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Daily news for Seattle's Ballard neighborhood |
pennygirl
offlineMember
All this talk about Petraeus and his shenanigans has caused the media to overlook something probably quite small in the grand scheme of what a US Citizen might care about. Or maybe what the media considers important.
Did anyone notice that Israel and Palestine are on the verge of all-out war? This has been going on for a few days and reporting has been scattered at best.
Cate
offlineMember
you are right Penny, hardly a word even on NYT, CNN, MSNBC. While I think the Petraeus mess has all the makings of a good story in the scheme of things it really doesn't matter. But what is going on in Gaza right now is real people, real lives, a 67 year tragedy. But we would rather be entertained.
pennygirl
offlineMember
It beggars belief Cate. What is kicking off over there has the potential to turn into World War III and the media is more concerned about Petraeus and the Real Housewives.
Corvus
offlineMember
I haven't looked it up and I don't have any evidence, but don't the I's and P's start a bit of a war sometime shortly after every US election? Yes, there are some new implications and some new facts on the ground with this one - new Egyptian leadership and chaos in Syria, but seriously, I grow weary of the them all. Perhaps the nation as a whole is tired of the boys crying wolf. Without the actual blood and real stories about real people dying, the temptation to say "let them kill each other off" is real strong and growing stronger. Give it a week or two and a few more bombs dropped and there will be video of a grieving childless widow bemoaning how the world and the UN have forsaken her. At which point the switch will have been made.
pennygirl
offlineMember
People have already died on both sides. There is already video of a grieving father holding his dead child. You just have to look beyond the US media.
great idea
offlineMember
I thought it was big news when the air strike hit the Hamas leader the other day.
"you have opened the gates of hell"
Obama hasn't been taking any shit from Netenyahoooo, and his no-nonsense attitude since the election will only strengthen his stance.
they will likely attack Iran though, who're we trying to kid.
pennygirl
offlineMember
That was what I was talking about originally gi. But it wasn't widely reported over here. If anyone takes their eyes off what is happening in the Middle East right now they may regret it.
Cate
offlineMember
Years ago, when I was in Junior High, a teacher told my class that if there would ever be another World War it would start in the Middle East. I didn't understand at the time but I remembered it as if it were a prophecy. Now he seems prescient. It is more then Israel and the Hamas, more then Egypt. Things are unsettled in Iran, Iraq, Libya. One of the more influential books I have read is The Tipping Point. The Middle East may be reaching that tipping point...
great idea
offlineMember
now that you mention it, most of the news I heard about the attack and potential repurcussions were on the BBC.
pennygirl
offlineMember
And before anyone jumps on me - yes, I do know how the territories came about. Sorry about that.
MidWest
offlineMember
Been waiting for Iran to start rocking the boat hard, since we took out the balancing force the US has used to keep the tension even (Saddam Hussein, Iraq).
When we invaded Iraq, and killed the dictator we helped prop up (the way we secretly propped up his enemies as well), sooner or later the vacuum left would be responded to when the opportunity appears.
The US created, with the help of Britain, the Middle East mess - with the various sides generally having no real edge over the others (Iran/Iraq, for example). All in the name of oil.
With Iraq no longer holding Iran in check (and the other way around), the various neighbors all feel the blowback of a destabilized region, and look for ways to get the upper hand. Too bad we helped make it all happen. For that black stuff that comes out of the ground...
Then there's Israel, sitting in the middle of a minefield of enemies, and holding lots of powerful weapons. Can you say powderkeg?
Meanwhile, Israel tests the waters for how much they can get away with, ditto for Syria, and so on and on.
Too bad we didn't let Mossadegh and others rule their own countries, but had to play the global oil game in a way that would likely eventually lead to WW3.
Unless that was the plan all along.
In that case, can we please have a planet that gentle humans can live on while the power mongers play their game somewhere else?
iPlod
offlineMember
Money + superstition = religion.
Religion / politics = strife.
Politics x strife = revolution.
Revolution + money = gratitude.
Gratitude - money = politics.
I'm going in circles.
Can someone steer me toward a logical equation here?
pennygirl
offlineMember
Palestinians + Palestine = Peace?
Cate
offlineMember
+1 Pennygirl.
Corvus
offlineMember
I wish I could agree, Penny, and I am a strong, and long time supporter of Palestinian statehood, but I just don't have much faith that that will bring peace to the region. I don't have any idea what will.
I always liked the Tosh song and still think there is some real truth in the sentiment expressed, but justice is a scary word because it implies retribution. However, equal rights is a great start.
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