Comments on: Kristol’s Neocon Fantasy: Lebanon as Prelude to Iran-Syria War http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/ Essays on politics, culture and ideas about Israeli-Arab peace and world music Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:30:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-4006 Richard Silverstein Wed, 19 Jul 2006 17:50:14 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-4006 Jack: Regarding Iraqi casualties. I was just listening to NPR & if I heard the commentator correctly there are an estimated 50,000 Iraqi civilians who've been killed since we invaded. The NY Times today has a headline saying an avg. of 100 are dying ea. day there. That does not remotely constitute "winning" the war. Contrary to what you say, the gov't. there is incredibly weak (just like in Lebanon or Palestine). I don't know what it would take for you to concede failure, but eventually I'm afraid you will have to, albeit reluctantly. I have a sort of grudging admiration for yr. idealism regarding the conflict & your hope that it will all turn out right in the end. But I'm sorry to say it is misplaced. Not sure what you mean when you say we've been attacked "over & over since 1979." By Iran? Islamic extremists? The spam announcement at the bottom of the pg. is how many spam comments my spam filter has intercepted before they were published. It has nothing to do with Daily Kos. Jack: Regarding Iraqi casualties. I was just listening to NPR & if I heard the commentator correctly there are an estimated 50,000 Iraqi civilians who’ve been killed since we invaded. The NY Times today has a headline saying an avg. of 100 are dying ea. day there. That does not remotely constitute “winning” the war. Contrary to what you say, the gov’t. there is incredibly weak (just like in Lebanon or Palestine). I don’t know what it would take for you to concede failure, but eventually I’m afraid you will have to, albeit reluctantly. I have a sort of grudging admiration for yr. idealism regarding the conflict & your hope that it will all turn out right in the end. But I’m sorry to say it is misplaced.

Not sure what you mean when you say we’ve been attacked “over & over since 1979.” By Iran? Islamic extremists?

The spam announcement at the bottom of the pg. is how many spam comments my spam filter has intercepted before they were published. It has nothing to do with Daily Kos.

]]> By: Jack Hamilton http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-4004 Jack Hamilton Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:40:38 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-4004 JimB I guess it is okay as long as it's a jewish kid or American. They just need to stop the terror attacks and then hiding behind the skirts of there women and children. Thats all it would take just the moslems stop the terror attacks. JimB
I guess it is okay as long as it’s a jewish kid or American. They just need to stop the terror attacks and then hiding behind the skirts of there women and children. Thats all it would take just the moslems stop the terror attacks.

]]> By: Jack Hamilton http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-4003 Jack Hamilton Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:37:05 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-4003 Richard What does that sentence at bottom mean 3621 access attempts blocked? Is that because of your spate with KOS? Richard
What does that sentence at bottom mean 3621 access attempts blocked? Is that because of your spate with KOS?

]]> By: Jack Hamilton http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-4002 Jack Hamilton Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:34:50 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-4002 Richard those of us that have had to watch friends die in a war are the last people that would trivialize any death of any soldier I can assure you of that. But compared to the numbers that had died after three years of war in WW! and WW2, Korea and Vietnam the number in Iraq is very small that was the only comparison. I hate to see any innocent civilian die regardless of color and not all us soldiers are white. There are black and hispanic as well as white it burns me to the core when i read or hear of the death of any soldier because I understand what they are going through. There comes a time when we are forced to act just as the Israelis have been forced to act now to defend themself.There is no negoiating with these monsters. Our leadership understands we act now to figt terrorism after being attacked over and over since 1979 or either we will face the fact of our school buses being bombed just like Israel. Some time the only choice is the bad choice of war when there is no other course left to defend your country and way of life. The only thing these killers will settle for is our conversion to the cult of Islam or our demise they have stated that plainly. Hope you are feeling better. Richard those of us that have had to watch friends die in a war are the last people that would trivialize any death of any soldier I can assure you of that. But compared to the numbers that had died after three years of war in WW! and WW2, Korea and Vietnam the number in Iraq is very small that was the only comparison. I hate to see any innocent civilian die regardless of color and not all us soldiers are white. There are black and hispanic as well as white it burns me to the core when i read or hear of the death of any soldier because I understand what they are going through. There comes a time when we are forced to act just as the Israelis have been forced to act now to defend themself.There is no negoiating with these monsters. Our leadership understands we act now to figt terrorism after being attacked over and over since 1979 or either we will face the fact of our school buses being bombed just like Israel. Some time the only choice is the bad choice of war when there is no other course left to defend your country and way of life. The only thing these killers will settle for is our conversion to the cult of Islam or our demise they have stated that plainly. Hope you are feeling better.

