P.S.: FWIW, case law supports the proposition that criminal acts cannot properly be classified "secret". Which we may see if a trial ensues for Mr. Tam.

-- Arne Langsetmo

Arne's point suggests that a criminal trial of Mr. Tamm would allow the defense to put forth the criminality of the entire process on public display! Truly it wouldn't be fair to Mr. Tamm (but it would be amazing to watch on Court TV- hey, ya gotta reach the average American dumba** where they live...)

Dave

We're allowed to marry anybody who's not a Moron.

-- JonathanInTelAviv

proving once again, that Neocons are immune to irony.

Dave

I see that folks on the right sneer about soon-to-be-Senator Franken being a "comedian" (neglecting to mention bestselling writer and talk-show host). Of course, then, I can sneer that Saint Reagan was "just an actor", right?

I can't hear you....

Back on topic, there are some SERIOUS dumbasses on this thread. rockybalboa makes shooter242 look like Salinger...

Dave

“But damn it, I had to try!”

Robert A. Heinlein

Truly, I despair, not just for this discussion, not just for the cluster-fuck that is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but for the entire human race. Can you not see that this “discussion” is anything but? That this polarizing, one-sided, “I’m right and good- we can talk once you admit that you are wrong and bad” thinking IS the problem?

All Glenn did was highlight a regrettably rare example of a media treatment of the I/P conflict that was nuanced, balanced, and did NOT start with the assumption that one side or the other was “wrong”. IMHO 95% of what Glenn does in his writing is to try to lay out a balanced picture of the facts. It seems “left” because the balance in our society and media has shifted so far right. He is asking you to look at the “big picture”, to recognize that there is legitimate reason to be angry on both sides. And, with very few examples (PDA comes to mind) you can’t do it. The lack of empathy here is truly frightening. You are all so intelligent (well, except for shooter and Zoltan) yet your abilities are being used to rationalize beliefs that you stubbornly refuse to question. I was trained as a scientist, to look at the data, to form theories, and then to TEST them. If the data contradicts the theory, the theory must change. It’s called critical thinking. You should try it some time. It’s very uncomfortable and very liberating...

Until both sides of a conflict can recognize that the other side has a right to their grievances and their anger, the conflict will never resolve. Johnathan in Tel Aviv, why didn’t our Jewish forebearers give up- why did they hang onto the desperate struggle that was Israel? Didn’t they justify acts of terrorism to do what they saw as right? Way can’t you see and accept that the Palestinians in Gaza are no different from you, that you would do the same thing in their place? And herr-u and others, can you honestly tell me you wouldn’t be enraged and long to punish terrorists who blew up your children????

South Africa and Ireland are a good place to start- how did they break the cycle of hate? Whatever you belive, it is clear that there is no “answer” in what is happening in Israel now. Hate begats only hate, terrorism and murder lead only to more terror and murder.

I know most of you won’t listen. But damn it, I had to try…

no arguement whatsoever. And if America was the shining bastion of freedom we claim to be, we'd be demanding and, if necessary, unilaterally enforcing a cease-fire. Stop the slaughter, stop the rocket launches- just STOP!!!

But I'm not holding my breath...

I think that's what's happening here, a lot of people who would otherwise try to be at least somewhat evenhanded are being pushed into an ideological corner by vitriolic ideologues in the other corner.

-- Aycharaych

Exactly. Some folks are incapable of critical thinking at all. Some can do it UNTIL their gonads get involved. A very smalll percentage can recognize their emotions, yet not be controlled by them. A lot of the posts here piss me off, if truth be told. But I endeavor to not reply until I've had a chance to think...

Muureen, I may have come in late, but I read ALL 80 pages befor I did! If I were ever full of sweetness and light, it's LONG gone...

By the way, gonads can be metaphorical- you clearly have a pair, and i mean that as a sincere compliment ( a mensch, in other words...)

Peace out...