On the other hand, if Donald Trump went back in time and murdered Mother Teresa, the conservative press would label her a threat.
Such is the state of American media today where the hatred or adoration of Donald Trump precludes any fair and impartial analysis. Issues are no longer judged on their merits and for Americans, Trump is always wrong or always right.
Even the so-called expert commentators are chosen by the respective networks for their political stripe and so it's fair to say that everything we hear about the assassination operation on General Qasem Soleimani on CNN is negative and positive of FOX News.
Let us step away from the partial and politicized media bias and take an allegorical journey to simplify what seems to be a complicated situation.
Think of Iran as a large and powerful drug cartel wishing to expand its influence into neighbouring countries. The cartel uses stealth, subterfuge and violence to eliminate and supplant any local competition or leadership in order to install its own members. However the drug cartel doesn't have a free hand and while the countries it is trying to overtake are relatively weak, they are however under the benevolent protection of the all-powerful Sheriff Donald and his super-powerful police force
Moishe Israel is ruthless and unafraid. Moishe has superb weapons and a highly trained force that over matches the cartel.
And so Moishe Israel with the Sheriff's blessing, attacks the drug gang at every turn, bombing its bases and attacking its drug conveys, even going so far as to sabotage its installation back in its home base.
The drug cartel hates Moishe Israel even more than it hates the Sheriff and constantly threatens retaliation. But after three years of taking it on the chin, the cartel is unable or just plain afraid to confront Moishe Israel.
Instead, the drug gang accepts operational losses and shrugs off the setbacks in the same way they accept that a certain percentage of the drugs they are smuggling into a country will be intercepted by authorities, not unexpected or unanticipated, just the cost of doing business and so like an allied World War II convoy sailing the Atlantic, a certain level of acceptable losses to u-boats is the battle plan.
Despite the serious losses, the gang is loathe to directly confront either the Sheriff or his deputy Moishe, understanding clearly that to directly challenge and confront them is a losing proposition because, despite its power, the gang is vastly outgunned.
And so the battle lines remain static, the cartel attempting to expand its base to its neighbours, while the Sheriff and his deputy fend off these advances, a situation not unlike the stalemate of enemies in the World War I trenches.
But the Sheriff decides to up the ante and launches an operation to take out one of the highest-ranking members of the cartel, a ruthless gangster who has wreaked havoc and death throughout the region, but who is nonetheless a hero to the cartel.
The motivation for such an attack is questioned by some in the Sheriff's department and others in the media and of course by the Sheriff's political foes who claim that an assassination of the deputy cartel leader is a political distraction meant to deflect criticism of the Sheriff. They warn that the assassination would probably lead to a dangerous escalation and would likely lead to retaliation that might well lead to an all-out war.
Others in the Sheriff's department argue that the cartel will not escalate and summon as proof the failure of the cartel to actually engage Deputy Moishe, even after countless and countless losses over the years where the deputy has pounded and pounded cartel installations with impunity.
While the cartel howled and swore retribution, it proved to be mostly bluster.
And so the Sheriff launches a successful and masterful assassination, killing the deputy gang leader in a powerful display of intelligence and capability.
The gang is outraged and screams bloody murder, swearing that retaliation will be swift and powerful.
The world is frightened that an escalation is in order and as such holds its breath in fearful anticipation.
But the Sheriff is serene and promises more deadly attacks if the cartel replies, a threat that the cartel takes seriously believing the sheriff to be reckless and insane.
Back at gang headquarters the pain and humiliation are agonizing. The blatant hit on its number 2 is a message of utter contempt and a challenge to the gang leadership.
The cartel meets to decide a response because such an attack cannot go unanswered, or else they will lose serious face. While the cartel has plenty of firepowers, it is not nearly enough to take on the Sheriff and his deputy.
The cartel realizes it cannot go to war, because although it can inflict a lot of damage to the neighbourhood, it would end badly for them in the end.
The cartel, unlike its terrorist minions who have no problem attacking the Sheriff or his deputy, has a lot to lose.
Some members suggest using these proxy-agents to do the dirty work and attack the Sheriff or his deputy in its stead, but the Sheriff has already warned them that any attack will be considered a direct attack by the cartel.
What to do? What to do?
The cartel decides that there's no other option but a face-saving attack that will satisfy the rank and file, but one that will not spur the Sheriff or deputy to action.
