Happy Face

Your reverse logic is incredible. Israel are occupying the territory. They have grabbed all the power and if they were to offer a two state solution Hamas would jump at it, but Israel won't do that. I can't comprehend how you can blame Hamas for being unflexible while Israel starve millions of people and refuse to enter talks. At camp David in 2000 "all the concessions came from the Palestinian side, none from the Israeli side." http://www.palestine-studies.org/journals....p;href=fulltext In 2006, Hamas were advocating two states.... http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-04-07-hamas_x.htm http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/2...alestinians.usa Last month "Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal stated explicitly that the Palestinian Islamist group will end its armed struggle against Israel if the Jewish state withdraws from Palestinian land it occupied in the 1967 Middle East War." http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2010/05/31/110041.html

http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/201...egal_posit.html

http://www.juancole.com/2010/06/netanyahu-...-terrorism.html

I don't doubt there were a few people up for a ruck but lets not pretend the poor little Israeli soldiers had no option but to defend themselves with Mac-10s. The videos are edited for a reason. the israeli soilders reacted, but there is no doubt at all that they were provoked. were the majority of those on board really peace activists? this is an interesting report. most of the idf that landed on the boat were armed with paint ball guns http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1213...121348851234252 There's 9 dead and many more injured isn't there? Dr Gloom, are you on the wind up? The Israeli army approached peaceful vessels carrying no weapons in international waters, boarded, killed 9 people, injured 60 and kidnapped 600 because they were "provoked"....anyone videoed defending themselves from the illegal attack were "provoking" them and deserved to be shot to death. Undoubtedly this is how some are portraying it, I can't imagine anyone with an ounce of intelligence or integrity (by which i mean people without a vested interest in keeping Israeli relations sweet) going along with it though. no, i'm not on the wind up. as always though there are two sides to this story. i agree that there was an over reaction from the idf but i'm not as quick to condem israel as some others. as far as israel is concerned the blockade needs to exist to stop weapons getting into gaza. remember that hamas wants israel wiped off the face of the planet. opinion in israel is divided but remember that many normal israelis back a two state solution. but putting politics and whether you're for or against israel aside, the point of discussion is how the israeli soldiers acted. i agree they were heavy handed but to say those on the boat came in peace is questionable. How much longer is this lie going to be repeated? That's not the case. It doesn't matter what the majority of people want. I have no problem with the Israeli majority. The majority of Palestinians back a two state solution too...as do their leaders. The problem is the Israeli leadership don't....why would they when America fully support them whatever war crimes they commit. i agree that netanyahu is the worst possible leader israel can have when you look at the prospects for the peace process, worse than sharon even. why do you say that's a lie? this from wikipedia: Hamas's 1988 charter calls for replacing the State of Israel with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. After the elections, in April, 2006, Hamas co-founder Mahmoud Al-Zahar did not rule out the possibility of accepting a temporary two-state solution, but also stated that he dreamed "of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which does not show Israel on it . . . . I hope that our dream to have our independent state on all historic Palestine (will materialize). . . . This dream will become real one day. I'm certain of this because there is no place for the state of Israel on this land. When you use language like "wipe them off the map" it harks back to the false claims made against dinner jacket and Iran which get repeated ad infinitum, rather than any of the less emotive quotes like you've provided. If he'd ever said something like that as an elected leader it would be contemptable. Similarly if the current leader of Hamas said it, or if the Hamas manifesto that got them into power said it. But none of those did. The 1988 charter is 22 years old. Back then we supported Saddam Hussein. Things change. Their ultimate aim at that time was the restoration of 'ancient palestinian', but they've shown willing to compromise on that since. We have ex-IRA getting elected to parliament so we can have peace in the UK. We (collectively) don't hold a grudge about things that happened quarter of a century ago which perpetuates the violence. i don't see hamas willing to compromise. they want israel gone. that's why israel has to defend itself and its borders against it. you can argue that hamas are terrorists, you can argue that their freedom fighters. likewise for israel, they're either defending their borders or they're occupying palestine. depends on which side you;re on. as far as i can tell from reading this thread, most on here are on the side of the palestinians. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jan/12/israel

That'll be down to all the sodomy in private schools.

I'm starting to get the impression all your experience with the gays comes from Are You Being Served and Britains Got talent. Nothing could be further from the truth, and check out the bolded word. Of those that I know well, one of my oldest and closest friends came out about 7 years ago, and neither I nor my friends have ever used the sort of 'banter' I describe with him. I went travelling with a guy of my course who was more that way (he reveled in being known amongst the other medical students as 'Gay Ben'). I worked with a trio of gay doctors last year, one who's camp as Christmas and has the nickname of 'Big Gay Al', Richard who didn't make a big deal about it but has the nobhead friends I referred to earlier, and my reg who, perhaps due to his seniority, rarely discussed anything he did outside of work let alone his sexuality. Although my friends and girlfriend at the time were convinced he was trying to groom me. This isn't just a 'I'm not racist, my best friends are black' post but an illustration of my experience of how SOME gay people perpetuate the stereotypes that other gay people find offensive. Absolutley, and some black people have been known to jack cars and rape white women. It doesn't mean anyone should feel encouraged to allow their 'banter' to veer towards racist abuse though, even though it's a lot worse than saying "oh matron" when you offer them pork and stufing for tea.

I'm starting to get the impression all your experience with the gays comes from Are You Being Served and Britains Got talent.

I don't doubt there were a few people up for a ruck but lets not pretend the poor little Israeli soldiers had no option but to defend themselves with Mac-10s. The videos are edited for a reason. the israeli soilders reacted, but there is no doubt at all that they were provoked. were the majority of those on board really peace activists? this is an interesting report. most of the idf that landed on the boat were armed with paint ball guns http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1213...121348851234252 There's 9 dead and many more injured isn't there? Dr Gloom, are you on the wind up? The Israeli army approached peaceful vessels carrying no weapons in international waters, boarded, killed 9 people, injured 60 and kidnapped 600 because they were "provoked"....anyone videoed defending themselves from the illegal attack were "provoking" them and deserved to be shot to death. Undoubtedly this is how some are portraying it, I can't imagine anyone with an ounce of intelligence or integrity (by which i mean people without a vested interest in keeping Israeli relations sweet) going along with it though. no, i'm not on the wind up. as always though there are two sides to this story. i agree that there was an over reaction from the idf but i'm not as quick to condem israel as some others. as far as israel is concerned the blockade needs to exist to stop weapons getting into gaza. remember that hamas wants israel wiped off the face of the planet. opinion in israel is divided but remember that many normal israelis back a two state solution. but putting politics and whether you're for or against israel aside, the point of discussion is how the israeli soldiers acted. i agree they were heavy handed but to say those on the boat came in peace is questionable. How much longer is this lie going to be repeated? That's not the case. It doesn't matter what the majority of people want. I have no problem with the Israeli majority. The majority of Palestinians back a two state solution too...as do their leaders. The problem is the Israeli leadership don't....why would they when America fully support them whatever war crimes they commit. i agree that netanyahu is the worst possible leader israel can have when you look at the prospects for the peace process, worse than sharon even. why do you say that's a lie? this from wikipedia: Hamas's 1988 charter calls for replacing the State of Israel with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. After the elections, in April, 2006, Hamas co-founder Mahmoud Al-Zahar did not rule out the possibility of accepting a temporary two-state solution, but also stated that he dreamed "of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which does not show Israel on it . . . . I hope that our dream to have our independent state on all historic Palestine (will materialize). . . . This dream will become real one day. I'm certain of this because there is no place for the state of Israel on this land. When you use language like "wipe them off the map" it harks back to the false claims made against dinner jacket and Iran which get repeated ad infinitum, rather than any of the less emotive quotes like you've provided. If he'd ever said something like that as an elected leader it would be contemptable. Similarly if the current leader of Hamas said it, or if the Hamas manifesto that got them into power said it. But none of those did. The 1988 charter is 22 years old. Back then we supported Saddam Hussein. Things change. Their ultimate aim at that time was the restoration of 'ancient palestinian', but they've shown willing to compromise on that since. We have ex-IRA getting elected to parliament so we can have peace in the UK. We (collectively) don't hold a grudge about things that happened quarter of a century ago which perpetuates the violence.

