Will this increase or decrease the likelihood of terrorist actions in America, Europe and the rest of the world?

If you were a member of a family murdered in this conflict, would you be seeking revenge?

Should Tzipi Livni and Ehud Olmert, be tried for war crimes if or when this conflict comes to an end?

What will the price of oil be in 4 weeks time?

Fred - do you think the opening of dialogue proves that the violence wasn't needed?

post 38 of 323 was quite pertinent Fred, although I don't think you gave a direct answer!

FWIW, I abhor the violence and loss of life but the main factor as far as I am concerned is the stance taken by Hamas supported by Iran. Change that stance and perhaps peace might break out. It is also a fact that Hamas fire their rockets from densley populated civilian areas in the (misguided) hope Israel will not retaliate. There are open areas in the Gaza strip from which they could take on the Isrealis if they wished.

Ruth

It is 'Rocket' science! Thats the cause of it all.

You must have really wound Fred up because he likes picking on you.

Fred

Numerous ceasefires have not worked and it is Hamas that breaks them. If i were the Isreali Government I would only put up with indescriminate rocket attacks on my population for so long before I take action to stop the onslaught. Once Hamas is disarmed or severly disrupted might I consider the dialogue to which you refer. It wouldn't surprise me if fatah and Israel are together in this to repatriate the strip. Hamas does the region no good whatsoever and fatah know that. Not that they would admit this in public.

raw,

How many "Jews" did Hitler wipe out? How many were left? How many are there now?

Look at History of such actions. Close at home Northern Ireland.

America's Vietnam.

South and North Korea.

Look at the Soviet Union and the oppression by communism.

But perhaps, Israel will get it right this time.

Baloney!!!!

Even the Welsh have survived to educate the English.

Fred

I am not saying it is right but we are all humans and we will never learn. If we will never learn we will never live in peace. Occassionaly something works out for the better and if Hamas are removed then the Palestinian suffering may diminish sooner than if Hamas remain in power.

'Even the Welsh have survived to educate the English.'
Can we have our castles back please?

Now I know you're nuts!! :-)

Rawdm999, ;-)The only reason Fred doesnt like me is cause im not one of those little under the thumb dominated wifey types that sits at home knitting,hanging off his every word and command,
And ultimately i think hes bitter that i can and do trade far better than him even though he claims to be the educated one;-)it must be quiet humiliating for him as he regards status/ class as a big factor in life ;-)

Dont worry about Fred picking on me, i find it quiet comical most of the time,
he gets back as good as he gives,
needs someone with bigger balls than Fred to put me in my place;-)

And that's not to mention their finger, Ruthie.

:o)

Hils, ;-)

Fred thinking about it this is a good point.
'Even the Welsh have survived to educate the English.'
The welsh survived and countless welsh and english would have died during the many battles. It is exactly the same between the Jews and Palestinians. Bothe are killing each other but both will survive and given time ....you never know.....(relative) peace in the middle east.
Ruth, i am sure you can handle most, if not all, on this BB.

Raw.

You are as cynical as I was in my teens and twenties.

I think it is overall a better world now than then.

There is still tremendous unnecessary misery in our immediate society and the world as a whole.

I believe with a little less self interest and respect of other groups, races. religious beliefs that further improvements can and will be made.

Otherwise WW2 was pointless.

I am still an optimist, even if a grumpy one at my age.

Of course past behavior will be replicated, but gradually it can be modified.

First we get tabby's "groovy gang" and now Fred's "funny gang" .

Must be an MDX thing.


Fred , have a word with Hamas about stopping the rockets and I'm sure Israel will follow suit.

You can't be in both, Dilbert.

:o)

Dil, If this Israeli government was sane you would probably be correct.

But they are hell bent on destroying HAMAS the elected government of GAZA..


They won't succeed , but what the Moslem revenge will be, I hate to think.

=========================================

Interesting to me that Saudi has reduced oil production.

Interesting to me that Saudi has reduced oil production.

That's very interesting indeed, Fred, and has doubtless got nothing whatsoever to do with declining global demand coupled with the strong greenback (Saudi Riyals are pegged to the USD just in case you didn't know).

I doubt that Hamas want to have a ceasefire. They keep firing rockets so as to provoke Israel. They hope the worse it gets, then the more world public opinion will go against Israel. Hamas have an avowed intention to destroy Israel as have Iran.

The deaths of 1,000, 2,000 or more in Gaza is what they want. They are looking at a long term plan to remove Israel. They are in reality creating unwilling martyrs of Their people. If Israel is serios about the problem, then they have to abandon settlements in disputed territories near to the border and pull back into their own land. Then later open borders again. The very least, is that they need to hand back land taken from the six day war onwards.

A little story told to me by a Jewish friend. Whem the six day war was on there were collections in synagogues across UK and abroad for the defence of Israel. In the large sysanogue in the west end, off Edware road, where many very rich people worship there was a very successful collection.

They had pledges and cheques amounting to many millions of pounds. It was interesting that the estimate at the time, was that Israel could last out for about 10 days, so it was necessary to win the war in that time. Almost all the cheques were postdated by about 8 days and were cancelled after 6.

I remember the six day war quite well. There was a greengrocer in Golders Green that had a sign in the window after it finished saying "PRE-WAR PRICES".

I was working in a software company at the time of the 6 day war. We had a Jewish guy and two Arabs working there. After the war, the Jewish guy came to work and said, "Come to Israel and see the Pyramids!"

Haystack,

Be careful. I agree with you.

Hilary, well aware. Wonder what the price of oil in a months time will be. Also wonder about the value of the dollar.

Also wonder what Russia is up to.

Interesting world.

Blair, Bush and Israel have opened up a hornets' nest!

Perhaps, Israel were suck into it.

PS. Do you know the squelch button is marvelous!