Dear Israeli Government: KINDLY SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

[backscatter712]

A few days ago, as the revolution in Egypt started, Israel implied that Egyptians were not ready for democracy - that's right, democracy can only be handled by civilized people - dirty brown people can't handle it and need military dictatorship instead.

Netanyahu literally said "I’m not sure the time is right for the Arab region to go through the democratic process." He literally said this.

Now, they're telling the U.S. and other countries to lay off that poor picked-on Mubarak. Just because he's murdered and tortured thousands of his own citizens in his medieval dungeons doesn't mean he shouldn't be respected as a man of peace...

I've got a response



Yeah, I know, I'll be called anti-semitic in 3...2...1...

[monmouth]

1. HA! Your recs would indicate a lot of us agree with you...LOL...n/t

[Dennis Donovan]

2. .

...and rec'd.

[malaise]

4. Ditto

with butter

[Maine-ah]

115. same here but with something to wash it down with

[RandomThoughts]

3. Actually Saudi common family thinks the same thing.

As do the Bush family, as do many people that think they are elites. The Bilderbergs, and many others think that also.

The concept is how to justify 'ruling' a people. Some use some system of rules they don't follow, or claims to authority based on something else. If it was true the people had to be ruled, then things would not be messed up. And I would have the beer and travel money that is due, because they would not have totally messed up on that.

The truth is there are ways to remove peoples choices in who is in a ruling systems by secrecy and deception, not that they can not rule.

However that requires a few steps, like secrecy and making the people dumb 'fox news' and fake History channel shows.


I made that argument already, you have to bring the people with you, even if government that is not totalitarian is not as good for production, it is better then one where an aristocracy forms its own group, then keeps people down, since that leads to consolidations and corruption.

Already explained that.

If people can't rule themselves, that is societies problem, and guess what, the aristocracy does a piss poor job of running society, since they are the exact same as those people they say can't rule themselves, except maybe for the superiority complex problem.

Aristocracy can administrate the rule, but not make the legislation or decide on social direction, that is for the people, then from there you have to educate, and have systems that allow for breaking bad PR systems for secrecy and deception for totalitarianism.

That is also why some think they are the adults and others children, and that is funny.

[ThomCat]

15. Ruling elites would prefer that they choose who rules.

They prefer that the CIA be in charge of any changes in government, so that they can be in charge of installing the new figure head.

They hate it, absolutely despise it that "the people" are daring to have a voice! Oh My!

The one thing you can be absolutely sure of, is that the ruling elite of every nation will agree that the lowly people of any nation should never, ever be allowed to rise up and speak.

[Can of Whoop-ass]

87. Ruling elitist,

Russian Jewish Princess, World renowned author, Sarah Palin says Israel is having a WTF moment!

[karynnj]

99. Palin is neither Jewish or Russian - calling her that is unacceptable

[Kurovski]

128. Christian Identity Movement...

They believe they are the chosen people, the real "jews".

It's what they believe, and it's not out of line to point out the reality of that nutso fact.

http://carm.org/christian-identity-movement

[karynnj]

131. They still would not call themselves Russian Jewish princesses

[Kurovski]

134. it is a messy mix of insults, I'll give you that.

But there is a part of the Tea Party that does indeed see her as a jewish warrior-princess, in a very cock-eyed way. (I can't figure out where the Russian part comes in.)

"Anglo Israelism (also known as British Israelism) is the belief that the British and, therefore, the Americans and Canadians, are the true descendants of the ancient Israelites — the 10 lost tribes. The present Jews in Israel are really a false group descended from Cain. Identity believers usually act out their faith through social, military, and political agendas."

Yes, "political agendas".

[cali]

101. wtf? stupid crap.

[Kurovski]

130. Tell it to Sarah P.

Here's the stupid crap: http://carm.org/christian-identity-movement

[bvar22]

104. The CIA......or Diebold.

[abq e streeter]

5. As a Jew who HAS seen what I consider anti-Semitic posts here, I am in 100% agreement with your OP.

Netanyahu is a despicable asshole, and I wholeheartedly endorse your "suggestion" that he STFU.

[backscatter712]

7. Thank you!

[DLnyc]

16. I certainly second that.

Bibi has an uncanny ability to find a pile of shit and then put his foot right into the middle of it. I believe it was his OWN ADVICE that Israeli officials should NOT COMMENT. Of course, he couldn't keep his own mouth shut.

[Raksha]

22. +2 from another Jew who agrees with the OP 100%,

and also agrees that Netanyahu is a despicable asshole.

[stevenleser]

47. +3 I actually wrote an article begging the Israelis not to elect that asshole n/t

[karynnj]

100. +4 - this is not anti-semitic in the least - his comment is appalling nt

[HankyDubs]

44. As a ham and cheese sandwitch Jew

I also endorse this point of view.

Fuck you Netanyahoo! You're a fucking shanda!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

113. Haha! I had to look that word up when I heard it on "Curb Your Enthusiasm". nt

[Enthusiast]

75. LOL!

[devilgrrl]

111. As a Schikseh I could not agree more with your assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu.

A total douchenozzle.

[Barack_America]

6. Bibi represents the people of Israel poorly...

...in every way possible.

[Catherina]

8. +1 n/t

[Modern_Matthew]

9. I second that sentiment. n/t

[CTyankee]

10. And there are plenty of Jews in Israel and here who think Nethanyahu is "out there."

This should be pointed out again and again, don't you think?

[backscatter712]

11. Good point! n/t

[Kalyke]

Just like there are plenty of Southerners who don't agree with

RepubliTealiban rule!

[stevenleser]

49. Yep.

Both times he was in power he has moved Israel in the wrong direction at warp speed.

[damntexdem]

12. Since you want someone to shut up, you must be anti-semantic.

Israel is prone to pride itself as being the only ME democracy. But of course it opposes a movement for democracy elsewhere in the ME. I guess it's afraid of a little competition. In fact, it's afraid of losing its lapdog, Mubarak. And it has yet to demonstrate that it could remain a democracy if its current policies result in a Palestinian majority in Israel itself.

[robinlynne]

13. I'm Jewish. I don't see anything anti-semitic in your post. nada. and I k&r.

[DCKit]

14. Just another nail in Mubarak's coffin.

Maybe Dick and Georgie can go on record as well and seal his fate.

[DissedByBush]

17. Don't be so fast to condemn the sentiment

Omar Sharif, an Egyptian, said basically the same thing about Arabs.

[blondeatlast]

20. wow, did he become a head of state too? those actors have all the luck! nt

[Kalyke]

31. While I love Omar Sharif because my name came from his

most famous movie, I would kindly tell Omar that I spoke the local Taco Bell manager, Yousari, today and he is from Egypt. He is both thrilled with the revolution, but saddened at any loss of live and/or that this had to happen this way.

So, Omar, listen to your poorest countrymen, would ya?

[AlbertCat]

58. because my name came from his most famous movie,

Your name is "Funny Girl"?????

[BlueMTexpat]

59. LOL - perhaps "Lawrence" or "Zhivago" instead ... nt

[Kalyke]

139. I don't think that was his most famous movie.

I realize Babs was in that one, but I think he's known for another movie that eclipsed that one.

[Sonoman]

18. Israel would simply rather have the status quo than the Unknown.

Israel got along fine with Iran when the Shah was in, but when he was gone it was quite a different story.

Personally, I don't give a shit what Israel thinks, but the above is the root behind their official stance.

Mubarak is horrible, but who is to know who will come next?

Sonoman

[savannah43]

37. Israel is worried about all the weapons the US sold

to Egypt ending up in the hands of those hostile to them. As they should be.

[aquart]

66. Cheers you right up, does it?

I assume Egypt plans to go on without Mubarak, Israel, America, or American aid money? Fine by me. Let China, that bastion of liberty, support the new regime, whatever it is.

In only a few days, the Gaza border will be thrown open and Egyptians will embrace their Palestinian brothers in joyous liberty!

I'm quite looking forward to it.

[sabrina 1]

80. Yes, I think that is the plan, to finally rid themselves of

a treasonous, brutal dictator who sold his people out for power and money. It's way past time.

Have the Egyptian people murdered any peace-keepers lately, or slaughtered over one thousand mostly unarmed women and children in their homes and schools? Speaking of being responsible with weapons.

We'll see how responsible they are I suppose. But it would take some time for them to catch up with the two countries you mention, this one and Israel in terms of a body count.