And so the gang lets it be known to the Sheriff that they will stage an attack that will be full of sound and fury but will, in essence, be nothing but a show.
The gang's leaders explain to their minions that they have too much to lose and too little to gain in confronting the Sheriff and his deputy head-on.
And so those who love the Sheriff and even those who hate the Sheriff are forced to face the reality that the Sheriff has won this round decisively and has exposed the Cartel as a paper tiger.
Nobody is more thrilled than Deputy Moishe who cannot resist telling the naysayers"I told you so."
The cartel is diminished and will soon be forced to rethink its expansion plans because (using a mixed metaphor) ....when push came to shove, the cartel blinked.
Well I have many mixed feelings about this. Its very easy for Israel to talk and look tough as they somehow always have the full support of the USA behind them. I agree with Ron Paul and think the USA and all other allied forces should get the heck out of the middle east and let Israel fight its own battles. It makes no sense for any of us to be there and the amount of money we are pissing down the drain to be there is staggering..not to mention the death of thousands of us troops and even more injuries..all for what??
ReplyDeleteWhy are we constantly interfering in the affairs of nations halfway around the globe?? There is no rational explanation other than to feed the immense military industrial complex of the USA..maybe for oil control although that argument is fading..and for some inexplicable reason the need to always defend Israel. If Israel has such a powerful and sophisticated military as I am often told (notably from Jewish people) then there is no need for them to rely on the USA (and others )military for their defense. Israel and the Jewish community have plenty of financial resources to defend themselves as well..I wish they would stop using this co-ersion to get the USA to do their dirty work.
Now having said that, this general from Iran was executed on Iraqi soil in which there is a heavy american military presence. This guy has a lot of nerve sticking his nose into this region and in my opinion is asking to get blown away just because of his sheer arrogance of being there in the first place. Secondly I believe he is responsible for the deaths of many Americans and other allied forces and many innocents in his own country so is it such a great loss..not really other than for some fanatical Iranians.
Its pretty clear that the USA has been by far the biggest aggresor in the region..destabilizing much of the middle east over the past several decades..but also with Israel behind the scenes. I think its high time to leave the region and let the countries there deal with their mess.
Thank you, complicated, for first of all showing your true colours of what an ignorant anti-Semite you are. You seem to fail to realize that Israel is the only true democracy in the region, and if America is going to defend democracy, then they must invest in Israel.
DeleteOn the subject of investing in Israel, how is it that so many non-Jews invest in Israeli bonds and businesses in said country. Could it be that the bonds have yet to fail to pay interest when due? Could it be that Israel has found a way to grow mangoes, other food sources and flora in a desert climate while these are items that normally don't grow in a desert climate yet the countries around them don't even cultivate their sand dunes? Could it be that Israel has more scientists, doctors and other university graduates per capita than anywhere else in the world?
If America is investing in Israel, it is because it is good for America. Did you even know Canada has a Free Trade Agreement with Israel? Did you also know many, many computer programs come from Israel? Did you know Israel invented a means to crate energy by cars running on highways? Did you know Israel has invented a vegetable-based biodegradable leak proof liner for those millions upon millions of disposable single use coffee cups thrown into landfill each and every day?
BTW, your sentence "Why are WE constantly interfering in the affairs of nations halfway around the globe??..." Who is "WE"
Thank you complicated. Thank you for once again proving that old platitude "It is better to be a silent moron than to promulgate your views and prove it".
For the record, I'm not a big, big fan of Donald Trump except for his affinity with Israel. After all, his son-in-law, an orthodox Jew and his converted wife are really the people behind the man.
Any other beefs, complicated or other readers? BRING 'EM ON! I DARE YOU!
I knew someone here would throw the old "anti semite" tag at me. Anyone who dare criticizes Israel is always an anti semite. Thats become a convenient but pathetic defense of any argument against Israel and its overly strong influence on US and Canadian foreign policy. Lets call him an anti semite to shame him into submission..that doesn't work with me or many other people. Give me an intelligent reason why any US or Allied forces should be wasting their time money and energy in the Middle East..I have not heard one ounce of a reason from the drivel you just posted.
ReplyDeleteWell Mr.Sauga from your glowing comments on Israel there really is no need for the USA nor Canada nor Europe to have troops stationed there to defend them as they are so powerful, smart and rich as you say. So you prove my point..pull out all our troops out and stop funneling billions of dollars down the drain in the Middle East and stop any more of our soldiers from dying for a pointless cause.
Israel seems more than capable of defending themselves from what I have read on this forum..
Ohhhh...complicated, there you go again with you're not a racist. Why does it then bother you that several civilized Western nations take an interest in Israel's well-being?
DeleteOh, and complicated: You still didn't answer my question, i.e., who is "WE"?
Don't bother answering because you obviously don't have an answer to that ridiculously simple question.
"...[the Jews] are so powerful, smart and rich as you say." I didn't say any of those things, so here goes the racist complicated YOU? factoring in words on my comments. I merely stated facts of Israeli accomplishments that happen to be true whether you want to be a denier or not. Whether you like the facts or you don't like them, it is simply a substantiated fact that little Israel, a nation that started as nothing more than sand dunes, turned those sand dunes into an infrastructure and a civilization to the point where it is in just over 71 years after its inception.
You also failed to acknowledge that other countries value their investments in Israel, especially its expertise since Israel, again whether you like it or don't like it, has more doctors, more scientists, more engineers and more university graduates altogether per capita than ANY OTHER NATION ON PLANET EARTH!
Like most other anti-Semites, your envious.
Read it and weep, and eat your heart out, complicated!
@sauga
Deleteyou've already spend two long rants trying to demonstrate israel is home to a superior kind of human beings. you are a racist mate.
Mr. Sauga:
DeleteWell this is one of those rare occasions where I agree with student. You sound like a bit of a raving madman Mr.Sauga. We..as in the US and allied forces including Canada should be the heck out of the Middle East. We have not brought democracy to the region nor have we helped any of the citizens there other than perhaps help defend Israel. Its a complete fiasco..from the billions if not trillions of dollars poured down the drain which have not helped most citizens in the Middle East but actually made their lives worse. How many hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis died because of the actions of the US and Allied forces and for what..Iraq is clearly not better off than before. The USA could care less about bringing democracy to the region..there are countless countries around the world rules by ruthless dictators and the USA does absolutely nothing.
Meanwhile the US government carries on a cozy relationship with Saudi Arabia, the country where most of the 911 terrorists came from..where Osama Bin laden is from and so on. The entire WMD and other so called intelligence was complete hogwash..our troops are in the Middle East mainly to support the vast military industrial complex..to make Israel and the ultra powerful Jewish lobby happy and maybe to secure some oil although both US and Canada have more than enough oil at this point.
It boggles my mind how our government continues to be beholden to outside interests rather than the desires of their own people. Most Canadians and Americans do not want troops in the Middle East yet they are still there.
I have no problems with trade with Israel, business relations, investments and so on much like any other country. However we should not be sacrificing our own soldiers for the Israeli government cause. They can defend themselves without the support from us and its high time they do..they have more than enough resources to do so.
Mr.Sauga..if anyone is racist it sure as heck is you. The stuff you have said here about Quebecois people is way more inflammatory and disrespectful than anything I have said here about Jewish people. My big beef has always been with the Israeli government and the Jewish lobby which seems to have politicians wrapped around their fingers here in North America. You are not helping your cause by your incredibly arrogant and obnoxious statements.
1 of 2: complicated: You took the time to write so I'll gladly respond to you. student is merely a troll so I won't dignify his unsubstantiated accusation beyond the period following this sentence.
Delete"However we should not be sacrificing our own soldiers for the Israeli government cause."
Huh? Who's being sacrificed for the Israeli government cause as you put it? The problems are happening primarily in Syria, Iran, Iraq and Yemen. It's the last of those three that is mostly being ignored. The U.S. abandoned the Kurds in Syria who are now sitting ducks. They're on their own!
"It boggles my mind how our government continues to be beholden to outside interests rather than the desires of their own people."
Uhh...yeah-h-h-h...n-n-n-o! They're beholden to Saudi Arabia because both Canada AND the U.S. have big military supply contracts with S.A. If Canada doesn't deliver on its commitments, there are major penalties to be paid for not doing so. I'm sure it's the same in the U.S., so follow the money.
2 of 3: "The stuff you have said here about Quebecois people is way more inflammatory and disrespectful than anything I have said here about Jewish people."
DeleteI'll leave that as your opinion. It has been written time and time again that Quebec has this artificial and bogus belief their language and culture are in danger of extinction. That was attempted by one Lord Durham in 1839 where he tried to assimilate French speakers into the English milieu, and it failed miserably then, and this is at a time when our society was more ordered and the less educated listened to their betters more willingly.
With today's ability to communicate instantaneously through social media, any such attempts even to think repeating what Lord Durham tried to do nearly 200 years ago would be put to bed PDQ!
"...the Israeli government and the Jewish lobby which seems to have politicians wrapped around their fingers..."
Really? Only a Jewish lobby? There are Japanese lobbyists, Chinese, French, British, South American and lobbyists from all over the world bending the ears of congress and our M.P.s with favours left, right and center. You make it sound like only the Jews lobby.
"You are not helping your cause by your incredibly arrogant and obnoxious statements."
How are my statements arrogant and obnoxious? You, like most anti-Semites, factor in that only Jews are lobbyists, and that all the wars in the Middle East somehow are all centered around Israel.
Saddam Hussein was killing Iraqis, Ayatollah Khomeini deposed the Shah of Iran who killed Iranian dissidents and Khomeini killed his dissidents and those who didn't obey Islamic law to the letter, especially women. The Shah was deposed and died, Khomeini is dead, Saddam is dead and Assad is just killing his own people just like his father did, only he's far more brutal than his father ever was.
What is pathetic about American involvement is they'll rid the world of despots only to leave and then other despots fill the vacuums left by the despots they ridded themselves of. Saddam Hussein was a butcher, killed those he considered to be dissidents of his regime, but America was wrong insofar he did not have weapons of mass destruction as supposedly their own intelligence claimed he did. Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell quit his post once he presented the false findings of intelligence when he subsequently learned where not true. He was duped, disgraced by U.S. sources her relied on and he quit in disgust.
"The stuff you have said here about Quebecois people is way more inflammatory and disrespectful than anything I have said here about Jewish people."
Oh, and how do you come to measure that vague statement?
I'm just pointing out how many, but not all the states surrounding Israel, moved sand dunes from here to there while Israel levelled those sand dunes to build an infrastructure and a civilisation that uses its precious few resources wisely and invests in the education of its children while many of the surrounding nations put weapons into the hands of their children and indoctrinate them that Israel is their mortal enemy and the root of all evil. Facts, complicated, facts!
I can't help it if you don't like that Israel cultivates food that has no business growing in a desert climate nor can I help it they invest in theirchildren to be productive citizens of their country and society through valuable education. Facts, complicated, facts!
3 of 3: As for my comments on Québécois society, I grew up in Quebec from birth until my mid-20s and decided after Bill 22 became law while I was still in high school and to leave Quebec upon completion of my education was based on my personal observations. I saw this right then and there as a means to relegate minorities to the back of the bus. My peers were far more hostile towards me from the beginning than my parents' relationships with their cohorts.
ReplyDeleteI figured Bill 22 in 1974 was just the beginning, and this was tabled by Bourassa, the supposed federalist. Then you had these hideous language tests where parents wanting their kids to go to English schools were denied if they made the slightest mistake on the test as the examiners were mostly hard-core nationalists (read separatists). Now THAT was, in your own words inflammatory and disrespectful.
The PQ got in just over two years later and their first bill on the table was the original Charter of the French language, Bill 1. Even leading French business people making up le Chambre de Commerce found that bill too stringent, so Adolf Laurin marginally eased up on the accelerator by force with Bill 101. Even that version was intentionally unconstitutional and knew eventually the Supreme Court of Canada would shoot it down. Never mind the Supreme Court, Quebec Superior Court blew it down but the seppies appealed knowing what would happen and then they'd goad everybody against them by saying "See? Ottawa screwed us again!" Since then Bourassa again screwed the minorities with Bill 178, the PQ then imposed other legislation and then ex Premier John James Charest put in even more stringencies against the minorities. For the last 45+ years, the language b.s. has been going on and on and on and on and on.......I'm entitled to my opinions, complicated, even if you find them too damn hard to swallow.
Look Mr.Sauga the bottom line is that it makes ZERO sense for US and Allied troops to be stationed in the Middle East forever. Its crystal clear that we (yes WE as in US and Allied forces) have only made things WORSE in the Middle East. Iraq is a complete disaster zone..Afghanistan is a mess..our troops were only supposed to be there a few years..its been almost 20 years and they are still there and each new US president says they will remove them before they are elected and then changes their mind.
ReplyDeleteYes there are many lobbies but there is no question that the Jewish lobby is very powerful and is clearly a factor in why the US lingers over there. Its somewhat perplexing to me as it seems that Israel is more than capable of defending itself so why do we need to be there. Its not about bringing democracy to the Middle East..do you really think by murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis that this will somehow bring democracy to the region?? Do you think by completely surrounding Iran by US military bases that this will bring democracy to the region? Do you think by destabilizing the region for decades will bring democracy to the region? The hypocrisy of the close friendship with Saudi Arabia is galling..you are right..follow the money..when I do I see both Saudi Arabia and Israel in the background and the military industrial complex of the USA. How come the USA isnt concerned about democracy in Saudi Arabia or in much of Africa or in Asia??? Its money money and money..this is all about money.
20 years in Iraq and Afghanistan have done nothing but make matters worse and increase the hatred of the Arab world towards the USA and Israel..its been a complete and utter failure. However some very large american corporations did very well..Israel is happy as they have big daddy USA defending their turf all the time and Saudi Arabia is also happy being defended by the Yanks.
Its time for US and Canadian citizens to demand that we get the heck out of there and let the countries there deal with their mess. We are only making matters worse.
Look Mr.Sauga I am not a fan of Quebec nationalism..I have made that point many times..but you have crossed the line on several occasions by slandering all Quebecois when the real problem is with the nationalist politicians and elite who manipulate the people much like what happens in many countries around the world. Look at Trump for goodness sake..here is a billionaire who is pretending to care about working class Americans and somehow has convinced many of them that he is on their side. He is only going to help his rich buddies in the end and his own family yet somehow all these unemployed Americans think his twisted rhetoric will save them. He is racking up billion dollar deficits every year..spending like a drunken sailor..further enriching the top 1 percent in America by artificially propping up the stock market..the whole thing will come crashing down later on and he will be long gone with his billions.
And it really annoys me to be called an anti semite..I have lots of issues with Israeli government policy and the power of the Jewish lobby but nothing directly against Jewish people. But this term "anti semite" has been warped into a deflection shield used by Israelis when anyone questions their policies. Imagine if there was an "anti-quebecite" term which had the same power. Each time someone criticizes Quebec then we could simply say "oh they are anti-quebecite and end of discussion. Although I will say Quebecers have a similar term and its called "Quebec bashing". These terms just end discussion without having a proper debate.
OK, complicated, one more time [place and sigh here]:
DeleteYou: "Do you think by completely surrounding Iran by US military bases that this will bring democracy to the region? Do you think by destabilizing the region for decades will bring democracy to the region?"
Me: No and no.
You: "How come the USA isnt concerned about democracy in Saudi Arabia or in much of Africa or in Asia??? Its money money and money..this is all about money."
Me: True!
You: "...years in Iraq and Afghanistan have done nothing but make matters worse and increase the hatred of the Arab world towards the USA and Israel..its been a complete and utter failure."
You: "Its time for US and Canadian citizens to demand that we get the heck out of there and let the countries there deal with their mess. We are only making matters worse."
Me: Probably true. Can't ascertain, but it's a hypothesis with merit.
You: "..but you have crossed the line on several occasions by slandering all Quebecois when the real problem is with the nationalist politicians and elite who manipulate the people much like what happens in many countries around the world.
Me: So, firstly, if I understand you correctly, you're stating two wrongs make a right? Secondly, I resent your use of the term "all Quebecois"! I never said "all Quebecois", but I certainly do imply the masses in general. No politician has done anything to ease the stringency of Bills 22 and 101. Fürer Camille Laurin intentionally placed articles in his Bill 101 (originally a more stringent Bill 1) that he consciously new were unconstitutional to eventually goad Ottawa into going to the Supreme Court to confirm their unconstitutionality and then blame Ottawa for thwarting his master plan.
Support for Bill 101 and other the other "one-oh bills" that followed is proof positive there was consensus among French Quebec to attack English at every nook and cranny. Their doing, not mine. Does 100% of the French speaking population support it? Not 100% in all likelihood, but well over 50% + 1, so you can take that "all Quebecois" innuendo anyway you want.
Finally, You: "...it really annoys me to be called an anti semite..I have lots of issues with Israeli government policy and the power of the Jewish lobby but nothing directly against Jewish people."
Me: LOL, L(oud), L, L, L! I can only answer that statement with a passage from Proverbs 14:7 "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge." If you can't see why I'm quoting that verse from the Bible, G-d bless you!