Hamas Admits to Using Human Shields

[shadowyphantom.livejournal.com]

Alright, just found out about this video from a friend of mine [edit], and I wanted your reactions to it.

Watch on YouTube

[EDIT]

Since mijopo complained of a lack of commentary, I will indulge him/her/it.

I find Hamas nothing more than a brutal terrorist group; I don't find the fact they've been using human shields particularly shocking (one would have to expect that from terrorists). Rather, their blatant pride at admitting the fact is a bit more shocking, if they want good press that is. I also find it shocking that they are still obtaining better press than Israel.

I think they should be dealt with as any terrorist group would be dealt with; they should be found out and exterminated. They pose a serious threat to not only Israel, but other nations and people as well. The fact that they are using human shields should not endear people to them; rather, it should shock and repulse people. They stated that they are willing to sacrifice their own in order to wipe out Israel; that makes me rather frightened for anyone in their sights.

Voltaire warned against fanaticism, and this is fanaticisnm at its finest; they are so extreme that they would willingly have their civilians slaughtered.

I do hope that was up to your exacting standards, mijopo.

[EDIT]

Apologies to all for excessive commenting on my part; I have the genes my father gave me, and that includes a big @#$%ing mouth.

I especially apologize to uberarcanist for being a nit-picky slack-jawed junkslut.

Comments

[shadowyphantom.livejournal.com]

As for "groundless accusations", I think you have me beat.

[shadowyphantom.livejournal.com]

It's a warning, then?

[uberarcanist.livejournal.com]

It's just my opinion. I'm not an officer here.

[shadowyphantom.livejournal.com]

Also, what you first posted was more of a personal attack than a commentary on the video. That tipped me off a lot.

[lordtwinkie.livejournal.com]

to show everyone that they aren't weak and that they will strike by with a disproportionate amount of force so that all their enemies will think twice about attacking Israel

[shadowyphantom.livejournal.com]

Touché, monsieur.

[tvuutietyle24.livejournal.com]

What do you want them to do? Serve them tea? Israel must respond when Hamas shoots rockets into its territory.

[tvuutietyle24.livejournal.com]

Nothing? Hamas has been shooting rockets for 8 years! Israel has more patience than I would personally have had.

[tvuutietyle24.livejournal.com]

They've been obtaining better press because the media deliberately closes its eyes on the dark sides of Palestinians. Hamas wins the PR of this war because the western media helps it out by diabolising Israel and pity Palestinians.

a bit light

[justgoto.livejournal.com]

I make up for it.

Re: a bit light

[hollie-is-right.livejournal.com]

I'll bet you do! :)

[headhouse.livejournal.com]

It takes a while for people to come to their senses, is all.

(flame on...

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

True. While posting a youtube video on its own, or copy-pasting a press article with no following personal comment is not strictly forbidden, its a counter-productive approach to starting a conversation.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Man. He has a point. Look how much better your post is looking after you added your personal opinion :)

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Have patience, there'll be Balance in the Force :)

[hollie-is-right.livejournal.com]

Shit - it's 4 a.m. Any flame I may have had is sleeping soundly. Which is where I need be.

[madali.livejournal.com]

People like you act like Israel has been doing nothing in those eight years. They have been doing airstrikes, blockage, sanctions, embargo, assassinations, bulldozing houses, and arrests.

[madali.livejournal.com]

Do you want the media to ignore the plus 1,000 dead?

[headhouse.livejournal.com]

Heh. I'm actually expecting it from the libs.

[madali.livejournal.com]

I don't know Arabic, but I do know the culture, and it is obvious the video is misinterpreting it. Its like how any Arab who wants to give his life for a cause becomes a lover of death and wants 72 virgins, but a soldier doing the same is sacrificing his life for his country and gets a purple medal.

Its like taking a German back in WW2 seeing Churchill's famous line "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." putting it on Youtube, and posting it saying, "See! These guys love blood and tears!"

Obviously, the what the video is saying is that they are a brave people and everyone in the city is brave and they will all defend their hometown. The problem with a term like "human shield" is that allows the attacker to do anything it wants and excuse its action by that idea alone. To get to the target, he has to go through the shield, and if the shield is human, then he can't be blamed, right? It is something that can used in any war. If Hamas has to resist the attack, they are forced to resist it in any way they can. The only way any group defends its land s by being in that land.

If Tel Aviv is ever attacked, don't you think the IDF would be defending it from Tel Aviv? Should every death and destruction be excused because the IDF is in Tel Aviv?

In any war, millions of people would escape the war by moving away to other lands. The difference is that in this war, the lands are all blocked, so the people are stuck.

I am disgusted by the "human shield" excuse. Think of any war, and the aggressor could have used it.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched the video (I go by the adage if you're too lazy to write up the material, I'm too lazy to watch your video), but the starting subtitle does give me a hint of the content.

I am sure, therefore, that you understand the difference between voluntary human shields, that is civilians who impose themselves against an aggressor's invasion, and involuntary human shields, consisting of those people forced against their will as a barrier.

(For starters, one is a warcrime and other isn't)

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

It wasn't a personal attack at all, I didn't say anything about you.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

There's a difference between ignoring something and giving it a proper hearing.

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting the commentary (I still wish people would LJ cut YouTube videos, but, hey, I'll compromise.)

I agree that Hamas is a terrorist organization, but it doesn't follow from that that Israel gets to use any means possible to eliminate them. They are still constrained by laws and moral principles constraining warfare, e.g, proportionality, distinction (not harming non-combatants), and not being aggressors (if they were the ones who initially violated the ceasefire). If nations want to put an end to terror, they should not practice it.

[ladypolitik.livejournal.com]

Dont forget illegal settlements expansions.