Meantime I hope they do join the Palestinians, the Tunisians and anyone else who gets their freedom from oppression in one big celebration for democracy.

[defendandprotect]

103. The people to be feared are the weapons makers -- US/Israel --

US and Israeli weapons production is so closely intertwined as to almost be

impossible to tell them apart.

[sabrina 1]

136. Seems that way, but it's all being exposed now. The U.S.

has lost so much credibility over its lopsided support for Israel when they were doing wrong. I don't think that respect can be retrieved and will begin to damage the U.S. as the world moves away from these authoritarian regimes, including the current Govt. of Israel, and towards democracy.

[defendandprotect]

140. Agree: The people's movement toward democracy is ongoing --

but we have a slight interruption here in America with the rise of the

Fourth Reich at the moment!!

Hang on!!

[sabrina 1]

143. Yes, we do have our own problems that need to be sorted out

I wonder how long we'll have to wait?

[defendandprotect]

144. Well ....

doubt the elites/right wing can let this thing in Egypt actually be successful ...

would give too many of us ideas!!

[sabrina 1]

145. You're right, I am hoping that the people can do it ins spite of them.

[tomp]

73. because these arab can't handle weapons like israel can.....

....just like they can't handle democracy.

[blondeatlast]

19. A-effin'-men! k/r

[totodeinhere]

21. I was with you until you added your own hyperbole.

Of course he did not say "dirty brown people can't handle it and need military dictatorship instead." Those are your words, not his. And of course, truth be told, many Jews also are brown people.

[backscatter712]

29. Hey, I call it how I see it.

People like Netanyahu do see Arabs, especially Palestinians, as "dirty brown people" and treat them like animals.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

64. Umm are most jews now considered white or something?

Tell that to the white supremacists and see what they'd tell you.

[Skeeve]

90. If more than 50% is "most"

then yes, they are. Jews from Europe. Search Jewish demographics and you'll be surprised how many brown Jews there are.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

110. Most are lighter skinned than Palestinians

I understand that. However, they don't benefit from white privilege or anything.

[Raksha]

112. Not quite true. Fair-skinned Ashkenazim do benefit from white privilege

in the sense that they are able to conceal their Jewishness when necessary. If they don't know already, we don't have to tell 'em. Very often in our history, being able to pass as a gentile has been literally a matter of life and death. Ever heard of the Marranos?

[leftynyc]

69. Same here

It's the height of dishonesty that while you're insisting someone STFU you actually use the words they have said rather than what's in your head. Tell those Ethiopian Jews Israel saved that Bibi hates brown people. Stupid comment.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

23. I even heard Barbara Walters defend the Shah of Iran & compared him with Mubarak in a good ligh

The Shah was a fucking MONSTER!

[Enthusiast]

76. Barbara Wa Wa

has been part of the world wide right wing propaganda mechanism for more than 50 fucking years. It is growing old and stale, as she is.

[martymar64]

79. The same Barbara Walters that was buddy buddy with Roy Cohn?

I really think she is a poor judge of character. She is a chump when it comes to being charmed by right wing thugs.

[Politicalboi]

24. Bush or Mubark

Now, they're telling the U.S. and other countries to lay off that poor picked-on Mubarak. Just because he's murdered and tortured thousands of (innocent Iraqi's) his own citizens in his medieval dungeons doesn't mean he shouldn't be respected as a man of peace...

We give Bush the same cover.

[madokie]

25. Thanks for saying what needed to be said

rec

[Kalyke]

26. Wife of a Jew, ex-wife of an Arab: both are Semitic.

And, both would agree that your post is SPOT ON.

(FWIW, I divorced the "Arab" because of his extra-marital activities - filed fault divorce and won - had nothing to do with his religion).

[cali]

30. sigh. anti-semitisim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Semitism#Etymology_an...

beyond that, I see nothing anti-semitic in the OP.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nye Bevan]

27. Please. Criticism of the Israeli government does *not* imply anti-semitism (nt)

[elias7]

28. While the OP may not be anti-semitic, it is anti-something

First, you provide no link to any documentation, you merely conclude that "Israel implied that Egyptians were not ready for democracy" based on what you have read, which is OK.

