few major countries contributing anyways, so it's not like you'd need a world wide bureaucracy like that to get them done.

That sounds like it's more indicative of the type of missions that the UN does. It's likely that the sort of things that enough countries can get behind to intervene are probably going to be easier than the stuff that the US end up doing unilaterally. The US generally tries to get as much international/UN support before it goes in anyway, so that just means the ones the UN doesn't go on are usually harder. And don't forget the US is usually a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions anyway.

It seems like the UN is just a pointless bureaucracy that simple diplomacy would take care of much better.



This is just an endless cycle of provocation. It doesn't matter who started it. Israel doesn't really benefit from occupying adjacent countries. They just go rambo every time they are attacked, which probably isn't the best solution. Even if they withdrew now, they'd still get attacked. Maybe if they just took it over a course of twenty years, the militants might start loosing recruits, but it's unreasonable to expect that.

Also, Israel would easily defeat what ever token forces the UN would be able to put together to stop them. They have an extremely advanced, mobilized and determined military that has massive combat experience. The US would of course not contribute, and all of the nations willing to do so would never have the military ability or resolve to see it through.



Really? Because it's been all over the news. Also, it *is* a war. That's kind of what happens in war. War is bad.

War isn't a free pass to abuse your civilian populace, though.

Calling it 'war' makes any atrocity okay, if we were to belive Obi Kwiet.

Thanks for clearing that up. I can clearly see that you are a man of honor and integrity.

I think what Obi Kwiet is trying to say is that in war, civilian casualties are never unexpected. It has been proved that Hezbollah used human shields and placed weapons in civilian areas. That's where the real atrocity lies.

Also, in places like this, its hard to distinguish civilians from militants. When I say this, targets which can be considered civilian are supporters of the enemy. The message I think Israel is doing here is pretty much:

"since you're too much of a coward to fight properly, then we will punish your people, your supporters"

At least that's what I think

The ones that are little kids are probably a fair bet for the "not militants" column

Israelis don't kill people, God kills people.

While some sort of measure was probably necessary, the disproportionately aggressive air-raid campaign is in big part due to the upcoming elections and Ehud Barak's need to improve his standings in the polls by looking like a cool-headed, no-nonsense leader. In reality, he is a fat overrated egomaniac who destroyed the Labor party and tossed its social-democratic values out the window as soon as he won the primaries.