lbsaltzman's Comments (247)

“Well, indiginous South Afrikaners did not live all that happily, and it was not short term. The white Afrikaners were a remnant of colonialism. The suffering of the Africans was also not that short term. And there are other examples in Africa to look at, because South Afrika was not the only European colony. Some areas in Africa, formerly under colonial regimes, have done relatively well, and a number of those are not doing well at all. If we look at the situations in Gaza, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Jordan, and at the Palestinian *refugees* from Iraq, still in tents in Jordan, my conclusion would be that an alternative route would probbly be better for *Palestinians*. And, I am putting the asterisks there, because there are no Palestinians, no Palestinian ID's or passports either. It is not ideology, it is putting your nose in reality, sothat you will be able to think rationally and factually. The Colonizer in the ME was Britain, or, have you forgotten that? The British mandate was divided, or, have you forgotten that? Palestinians acquired freedom in Jordan, and then staged an armed coup and were removed by Jordan, or, have you forgotten that too? Reality, my friend, reality, and common sense and economics, not fairytales and fantasies.”

“Then why do the disputed territories have comparable standards of living (as measured by the Human Development Index, which factors in life expectancy, GDP, adult literacy, and enrollment in schools) with Jordan and Syria, and a slightly higher standard of living than Egypt? I mean, those countries aren't exactly Norway in terms of standards of living, but no one is crying crocodile tears for their citizens.”

“The "lousy choices" are what the Palestinians brought upon themselves by resorting repeatedly to violence, and losing each time. THEY LOST THE WARS, lb. It is time to cut their losses, and reach an agreement that will enable them to have their state, albeit with restrictions to protect Israeli security.

Most Jews will not agree with you that "it is fair" that the Arabs get yet another state, and the Jews return to the dhimmitude of the last 2000 years, destined to be restricted to the 7th step leading up to the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

Israel does not claim to "speak for" you. You are free to disclaim any connection to the State of the Jews, and let the majority of those that do want to be associated with a free, proud, and just society determine their own destiny. Do not work so hard to destroy for others that which you choose to reject for yourself.

Don't worry. You will never be confused with an Israeli Jew.”

“"the best solution for Jews as well. We will no longer be stuck with getting the blame for Israeli war crimes because Israel claims to speak for us."

Sorry to hear you cop that lbsaltzman, it's wrong to conflate the two.”

“The Palestinians got a raw deal, and deserve compensation. Sharing the land, which was not their homeland, would not have been the worst of all consequences, and was a necessary requisite to re-establish a Jewish homeland.

And those Arabs who stayed in Israel, while many, (not all) are disadvantaged, as are a large proportion of poverty-stricken Jews, are by no means "second-class citizens". You clearly realize that, but are loathe to give up that ringing phrase. It works so well for you.”

“Again, lb, it is "you people" that ignore facts and logic. Every one of Israel's supporters, every blogger here, has admitted that Israel has made mistakes, and that the Palestinians have legitimate grievances.

In your zeal to have America assist in the desire to see Israel eliminated, however, you repeat inaccuracies to try to support your illegitimate goals.

The absolute right of the Jewish state to exist is not a propaganda point. It is an inalienable right and fact, for which moral, thoughtful people will fight, if and when forced to do so.”

“Well said. The status quo works perfectly for israel. It is all about procrastination and theft.”

“Of course. Because only scientists who agree with your point of view are credible, right? Tell me. What other scientific entity in the world EVER destroys original data. That right there goes against the protocol of science. Go ahead. Name just one scientific organization that has ever based their claims on anything other than original data.”

“It's all three.”

“"I couldn't tell if they were that stupid and scientifically illiterate, or if they were lying."

I think it's all three.”

“"I couldn't tell if they were that stupid and scientifically illiterate, or if they were lying. "

All three, actually.”

“Considering how good the Israelis are at war (although to be fair, it's easy to get motivated when the enemies are literally promising to march you and your family into the sea), you would think that, if they were trying to ethnically cleanse the disputed territories, they'd be doing so much more efficiently.

Maybe it's because the Israelis don't want to ethnically cleanse anything?”

“The Arab population of Jerusalem has increased from 68,600 in 1967 to 244,800 in 2007 (a rise of 257 percent). You have a strange definition of "ethnic cleansing", I thought it meant fewer people, not more.”

“The Arab population of Jerusalem has increased from 68,600 in 1967 to 244,800 in 2007 (a rise of 257 percent). You have a strange definition of "ethnic cleansing", I thought it meant fewer people, not more.

If, however, the Palestinians are so worried about all the "nasty" things the Israelis are doing, why don't they come to the table and start negotiating (and compromising)? This is their best chance in years, Obama doesn't seem predisposed to take any of Netenyahu's bull. Of course then the Palestinians would have to give up their dream of destroying Israel, build a real society based upon something more than hate and actually take responsibility for their own lives. I guess whining and complaining to sympathetic suckers like you is better than growing up.”

“Gads! You are *such* a spaceshot!
I wish someone would place their "carbon footprint" smack up your backside!”

“LOL we have been doing so for decades now.

Also, you are just as scientifically illiterate if you think that we can green our current way of life.”

“Alas, your beloved democracy has elevated such Neanderthals to have the same vote as enlightened geniuses such as yourself.”

“That's what amazes me-the sheer gall of these deniers, who do they think they are? If climate denialists want to self-destruct, then fine, but if they want to take the rest of us down with them, well, that's NOT FINE.”

“scientific illiterat deniers? Unlike you oh so enlightened alarmists?

The science is junk science manipulated to reflect what you want it to say. What is your excuse for the 70's ice age that never happened?”

“What an idiotic remark!”

“LB, why are you so up in arms over a deal, stinky or not, that was offered to the Palestinians. Why is YOUR nose out of joint?”

“Not according to Dennis Ross, Bill Clinton, and several others. Check out the maps on line.”

“lb, you have explicitly stated in the past, that, given your preference, you would rather that the Jewish state had never seen the light of day. There is not now, nor ever has been a "Palestine" to be occupied. Judea, Samaria, the West Bank, whatever you want to call it, was not under any sovereignty, "belonged" to no one, legally or morally or historically. The Arabs who lived there for many years have a claim. Fine. The Jews who lived there many years have a claim also. They are at least as "indigenous" as the Arabs. This dispute needs to be solved by negotiations. I deny your accusations of ethnic cleansing, but even if that had occurred, Israel is only a very small part of the so-called "Palestinian indigenous homeland." They have all the rest of it.

Finally, how bald-faced (or ignorant, choose one,) can you be. At various times during Muslim rule over the holy land, Jews were exiled, not allowed into Jerusalem; restricted in time, method, ability to pray at their holy sites; not allowed higher than the seventh step leading to the Tomb of the Patriarchs, madse dhimmi, etc., etc.

They will never return to that status.”

“What do you mean, lb? International law says nothing about abandoning territory gained in defensive war, prior to a mutually agreed peace treaty. That has not yet been achieved.”