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Thursday, January 8, 2009 12:00 AM

W. and the damage done

President Bush inherited a peaceful, prosperous America. As he exits, Salon consults experts in seven fields to try to assess the devastation.

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  • Saturday, January 10, 2009 06:37 AM

    @ aVulcan

    I read seen the 400 dead figure throughout the last few weeks, but let's say for argument's sake it was your figure of 22 (I've seen lower reported). Hamas has for 8 years launched quassam rockets indiscriminately into southern Israel, and done so from heavily-populated portions of Gaza. They were eager for Israel's reprisal, they knew it would be disproportionate, and they had no hesitation to allow innocent children, women, and men die to further their cause; recall, Hamas is an extremist religious organization publicly dedicated to destroying Israel, not co-existing with it.

    You do not know me. I have been very vocal in my criticism of Israel, from their use of torture for decades to their occupation of Palestinian territory and also to their slaughter of innocents. This is the first time I have not criticized them because in this instance, I firmly believe Hamas is to blame. That said, the killing by both sides must end now, and Israel now has the greater obligation to cease its military operations, at least those that are no very, very carefully targeted against Hamas militants.

    You ended with this: "When it comes to murder and terrorism, Israel's army tops them all."

    Bullshit, and you know it. I can think of many Arab nations that murder and torture and terrorize -- within the confines of their own borders. China does very well in that regard, as does Burma and Sudan and Zimbabwe and Congo and Haiti and Russia. However, the greatest perpetrator of murder and terrorism throughout the years has been, sadly, the USA.

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