But then you falsely equate that statement with "that's right, democracy can only be handled by civilized people", which is your quote, and derogatory, and then throw in an even more disgusting statement "dirty brown people can't handle it and need military dictatorship instead",which is again, your quote, not Netanyahu's. You are putting your own spin on an idea because you believe that's what Netanyahu is thinking.

There's something wrong with that.

The quote I'm getting from Netanyahu is, "Our concern is that when there are rapid changes, without all aspects of a modern democracy in place, what will happen - and it has happened already in Iran - will be the rise of an oppressive regime of radical Islam," Netanyahu told a press conference.

And this is a perfectly reasonable point.

Your placing such a slant on comments either means I haven't seen the comments you have, or you're just loving yourself a cup of I hate Israel

[TomClash]

34. A Cabinet Minister said

"Having said that, I'm not sure the time is right for the Arab region to go through the democratic process."

And then he said - "You can't make it with elections, especially in the current situation where radical elements, especially Islamist groups, may exploit the situation," he says. "It might take a generation or so. " (Is the Arab world ready for democracy?)


http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20110128/wl_time/085992044...

Netanyahu never repudiated this publicly. What exactly do you think that means?

[elias7]

40. Sorry, but I agree with the sentiment, and would regardless of who they were talking about

Again, you are putting words in Netanyahu's mouth "Is the Arab world ready for Democracy?".

That's not what he said.

The statement that radical islamist groups may exploit the situation is not without historical precedent (most recently, see Palestinians and Hamas). "It may take a generation or two" is a historically reasonable and accurate statement.

While you may not agree with the official statements Israel has offered, there is nothing in them that warrants such vitriol and anger. They are measured, historically contextual, and more realistic, perhaps, than we are with regard to Afghanistan and Iraq. The "shut the fuck up" mentality is decidedly biased, as evidenced by the qualifying statements that both you and the OP use.

Let me ask you, why or why not is this the appropriate time for the Arab region to go through the democratic process. Please present both sides of the argument prior to your conclusion, and prior to your lambasting of the side you disagree with.

[TomClash]

41. Reading is fundamental

I said a Cabinet Minister said "Having said that, I'm not sure the time is right for the Arab region to go through the democratic process."

And then he said - "You can't make it with elections, especially in the current situation where radical elements, especially Islamist groups, may exploit the situation," he says. "It might take a generation or so. " (Is the Arab world ready for democracy?)

The last sentence was written BY THE JERUSALEM POST, not me.

[howaboutme]

54. Another day, another month, another year of the status quo

is something that those in the superior position will always promote.

[TomClash]

93. Exactly right

The notion that Poles and Czechs in 1990 were "ready for democracy" but Egyptians in 2011 are not strikes me as strange.

This argument is not about what Egypt is ready for - it's about what Israel wants.

[VermeerLives]

95. Thank you (n/t)

[sabrina 1]

83. Was it reasonable for the Israelis to advise Mubarak to 'crack

down hard' on the protesters?

I agree with the OP, Israel's government officials should STFU and tend to their own democracy, which needs some fixing, as does this one. Starting with withdrawing support for every rotten dictator we are currently supporting aside from Mubarak.

[JDPriestly]

32. Why Israel?

Following the defeat of Nazi Germany, the world learned of the staggering human toll of the Holocaust. Few Jewish children survived. In killing centers and concentration camps across Europe, systematic murder, abuse, disease, and medical experiments took many lives. Of the estimated 216,000 Jewish youngsters deported to Auschwitz, only 6,700 teenagers were selected for forced labor; nearly all the others were sent directly to the gas chambers. When the camp was liberated on January 27, 1945, Soviet troops found just 451 Jewish children among the 9,000 surviving prisoners.

Soon after liberation, Jewish agencies throughout Europe began tracing survivors and measuring communal losses. In the Low Countries, perhaps some 9,000 Jewish children survived. Of the almost 1 million Jewish children in 1939 Poland, only about 5,000 survived. Most of these youngsters survived in hiding.

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=100061...

Maybe it was because of the difficulty of caring for so many Jewish war orphans?

Please consider this fact when you worry about whether the Palestinians will be allowed to return to their homes. Real estate can be bought and sold. Human lives, especially the lives of motherless, fatherless children cannot. Where else could so many orphans be cared for?