]]> By: James Becraft http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-3991 James Becraft Wed, 19 Jul 2006 05:06:02 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-3991 JimB wrote early Sunday Morning: Sabbath over and now a new week beginning with the scripture and yes, your blog, Richard, I say, thanks--and with a heavy heart I continue writing a few thoughts. Starting this day with the incomparable 23rd Psalm of David and also reading Psalm 119:105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet....and later reading the opening surah, the Fatiha...In the name of God the Merciful, the Gracious...I ask these questions? What would the mature King David really think about the cruelty going on in his beloved Zion? What would Moses think? How about Jesus? How about the mature covenant-committed Mohammad searching for Peace and Submission in the jihad/struggle against evil? Blessed are the peacemakers! The covenant makers. Blessed are those who see the God of Peace that is for all humanity...who see the possibilities of negotiated peace and pursue them relentlessly in this vaie of tears and acrimony. Somehow I don't think the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad would really approve of the carnage taking place in the name of "Zion" in the Levantine "paradise." If the Word that David speaks of as a Light unto hiis Path is not only scripture, but a loving God that lights the way if we go to the light, we're clearly on the wrong track with the carnage we're perpetrating. It's a no brainer. Stop the carnage. Use reason. What a way to start a new week, viewing the picture of a dead child! Sabbath over, now on to Sunday, and the days of the God's of war that follow. Come let us reason together sayeth the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, the shall be as white as Sl"...but, we'd better sit down and negotiate and stop this blood-letting and the destruction the infrastructure that supports the people of the region. JimB wrote early Sunday Morning:

Sabbath over and now a new week beginning with the scripture and yes, your blog,
Richard, I say, thanks–and with a heavy heart I continue writing a few
thoughts.

Starting this day with the incomparable 23rd Psalm of David and also reading
Psalm 119:105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet….and later reading the
opening surah, the Fatiha…In the name of God the Merciful, the
Gracious…I ask these questions?

What would the mature King David really think about the cruelty going on in
his beloved Zion? What would Moses think? How about Jesus? How about the
mature covenant-committed Mohammad searching for Peace and Submission in the
jihad/struggle against evil?

Blessed are the peacemakers! The covenant makers. Blessed are those who see
the God of Peace that is for all humanity…who see the possibilities of
negotiated peace and pursue them relentlessly in this vaie of tears and
acrimony.

Somehow I don’t think the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad would
really approve of the carnage taking place in the name of “Zion” in the
Levantine “paradise.”

If the Word that David speaks of as a Light unto hiis Path is not only
scripture, but a loving God that lights the way if we go to the light, we’re
clearly on the wrong track with the carnage we’re perpetrating.

It’s a no brainer. Stop the carnage. Use reason.

What a way to start a new week, viewing the picture of a dead child! Sabbath
over, now on to Sunday, and the days of the God’s of war that follow.

Come let us reason together sayeth the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet,
the shall be as white as Sl”…but, we’d better sit down and negotiate and
stop this blood-letting and the destruction the infrastructure that supports the people of the region.

]]> By: Dan Sniderman http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-3978 Dan Sniderman Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:07:35 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-3978 What has been accomplished in Iraq in the short amount of time <b>and with so few casualties</b> is nothing short of amazing. It is tragic that so many Americans have the view that a loss of life - as long as they aren't white people, doesn't count... The amount of casaulties in Iraq is sickening. And the loss of - what will soon be 3,000 Americans is hardly what I would call "so few"... It sickens me to see their deaths so trivialized.. What has been accomplished in Iraq in the short amount of time and with so few casualties is nothing short of amazing.

It is tragic that so many Americans have the view that a loss of life - as long as they aren’t white people, doesn’t count…

The amount of casaulties in Iraq is sickening. And the loss of - what will soon be 3,000 Americans is hardly what I would call “so few”… It sickens me to see their deaths so trivialized..

]]> By: Jack Hamilton http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-3969 Jack Hamilton Wed, 19 Jul 2006 01:52:56 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-3969 Dont be so up tight man things are going to work out for the better you will see. Israel was forced to act to stop the attacks. We have not been attacked here in CONUS. Cheney and Bush and Secratary Rumsfeld knew the jihadist would come rolling into Iraq. There will be some pain now but in the long run things will be a lot more stable and there just might be a chance for real peace in the middle east. Take Care Dont be so up tight man things are going to work out for the better you will see. Israel was forced to act to stop the attacks. We have not been attacked here in CONUS. Cheney and Bush and Secratary Rumsfeld knew the jihadist would come rolling into Iraq. There will be some pain now but in the long run things will be a lot more stable and there just might be a chance for real peace in the middle east. Take Care

]]> By: Madison Guy http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-3966 Madison Guy Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:45:45 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-3966 The Middle East is exploding and the idots who dragged us into Iraq on a tide of neocon rhetoric to start it all are <a href="http://letterfromhere.blogspot.com/2006/07/my-computer-is-haunted-by-ghostly.html " rel="nofollow"> haunting my computer</a>. The Middle East is exploding and the idots who dragged us into Iraq on a tide of neocon rhetoric to start it all are haunting my computer.

