Why is Israeli common sense only for Israelis?

Today, 5-18-05, it is being reported that the IAF has fired a missile at someone in Palestine and killed them. This killing was in reaction to a claimed mortar attack by Hamas activists.

In today's Jerusalem post, the paper makes the point that this is the first such raid since the beginning of the year. This claim is meant to demonstrate to the reader what restraint the Israelis have shown over the past few months. The article further makes the point that the Israelis feel they have ignored multiple provocations by the Palestinians over these last months.

An Israeli government spokesman named Ranaan Gissan made the following statement.

"What do you expect us to do if they are attacking us?"

I agree with Mr Gissan. If the Israelis are attacked, why should they not defend themselves? That is a basic human response. Any human being on the planet will want to defend themselves and their loved ones from an outside attack.

Palestinians are human beings. When the Israelis attack them as they have in Jenin and Rafah and the West Bank and everywhere else in Palestine, the Palestinians naturally react to defend themselves. When the Israelis assassinate the leaders of the Palestinians, the Palestinians naturally react to defend themselves. When Palestinian lands are confiscated or burned or poisoned, the Palestinians naturally react to defend themselves.

As Mr Gissan pointed out so obviously "What do you expect us (Israelis) to do if they are attacking us?"

Mr Gissan, official Israeli spokesman, makes it plain he believes that human beings naturally react to attack by defending themselves.

Palestinians are human beings too. Yet for some reason, if Palestinians defend themselves from unprovoked Israeli attacks, the Palestinians are called names and must be murdered or punished.

Why does Mr Ginnan's common sense statement, "What do you expect us to do when they are attacking us?", only apply to Israelis?

Billy Johnston, USA

Editor: Actually, yesterday's violence started when Israeli occupation soldiers killed a member of Hamas in Rafah, which triggered a Hamas retaliation, then Israeli planes retaliated against the retaliation.

A Scary Thought

I've been sitting here trying to do some more work on part 2 of Fools and Fanatics and while sipping on some "fair trade" coffee, turned on Lou Dobbs.

The headlines were about the grenade that was tossed about 100 feet from Bush when he was trolling around a couple of weeks ago.

It was announced that it was in fact a live grenade that malfunctioned. I am I ever thankful for that!

If it had gone off and killed or incapacitated the "Shrub" that would have left us and the world with Dick Cheney in the seat of power--and that is scarier than having Bush in that seat.

Someone save us from "Fools and Fanatics" that cannot see past the end of their noses!

Yours in solidarity and peace

Jack Dalton

George Galloway testifying before the US Senate

Thank you George Galloway for - what you gave the World - the opportunity to listen to what is the true story about the Iraqi war.

It was a joy , for me - one of millions, fed up listening (daily) to the infinite Bush/Blair lies, to watch this event. (in full length on SKY-NEWS)

For the hundred thousand killed in Iraq there will never come not just the least kind of justice out of this but I ask by this the media (the same media as have dispersed the lies) to replay this event just as many times as the 999? times repeated/replayed footage concerning Saddam Hussein's capture, just to get the least resemblance to a 'fair and balanced' news coverage

John Lund, Denmark

George Galloway in USA

Gorgeous George socks it to em Despite advice from many- myself included-, George insisted on travelling to America at the first opportunity, and confronting his Zionist accusers, in his own inimical way, to: 'Bait the monster in its own den.' Like his namesake St George- the dragon slayer, patron St of England, thereby proving us all wrong once again.

I was afraid he would not be allowed to speak in public, and instead be arbitrarily arrested as soon as he set foot on America, but he did exactly what he said he would- talk over the heads of the committee to the public.

At least the British public and Europeans in general, and the entire Arab world heard his words. What sort of edited version the American public heard, I can only guess at. It is with such little successes as these, that the truth can be freed. It should give us all hope.

If George gets out of that country alive to return home, we should celebrate his efforts with a party and anti war victory parade in London.

As I said at the time of the Daily Telegraph- Christian Science Monitor lie accusations: 'It may not happen this time, perhaps it may never happen at all, but If/ when the Zionist web of lies collapses and truth dawns, it will happen quickly, and in similar circumstances, when one lie too far, against a brave man, will cause an avalanche that will bury them'.

John Bayldon, UK

Newsweek Retracts Account of the  Qur'an Abuse

Why have the U.S media and this administration, continued to heap scorn and blame on Newsweek for angry protests in response to the desecration of the Qur'an, by U.S interrogators?

The fact is that this anger began long ago however, under this administration has increased exponentially because of its actions in the Middle East.

Threats toward Iran and Syria, events surrounding the Iraq war, torture and arbitrary detention of Muslims in the U.S and at U.S built prisons around the world, and of course this administration's support of Israel in its campaign to conquer the entire region, are the true sources of anger toward the U.S!

In addition, as demonstrated by the current rhetoric directed toward Iran, Syria and the Palestinians, the U.S has never taken to account Muslim public opinion. In fact, when objections have been raised by Arab countries of U.S policies in the region, they've been ignored outright or discounted as no more than empty conversation!

Unfortunately, as in so many other cases, we've chosen to embrace ignorance and avoid taking responsibility for our actions!

Timothy Stinson, Florida, USA