Juan Cole, always excellent and factual.... http://www.juancole.com/2010/06/egypts-lif...-temporary.html

I don't doubt there were a few people up for a ruck but lets not pretend the poor little Israeli soldiers had no option but to defend themselves with Mac-10s. The videos are edited for a reason. the israeli soilders reacted, but there is no doubt at all that they were provoked. were the majority of those on board really peace activists? this is an interesting report. most of the idf that landed on the boat were armed with paint ball guns http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1213...121348851234252 There's 9 dead and many more injured isn't there? Dr Gloom, are you on the wind up? The Israeli army approached peaceful vessels carrying no weapons in international waters, boarded, killed 9 people, injured 60 and kidnapped 600 because they were "provoked"....anyone videoed defending themselves from the illegal attack were "provoking" them and deserved to be shot to death. Undoubtedly this is how some are portraying it, I can't imagine anyone with an ounce of intelligence or integrity (by which i mean people without a vested interest in keeping Israeli relations sweet) going along with it though. no, i'm not on the wind up. as always though there are two sides to this story. i agree that there was an over reaction from the idf but i'm not as quick to condem israel as some others. as far as israel is concerned the blockade needs to exist to stop weapons getting into gaza. remember that hamas wants israel wiped off the face of the planet. opinion in israel is divided but remember that many normal israelis back a two state solution. but putting politics and whether you're for or against israel aside, the point of discussion is how the israeli soldiers acted. i agree they were heavy handed but to say those on the boat came in peace is questionable. How much longer is this lie going to be repeated? That's not the case. It doesn't matter what the majority of people want. I have no problem with the Israeli majority. The majority of Palestinians back a two state solution too...as do their leaders. The problem is the Israeli leadership don't....why would they when America fully support them whatever war crimes they commit.

That doesn't say activists sang "kill the jews".

I don't doubt there were a few people up for a ruck but lets not pretend the poor little Israeli soldiers had no option but to defend themselves with Mac-10s. The videos are edited for a reason. the israeli soilders reacted, but there is no doubt at all that they were provoked. were the majority of those on board really peace activists? this is an interesting report. most of the idf that landed on the boat were armed with paint ball guns http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1213...121348851234252 There's 9 dead and many more injured isn't there? Dr Gloom, are you on the wind up? The Israeli army approached peaceful vessels carrying no weapons in international waters, boarded, killed 9 people, injured 60 and kidnapped 600 because they were "provoked"....anyone videoed defending themselves from the illegal attack were "provoking" them and deserved to be shot to death. Undoubtedly this is how some are portraying it, I can't imagine anyone with an ounce of intelligence or integrity (by which i mean people without a vested interest in keeping Israeli relations sweet) going along with it though.

"Buy"? No.

Sticks and Catty's Israel's multi-billion military must have been shitting themselves about those getting into the hhands of Gaza's terrorists.

I'm in the mood for dancing Romancing

I got North Korea in the sweep at work so I'm backing them all the way.

Whether or not the article is accurate, £47.87m is about two fifths of what loans Ashley has made to the club that remain outstanding. There's plenty to criticise him for without outlandish claims that he's spent nowt. I'd criticise him for having spent too much. It shouldn't have come to this. Imagine what Keegan could have done with £47.87m

What's worse, a screaming homo or... ...a crazy student?

I love Stephen Fry

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs Jaunty Listen to two tracks and an interview here... http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...oryId=127118125

Del Toro's out.... http://www.salon.com/entertainment/movies/...l_direct_hobbit

Never seen any documentaries on the situation, but there's a couple of good Korean films I've seen about iit. JSA is a good film about life patroling the border. By the same fella the wrote/directed Oldboy. AKA Joint Security Area. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B...indhotelinth-21 Taegukgi is another good one set during the Korean war. AKA Tae Guk Gi, Brotherhood or The Brotherhood of War. http://www.zavvi.com/dvd/brotherhood-taegukgi/8551946.html