]]> By: Jack Hamilton http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-3955 Jack Hamilton Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:15:49 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-3955 Richard you have not seen those comments at Kos they made the national news? And yes my noble friend the Taliban was one of the most reprssive in history. Not the most but one of the most Repressive. Also as someone that has spent a lot of time in a war what these troops have accomplished is amazing. More and more of Iraq will fall under complete control as the security forces are brought to bare. Oh I am not a big Kristol fan. I hope it is not as hot where you are as it is here in Tennessee the heat will rob you of energy. Richard you have not seen those comments at Kos they made the national news? And yes my noble friend the Taliban was one of the most reprssive in history. Not the most but one of the most Repressive. Also as someone that has spent a lot of time in a war what these troops have accomplished is amazing. More and more of Iraq will fall under complete control as the security forces are brought to bare. Oh I am not a big Kristol fan. I hope it is not as hot where you are as it is here in Tennessee the heat will rob you of energy.

]]> By: Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/kristols-neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-iran-syria-war/#comment-3953 Richard Silverstein Tue, 18 Jul 2006 18:02:31 +0000 http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2006/07/18/neocon-fantasy-lebanon-as-prelude-for-taking-it-to-iran-and-syria/#comment-3953 Too little time & not enough energy to do a full rebuttal. Suffice to say that we disagree on the issue. <blockquote>What has been accomplished in Iraq in the short amount of time and with so few casualties is nothing short of amazing </blockquote> Amazing? Jack, I think you drank Bill Kristol's (or was it Don Rumsfeld's?) cool aid. Scores are killed every day there in suicide bombings & flat out mass murder. Shiite & Sunni death squads roam the streets with impunity. The middle class is fleeing the country in mass exodus. Over 2,500 of our boys & girls have been killed. Where is the victory? <blockquote>Our troops have liberated Afghanistan from one of the most oppressive regimes in history </blockquote> I have no doubt that the Taliban were/are bad hombres, but "one of the most oppressive regimes in history?" Hardly, Jack. Know thy history. Hitler? Stalin? Pol Pot? Attila? Those were oppressive. The Taliban were mere gnats in comparison I'm sorry to say. <blockquote>I also have found some of the comments at KOS revolting...People dreaming what a grand place the world would be with out Israel and agreeing with the lunatic that leads Iran that they do not deserve to exist. I have to wonder how long it will be before posters at KOS will want to start the ovens back up at Buchenwald.</blockquote> I think you're being overly dramatic, maybe even hysterical. I don't follow Kos as closely as you. But likening the Kos folks to full-bore Nazis is a low blow. And if you want to make accusations like that you should at least provide a link so someone can judge the comments for themselves. Too little time & not enough energy to do a full rebuttal. Suffice to say that we disagree on the issue.

What has been accomplished in Iraq in the short amount of time and with so few casualties is nothing short of amazing

Amazing? Jack, I think you drank Bill Kristol’s (or was it Don Rumsfeld’s?) cool aid. Scores are killed every day there in suicide bombings & flat out mass murder. Shiite & Sunni death squads roam the streets with impunity. The middle class is fleeing the country in mass exodus. Over 2,500 of our boys & girls have been killed. Where is the victory?

Our troops have liberated Afghanistan from one of the most oppressive regimes in history

I have no doubt that the Taliban were/are bad hombres, but “one of the most oppressive regimes in history?” Hardly, Jack. Know thy history. Hitler? Stalin? Pol Pot? Attila? Those were oppressive. The Taliban were mere gnats in comparison I’m sorry to say.

I also have found some of the comments at KOS revolting…People dreaming what a grand place the world would be with out Israel and agreeing with the lunatic that leads Iran that they do not deserve to exist. I have to wonder how long it will be before posters at KOS will want to start the ovens back up at Buchenwald.

I think you’re being overly dramatic, maybe even hysterical. I don’t follow Kos as closely as you. But likening the Kos folks to full-bore Nazis is a low blow. And if you want to make accusations like that you should at least provide a link so someone can judge the comments for themselves.

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