Reply #25: Sorry...we can't have it both ways

[JM]

I find it incredibly ironic at how many people argue that the Palestinians, specifically those in Gaza and under Hamas "leadership", are somehow the good guys and Israel is somehow the bad bully, considering what the U.S. and our allies do around the world with our support. Pot meet kettle.

Consider these points for a moment.

Iran has consistently saber rattled and antagonized their neighbors, now with the threat of nuclear weapons. We along with many other countries, created an embargo of goods and services against Iran. How is this any different than Israel creating an embargo against a body of people whose leadership publicly espouses the destruction of Israel? Isn't this better than an outright attack? So what if Israel created an embargo? I would much rather see that than what we are seeing now. Better the chance that the people in Gaza would realize that if they sided with Fatah, they would be better off than to go immediately to bloodshed.

I find it ironic that despite the embargo on Gaza, there is money available to purchase and smuggle in supplies from Egypt. I find it even more ironic that the Hamas leadership has chosen to spend limited funds on weaponry rather than other supplies like food and medicine. Anyone willing to blame that on the Israelis? I don't see Israel telling Hamas to buy weaponry.

Is there any reason anyone here can think of as to why the Israelis have continued negotiation with Abbas, leader of Fatah, while this Gaza operation is expanding? Could it be because Fatah and the Palestinians of the West Bank are not busying themselves with lobbing rockets indiscriminately into Israel?

Put yourself in the same position. Do you think if some rogue drug cartel starting firing rockets from Mexico into Tucson, do you honestly think anyone in the US would be saying "gee, perhaps we ought to be negotiating"?. I doubt it. We would be doing the same thing with even less warning.

Nobody is really willing to sit idly by while being shot at, no matter what the situation. Nonetheless we seem to be perfectly willing to find others wrong despite the fact we would act in the same way in the same situation.

JM