[connecticut yankee]

88. World War II was over 65 years ago

We're talking about 2011.

The world has changed a lot since then. And the persecuted have become the persecutors.

[JDPriestly]

119. Don't be so sure.

Many of the people who are now fanatically anti-Israel are actually anti-Jewish.

No one ever mentions the fact that many non-Jews stayed in Israel, still live in Israel and have their civil rights -- more civil rights than the Egyptians have enjoyed in their country in recent years.

I support trying to find non-violent and just ways to peace between Israel and the Palestinian peoples provided that the security of both individual Palestinians and Israelis of all backgrounds is insured. But a lot of the rhetoric on DU is fanatically anti-Israel and actually fanatically anti-Jewish. It's just too emotional. Justice and peace will not be achieved when one side is painted with a black brush and the other with pure white.

If you look at the history of the last 65 years, you will recognize that, due to its excessive hatred and greed and self-interest, the Palestinian leadership has often done more to harm the Palestinian people than anyone else in the world.

I remember how, during the post-war years, a lot of financial aid and other support was sent to the Palestinians who had moved to refugee camp and taken on refugee status. You must remember that the years following WWII were years in which there were just so many displaced persons including both many of the Jews who went to Israel and many of the Palestinians who left Israel. The refugees from Eastern Europe were the biggest contingent that I was aware of. Whole sections of our largest cities were filled with Hungarian, Polish, Ukrainian, Serbian, Croation, you name a European country, refugees. The Palestinians were just a small segment of the overall refugees. You may not realize it but Jews were evacuated from other places in the Middle East -- and moved to Israel. There was just a huge movement. Now you only hear about the Palestinians. You do not hear about any other group of WWII refugees who see themselves as "victims."

Many of the fanatical haters of Israel just don't know post WWII history. I lived it. I remember it. Borders were changed all over Europe and the Middle East. And if you go back to WWI, you will see even greater changes. I assume you realize that Palestine was never a country in modern times. It was always governed by some other country. Before the British, it was the Ottoman Empire. Please read your history before you spew hate over the internet.

[U4ikLefty]

107. Ummm, that was Europe not the Middle East.

I saw no Nazis at the protest in Egypt.

[JDPriestly]

The highest Palestinian Muslim religious leader was an ally

of Hitler and actually went to Berlin to support Hitler. I believe that is one of the realities of that historical period that caused the allies to be less receptive to the interests of Palestinians. People who had sided with the NAZIs during WWII did not fare well after the war. That is quite understandable if you think back to that time. I was born during the war. I remember how strong the feelings were about those who collaborated with the NAZIs long after the end of WWII.

The Palestinians play the role of martyrs and victims, and perhaps they are. But the British were faced with a situation in which the real victims of WWII -- the Jewish people, especially the many Jewish orphans and others who had survived the Concentration Camps -- had no place to go. The irrational and incomprehensible hatred for Jews among Christians and Muslims -- which has existed in so many places and been such a source of violence for so long had to be ended.

I often see it rearing its ugly head here on DU. Wanting to see fair solutions to difficult problems is one thing. But much of the hysteria about Israel and Palestine goes way beyond wanting to find fair solutions and into that age-old anti-Jewish mythology. I think that a lot of those feelings are deep inside certain people whose families perhaps were among those who were carefully taught the lies about Jewish people.

[pam4water]

35. K&R

[Renew Deal]

36. I find the quote from Netanyahu offensive.

"I’m not sure the time is right for the Arab region to go through the democratic process."

That's just offensive to what most people that live in "free" or "democratic" nations believe in. When is the right time for the Democratic process? When is the right time to have fair elections with the choice of one candidate and the loser doesn't go to jail? History has shown that achieving freedom is a dirty business, but there isn't much excuse for oppressing the people of a nation.

The ironic thing is that Netanyahu is saying what some leaders think. Freedom for Egypt is inconvenient, but people like Obama and others can't morally say that.

[aquart]

67. "Freedom"?

It is possible for the spirit of freedom and unleashed innovation to turn a poor country into a rich one. It is.

But overthrowing the tyrant is the easy part.

BTW, what's happening in Tunisia? Anybody heard?

[Starckers]

118. Isn't

That what Bush said in Iraq?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

38. Thanks for saying what needed to be said.

And thank you to the website masters for allowing free speech.

