Hamas accepts cease fire Hamas accepted the cease fire because Israel started targeting it's leaders....good for them. What, they don't mind sending innocent children to blow themselves up, but are afraid to die themselves? Hypocrits..... Glad we have a cease fire though. DD
The whole idea of whether or not this is working aside, I don't get your last bit...When they negotiate, like this, they are called cowards and hypocrites...but when they won't negotiate, but instead demonstrate that they are willing to die, like the 9-11 guys, they are called cowards and fanatics...
Yeah, and Nixon bombed the North Vietnamese back to the negotiating table and got a better deal........ Israel didn't "start targeting its leaders"; they've been doing that for about 3 years. One of the most inflammatory events of the second intifada was a few years ago when they took down a palestinan by shooting a missle at his cell phone signals. Not that this guy didn't deserve it, but killing him didn't save anybody, more palestinans took his place.
There is no doubt that Hamas is buckling under increased pressure- but it is not just from Israel. Our government has been sending public signals that Hamas WILL NOT be allowed to highjack this peace process, even if American troops have to be committed to the region (probably as part of an international force). I don't care why they stop the suicide bombing though- I just want it to end.
Where did DaDakota call them cowards because they are negotiating? I thought DaDakota's point was that the LEADERS of these terrorist movements are NOT willing to die themselves, but rather USE misguided people as human bombs. That means these "leaders" are still cowards and fanatics if they are willing to LET people die for them. Anyway, I am not sure whether the hard stand is really working - I hope so.
LOL, this is moral relativism AT ITS FINEST!! So, when they fly planes into buildings killing 3000 innocents, they are not fanatics? You are certainly unique, I will give you that. In the 100 or so posts or yours I have read, I have NEVER encountered a person with so little regard for moral absolutes or tradition. Your pride is staggering. Have a nice day.
I agree with MacBeth. He didn't say "cowards" but thats implied when he said that these terrorists are "afraid to die." First of all, the ceasefire is not because Israel has started to target their leaders. They've been doing that for years and its only escalated things... Probably the primary reason that Hamas is willing for a ceasefire is that the Palestinian authority is putting pressure on them to stop. Arafat was not willing to do that, but now the new Palestinian leader is. And by the way, moral relativism is the only truth out there. There are no absolute rules and traditions are just guidelines created by those in power. No need to knock moral relativism. Yes, it is a scary concept but its a burden we have to deal with. Wouldn't it be nice if we had perfect rules laid out for us... or maybe it wouldn't be so great because we would lose our human freedom... I believe you should embrace your freedom. Embrace the horror and absurdity of it... this is only possible with moral relativism.
I will call them cowards. Anyone that uses innocent children to blow themselves up to pursue a cause is a coward. Why don't they go fight themselves? Why did Bin Laden hide in a cave instead of flying one of the planes. They are cowards...pure and simple. DD
I have to respectfully, and completely, disagree with you. All signs point to the fact that Arafat is still calling the shots. I maintain that increased Israeli targeted killings and the threat of our military has convince Hamas that suicide bombing as a military tactic has failed. Hamas has not accepted that Israel has a right to exist, nor have they indicated that they want a lasting peace. Hamas is struggling for its very survival now, and are in retreat mode. So you accept that "might is right"? You only leave yourself one way to answer that question. Also, with moral relativism, is there such thing as truth? I don't accept that life is absurd, although I can't prove to you that it is not. I can't really argue this point with you, because now we have entered into the arena of FAITH, which is undebatable. Consider this point though- the American political experiment has resulted in the most powerful, wealthiest, altruistic, and influential nation that has ever graced this Earth. Our forefathers created our system based on the theory that a higher power granted INDIVIDUALS with inalienable rights that no government could ever infringe upon. As this philosophy has spread across the globe, freedom and prosperity have followed close behind. Our entire culture is based on the premise that moral absolutes exist. You don't have to abandon your position that man creates his own morality, but you should at least accept the pragmatism of my position. People who accepted your philosophy (the moral relativists) created nihilism, Nazism, and Communism. Moral relativism is a failed concept in practice, that only leads to human suffering.
-- Am I missing something? Did Israel change their method of killing Hamas leaders? All I saw were overboard military ops. I did witness Hamas of all organizations taking the highroad and sticking with their word to end hostilities. So are you saying Hamas succeeded with their violent attacks, should they resume them in 3 months if they don't get what they want?
There are NO signs that Arafat is still calling the shots. In fact, Arafat is angry with Abbas (the new Palestinian leader) for the peace deals that are being attempted right now. Arafat has been condemning these efforts. The targeted killings that the Israelis have been carrying out have been going on ever since Sharon came into power: there hasn't been a great increase in this area so why all of a sudden do we see a change from the Palestinians recently? It is not coincidence that Abbas came into power recently and these changes are occurring as a product of a change in leadership. The one thing the Israelis did right was force Arafat to give up his power when they kept him trapped and surrounded in his compound. On a side note. I remember when 9/11 happened and everyone were calling the hijackers cowards. That guy from politically incorrect asked how these guys could be cowards when they gave up their own lives in the event? Whereas when we fight, we use unmanned drones to fly over a city and fire a guided missle. Anyways, that guy got fired. It was stupid for him to say that stuff so soon after 9/11 but he had a point that can't be denied. This was the point that I think MacBeth was trying to make. If you are going to call them cowards for being terrorists, then why are you calling them cowards when they decide for peace? Isn't that a good thing? Why are we trying to make it negative still?
Truth is the world before thinking. Funny. To me these people cling to their ideas of truth. That is what leads to suffering.
Exactly- their morally relative truths lead to suffering. There is only one real truth in human relations, and that revolves around individual freedom. We agree.
You are just plain wrong Despite being pushed aside, Arafat still has power RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — While Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas flew around the region in recent days, meeting with Arab leaders, President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Yasser Arafat sat in his mostly destroyed office — directing his premier every step of the way, Palestinian officials said. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-06-05-arafat-power_x.htm Do a Google search, and you will find countless articles referring to the notion that Arafat still is in charge. Who said they want peace? They didn't say that they want peace. They just want a break in hostilities. Anybody who has followed this situation knows that Hamas and their ilk won't rest until Israel is gone. The Hamas leaders are cowards because they indoctrinate young people to do the fighting for them, telling them that Heaven awaits suicide bombers. If they really believed this, they would be first in line to strap on the explosives. One more point. "That guy" didn't get fired. His show became irrelevant, because nobody cares what Rock singers and actresses have to say about matters of national security during times of crisis. His format became doomed, and he was going to get canceled anyway. His offensive behavior (perceived by a majority of viewers) just quickened the process.
Sam, go ahead and make an intelligent argument that there exists another nation more altruistic than the United States, IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, and I will eat my new loafers. Really- I am serious.
What is your cause that you are arguing for? Let us freedom loving folks call the terrorist cowards without having to justify time and time again why we should not call them any other name.
"Might is right" is one way to sum up my belief but I don't believe in right or wrong so lets just say "Power is all there is" You attribute our prosperity to the idea of natural rights... I see no connection. Our prosperity is mainly due to our abundance of natural resources: it is our land that gives us our wealth. You say that whereever this philsophy goes freedom and prosperity follow. Then why do I see so many other countries try these ideas and turn out in chaotic ruin? I've seen so many third world countries try this and it doesn't work for them. You might say I'm being unfair by using third world countries but try this: India is a democracy and uses those views that we hold so dearly to our heart. China is a communist state who holds values that oppose ours. China is far ahead of India in prosperity even though China has more problems to deal with by other governments and democracies shunning them refusing to give them aid or help when needed and they have an incredible population to take care of. India gets more help from the United States and carries their ideals but still can't pull it together. Before you say, oh but China is starting to open up to the West and carry our ideals, know that China was above other democracies even when they were by themselves and completely communist.
