more Lebanon

My only comment on this is that its more evidence that nothing will ever change and we're all going to hell in a handbasket.

USvsEuropeCoverage

You're right. I don't think I'll see peace in the Middle East in my lifetime, and I do expect my lifetime to be another 40 years or so.
This is a great article. Everyone should have to read it before making comments on the Middle East. It's amazing how much our perceptions and opinions are shaped by the media. Probably over 90% of my knowledge of the Middle East comes from CNN, Newsweek magazine, and CNN.com, and other similar outlets. It's always good to get news from a variety of sources for different perspectives. I can now see why so many British appear to be pro-Arab, or anti-Israeli.
Also true about Iraq fatigue setting in and Lebanon being "fresh news". Sad but true.

Sad thing but so true.

Two other facts : . They forgot to speak about Gaza. . The main difference with Iraq for TV viewers here : People speak French, not need of translator. Stupid comment maybe. To hear them talk about their sufferings in our native language makes a big difference. I do not know how to explain that really...

Shellshocker wrote: You're right. I don't think I'll see peace in the Middle East in my lifetime, and I do expect my lifetime to be another 40 years or so.
This is a great article. Everyone should have to read it before making comments on the Middle East. It's amazing how much our perceptions and opinions are shaped by the media. Probably over 90% of my knowledge of the Middle East comes from CNN, Newsweek magazine, and CNN.com, and other similar outlets. It's always good to get news from a variety of sources for different perspectives. I can now see why so many British appear to be pro-Arab, or anti-Israeli.
Also true about Iraq fatigue setting in and Lebanon being "fresh news". Sad but true.

I honestly think much of the "anti-Israeli" feeling in the UK has as much to do with standard British kneejeerk anti-Americanism as anything else. The current conflict in Lebanon has inflamed things, for sure, but it's Israel's connections with the U.S. that piss most people off.

CNN: Cheney Netanyahu Network

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote:

Shellshocker wrote: You're right. I don't think I'll see peace in the Middle East in my lifetime, and I do expect my lifetime to be another 40 years or so.
This is a great article. Everyone should have to read it before making comments on the Middle East. It's amazing how much our perceptions and opinions are shaped by the media. Probably over 90% of my knowledge of the Middle East comes from CNN, Newsweek magazine, and CNN.com, and other similar outlets. It's always good to get news from a variety of sources for different perspectives. I can now see why so many British appear to be pro-Arab, or anti-Israeli.
Also true about Iraq fatigue setting in and Lebanon being "fresh news". Sad but true.

I honestly think much of the "anti-Israeli" feeling in the UK has as much to do with standard British kneejeerk anti-Americanism as anything else. The current conflict in Lebanon has inflamed things, for sure, but it's Israel's connections with the U.S. that piss most people off.

Yeah, the US's connections with Israel seem to piss everyone off-especially the Muslims! Sometimes I think the easy thing to do would be for the US to ditch Israel and leave them on their own, but I don't think Israel would last very long under those circumstances.

D'oh! wrote: CNN: Cheney Netanyahu Network

FOX is even worse, seeing as how it's owned by Rupert Murdoch.
Bring back Ted Turner!

Shellshocker wrote:

D'oh! wrote: CNN: Cheney Netanyahu Network

FOX is even worse, seeing as how it's owned by Rupert Murdoch.
Bring back Ted Turner!

Thank god I don't get the FOX News channel. I would probably pull an Elvis.

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote:

I honestly think much of the "anti-Israeli" feeling in the UK has as much to do with standard British kneejeerk anti-Americanism as anything else. The current conflict in Lebanon has inflamed things, for sure, but it's Israel's connections with the U.S. that piss most people off.

It's not only the connection, I think. It's a general anger that Israel are being allowed to do what they want, because of that connection. It is the 'different set of rules' for this current conflict, going on.

95% of sovereign states want a ceasefire ASAP, but US and UK seem to have an agenda to allow the conflict to go on for a certain period of time, regardless of civilian casualties. Bush and Blair seem to be acting against the majority of their electorate; I know this is the case in the UK.

It is almost as if a deal was struck before the conflict started. Bush saying perhaps ' you can have a month 'hassle-free' to whoop their asses'. Don't worry about the UN etc etc.

