Dean's World

Firey IM Chat

Dean

Ali has an interesting discussion (to say the least).

People think I'm nuts when I say this but I actually think this stuff is indicative that--when taking the long view--there's more hope today than ever. As bad as things have been, they've been far worse in the past. Conversations like this can happen now. They zing all over the planet. Long-term, it matters.

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Ken McCracken (mail) (www):

Dean - I think you're nuts.

Not for the general proposition that chats and such around the world can stimulate understanding - but that this particular chat was an example of that.

The supposed muslim in that chat was bending over backwards making rationalizations for a totalitarian organization, Hezbollah.

The part where it completely fell apart is where he gave Nasrallah kudos for 'apologizing' for the deaths of two children in Haifa.

Excuse me, but if you aimed unguided rockets at a city and it kills children, that is a fulfillment of your intent.

It is nothing short of evil. That 'muslim' is not merely stepping aside and letting that evil do its work, he is giving it support.

7.31.2006 1:41am

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Nicholas V. (mail) (www):

Did he apologize for those Jewish kids he killed with rockets yet? Or just the Arab ones.

Both acts were deplorable. Based on those alone, I hope he eats a JDAM Zarqawi-style, the sooner the better.

7.31.2006 2:09am

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Ken McCracken (mail) (www):

According to the chat, Nasrallah apologized - I haven't found confirmation of that, but I am not looking terribly hard.

Nasrallah's apologies mean exactly nothing even if they do exist.

7.31.2006 2:28am

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Dean Esmay:

The more people argue the better.

Tempers will cool when this is over.

7.31.2006 3:21am

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Mark Noonan (mail) (www):

Dean,

I have to agree with your critics here - the conversation was rather depressing to read.

7.31.2006 4:03am

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Nicholas V. (mail) (www):

Ken: I remember reading he apologized because he managed to kill some Arab Israelis. I heard nothing about any apologies for killing non-Arab Israelis. I'd be rather surprised if he ordered rockets fired into Israel, then apologized for them killing people, except where it made good PR. I'm sure he feels no remorse over any of the deaths, he's just pandering to his audience.

You're right, of course, that his apologies are meaningless, but my point is that it's even more insulting that he only pretends to be sorry for some of the people he kills. We hear time and time again that their one and only real goal is the destruction of Israel but this reveals the reason why - they hate Jews. Simple as that. Killing a couple of dozen kids isn't going to get rid of Israel, it's just going to cause pain and suffering for them and their families.

Forgive me if I won't shed a tear when he gets what he deserves, apologies or no apologies.

7.31.2006 4:29am

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Dean Esmay:

Oh, I found the conversation depressing. But--and this is hard for me to explain exactly--I'm used to seeing what people say when they're angry and bloviating, and what they say when tempers cool and conflict ends.

And this conflict will end, sooner rather than later. There will almost certainly be no invasion of Israel. Possibly southern Lebanon will be occupied, possibly not.

7.31.2006 5:07am

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eteraz (mail) (www):

Here is the link to the Nasrallah apology.

I think it's wack now that I know about it.

He apologizes to the Israeli Arabs.

What a bastard.

Obviously I wish I had known this during the chat.

7.31.2006 10:39am

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mariner:

There may be cause for optimism in the MidEast, but I'm not seeing it here.

Remember, Aslam is a well-eduacated, supposedly-reformist Muslim. He can see little evil in Hizb'Allah and no good in Israel.

If he's being straight with Ali and he's right about the "Arab street" things are every bit as bad as I've always thought.

7.31.2006 12:57pm

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Dean Esmay:

So, you think Israel will be invaded, and there'll be a new attempt to simply kill all the Jews or push them into the sea, eh? A grand unification between Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, et. al. to simply destroy Israel?

Because you know, I'm just not seeing that, but you tell me where you think you're seeing something like that.

7.31.2006 1:12pm

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KathyK (mail) (www):

This week or next? No, I don't see that either, Dean. But I see the general mindset that believes everything is the fault of the Jews. Except what is the fault of the Shias - who they like right now because they are attacking the Jews. And this is a 'reformist' - if he's thinking what he's thinking - the rest of the area is thinking much worse.

As long as the tribalism there persists, ("Me and my brother against my cousin; me and my cousin against a stranger.") there will be no peace in the Middle East. If Israel got instantaneously teleported to the moon... the rest of the Mid East countries woul either have wars with each other, or work to develop missiles that would reach the moon.

7.31.2006 4:14pm