Comments on: Not So Smart

By: nassrallah

nassrallah — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:52:45 +0000

Mr friedman
Hizbullah is not a terrorist organization like you think.
hizbullah born from the heart of lebanon not from the heart of syria or Iran ,we understand that he get the support from Iran but is normal like the american give support to how they want
I understand that you are Zionism but be fair when you writing concerning lebanon and he`s legal resistance .
every body know that hizbullah not involve in the lebanese civilian war and every body know that during the civilian war the aerican support the christian against the muslim that mean the hans of hizbullah clear from blood and he had the right to resist the israel occupation of the lebanese land
please don`t give black image to your readers send the true image
regards

By: Usha George

Usha George — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 06:02:18 +0000

Mr. Friedman,

If you think Israel was justified in wrecking Lebanon in response to the killing of eight soldiers and the kidnapping of two, what should Palestine have done to Israel for the killing of Huda Ghalia’s family, while they were relaxing on a beach, had they the wherewithal?

Face it, Israel is the agressor most of the time, brave because it has US backing and US ordanance to drop on civilans. Most of the dead Israelis were soldiers, an occupational risk of joining the army. Most of the dead Lebanese were civilians.

Now Hezbollah is right there building up what Israel knocked down. So part of what you say at the begining is not quite right.

By: Haward

Haward — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 08:47:59 +0000

What shed blooder you are Mr. Free-Jew-dman?

By: Rambod Rahmani

Rambod Rahmani — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 10:10:34 +0000

Agree with the issues but,
1.confrotation with Iran, at tis fragile oil proces is too risky

2. PLEASE USE PERSIAN GULF insead of GULF,

By: no2liberals

no2liberals — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 02:53:26 +0000

Observer,
I have studied the history of the ME…extensively. Are there any particular scientific achievements from the Arab/Islamic invasion of all those countries, you would like to mention?
Remember, the ones they took from the Persian empire don’t count, as they were achieved through conquest of a non-muslim nation, before most of the great libraries and art were destroyed.
What of the Treaty of Serves, after the conclusion of WWI. Where is the outrage for the nations that ignored that document, and denied the nation of Kurdistan it’s borders?
We can talk about history, or we can learn from it. Currently, it seems we aren’t applying what we have learned from it, and keep repeating the same mistakes. The one constant I see in this closed loop, is the inability of the ME mindset to move beyond it’s ancient history, and methodology.
The queston remains, why haven’t the cultures in the ME advanced with the times?
It really isn’t that difficult a question, especially considering the wealth generated by the OPEC nations.
I know people from practically every country in the ME region you can name. We have no difficulty in discussing serious issues, and remaining friends. Many of them suffered greatly from the IRI, after it came to power in 1979. Since that year, the world was introduced to modern terrorism, and those who support the global hirabah, are it’s pawns.

By: Observer

Observer — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 00:49:09 +0000

There is not much a difference between the people that crashed planes to twin towers and those that assassinated Robin and those who support wars and provide logistics and physical means for it. They just accuse each other of being terrorist, infidels or whatever name you might imagine.

During their glorious days when Muslims ruled from Asia to Europe, they were very proud of their scientific achievement like you are today of the advances in technology in western countries.

I suggest you to study the history of ME especially the period after WW I to better understand the root causes of violence in that region.

By: no2liberals

no2liberals — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 23:13:18 +0000

Observer,
What does oil have to do with the Bali bombings, the train bombing in India, the train bombing in Spain, the bus bombing in England, the destruction of Buddhist monuments by the Taliban. The common link there is terrorist promoting terrorist states, and those of the Islamic faith that promote the global hirabah. Incidentally, there is no nation on earth that doesn’t use petroleum products. The larger question is what are those countries that are selling those 74USDollar barrels of oil doing with the money. Why are there no master craft builders in that region of the world? America and other western countries are not, nor is Israel, responsible for all the problems in the ME. It’s the lack of freedom and liberty, of education, jobs, and capital investment. When jet airliners and ocean liners are manufactured in the ME, then we will know they have ascended beyond the 8th century thinking too many in Islam prove daily, that they adhere too.

By: Observer

Observer — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 21:54:45 +0000

Americans deep down prefer an Israeli dominated middle east than a Arab and muslim dominated one despite the fact that Muslims and Arabs are majority in that region. Here are the reasons:

– Strong presence of US through Israel in that region for its huge energy resources: US imports about 11 million barrels of oil each day while the 9 million that it produces, is deteriorating and will come to an end within 12 years.

– All over Jewish run media(not all media but let’s say 60 percent of media) Islamic faith is promoted as one that supports violence and is against Jews and Christians and add to it the training of religious fundamental groups that see Islam as a fake copy of its predecessors.

No Muslim country as well as Israel (with lower extend for Israel though) will not experience peace and prosperity as long as people in US and other oil thirsty countries need to fill up their tanks with cheap fuel.

By: no2liberals

no2liberals — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 18:10:37 +0000

“Yes, we have a lot to discuss with Syria. And so do the Saudis, the Egyptians and the Jordanians, who are worried that Syria is paving the way for an Iranian-Shiite takeover of Arab politics.”
How interesting you should make that comment, and President Bush will be meeting with Saudi representatives today, along with Sec.of State Rice.
As for baby Assad being Shiia, don’t know and don’t care, as it is well known he is a Baathist.
Also, I don’t see how the international community can resolve this issue. There was already a UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, and it did nothing to prevent the current situation, and I don’t see many lining up to go, as a UN observer was shot in the back twice by a hezzie, less than 12 hours ago.
The only sure way this can be resolved, is for hezbollah to be reduced from an armed terrorist organization, and for the Lebanese people to take charge of the hezzie disease in their country. For those of you predisposed to hate all Jews, that is your burden from years of indoctrination. When it gets right down to what is important, all anyone wants is to lead a good life, raise their families, be happy, and live in peace. Israel responded to an act of war, they didn’t start it.
Oh..I’m not Jewish, I’m an American citizen that has seen war up close, and I know more than I ever wanted, about human misery and suffering, and I hate seeing what is happening right now. That said, I also recognize living with daily rocket attacks from hamas and hezzie, is not an acceptable way of life, for any soveriegn nation. War is war, and hezbollah firing rockets into Israel at their civilian population, gives them no moral advantage in criticizing Israel’s response. Trying to delegitimize Israel’s suffering, because they have a stronger state, and more powerful military, is more an admission of the weakness of the Lebanese government, and the strength of the terrorist state within the Lebanese state.

By: Reader

Reader — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 11:11:51 +0000

The sole purpose of Hezbollah’s hostage taking was to engage in negotiations with Israel to free hundreds of Lebonese prisoners who have been in Israili prisons for years. Hezbollah has tried this before and has succeeded in hostage-prisoner exchange.
I believe Mr. Friedman, ‘terminology’ is on your side and those people who agree with you.
Israel is a state, hence Lebonese people snatched out of their homes are alleged/convicted prisoners. Full-scale bombing of the cities of Lebonan is Israel’s right to defend herself.

Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and the captured Israili soldiers are hostages. Katusha attacks on Israili soil are acts of terrorism.