To me, it stinks of deals being made, regardless of loss of life. Mind you, so was Iraq.

All this seems to fit well to the "Yo Blair" communication sequence.

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote:

Shellshocker wrote: You're right. I don't think I'll see peace in the Middle East in my lifetime, and I do expect my lifetime to be another 40 years or so.
This is a great article. Everyone should have to read it before making comments on the Middle East. It's amazing how much our perceptions and opinions are shaped by the media. Probably over 90% of my knowledge of the Middle East comes from CNN, Newsweek magazine, and CNN.com, and other similar outlets. It's always good to get news from a variety of sources for different perspectives. I can now see why so many British appear to be pro-Arab, or anti-Israeli.
Also true about Iraq fatigue setting in and Lebanon being "fresh news". Sad but true.

I honestly think much of the "anti-Israeli" feeling in the UK has as much to do with standard British kneejeerk anti-Americanism as anything else. The current conflict in Lebanon has inflamed things, for sure, but it's Israel's connections with the U.S. that piss most people off.

Personally the whole thing ties my stomach in knots, not least because various family members feel equally passionately on opposite sides of this mess (not least 'cos of their having different ethnicities). Also it sometimes feels that while one _has_ to have an opinion on something in which so many people are suffering, in order to know what you are talking about you have to make studying the topic a full time occupation (all those big fat books sitting on my books shelf I haven't been able to face reading, 'proving' one side or the other is right). I was bought up to be anti-Zionist, but the more one learns about the business the harder it is to know what to think. Its tempting to just think thank God I'm not Jewish or Muslim, Arab or Israeli and am not obliged to pick sides.

But then you get right wing muslim-hating Americans (or mad Christian fundies who think Israel must exist in order that it can later be destroyed in line with biblican prophecy) mouthing off about it, which provokes me in return.

D'oh! wrote:

Shellshocker wrote:

D'oh! wrote: CNN: Cheney Netanyahu Network

FOX is even worse, seeing as how it's owned by Rupert Murdoch.
Bring back Ted Turner!

Thank god I don't get the FOX News channel. I would probably pull an Elvis.

You're going to eat a lot of peanut butter and banana sandwhiches?

jon stewart did a great piece about american indifference towards the people in the middle east. he showed a number of clips of newsreaders talking about how americans were soon going to 'feel this conflict right at home...at the pumps,' and then explained how gasoline pumps were the true centre of american empathy, demonstrated by a 'ring' emanating from the pumps; the closer one comes to a gasoline pump, the more one cares about the loss of life in the middle east.

seriously. watch CNN, MSNBC or, if absolutely necessary, FOX, and count how many times they mention how the war in the middle east will affect americans 'at the pumps,' god forbid.

AgentWood wrote: jon stewart did a great piece about american indifference towards the people in the middle east. he showed a number of clips of newsreaders talking about how americans were soon going to 'feel this conflict right at home...at the pumps,' and then explained how gasoline pumps were the true centre of american empathy, demonstrated by a 'ring' emanating from the pumps; the closer one comes to a gasoline pump, the more one cares about the loss of life in the middle east.

seriously. watch CNN, MSNBC or, if absolutely necessary, FOX, and count how many times they mention how the war in the middle east will affect americans 'at the pumps,' god forbid.

Meanwhile petrol floats in the Mediterranean sea. I do not know the exact word in English, we call it a "black tide". I do not want to know who is the fool who bombed the pipeline or the tanks (otherwise I would kill him) but here, as a result, a sea shared by many countries which are not involved in this war are concerned. Still it is far from the French coast, it is in OUR sea and all the Mediterranean countries should ban the one which is at the origin of this new pollution. Thank you for this preventive war !!!

Jiphy wrote: I do not want to know who is the fool who bombed the pipeline or the tanks (otherwise I would kill him)

I'm not telling tales, but it was Israel!

Here's the story

This is interesting - claims that Isreal planned this offensive long ago and were just waiting for an excuse (which they then provoked be breaking international conflict laws, violating airspace agreements and generally being an irritating boil on the region's backside).

George Monbiot

Amnesty international (nz) does good work. human rights action. amnesty international is one of the honest charities around, i applaud their boldness, and empathetic compassion. i just wish i could do more myself. i love people,,,we are all one. anyway

this shit sucks