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[jonesey]

From the NY Times today:

Israel Struck a Nuclear Project in Syria, Analysts Say

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 — Israel’s air attack on Syria last month was directed against a site that Israeli and American intelligence analysts judged was a partly constructed nuclear reactor, apparently modeled on one North Korea has used to create its stockpile of nuclear weapons fuel, according to American and foreign officials with access to the intelligence reports.

Full Story

Seems like Israel has no problem keeping that corner of the world nuclear free.  Something tells me that if Iran is actually pretty close to having nuclear facilities, Israel will condunct an airstrike/commando raid, etc on it, with or without tacit American approval or assistance. 

Similarly, if Israel isn't worried about Iran having nuclear materials, why is the U.S.? 

[nardo]

From the NY Times today:

Israel Struck a Nuclear Project in Syria, Analysts Say

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 — Israel’s air attack on Syria last month was directed against a site that Israeli and American intelligence analysts judged was a partly constructed nuclear reactor, apparently modeled on one North Korea has used to create its stockpile of nuclear weapons fuel, according to American and foreign officials with access to the intelligence reports.

Full Story

Seems like Israel has no problem keeping that corner of the world nuclear free.  Something tells me that if Iran is actually pretty close to having nuclear facilities, Israel will condunct an airstrike/commando raid, etc on it, with or without tacit American approval or assistance. 

Similarly, if Israel isn't worried about Iran having nuclear materials, why is the U.S.? 

Dude, you gotta have a pretext to set off the Rapture!

[solly]

Even though it has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Syria would not have been obligated to declare the existence of a reactor during the early phases of construction. It would have also had the legal right to complete construction of the reactor, as long as its purpose was to generate electricity.

So where is the outrage?

[jonesey]

Even though it has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Syria would not have been obligated to declare the existence of a reactor during the early phases of construction. It would have also had the legal right to complete construction of the reactor, as long as its purpose was to generate electricity.

So where is the outrage?

This is the United States; we have Selective Outrage. 

[solly]

This is the United States; we have Selective Outrage.

Gotta hand it to you yanks. Incredible advance in moral philosophy!

[jonesey]

This is the United States; we have Selective Outrage.

Gotta hand it to you yanks. Incredible advance in moral philosophy!

: )

Look, first Afghanistan, then Iraq, then Iran.  With Afghanistan and Iraq, we've surrounded Iran.  After Iran is done with, we can move onto Syria, etc.  All in due time.  It's very difficult to transform an entire region; you have to do it one country at a time.  We're a bit behind schedule in Iraq, but we'll get there.  Once we have an entire Army Infantry Division stationed there, permanently, and throw up a few Wal*Marts here and there, we'll be in good shape for Iran.  Plus, by then, all of those troublesome countries will learn that we'll just bomb them back into the stone age if they don't do what we say.

See?  It's simple.

[solly]

The land of the free - but free speech is a rare commodity


You can say what you like in the US, just as long as you don't ask awkward questions about America's role in the Middle East

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1843543,00.html

[ccmon]

This post  is pretty nice! :D

WOW....what big post's you have.....

support you ~

[solly]

Norman Finklestein arrested in Israel.

The American academic Norman Finkelstein has been arrested and ordered deported from Israel. Finkelstein arrived in Tel Aviv earlier today on his way to the Occupied Territories. He was immediately detained and told he is banned from Israel for ten years. He’s expected to be deported tomorrow. Finkelstein is known one of the most prominent academic critics of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/23/headlines#12

[priceeqn]

The Israelis really make me laugh: whenver anyone criticizes the government they just say they're *obviously* anti-Semitic... Why else would they go out of their way to start a scholarly discourse that offends such large numbers of Jewish Americans... Many European Jews that I've met have wondered why the U.S. pays such attention to Israel's military and security policies...  It's a sucky situation to be in: the Isreali government seems to do everything they can to deny the rights of the Palestinians... and then when bad things happen they pretend to wonder why...
I think it was very brave of Pres. Shimon to admit publicly that Israel needs to work on giving the Palestinians economic rights as a start to ensuring the country's overall stability into the future.  Wouldn't that suck if they turn into another South Africa?  Likud seems quite intent on ensuring that that happens... but how long did S.A.'s apartheid system last? 40 years?  Not long.
Despite what the press portrays here, there are actual Israelis who find their government to be shameful and hope that peace comes some day.  No time soon though I'm guessing, and it's sad for the people who live there...

[priceeqn]

There is one other thing that, as an evolutionary game theorist, I find odd.  That is the inability of otherwise half-educated twits to understand that the only way to assure a balance of power anywhere is to make sure as many countries as possible have nuclear weapons.  If Iran gets them that's great, it makes them less likely to get hit by Israel or the U.S. and other countries such as Pakistan, less likely to get hit by Iran.  "Mutually Assured Destruction" is not a difficult concept to grasp: if everyone has nukes the World is simply a far safer place than when a few countries have them and use them to lord it over other countries...

[kmellendorf]

There is one other thing that, as an evolutionary game theorist, I find odd.  That is the inability of otherwise half-educated twits to understand that the only way to assure a balance of power anywhere is to make sure as many countries as possible have nuclear weapons.  If Iran gets them that's great, it makes them less likely to get hit by Israel or the U.S. and other countries such as Pakistan, less likely to get hit by Iran.  "Mutually Assured Destruction" is not a difficult concept to grasp: if everyone has nukes the World is simply a far safer place than when a few countries have them and use them to lord it over other countries...

You make one assumption about people that is not always true.  You assume that everyone believes survival is important.  There are other attitudes in the world.  Some people want to build themselves up.  Some believe it is just as honorable, and sometimes more so, to take others down and die in the attempt.  If country A nukes country B, and everyone is allowed nuclear weaponry, then have they broken any official rules?  The official government within a country is not always the ultimate decision-making organization.  The more nuclear weapons present in the world, the more accessible they are to the various fanatical groups that would prefer to see a significant portion of the world destroyed.

[priceeqn]

From all the mathematical simulations I've seen, I'd take more nukes rather then less.  Of course, no nukes is even better.
Second, I think if people voluntarily remove their genes from competition with ours that they're doing us a favor...

[solly]

Officials in the Prime Minister's Office Saturday night expressed "surprise" at State Department criticism of Israel for reportedly not letting seven Gazan students leave the Gaza Strip on Fulbright scholarships, saying that the State Department did not directly contact the PMO about the issue.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1212041441541&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[solly]

"I have examined the texts relevant to one of the quotations implicated in Finkelstein’s argument, and I see no reasonable alternative to the conclusion that Finkelstein is correct." -
Frank J. Menetrez received his PhD in philosophy and JD from UCLA.
http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=1493