Until they get some brains

[Behind the Aegis]

If Haaretz weren't such a respectable paper and so pedantic about its choice of language, I would begin like this: "Idiots you were and idiots you'll always be." These words do not apply to the Palestinians, but to their leaders. Every time they get close to achieving something, they shoot themselves in the foot - or the feet of their people, to be more exact.

They should have been dancing on the rooftops. Finally, an Israeli leader had the guts to say outright that we cannot lord over another people, that the time has come to relinquish the dream of a Greater Israel. Finally, a leader emerged who translated talk into action, evacuating Gush Katif and pulling the army out of Gaza. And what do they do? They provoke us, firing Qassam rockets at us, day in and day out.

There are over a billion Muslims in the world today, some of them drowning in money. If the Palestinian leaders did less war-whooping, they could get their rich brothers to pitch in and build high-rises on the land evacuated by Israel, solving the housing problems of the refugees. They could build tourist hotels that would take advantage of the lovely landscape. They could show the world that they are worthy of a state like all other states, and give Israel the incentive to move ahead with stages two and three of the withdrawal plan.

Isn't that what they dreamed of and fought for?

more...

[Oversea Visitor]

1. Forget the one that are drowning in money

They have only one GOD...... MONEY.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. You agree?

The Arab countries, the ones drowning in money, are being neglectful?

[Oversea Visitor]

3. Yes

They are nothing but part of MNC
Multi National Corporations.

[Coastie for Truth]

4. Excess Profits and Windfall Profits

I have written my two Senators and my Congresswoman - urging an "Excess Profits/Windfall Profits" tax on the domestic oil companies - with the proceeds used to fund a Palestinian Marshall Plan.

And I think it is time for the massive wealth of the House of Saud, e.g., , and , by example and not limitation, to be applied to the Palestinian people to develop an entrepreneurial and public infrastructure, with some real Zadak and some voluntary sadaqa from the heart.

All of the races horses and hotels and casinos and resorts don't do anything for the Palestinian children.

BTW- Is Kingdom Holdings EFT portal, eTranzact, the Sharia compliant EFT software developed by the Palestinian developers working in Cairo?

[Phx_Dem]

5. Excess revenue is the euphemism

preferred by business to describe profits!

You know a lot about the oil biz, regarding price gouging, if there is 2-4 weeks of oil in the supply chain right now, I assume that it is paid for or the price per barrel is "locked in" then why would the price of gasoline go up right away when the price of crude goes up?

[Coastie for Truth]

7. The legal term for what they are doing is defined in the Sherman Act

Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal. Every person who shall make any contract or engage in any combination or conspiracy hereby declared to be illegal shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $10,000,000 if a corporation, or, if any other person, $350,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding three years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court.

In Econ we called it "price fixing" - whether it is "conscious parallelism of action" or "price leadership" - it is "price fixing" - a "contract, combination ... , or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations..." -- and we need a new President who will appoint a new Attorney General - like Eliot Spitzer.

[Boojatta]

17. Have you written "letters to the editor" of newspapers about this idea?

I have written my two Senators and my Congresswoman - urging an "Excess Profits/Windfall Profits" tax on the domestic oil companies - with the proceeds used to fund a Palestinian Marshall Plan.

[Tom Joad]

6. Of course, Israel is run by heartless thugs....

These words do not apply to the Israelis, but to their leaders.

Much like the USA. No wonder there is such mutual support for the craziest and bloodiest of policies.

[pelsar]

9. article title: goes here.......

those "heartless thugs" are my neighbors, relatives, and friends...and they are israelis just like lady down the street taking her two kids to school....oops shes actually a member of the knesset...guess she must be heartless.

does that "heartless thug" also apply to the assistants of the knesset members?..its important to know as one of "those" types has kids the same ages as mine...i wouldnt want my kid to meet a "heartless thug.

oh yea, that nice kid who got all As and was the star on the soccer team, the kid down the block, hes now in the army, paratrooper i think, has he turned in to a heartless thug yet?..or does it have to wait until he gets a job in the govt.

so confusing...when does this transformation actually happen?...and how can i tell. If someone leaves the govt do they "revert back" or is being a "heartless thug" a prereq for being in the israeli govt?

need some more info here.......

oh...since we just elected our leaders...does that make all of those who voted for those "leaders" also heartless?

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tom Joad]

11. Why is it acceptable to call Palestinian leaders brainless

and not give isreal leaders the disrespect they deserve.

Some of them cannot even disembark from their planes in outside israel without fear of being arrested for war crimes.

I do not confuse israeli citizens with their leaders, any more than i do u.s. leaders with the public, even knowing that we are not all blameless.

I know many israelis work tirelessly to end the apartheid policies that are killing everyone. I also know that at least 20% of the Israeli citizens feel absolutely no kinship with a nation that is defined as a nation of Jews, and not a nation of all that live there.

And you think i am referring to the kids who are getting coffee for the knesset members? you gotta be kidding. they are no more an "israeli leader" than the fellow here who checks the gas meter or the lady who tags my car when i park too long.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pelsar]

14. except that....

nd you think i am referring to the kids who are getting coffee for the knesset members? you gotta be kidding....his mom may be the knesset member....or is uncle.....and fair to say that he voted for those members who are now in the govt....so i guess that makes him an "accessory" to the heartless thugs.

[Tom Joad]

15. I don't know. what about the sweet kids in the usa who voted for

W. Bush? I don't call them heartless thugs, even if they are contributing to the problem.

It is the few and elite with power that set the agenda... in both countries.

Both the united states and israel is involved in torture (of civilians, and especially in Israel, of children too, that is well-documented), military occupation, and war crimes. Not all memmbers of the knesset or u.s. congress is a heartless murderous thug. Still, the policies that are created there are often heartless, and cruel, and deadly.

The point should be just to change the status quo.
If my description does not add enlightenment to the debate, then neither does the crazy title in this Haaretz article.

[pelsar]

16. and the israeli people agree to those policies....

its not the "leaders" that are in the IDF carrying out the policies...its the israeli people in the army-volunteering to serve....lots of them. We got israelis in the security servicies, the ones who live in apt buildings in Tel Aviv, send their kids to school. The police force?....with their poor pay, consist of lots and lots of hard working israelis who voted for olmert, labor etc...and whos policies they agree with.

our "elite" didnt build the wall, it was demanded by "the people" of israel. "our elite" didnt volunteer to serve when intifada II started, the people overwhelming called in to their reserve units to volunteer....our "elite" left gaza because the mothers of the soldiers and the soldiers had enough.

your attempts to somehow seperate israel into some kind of "ruling elite" (how did peretz get to be one?) and the common "whining little people" that somehow have no say in the govt policies, doesnt apply to israel. The people in israel do take part in their govt and are responsable for the govt decisions...we call that being responsable.

we just had an election in case you missed that, and the winners had very clear policies in terms of security and the peoples voices were heard.

[cali]

13. Hmm,

looks like a straw man argument. Your pronouncement has nothing to do with the article posted, and does nothing to add to the dialogue. It's completely off topic. It's just a blanket condemnation that adds lots of heat and no light.

[barb162]

8. "Aim for an agreement, but if it doesn't work, go for second best"

from the article.

:hi: