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?

"And this war was no better or no worse than any other"

Not sure that I would agree with that.
I have never heard of or seen a war in which there is footage of missile strikes being aborted when the people operating the launching platform see civilians being used as human shields.
Neither has there been a war in which people have been leafleted by air drops to flee a specific area nor a war in which people have been phoned by landline and/or mobile and told to evacuate their houses as there were tunnels, munitions dumps etc beneath them.
No war is clean; no war is free of civilian casualties; no war doesn't involve accidents; no war doesn't produce horrors; no war doesn't include incidents when soldiers shouldn't have fired; no war is free of the fog of war.
Richard

And if someone feels enraged by my last post and has steam coming out of their ears or excrement from their mouths or dripping from their typing fingers, lie down, take some more of those tablets, (many more), and sing the theme tune to another war, M*A*S*H..........

The RAF dropped 'leaflet bombs' over occupied territory during WWII.

Yes, of course, though that was leafleting of a friendly population in countries occupied by the Germans, rather than a hostile population whose children are brought up to want to slaughter Jews and whose parents danced in the streets with joy at the massacre of 3,000 civilians on 9/11.
In fact Bomber Command sometimes dropped leaflets on German cities anyway before incinerating them.
We lost 55,000 airmen in Bomber Command, unsung heroes.
Richard

having seen Dresden, and pix of the firebombing there, some considerable sympathy for the civilians incinerated etc is also more than warranted ..... certainly not one of Bombert Harris's better moments, though unquestionably we owe him and the bomber crews an incalculable amount

Mr Charts

The TV show interviewed somebody from the Israeli ministry who pointed out that they had made over 250,000 telephone calls in addition to huge numbers of leaflet drops, warning civilians to evacuate the areas that were to be hit.

For the contracts people among you, it appeared that Israel were using best endeavours rather than reasonable endeavours to warn.

Despite this, there obviously were civilian casualties - as there are in any such conflict.

Not surprisingly, the Israeli government minister blamed Hamas, and Hamas blamed the Israelis. The Hamas spokesman looked really spooky, his face covered by a black cloth with slits for his eyes. Strange really, as he too was a "government spokesman". But I guess he sees himself as a warrior first and a government spokesman second.

perhaps he had chemical burns to his face from "dirty" israeli bombs

or maybe he had splashed himself whilst making his own "harmless home made liberation device"

Never mind Dresden, if you wish to widen the debate, what about the justification for the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Fred - you could have saved yourself some of the insecurities of schoolyard gang warfare by looking at the video and conceding its dangers. And there are some easy ripostes - as if the West has never brainwashed its people.

Interesting watching Path to War- poor old Lydon Johnson watching billions being poured into bombs with no effect when all he wanted to do was use it for social programmes.

MM ... you are arguably right, though from what i have read, it was the lesser of two evils, obviously depending on whether your are american (allies) or japanese

Zscrooge,

As stated previously, I have not seen the video. Like some others posters I have used the squelch button, and therefore have not read many postings. I have therefore not commented or responded, as I am not omniscient.

I found the level of abuse by a small clique of posters was often sufficient to expose themselves to others without my help.

If you read the early response to my initial questions, you may understand what I am writing.

I have never found personal abuse gainful and tended to prefer a different form of debate or argument. I find the squelch button has been very satisfying for me.

As far as Panorama's exposure of the situation in Gaza is concerned I leave interpretation up to the individual.

Listening to some of the vitriol and stances of some of the Political Leaders, who are presently standing for re-election in Israel Government, I am amongst others who are horrified by their stated manifesto.

It appears to me that they are prepared to be isolated, like the present leadership of Iran.

I find the Middle East leadership and their problems depressing.

Fred:

As stated previously, I have not seen the video. Like some others posters I have used the squelch button, and therefore have not read many postings. I have therefore not commented or responded, as I am not omniscient.

I'm beginning to suspect that you're one of the more dishonest people that I've encountered. You appear to be implying that the reason you haven't read post 821 or watched the video linked to it is that you have squelched the poster.

Is that true? Try to muster a straight answer this time, don't dodge the question.

Given that you started this thread presumably to invite comment, it seems strange on the border of absurdity that you should filter out those that you encouraged to debate with you.

Guerilla warefare tactics of the BB? Time for a new thread?

Seeing those quotes from the squelched one is like looking at shadows - pointless, leaves no marks, and is of no value since the shadow is gone in a moment LOL

MrCharts: While I understand the provision of a squelch facility, I'm not sure how useful it is in the context of filtering people whose views you don't want to hear, as opposed to removing background noise.

For those without knowledge of radio engineering, the squelch control, typically on an FM transceiver, artificially desensitises the radio receiver to remove irritating background 'hash' or noise. The receiver's audio only cuts in (or "opens") when a strong (wanted) signal is detected.

So I wouldn't squelch Fred on this thread, as he's its progenitor -- nor, if I were Fred -- which thank God I'm not -- would I squelch any of my respondents.

Otherwise, what's the point of the thread? Or Fred?

Seems even the most polarized are capable of moderation.

Iran Says It Welcomes 'Real Changes' With United States
February 10, 2009
(RFE/RL) -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, in a speech marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, said that Iran is ready for talks with the United States, provided they are fair and based on mutual respect.

Ahmadinejad, addressing a crowd gathered at the Azadi (Freedom) square, said changes in the U.S. approach toward Iran under President Barack Obama must be "fundamental and not tactical."

"It is clear the Iranian nation welcomes real changes," he said.

Ahmadinejads comments came a day after Obama renewed its call for direct talks with the Islamic republic. The United States broke its ties with Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the hostage-taking of U.S. diplomats in Tehran.

Obama, in a news conference on February 9, said his administration will be looking for "openings" in the months ahead that could lead to face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran.


Web page http://www.rferl.org/content/Iran_Says_It_Welcomes_Real_Changes_With_US/1490711.html

Direct questions from intelligent posters deserve answers. Those t.s.o. doesn't give so his words became a waste of space to me, as I have previously explained, life is too short.


However, to your questions:
"Otherwise, what's the pint of the thread? Or Fred?"

None
None

Fred,pull the other one its got bells on,i would say you are fully aware of that video, stop talking crap,be a proper man and tell us if youde be prepared to let your grandchildren watch it?

Not only do i dislike your principles, i too am starting to believe your also a dis-honest person as well.

Here is an idea seeing as Fred wishes to squelch or otherwise ignore almost everybody who posts on here. Let's just forget this thread and leave Fred to post to himself to his heart's content. I'm sure he will enjoy debating things playing with himself.