slipslidingaway (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 12:22 AM
Original message
Biden: Israel right to stop Gaza flotilla from breaking blockade
The Prime Minister of Turkey stated that the ships which left their port had been inspected by their authorities and Israel does not allow many items into Gaza, Biden left out those details.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/biden-isr...
"...In an interview with Charlie Rose, Biden pointed out that Israel had given pro-Palestinian activists the option of unloading their cargo at the Ashdod port, and offered to bring it to the Gaza Strip on their behalf.
"They've said, 'Here you go. You're in the Mediterranean. This ship -- if you divert slightly north you can unload it and we'll get the stuff into Gaza,'", he said. "So what's the big deal here? What's the big deal of insisting it go straight to Gaza? Well, it's legitimate for Israel to say, 'I don't know what's on that ship. These guys are dropping… 3,000 rockets on my people..."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8474681wtmusic (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 12:26 AM
Response to Original message
1. Let's turn the tables.
Egyptian ship stops Israeli ship on the high seas bound for port in Israel, offers to unload cargo in Gaza, saying, "we'll get the stuff into Israel".
What's the big deal here? What's the big deal of insisting it goes straight to Haifa?
harkadog (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 12:47 AM
Response to Reply #3
11. A Blockade is legal in international waters
JFK did it in international waters when he blockaded Cuba. A ship trying to run the blockade can be expected to be boarded as were the civilian Russian ships trying to get to Cuba with civilian supplies.
LakeSamish706 (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 01:24 AM
Response to Reply #11
20. I personally think that you should really reconsider the avatar that you are using!
Something tells me that you don't deserve to use that one as an alias.
MyNameGoesHere (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 01:18 PM
Response to Reply #11
46. "San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea."
Under some of the key rules, a blockade must be declared and notified to all belligerents and neutral states, access to neutral ports cannot be blocked, and an area can only be blockaded which is under enemy control.
So since Israel does not recognize Palestine or Hamas, are they blockading themselves? Also ships of nuetral countries are allowed safe passage. So is a Turkish flagged ship a neutral country?
LakeSamish706 (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 12:30 AM
Response to Original message
2. You know what, I was a Biden supporter up until this Biden statement...
Edited on Thu Jun-03-10 12:36 AM by LakeSamish706
Now, Biden can go **** himself! Israel is not on high ground on this! We have at least 9 innocent souls dead on this mission, and that is unacceptable as far as I am concerned. The world needs to bring down the curtains on Israel, and I seriously don't give a flying **** what the US thinks about that. The US is quickly becoming a banana republic, that can't pay there debts.
skeptical cynic (286 posts) Thu Jun-03-10 12:45 AM
Response to Reply #2
10. Biden lost me on this one, too.
Neither the United States nor Israel has the moral high ground to complain about terrorism anymore.
leftynyc (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 01:12 PM
Response to Reply #2
44. Not going to happen
Scream till you're blue in the face if you wish. The majority of Americans stand with Israel. Thems the facts and you can bitch all you want at it - it's not going to change anytime soon.
Unfortunately, the majority of American Jews vote for the party that doesn't support Israel.
tango-tee (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 12:51 AM
Response to Reply #4
15. I feel nothing but disgust
at our government's reaction. Who is dictating these talking points? AIPAC?
Surely, there must be a difference between being a country's "ally" and being its "lackey".
With each passing day I become more disenchanted (to put it very mildly) with this administration. A Nobel Peace Prize winner and his VP... I'm at a loss for words.
Not to worry. CAIR is still pulling Lord Zero's strings.
EFerrari (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 02:04 AM
Response to Reply #21
26. Thanks. I've read so much so fast, it's all turning into mush right now. n/t
I'll type slowly for you, Beth. You're an idiot.
proteus_lives (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 01:06 AM
Response to Original message
16. Biden's right.
Israel gave them a choice.
They chose poorly.
EFerrari (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 02:05 AM
Response to Reply #16
27. It wasn't Israel's choice to give. n/t
Idiot.
proteus_lives (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-03-10 02:09 AM
Response to Reply #27
29. Yeah, it was.
As long as arms are smuggled into Gaza to use against Israel, it's their choice and their option/duty to prevent that.
howard112211 (558 posts) Thu Jun-03-10 06:10 AM
Response to Reply #29
32. Nope. Fail. The Palestineans have a right to be armed.
Edited on Thu Jun-03-10 06:10 AM by howard112211
You do realize that the founders of Israel were also "weapon smugglers and terrorists", right?
I'll bet you support gun control here, though.
