Redstate

I've never understood that calculus.  If I steal $5 from you and the law limits your redress to the amount stolen then you're going to have to catch me 100% of the time.  Otherwise it makes economic sense for me to steal $5 as often as I can.

Another oddity is the absolute idiocy of the terrorist groups jonesing for "prisoner" exchanges.  If they demand 100 people for everyone 1 they return then they are practically forcing Israel to stockpile for barter.  Not to mention that it utterly debases the value of your comrades....

Israel: Release our guy and we'll give you Jobu.

Jihadis: No way!  Your guy is worth 50 Jobus!

Jobu: Excuse me?

Haven't the terrorists already set up the exchange rate?  Isn't it exactly proportionate to kill 100 terrorists for every IDF soldier killed?

Their rotating president in Finland condemns Israel as making 'disproportionate response.'  Meaning, I guess, that Israel is only allowed to respond to kidnappings with like kidnappings.

Pathetic.

who blocked Bolton's confirmation, and kudos to GWB for having the cojones to make the recess appointment.

...that line gave me a chill.  I can imagine a future in which, aside from some constant allies like the Aussies, an alarmed and assertive Japan, and the odd plucky little places like El Salvador, Fiji, and Denmark -- you know, "the coerced and the bribed" -- we are indeed alone in facing the Islamofascist menace foursquare.

--furious

...with the help of Islamofascist terror, which has struck both in Chechnya and out.

.. I am to the left. But I agree with the general tone: When it comes to security matters--especially security matters relating to democractic countries--the UN is worse than useless.

I certainly hope this situation doesn't spiral out of the control, but really, what do people expect Israel to do in this case? Frankly, the UN should be thanking Israel for not flattening more of Beirut by now, or giving that city a Grozny-style makeover (ask Putin what I'm talking about).

I think the USA missed at least a few chances over the past 60 years to steer the UN in a better direction. But that doesn't matter much now. That we were the only veto on this is simply amazing, and lengthens a shameful list that includes, but is not limited to, the countries allowed to lead human rights efforts.

I don't often agree with Bush lately, and certainly don't support 100% everything Israel does, but I think Bush said it right today when pointing out Israel has a right to defend herself.

with regard to the status of Chechnya, that is not the point. It's the "severity" of the Israeli response that irks the Russians since the Israelis have no intention of taking Lebanon. And that was my point.If the Russians don't like "harsh" responses, let them remember that in Chechnya as well.

I mean, seems like these other countries are sending these people to America for some reason... hehe.

Oh, wait... they're supposed to REPRESENT those nations?  I weep for the fate of the rest of the world.

and bravo on the veto, United Nitwits be damned.

After what they've done in Chechnya, after publicly gloating on how they hunted down and killed the Chechen terrorist leader, they have the chutzpah to crticise Israel for trying to do the same (with much more care for civilians btw)?

I'm convinced that if Hitler II would stand up today the world would stand by and do nothing, just as it did last time.

...there goes the Cedar Revolution, which may have been Hezbo..., er, Syr..., I mean Iran's plan all along.

--furious

notice how fast they can get a resolution moving when it is anti-Israel, and how (expletive removed in deference to the posting guidelines) slow they are about Iran, Iraq, or any OTHER Islamic state?

A more accurate comment would be "So much for Oslo and the entire Clinton effort at bringing stability instead of bringing justice."

http://www.free-lebanon.com/

It begins:

Dear Mr. Prime Minister [Olmert],

It was about time,

We Lebanese congratulate you on your recent actions against the Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon. We urge you to hit them hard and destroy their terror infrastructure. It is not Israel who is fed up with this situation, but the majority of the silent Lebanese in Lebanon who are fed up with Hezbollah and are powerless to do anything out of fear of terror retaliation.

Isn't it interesting how quickly the UN can get a resolution out when it condemns Isreal, but it takes months to even begin to move on an Arab country, or Iran, or N. Korea, or Syria.  I think we should start an national initiative to shut down the U.N, or at least move it to a Muslim country, where the delegates can't live "on us" in N.Y.  Make them move to an African country, where "living ain't easy" and we'll see how many continue to want to be delegates. Turn the U.N. building into a homeless shelter.

The sound of crickets chirping.......

Because your leadoff pitch was what we usually only see in BP, nobody wants to bother hitting it out of the park.  That's boring.

Today I'm your tour guide.  Please start with the Posting Rules.

Read them.  Let me repeat.  Read.  Them.   They are easy to understand, at least by adults.  I am using small words so you'll understand.  The comment you made was stupid, wrong factually, and apparently tossed out just to annoy people.

This ain't dkos.  By contrast, this is a political site where ideas are discussed, debated, and argued, occaionally vehemently, but always respectfully.  What you have is not an idea but a lefty talking point that has (as is usual) no factual basis whatsoever.  Get an idea.  Then come and maybe trot it out for the adults to look at, and see what we think.

Otherwise, your very short and undistinguished existence here will be gone and forgotten before the next week starts.

 

in response to the possibility of Russian invasion?

I notice they haven't signed the ban on land mines.  

But these condemnations are nothing but air.  That's all those countries really have to offer anyone - talk.

Stalin was Hitler II as Hitler was being Hitler I.

...Chechnya is part of Russia that is trying to break away...

pretty much like that now, no?

(Russia's mock-outrage, I mean by the title of this post)

I understood your point, but Russia's counter-"point" would be what I wrote up there...

when someone asked what the US could do regarding the battle between Israel and Hesbolah, all the US can do to support in this battle is VETO any UN Security Council resolutions against Israel. VIOLA! Bolton steps up and does just that!

then I'd say the Israelis are getting a bargain but it's still counterproductive for the jihadis.  Makes for good headlines in their media I guess.

As for what's proportionate I think that just depends on the delicate sensibilities of Western political elites.  Politics of emotion and all that.  If it was all neat and tidy and Israel could take out only the terrorists 100:1 might be acceptable to the moral police.  Though I wouldn't bet on it.

Bolton is the best UN Ambassador we've ever had.

to troll. Blam.

Whoever said that was the plan?

It's Outta Here!

...and Geo. Voinovich.  John Bolton stands up to a feckless UN Security Council for an American ally, and you couldn't even allow his nomination a floor vote.

Remember in November!  Vote Democrat...and the Terrorists Win!

--furious

is howling anew about Bolton's recess appointment.

to stabilize the Middle East by attacking Iraq.

going to officiate a treaty with Israel? After all, we're pretty much israel's keeper; may as well legalize our allience for the whole world to see.

or just rusty.  This was supposed to be in reply to Neil above rather than a new thread.  Sorry.

I wonder how the UN would respond if Israel decided to start kidnapping people, demanding prisoner releases, and then beheading the captives on video?

With us, it only takes one vote to send these silly resolutions into oblivion.

Thanks, Amb Bolton.

That's what Italy did anyway, right?

John Bolton can't smile without it representing Presdient Bush and the offical US policy.

Hey, isn't the UN supposed to prevent things like this from ever happening?

What a joke.  What a flat out joke.