[commanderkai]

Oh and here's some great news! The whole open air prison thing is over! Egypt opened it's borders with Gaza until another hotel is bombed.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... l?mod=e2tw

Edit: Yes, the good news and the open air prison aren't actually what I believe, but rather parroting some people's opinions.

[SprCForr]

That'll trigger a boom in building Olympic standards swimming pools! No more need for children to collect rubble to build piers for the blockade runners.

[Zipperfish]

Scape Scape:

International waters is a free for all. Israel intercepted them at night because they wanted to contain the situation rather then give them the media spotlight of a daytime meeting in their territorial waters with all the media coverage that would ensue. They had already declared their intent to breach the blockade so the argument that they had no right to board in international waters is void.

The boarding party was armed with paint guns and were expecting protesters, not armed thugs. The people that died as a result have no one to blame but themselves just like drawing a gun on a cop is an act of suicide.

The people that died probably knew they were going to die. That is usually the outcome of attacking a group of elite commandos with a stick. It was nice of Israel to grant them their wish. As to the "armed thugs" comments--could apply to either side I guess.

Do they know if the claims of humanitarian aid are true yet, or did they find weapons on the ship (no, not slingshots--explosives and such)?

[xerxes]

Not that I've heard. It's pretty obvious they thought it through.

[Wada]

I believe they found two rifles.

[martin14]

from kai's link:

$1:

The six-ship flotilla—carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from various countries, as well as 10,000 tons of construction material, medical equipment and school supplies, according to organizers

They would know full well construction material is off the list.

[desertdude]

Yes construction material is off the list. Its illeagal to try to rebuild the houses which were razed or have craters in them from Israeli bombing from the last time the IDF rolled through killing 1800 hundred of them. How dare they try to live inside 4 walls and a roof ! Savages !

All they can think of is Hamas bunkers. If this isn't collective punishment, then I dunno what is.

[martin14]

desertdude desertdude:

All they can think of is Hamas bunkers.

Yep.

Seems that's all Hamas thinks about as well.

[SprCForr]

Well, not always about bunkers. Too bad rebuilding homes isn't the priority.

Gaza opens Olympic size pool

[desertdude]

martin14 martin14:

desertdude desertdude:

All they can think of is Hamas bunkers.

Yep.

Seems that's all Hamas thinks about as well.

Hamas are idiots, no doubt about it but again the collective punishment on the entire population is nothing to write home either. What say.

Besides the blockade is usless. If someone really wants to and can pay for it is getting it anyways through the tunnels. Its the average man who suffers. Kinda like gettine caught in the crossfire in a drive by.

[tritium]

I think it's dam hypocritical for the United States to say anything on this topic.

Fine, Palestinians are claiming land stolen from them.. I think La Raza offers the same claim to the southern U.S. States..

The U.S. is building fences, and enforcing their border.

The only difference is Hamas wants to destroy Israel, the Mexicans want to live in peace, work.. and I might mention are Catholics (NOT MUSLIMS).

[PublicAnimalNo9]

Here's the thing though DD. Even without sanctions or a blockade, most despotic governments never let the people SEE that aid anyway. How many 3rd world countries have recieved TONS of supplies and billions of dollar? And yet, the vast majority of those countries are even worse off today because corrupt government officials made damn sure the population saw none of it. All too often even legitmate aid doesn't reach the general population.

[desertdude]

Couldn't be more right No 9 but thats another issue altoghter.

[Zipperfish]

PublicAnimalNo9 PublicAnimalNo9:

Here's the thing though DD. Even without sanctions or a blockade, most despotic governments never let the people SEE that aid anyway. How many 3rd world countries have recieved TONS of supplies and billions of dollar? And yet, the vast majority of those countries are even worse off today because corrupt government officials made damn sure the population saw none of it. All too often even legitmate aid doesn't reach the general population.

Im think a big part of the reason that Hamas got in was provision of social services,. wasn't it?

[xerxes]

It's a bit different in this case though. As unfortunate as it is, Hamas is the government of the Gaza Strip. Moreover, while there is the part of Hamas that wants Israel destroyed, there is also an arm of the organization that does build homes and provide education and other civic functions.

Just like everything in the MIddle East there's nothing but shades of grey.