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So you will not respond to my comments but stay on your soapbox. OK - you are certainly entitled to your opinions. I've been to Israel too, and there is a lot I don't like about it, but it is not an enemy of civilization, and the current leadership of Iran is. That is why Israel having nuclear weapons does not bother me any more than the US having them. No that is not right. That is why I am real glad both the US and Israel do have them.

But they are striking out at us in response to our governments propping up of Israel.

This is just plain wrong. You think the Saudi Wahabis give a sh*t about Palestinians? Go research how much aid they provide to them.

You think the Indonesians that planted bombs in a night club in Bali or the Muslims that have killed 2,500 innocent civilians, a lot of them teachers and other low level civil servants in Thailand would stop if Israel ceased to exist? Do you really think that 9/11 would not have happened if the US was not a friend of Israel's? I won't accept and answer of 'yes' - I will assume you are just baiting us - no FReeper could be that detached from reality.

Yes I believe 911 happened as a response to our support of Israel. If you think about the logic of it, you will see it also. This is a religious war, there is no upside for us in it. While I do not agree with Hitler's solution to the Jewish problem, a lot of what he said concerning their control of the financial institutions and such has a lot of truth in it.

Go on believing the "news" that has been spun this way and that by our government and the media. My opinion of our current situation here in the USA was best expressed by Gene Hackman and Will Smith in "Enemy of the State". Throw in some "1984" also, everywhere you go now is likely monitored by sound/video. The government no longer feels the need to even get warrants to spy on your communications. The Patriot Act basically removed most of the protections of the Bill of Rights. The "New World Order" is taking charge, they will tell you how and what to think and believe.

That does not work for me. My biggest regret in life is going to SE Asia for a second tour rather than joining my friends in the AIM. I am a decorated veteran, but can only say that I am no longer proud of my country or its actions.

Go to any Orthodox Jewish neighborhood and you can get all the extremist quotes you want. Every religion has its 2% of nut-cases. The vast majority of both Jews and Arabs could live together, but its the 2% that sell the newspapers and improve the Nielsens. Jews are at least "People of the Book", unlike a poor Pagan like me. Yet I was always well treated when in Arab countries, a lot better than I was treated in Israel.

Should a quote from a distinguished leader, like say Senator Clinton, be taken as gospel on the mood and thoughts of the American people? Or perhaps we should use Senator Kennedy? You are letting the words and actions of a few blind you to the will of the many.

I am still fairly fluent in Arabic and Farsi, so I read the Arab side of things also. Makes a change from the Israeli propaganda we are bombarded with here.