Meet your new thread, same as the old thread.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Have you seen Sicko yet?

The only Moore thing I've ever seen was Roger & Me.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The only Moore thing I've ever seen was Roger & Me.

The rabbit scene was disturbing.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Withholding aid when the new government takes over seemed politically inevitable - even if someone thought it was the best policy, aiding a government run by Hamas just wouldn't have political support. For humanitarian reasons and to try to keep a lid on in general, you can re-route some portion of the humanitarian component through relief organizations and the UN (unless you're Bush and have a visceral dislike of all things UN), but sending any through Hamas is crazy. That said, the failure to use relief organizations and the UN to keep a lid on it has had a toll.

On the other hand, withholding tax revenues owed to the government strikes me as a simple treaty/international law violation.

Aren't the other EU nations also withholding funding? Why is this just an America thing?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Diane_Keaton
He said the United States decided to punish Palestinians. Not that the U.S. made policy decisions that are going to harm people or keep them on "food aid." "Punish": to subject to or inflict a penalty; to mete out punishment. The idea that our government is spending billions of dollars in order to "punish" starving Palestinians on food aid is irrational.

I used to think that Carter, although the worst president ever, and the worst ex-president ever, at least did good when he built houses. but then this weekend I read that one of the Habitat for Humanity towns was so poorly bungled that less than 10 years later most of the houses are about uninhabitable- oh and the fortunate poor people are stuck with mortgages. So he might be the worst charitable contributor also. Hat trick!

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I used to think that Carter, although the worst president ever, and the worst ex-president ever, at least did good when he built houses. but then this weekend I read that one of the Habitat for Humanity towns was so poorly bungled that less than 10 years later most of the houses are about uninhabitable- oh and the fortunate poor people are stuck with mortgages. So he might be the worst charitable contributor also. Hat trick!

Carter wants to punish poor people

[Diane_Keaton]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
Carter's full sentence "The United States and Israel decided to punish all the people in Palestine and did everything they could to deter a compromise between Hamas and Fatah"

Um, yes. That is his full sentence. He said the U.S. and Israel:

1. decided to punish all the people in Palestine; and

2. did everything they could to deter a compromise between Hamas and Fatah.

I find (1) above to be a poor choice of words and the second part does not help. It is an irrational, emotional blurt that is embarrassing for an ex President to utter. This is also not his first time for slips like this. Lastly, Carter did not talk about "a policy that promotes a deterioration in....." as Ty so eloquently speaks. Carter, instead, said our country made the decision to dole out punishment to Palestinians. I expect him to choose his words more carefully, especially when millions of people will be talking about the U.S. President who admitted that the U.S. (and Israel) is out to get Muslims. That is my view; thank you for listening.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Have you seen Sicko yet?

here's my question, since the canadian system won't provide care if you have a heart attack, would it sew fingers back on? seriously. in a "already paid for" insurance system i know some crap is too much. wouldn't that be one?

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Aren't the other EU nations also withholding funding? Why is this just an America thing?

Yoiu may want to look at my post again - I wasn't criticizing the withholding of aid, I was saying that withholding was ineveitable. I don't think we had any choice.

The EU also withheld aid, though they made a few emergency loans and the like in the early days of the new government. For the EU, I'm not sure it was politically inevitable that they withhold aid.

The real criticism ought to be focused at Israel, which withheld the government's own tax money. It's one thing to say, "it's our money, and we don't want to give it to a Hamas led government" and another to say, "it's your money, but go screw yourself - we're not letting you have it."

[Diane_Keaton]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Aren't the other EU nations also withholding funding? Why is this just an America thing?

According to Jimmy Carter, only the U.S. and Israel are punishing Palestinians. You know -- the countries run by Jews.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The only Moore thing I've ever seen was Roger & Me.

The only Moore I've seen was Canadian Bacon, which is sheer genius - never has the Canadian persona been better captured, and, as someone from upstate New York, I can also say that he nailed Buffalo and its people.

But from hearing them talk about it, I'd guess Slave and Hank have seen them all.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The only Moore thing I've ever seen was Roger & Me.

OTOH I have to see them all. just in case Ty ever does see one I need to be in a position to respond.

i got the policy from bush's missile defense stance.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Yoiu may want to look at my post again - I wasn't criticizing the withholding of aid, I was saying that withholding was ineveitable. I don't think we had any choice.

The EU also withheld aid, though they made a few emergency loans and the like in the early days of the new government. For the EU, I'm not sure it was politically inevitable that they withhold aid.

The real criticism ought to be focused at Israel, which withheld the government's own tax money. It's one thing to say, "it's our money, and we don't want to give it to a Hamas led government" and another to say, "it's your money, but go screw yourself - we're not letting you have it."

I don't think you can criticize Israel for declining to deal with Hamas. But that doesn't mean that whatever Israel does is necessarily wise. For example, with Hamas controlling Gaza, Israel might decide to stop supplying electricity. I don't think Israel is under any obligation to provide power to a regime that sees itself at war with Israel and does not accept its existence, but cutting off power to Gaza would probably increase support for Hamas, and could be counterproductive.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
I don't think you can criticize Israel for declining to deal with Hamas. But that doesn't mean that whatever Israel does is necessarily wise. For example, with Hamas controlling Gaza, Israel might decide to stop supplying electricity. I don't think Israel is under any obligation to provide power to a regime that sees itself at war with Israel and does not accept its existence, but cutting off power to Gaza would probably increase support for Hamas, and could be counterproductive.

They weren't just declining to deal with Hamas, they were (and are) refusing to turn over to the Palestinian authority funds they collected on its behalf; if they were to terminate the agreement, turn over the funds, and stop collecting it, that's one thing. I don't see how this is defensible.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
They weren't just declining to deal with Hamas, they were (and are) refusing to turn over to the Palestinian authority funds they collected on its behalf; if they were to terminate the agreement, turn over the funds, and stop collecting it, that's one thing. I don't see how this is defensible.

If the Palestinian Authority becomes controlled by people who say they are at war with Israel and do not accept its existence, why on Earth should Israel send them money?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
If the Palestinian Authority becomes controlled by people who say they are at war with Israel and do not accept its existence, why on Earth should Israel send them money?

I dropped the POTY, and this muck keeps going? no kudos?