[Prometheus Bound]

39. I'd rather hear what he thinks than have him shut up.

[BOG PERSON]

42. n/m

[riverwalker]

43. well said, OP, well said

We all know of course, what a humanitarian BiBi is
I would call him the whore of the region, but it would be an insult to honest working girls everywhere.

[Agony]

45. Dear Saudi "Government": KINDLY SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

RIYADH - Saudi King Abdullah has expressed his support for embattled President Hosni Mubarak and slammed those "tampering" with Egypt's security and stability, state news agency SPA reported on Saturday.

The Saudi ruler, in Morocco recovering from back surgery performed in the United States, telephoned Mubarak early Saturday, the report said.

During the conversation, Abdullah condemned "intruders" he said were "tampering with Egypt's security and stability ... in the name of freedom of expression."

Saudi Arabia, he added, "stands with all its means with the government and people of Egypt."
SPA said Mubarak had responded by assuring King Abdullah that "the situation is stable (in Egypt) ... and what the world has seen is nothing more than an attempt by some ... suspicious groups which do not want stability and security for Egyptians."


http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20...

Any more "allies" that should STFU?

Agony

[Shining Jack]

46. K&R

[OwnedByFerrets]

48. Bump

[me b zola]

50. K&R

[Major Hogwash]

51. No kidding. Haven't they got some more walls to build, or wells to hoard?

Sheezh, Ralph, it's getting to the point they think they run the world.

Don't they know, that's ourn job.

[backscatter712]

62. Those settlements don't build themselves.

Somebody's gotta bulldoze those Palestinian houses so the settlers can move in on stolen land.

[malaise]

71. Hopefully the Israelis will get rid of

Netanyahu as well - hopefully the era of neo-cons is coming to an end and genuine reforms can actually take place in the region.

[howaboutme]

52. We need to eliminate entangling alliances

per the words of Thomas Jefferson. President Thomas Jefferson extended Washington's ideas in his March 4, 1801 inaugural address: "peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none." Jefferson's phrase "entangling alliances" is, incidentally, sometimes incorrectly attributed to Washington.<1>

We desperately need a Thomas Jefferson to eliminate both our entangling and strangling alliances. They are crushing the independence of the USA and its people and its treasury.


edited to add: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/United_S...

[Kurovski]

53. I'm not a fan of saying "Shut up"

But it is sometimes called for. Recc'd.

[tavalon]

55. I believe a large portion of DU agrees with you

[femrap]

56. Why do you get

away with these words and so many others don't??????????????? In fact, many have been banned.

Please explain.

[backscatter712]

60. Self-delete

[SnakeEyes]

57. I don't get it.

For the last 10 years we've said democracy doesn't always work everywhere. And that we could end up with worse situations than what existed. How is Egypt different than Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine (hamas controlled), Lebanon (hezbollah) when it's most organized opposition is Muslim Brotherhood? Would that really be better than what they have now?

[EFerrari]

63. When Israel has a democracy, then it can stick its oar in. n/t

[SnakeEyes]

94. Um, they do.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy. Average length of a government is approximately 22 months. Their last elections had over 30 parties on the ballot.

[EFerrari]

116. Um, no, they don't. They have separate classes of people

that are allowed different rights.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[peacetalksforall]

65. combat zones. This wasn't just a US/Israel/Europe Mubarek - this was a Bilderberg

treasure. Bring the people down for better control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_dep...

This is from wiki request using search terms: U.S. Military bases Egypt - the results came back with personnel.

The agenda is one world order/new world order. Mubarek worked well for ruling elite and Israel. The US gave 1 billion for military aid. Egypt has their own fine AF.

I think we/Israel were moving in on Iran. I didn't think they expected the action in Egypt. Not precious Egypt.

Combat zones
Iraq - Approximately 50,000 US personnel (advisors)<4> as of 19 Aug, 2010.
Afghanistan – Approximately 98,000 US personnel<4> as of 25 Aug, 2010.

Africa
Djibouti, Africa – 3,500
Kenya - 42<2>
Cairo, Egypt – 52
Sinai Desert, Egypt - Approximately 500 personnel. See Multinational Force and Observers.

