Rights Watchdog, Lost in the Mideast

[Bateman]

Oh no, another joo....

[donquixote99]

Hamas "Moral" of Terror
Hamas arms caches, intentionally hidden in residential areas
Heavy weapons cache in a local mosque
Hamas exploitation of civilians as human shields
Hamas get new wheels (Scoop)
Hamas terrorists kill innocent Palestinian in Gaza
Hamas method of operation: "Human Shield"

When you were a kid, Abe Bird, did you mother teach you that it was ok if you hit your sister, as long as you could point out that Marvin next door was kicking the dog?

What I mean is, your posts, all attacking Hamas, have NOTHING to do with whether the criticisms of Israel are well-founded or not.

[ubergeek]

Originally Posted by Zan de Man

Obviously a close personal friend.

Congratulations Abe. You've been here for a day and your credibility's shot already.

I wonder why no one heard about this incident?

three times the death toll of Sabra and Chatila

and yet not even a squeak. Criticism is balanced someone said?

[ubergeek]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

When you were a kid, Abe Bird, did you mother teach you that it was ok if you hit your sister, as long as you could point out that Marvin next door was kicking the dog?

What I mean is, your posts, all attacking Hamas, have NOTHING to do with whether the criticisms of Israel are well-founded or not.

Naturally you are right. But I would expect the side watcher to be eager stopping the dog kicking.

[Zan de Man]

Originally Posted by ubergeek

I wonder why no one heard about this incident?
and yet not even a squeak. Criticism is balanced someone said?

I've heard about it. It was reported at the time. You've just read one of many pieces in which Robert Fisk has striven to keep it in the public mind.

[ubergeek]

Originally Posted by Zan de Man

I've heard about it. It was reported at the time. You've just read one of many pieces in which Robert Fisk has striven to keep it in the public mind.

It is the incomparable magnitude of response that bothers me.

[Uplifter]

Originally Posted by ubergeek

It is the incomparable magnitude of response that bothers me.

Unequal retaliation?? I see a trend here.

[ubergeek]

Originally Posted by Uplifter

Unequal retaliation?? I see a trend here.

Uplifter, you keep on banging the Israeli drum, and I understand it. The situation in Palestine really bothers you. I accept it.
You failed though to answer the question of balanced approach.
Is that the only drum you bang? How many posts did you have about the Hama incident, while how many times did you mention or think about Sabra and Shatila?

In your particular case, maybe it is the only thing that you care about, but when there are many like you and it manifests into the UN agenda, I see an issue.
The problem in unbalanced criticism is double. First it hurts all other victims around the world that deserve attention (like the Hama victims) and two, the accused party (Israel in this case), sees the unfairness and rejects the claims.
Having kids, I know I cannot apply double standards with them, if I want to be heard.

The people in Israel see this unfairness and assumes different sorts of motivation for that.

[Uplifter]

Originally Posted by ubergeek

Uplifter, you keep on banging the Israeli drum, and I understand it. The situation in Palestine really bothers you. I accept it.
You failed though to answer the question of balanced approach.

ubergeek, I did answer the question. As I said, Israel are very quiet about the inquiry into Hamas' operations during the Gaza conflict. However as soo as the Israeli regime was looked into, we hear lots of "It's not fair" rhetoric.

Originally Posted by ubergeek

Is that the only drum you bang? How many posts did you have about the Hama incident, while how many times did you mention or think about Sabra and Shatila?

All attrocities are disgusting, no matter who conducts them. Whether it is rockets fired by Hamas, unequal retaliation by the IDF, Hama or Sabra and Shatilla. I am outspoken about all of them.

However I only see your kind of reaction when people are outspoken about the Israeli regime.

Originally Posted by ubergeek

In your particular case, maybe it is the only thing that you care about, but when there are many like you and it manifests into the UN agenda, I see an issue.

Not at all. I know many people in Israel and have spent much time there. I only want to see peace.

[ubergeek]

Originally Posted by Uplifter

ubergeek, I did answer the question. As I said, Israel are very quiet about the inquiry into Hamas' operations during the Gaza conflict. However as soo as the Israeli regime was looked into, we hear lots of "It's not fair" rhetoric.

And again you bang the drum. Sorry, I don't see how this answers.

The Israelis say it's unfair because it is unfair, and even if it is only a matter of perception as you might claim,
“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you”.

[Uplifter]

Originally Posted by ubergeek

And again you bang the drum. Sorry, I don't see how this answers.

The Israelis say it's unfair because it is unfair, and even if it is only a matter of perception as you might claim,
“Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you”.

I don't see the inquiry as unbalanced.
Both Hamas and the Israeli regime have been investigated, and their questionable actions have been identified. Now it is up to both sides to either justify those actions or face justice.

[Zan de Man]

You can't win. If you don't post about Arab atrocities you're accused of bias. If you do, you get bashed because nobody but you cares about them.

[ubergeek]

Originally Posted by Zan de Man

You can't win. If you don't post about Arab atrocities you're accused of bias. If you do, you get bashed because nobody but you cares about them.

Fair comment

[Uplifter]

Originally Posted by Zan de Man

You can't win. If you don't post about Arab atrocities you're accused of bias. If you do, you get bashed because nobody but you cares about them.

However, alot of people DO care as much about both sides. It's just that some others, including the majority of the western media, choose to look the other way when it comes to the deaths on one particular side.

When a journalist gives as much weight to the deaths of arabs as the deaths of Israelis, he is ridiculed, as we can see with the inaccuracies about Robert Fisk. It was amazing how quickly after Robert Fisk produced the story about the killings at Sabra and Chatilla, and mentioned that Ariel Sharon was responsible for those deaths, that the propaganda machine started to spread lies about him.

[ubergeek]

Originally Posted by Uplifter

the propaganda machine started to spread lies about him.

There was no need to respond to the story about Hama, as no one cared in the east or west, and the Syrians knew that.
However, if Israel would have done it, the story would have been different.

[Zan de Man]

I don't understand that. Care to explain?