Black and White
<rant>
I think the political right wing is colorblind. All they can see is black and white.
They're so far gone they can't even see shades of gray. The Israeli Palestinian conflict is a good example. Those dumb Asses see no difference between The Palestinian's and the Al Qaeda. Take the fact that Israel is occupying Palestinian territory to mention just one. If you are not with us your against is their motto. When you're "right", well you’re "right". I wouldn't be surprised to hear them calling Randy Johnson un-American because he pitches from the left side, nor would I be surprised if Bush's education plan included instructions to teach all those little left handed kids to write with their right hand. At least then we could give them credit for being consistent. The right likes democracy in Israel, but doesn't find it so noble in Venezuela. Dubya rants on about terrorism, but doesn't seem bothered by the fact that his Dad pardoned Orlando Bosch, a known terrorist. This guy blew up a civilian Cuban airliner with 73 people on it. I can just imagine the scene Big Dubya and Little Dubya having lunch. Little Dubya says, “Hey Dad I just heard about the Orlando guy you pardoned. You know either you're with us or you’re against us”, and Big Dubya responding like Justice T. Buford in Smokey and the Bandits "Junior when I get home, the first thing I’m gonna do is punch yo mama in the mouth. There aint nooo way, no way, you could come from MY LOINS".</rant>
Comments
Here is a good article about that reductive mentality of "Us or Them (and nothing in between)" http://www.nybooks.com/articles/15340
Your "difference" comment about there being an Israeli occupation of Palestinian land is nonsense.
Osama bin Laden's major beef with the US is our "occupation" of his nation and our defilement of its holy ground.
He believes that US armed forces are occupying Saudi Arabia. The Palestinians believe that Israel is occupying their country. Neither one has a moral or intellectual leg to stand on.
Second argument: It isn't an Israeli "occupation" at all. The Palestinians didn't "own" the West Bank, it was a captured territory from Israel's War of Independance. The Jordanians took it from Israel. The Palestinians didn't fight for freedom or self-determination against Israel nor against the Jordanians. The West Bank changed hands between Israel and Jordan, then the Israelis resumed control in their 1967 victory.
Jordan officially gave Israel the West Bank in 1974, and renounced any further claim on the territory. It is and was part of Israel proper.
Israel forged an Agreement of Principles at Oslo, not an agreement of final determination. Final determination of borders was to be negotiated, and to that end Yasser Arafat pledged he would never again take up violence.
If the Palestinian leadership believed that the Camp David deal was such a poor one, why didn't they present any counter-offer? Why? Because to negotiate is not in the best interests of Yasser Arafat.
Because the Palestinians rejected the Camp David plan in 2000, much as their grandfathers rejected the 1947 Partition plan, and have resumed that war, they have lost all right to territorial claims in the West Bank. They should not be given autonomy, because they have clearly shown that they are incapable of self-restraint.
I will respond to questions and comments as time permits, but if you want to take issue with any position expressed here, you first have to answer this question:
What evidence would it take to prove your beliefs wrong?