Russia tells Israel it is concerned over Gaza dead

[GoesTo11]

MOSCOW, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Russia is seriously concerned about civilian casualties from Israel's operation in Gaza, President Dmitry Medvedev told Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday, the Kremlin said.

"The Russian side expressed its serious concern over the numerous victims among the civilian population and the grave humanitarian situation," the Kremlin said in a statement describing a telephone coversation between the two men.

----

Talk about moral high ground!


http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/15/news/chech.php

MOSCOW: Two wars against separatist fighters in Chechnya have left 160,000 combatants and civilians dead, a top official in the local government loyal to Russia said Monday.

"Between 150,000 and 160,000 dead - this is the death toll of the two campaigns," Interfax news agency quoted Taus Dzhabrailov, the head of Chechnya's interim Parliament, as saying.

"Rough estimates show that between 30,000 and 40,000 ethnic Chechens have died in the republic in both campaigns," he said, according to the Itar-Tass news agency, adding that about 100,000 of the dead were ethnic Russian servicemen and civilians.

[Sebastian Doyle]

1. Well that oughta raise the "Rapture Index" up a few points.

Fundie theology (of the "Left Behind" variety) teaches that the Rapture will be immediately preceded by an invasion of Israel, led by Russia and including a pan-Islamic coalition including Iran, Libya, and Ethiopia among others, as predicted in Ezekiel 38 & 39.

The invasion part is looking more likely all the time, if not the rest of the story. :nuke:

[Statistical]

2. Israel will never be invaded.

No nuclear power ever has. No nuclear power ever will.
People talk about the 'genocide' happening now: <500 casualties the majority military.

Anyone want to imagine what a nuclear strike to the ME would be like.
Ballpark figure would be a radioactive wasteland of melted glass, and casualties in the millions.
Any guesses what would do to the price of oil if 1/3 of the world oil supply was now in a nuclear wasteland with non functioning governments?
Any guesses on how bad the financial shockwave that fear inducing buying which pushes oil to $200+ in a matter of days would be?

Faced with an invasion any nation would reserve the right to use a nuclear strike as a deterrent.

So the fundies will never get their "sign". Israel isn't being invaded by anyone. Ever.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Well, according to the Bible

the invasion isn't entirely successful because God steps in and kicks some ass on Israel's behalf.

Now that's the part that I have a problem with. Not because of any religious affiliation on my part, but because I don't believe God could endorse the actions of the current Israeli regime.

[Sezu]

4. Well, God ain't talking far as I can see. But the mental

gymnastics which could be employed by believers could get interesting. And then of course Obama ain't talking either.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Let's talk about that Judeo-Christian-Islamic psychotic god, shall we?

When Pharaoh was first approached by Moses, he was inclined to let him and the Israelites leave Egypt, yet the Bible says that this God hardened Pharaoh's heart so He could show his glory. Only a sociopath would contrive to prevent a peaceful resolution, preferring instead one in which thousands of innocent children were slaughtered by His blood thirsty angels.

Who made Cain kill Abel? It wasn't Cain! It was God who made Cain jealous by purposely refusing to accept his vegetarian offerings. This is the God in whose name humankind has murdered millions! I think we should ditch this God for good!

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. I always did think it was odd that the vegan Cain killed his carnivore brother Abel

Most vegans & vegetarians I know are pacifists. Maybe some ancient Hebrew sheep rancher lobbyist group persuaded Moses to write that part into Genesis?

[soulcore]

9. Amen!

Sorry, I couldn't resist, but I agree whole-heatedly. Religion is the problem, and we have to stop killing in it's name.

[rockymountaindem]

7. Haha - good one Putin

How many Chechens have died at the hands of your army and security forces?

[GoesTo11]

8. Livni has Russian envoy send message to Hamas

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday rejected an offer by a Russian envoy to contact Hamas via Russia in order to reach a cease-fire with the Palestinian militant group in Gaza.

"We are serious in our intention to harm Hamas and we have no intention to give them legitimize them and pass messages on to them. We have nothing to discuss with Hamas," Livni told Alexander Saltanov, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's special envoy to the Middle East.


http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052580.html

(note - in her declining to send a message, she sent a message).

[RJ Connors]

10. Well everybody has serious concern about everything the Israeli's do

and many times they even have that look of concern on their face in the video clips.

But the fact is no one ever does anything about it and that is going to be true this time. Israel knows this so they therefore really don't give a shit as to how concerned you might be.