Asia
South Korea – 28,500<2>
Japan – 32,803<2>
Philippines - 95<2>
Diego Garcia - 311
Jakarta, Indonesia - 27
Singapore – 125<2>
Thailand – 96<2>
Malaysia - 15<2>

OceaniaAustralia - 140<2>
Marshall Islands - 17<2>
New Zealand - 5<2>

Europe
US military bases in Germany in 2009.Germany – 57,080<2>
Souda Bay, Greece - 386
Italy – 9,855<2>
United Kingdom – 9,825<2>
Spain – 1,286<2>
Norway - 81<2>
Sweden - 12<2>
Belgium – 1,328<2>
Portugal – 826<2>
Netherlands – 579<2>
Greece – 363<2>
Greenland - 126<2>
France - 55<2>
Poland - 100
Turkey – 1,594<2>
Kosovo - 830<5> See NATO Kosovo Force

Middle East
Qatar – 8,029<6>
Bahrain – 1,495<2>
Kuwait - 10,548
Oman - 36<2>
United Arab Emirates - 96<2>

Western Hemisphere
Antigua - 2<2>
Colombia - 123<2>
Saint Helena - 3
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – 932<2>
Netherlands Antilles - 10

United States
There are 1,084,548<2> personnel on active duty in the United States and its territories:

The contiguous United States – 882,201<2>
Transients – 52,527<2>
Hawaii – 34,838<2>
Guam – 2,836<2>
Puerto Rico - 137<2>
Alaska – 19,408<2>

Other links:

List of United States military bases
American Empire
Neocolonialism
References^ http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MILITARY/history/...

^ US DOD 2005 stats
<1> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanis... -

and more - at the site above.

[cartach]

68. You might be called -

anti-Israeli or anti Zionist but certainly not anti-semetic. There is one hell of a difference.

[Dokkie]

70. K & R

[indimuse]

72. KNR! n/t

[Enthusiast]

74. K&R LMAO!

You anti-semite bastage!

[sabrina 1]

77. That's not all the advice the Israeli Government had

to give. Apparently they advised Mubarak to 'crack down hard' on the protesters, going against the U.S. who had tried to control their dictator by telling him not to engage in violence.

I would like to say this to the Israeli Government, the don't seem to be ready for Democracy either. And we should stop funding them until they give the same rights to all of their citizens and get off other people's land.

[malaise]

82. Bingo

I have no doubt that BN is more afraid that he too will be forced to reform.

[leveymg]

78. And if Bibi persists in saying stupid things, that nice American GI in a steel helmet can make you

shut the fuck up and play nice with the others. Don't confuse who runs whom, cousin.

Tails that wag the dog get cut off. If an aid suspension doesn't phase you, try no more draw rights at the Overnight Window of the NY Federal Reserve.

[BanTheGOP]

81. Look in the mirror, you Israeli piece of you-know-what...

...and you can see how democracy is truly bastardized. Israel is a republican-party affront to the peoples of the world. It's republican leadership must be dissolved and a consortium of progressive Arab interests take over the region. Then we would NOT have riots in Egypt, which is really a reaction of people against the Hitlerian assault of progressive democracy to the point where only the Muslim Brotherhood will straighten things out.

[BridgeTheGap]

84. Probably has something to do with the fear of Islamic fundamentalism and whether or not

a democratic system would propel them to the fore in those nations. Not that this is a valid excuse but it could very well happen.

[Daveo]

85. As a Jew living in Israel...

I completely agree with you. The comment was a stupid move on his part and only detrimental to Israel.

[Arugula Latte]

98. Welcome to DU, Daveo!

[BrklynLiberal]

86. Mubarak is an ally to Israel. They do not want to see him out...not knowing what the

new govt's attitude will be toward Israel.

[malaise]

89. Can it be worse than their attitude to the

Palestinians?

sp.

[TBF]

92. + a million .. nt

[BrklynLiberal]

109. Tunnel vision. People like Netanyahu only see their own side of things.

[Better Believe It]

91. What more could one expect from a right-wing teabagging regime?

[Jester Messiah]

96. As an atheist, I wish all you religious folk would simmer down.

And if you're going to kill each other, kindly refrain from dragging the rest of us into it. I am so very glad of Obama's hands-off approach to this whole thing.

[Leithan]

97. K & FUCKING R!!!

Criticizing Israel's apartheid regime does not equal antisemitism.

[butterfly77]

102. Kick,kick,kick &recommended!

[Lucian]

105. You're criticizing Israel...

I don't think the establishment is going to like this!



BTW, #400. I totally agree with you.

[defendandprotect]

106. k/r

[USMCMustang]

108. Dear U.S. Government: "KINDLY SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!"

Probably what people say about our government. Maybe it should be "Speak Up!!!" Your post is spot on and is not anti-semitic at all. You didn't blame all Israelis, hold them to a double standard, de-legitimize their existence, or demonize them. They have the government they have and the US has republicans in the House. Netanyahu was voted in because of fear. Many Israelis would like to see him STFU.

[EFerrari]

123. Welcome to DU, USMCMustang.

[goforit]

114. Netanyahu is selling his citizens down the drain.

He's stupid. plain and simple.
Or he is personally anti-semitic himself.
Mean and disrespectful of his neighbors,he places the people of Israel at risk.
A sad portrait.
And another leader of a country that came to power via another Bush style election.

[Marnie]

117. What you said!

Being against Israel's policies and acts is not being anti-Semitic. And it is certainly well within American's rights to criticize Israel's and Egypt's leadership and policies since we as taxpayers buy their boy toys for them, and finance much of their defense, and support their leaderships with millions of dollars of cash and other "benefits."

Israel like Sarah Palin cries "Wolf" on an almost hourly basis and as Aesope told us fewer a fewer people are listening.

[aggiesal]

120. There is a difference between, ...

Anti-Semitic and Anti-Isreali.

This to me leans more towards Anti-Isreali, although it only really points out
1 member of the Isreali Gov't.

[EFerrari]

124. There is a difference between the right wingnuts in control of the government

and the Israeli people just as there was between us and the Bush Junta, between Egyptians and the Mubarak regime.

[Autumn Colors]

121. K&R (nt)

[Common Sense Party]

122. Bibi can say what he wants, when he wants. I doubt he'll give half

a crap what a left-wing website in the U.S. has to say.

You're right: Egyptians should be able to choose the government they want.

Netanyahu is probably being what he considers a realist--he's assuming that the Muslim Brotherhood or some other Islamist faction will take power and the Egyptians will not get the Jeffersonian representative democracy that we wish they would get.

Time will tell who is correct.

[theophilus]

125. Israel is full of intelligent, caring, liberal, and brave people. Israel's leadership is almost

devoid of those characteristics, in my opinion. Netanyahu should be in prison.

[devils chaplain]

126. To those opposing this thread (the "protest" thread was locked...)

Do you truly think that these 500+ DUers are anti-Semitic? That's what you seem to be suggesting.

[backscatter712]

129. Hey, the popcorn over there was tasty!

[devils chaplain]

132. Among other things...

[malaise]

137. Could you tell Iran to

Shut the fuck up as well. There will be no Islamic state in Egypt.

[PCIntern]

133. Nothing of the sort was stated on that thread. n/t

[devils chaplain]

135. I know nothing of that sort was stated...

But is not what you were implying that some sort of anti-Semitism was at work?

[howaboutme]

138. I'm really concerned that claims of anti semitism

have become much more about immunity from criticism than about bigotry. It has become an overplayed hand that will undoubtedly result in grounds for anger, rather than grounds for shame. It is something that is happening now, and no amount of denying it or subverting it will ever change the outcome. Those that indulge in such claims would be wise to modulate them.

[Fokker Trip]

141. I think that what you are saying is critically important.

If the accusation of anti-semitism continues to be used to silence any criticism of Israel, Israeli policies or indeed critisism of Zionism then it will loose all power in pointing out actual anti-semitism.

[AndyTiedye]

127. Do They Really Think that Their Supporting Mubarak Will Help Him at this Point?

I bet even Mubarak would rec this one at this point if he were on DU.

They're just making him look even more like an Israeli puppet than he already does.

Is the Nutty Yahoo really that stupid?

[defendandprotect]

142. Depressing news today in Egypt -- which represents same problems we're suffering .. and MIC

and weapons and right wing control of government is at the heart of it everywhere --

and certainly capitalism which is merely organized crime.