In this Discussion
- crop51sound July 2006
- CSunderla July 2006
- nerverise9 July 2006
- The End Has No Jen July 2006
- tune1shade July 2006
- woodmaid8 July 2006
Isreal/Lebanon
(Sorry for the misspelling of Israel in the subject.)
Is anyone else terrified about the Israel/Lebanon conflict?
(Note: I'm not siding with either Israel or Lebanon (I'm siding more with the EU in terms of my belief that both sides were at fault). This conflict was, unfortunately, bound to happen sooner or later, what with all the tension in the middle east. Fuck. I'm completely frightened that this conflict has the possibility of becoming a full-fledged war.)
edit: Right now, crude oil is up to $76.65. The Dow Jones is down 147 points. This is not good. Not. at. all.
Now Israel is threatening Syria and Iran. In terms of our economy, if Bush continues to claim that Israel is essentially blameless, we're going to have major, major problems (especially with oil and, since we aren't up on ethanol (and it's really not that efficient as an alternative energy source anyway), it would be devastating).
Thoughts?
Is anyone else terrified about the Israel/Lebanon conflict?
(Note: I'm not siding with either Israel or Lebanon (I'm siding more with the EU in terms of my belief that both sides were at fault). This conflict was, unfortunately, bound to happen sooner or later, what with all the tension in the middle east. Fuck. I'm completely frightened that this conflict has the possibility of becoming a full-fledged war.)
edit: Right now, crude oil is up to $76.65. The Dow Jones is down 147 points. This is not good. Not. at. all.
Now Israel is threatening Syria and Iran. In terms of our economy, if Bush continues to claim that Israel is essentially blameless, we're going to have major, major problems (especially with oil and, since we aren't up on ethanol (and it's really not that efficient as an alternative energy source anyway), it would be devastating).
Thoughts?
Comments
This is what I know:
A Shiite Muslim group known as Hezbollah (spelling changes from Hezbollah to Hizballah) captured two Israeli soldiers on the 12th of this month. Israel Prime Minister Olmert called it an "act of war." Israel retaliated yesterday morning by attacking Beirut is Lebanon, hitting an airport and surrounding areas. The various firings lead to the death of 50 civilians. Outraged, Hezbollah has been firing missiles back into Israel, hitting towns near the border (ex. Safed). In the meanwhile, the EU and Russia condemned both sides. Meanwhile, President Bush, while in Germany, sided with Israel saying that they have a right to defend themselves. However, in true Bush fashion, he didn't stop there. He continued on to say that, "The [Israeli] soldiers need to be returned...It’s really sad where people are willing to take innocent life in order to stop that progress (for peace). As a matter of fact, it’s pathetic.” So, he is essentially calling the Lebanese "pathetic" for taking soldiers hostage (he of course, failed to realize his hypocrisy what with the fact that the US is most likely holding many innocent Israelis hostage in Gitmo and other prisons. Also, Israel is currently holding about 9,000 Palestinians prisoner). Israel continued the attack by blockading Lebanon's ports so supplies cannot get in. Also, they had further air strikes today, killing at least 3 civilians and wounding (approximately) 55. Lebanon will surely retaliate soon.
Now, the problem is that the US economy, especially regarding crude oil, is rather on the fritz. Gas prices are obscenely high and ethanol production in the near future is unlikely (not to mention that ethanol wouldn't help our dependence on oil simple because in order to produce ethanol, a large amount of fossil fuel is needed). Lebanon is allied with Syria and Iran. Already we have a tense relationship with Iran (due to their nuclear program) and this fighting isn't helping. Iran controls a large amount of oil. If we continue to condemn only Lebanon, we are setting ourselves up to even higher gas prices and general inflation.
No matter what Bush's personal views, he needs to side with the EU and Russia and say that both sides are in the wrong (which they are), if for nothing else than to try and keep our economy stale.
Even through today, oil has continued to rise past it's record-setting high yesterday (it's currently at $77.15/barrel) and the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and NASDAQ are all falling (the Dow esp. It's fallen 104 points today plus the 150 yesterday).
This could be devastating, not only to the innocent people in both Lebanon and Israel, but to the economy.
In case I messed something up (which is likely), here's a timeline: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/013...E70D849E39B.htm
I wouldnt really worry too much about this. Theres never going to be peace in the middle east. They all claim each others things are their own and vice-versa and don't even get me started on the whole religion front.
SO yeah, I mean its terrible that people are dying for no reason, but each party believes that they are doing no wrong. How the hell do you sort that out
I do know about the oil, but we're stupid and not going to use it. It's not the fact that we have it. We have more than enough crude to get by, but the markets are still pushing up the prices.
You made a completely valid point about peace, or lack thereof, in the Middle East. The countries surroundnig Israel have, unfortunately, never been fond of its existence. That's another thing that worries me, the fact that Israel is completely surrounded by enemies. When/if war breaks out, where are they going to go?
I worry a lot. I hate war (but, then again, what sane person loves war?). This whole thing just really puts me on edge.
Isreal has been throwing its weight around for a very long time, and bullying those that don't have the means to defend themselves. this time around I think they've finally fucked with the wrong set of people.
Whatever though. There's not much we can do about it. President Bush will do what he sees fit and then, if things escalate, they escalate. It would happen at some point, you know?
Where's WW3? I'm confused.
I don't think anyone is ever really like, "A NEW WAR! FUCK YEAH!"
Kidding aside, I completely agree. Unfortunately, with the whole history of violence in the Middle East, it was bound to explode eventually.
I'm really worried because my guyfriend is supposedly in Israel and I haven't heard from him in a while.
I would love to think so. I would love to think that women have a maternity instinct that most men lack. There's an urge to keep their children (and, therefore, other peoples' children) safe. However, just because this hypothetical world is run by women doesn't mean the people in it would behave like women as well. There would still be insurgents and terrorists and violence.
And that's why there's violence. There may be some amazing leaders, but people will fight one another because, damn, we just can't get along.
As stupid as it sounds, the best way to combat this is to teach our children (or younger kids who look up to us) tolerance. If we make jokes about people with different beliefs than us, that's what the kids will learn.