By the way, if it weren’t for settlements full of “extremists” like the one I live in, those poor people getting pounded by Hamas rockets, missiles, and mortars in the South right now would have fewer quiet places to go to seek refuge. Here they have housing, food, busing (bullet-proof, of course), free or reduced rates at the local attractions, and their children are welcomed in our local schools to give them as much a feeling of a normal life as possible until they can return to their homes in the South. The same happened during the war in Lebanon in summer 2006, with northern Israelis seeking solace in the settlements in the West Bank. So much for the idea that Israelis are only safe living within the Green Line.

Also, where are those former Jewish “settlers” from Gaza now? Isn’t it true that many are housed in what are essentially refugee camps in Isael?

I would LOVE to hear what you think of the 700 billion dollar bailout ?

You mean the no strings attached cash bonanza for the very people who’s horrible decisions caused a great deal of the current nightmare? I’ll just trust that they’ll use all of that money very wisely.

Or the automakers bailout ?

You mean the decision to keep afloat companies who’s horrible management and parasitic unions can’t seem to make products that people actually want to buy? I think it’s a great idea. Who needs capitalism!

or the trillion dollar “stimulus” that is going to be passed at the earliest by a Democrat party majority?

If you’re gonna throw fake money away, I guess having roads, bridges, dams etc. to show for it is better than nothing. I wonder what my district will do with it’s share of the fake money handout?

Who do you think is “paying” for this ? let’s see what your response is.

Bah. My grandkids? Your grandkids? I dunno. Who cares? It doesn’t matter. Let’s just print more money. Deficit spending’s been working out really well for us so far. I was thinking we could start another war or something. That’d be cool. It’s always fun watching other people’s stuff get blown up.

http://soleslide.blogspot.com

Unfortunately Chuck, true conservatives no longer exist in the GOP as a major force. There is one major politician here like Tom Coburn, one person there… and thats about it.

You only proved my point - there is no way you can call Bush an “extreme idealogue” or extreme right winger.

I would LOVE to hear what you think of the 700 billion dollar bailout ? Or the automakers bailout ? or the trillion dollar “stimulus” that is going to be passed at the earliest by a Democrat party majority ?

Who do you think is “paying” for this ? let’s see what your response is.

Fiscal conservatism does not happen in isolation or because one political party alone insists on it. “Balancing” the budget is not exactly a priority now - the printing press is busy devaluing the dollar.

“Israel’s policy on the settlements is extraordinarily complex and a political minefield that could blow up and not only oust the current government but make any kind of stable government in Israel impossible. Witness what happened in Hebron last month when Israel tried to enforce provisions in an agreement that divided the city into a Palestinian and Jewish sections.”

So settlers (who represent less than 10-15% of the Israeli population) can undermine the Israeli rule of law by committing acts of violence against Israeli police, military forces and Israeli and Palestinian civilians?

Do you consider this an intractable problem for Israel? It cannot be, for Israelis across the political and religious spectrum have begun to lose patience with the antics of the settlers. While the current punishment of the Hamas & Islamic Jihad terrorists obscures the matter for now, in the future, even Bibi (should he be elected as expected) will likely be forced into a confrontation with them, lest they simply flout the rule of law and the interests of the Israeli people at large (and the majority of the myriad of interest and pressure groups within Israel) permanently.

Israel will always have serious foreign enemies of some sort, and will (hopefully) always have our full support to smite them from the face of the Earth when they raise their weapons and threaten her people. Yet to have such virulent threats from within to their very democracy is perhaps something new, lest I am missing something from Israeli history. It is certainly not something to be dismissed so casually or considered intractable.

You make some very valid points. My understanding is that the small religious parties to which a lot of the settlers belong and who are the most fanatical about reclaiming all lands supposedly given Israel in the bible are vital in order to form a govt since no one party can get a majority. My understanding is - and I may be wrong - that all Israeli PM’s must bow to this blackmail or no govt is possible. Transgress and they pull out thus bringing down the govt.

That is what I was talking about - the fact that removing the settlements is extremely dicey and if there is politicak chaos, their enemies may take advantage. I don’t pretend to know the answer. But Greenwald makes it sound as if the Israelis are doing it because they are land hungry - that is not the case.

ed.

Yeah, that stuff, said with no irony, is the give-away of some serious self-delusion. Much like the Auschitz commandant in “Sophie’s Choice” who asks, “Honestly, Sophie, do you think I’m a monster?”