Resolution on the Middle East Conflict

[WMS]

Aye, and while I wish the Israelis would be more careful in how they are going about matters I wholeheartedly support the destruction of Hezbollah - I haven't forgotten what they did back in 1983. The only alternative solution I would back would be the disarmament and relocation of Hezbollah far, far away from Israel.

[WMS]

Aye, and while I wish the Israelis would be more careful in how they are going about matters I wholeheartedly support the destruction of Hezbollah - I haven't forgotten what they did back in 1983. The only alternative solution I would back would be the disarmament and relocation of Hezbollah far, far away from Israel.

Actually, you might be one of the only ones in the Senate who was even alive in 1983

Well, me and Dave Hawk.

[WMS]

Aye on Jake's amendment, and let's get to Jas' amendment already.

[WMS]

No longer voiceing our "wholehearted support" for Israel's "destruction of Hezballoh" is a fairly substantive change in policy.

Are you thus saying that your amendment would mean that the Senate would be declaring itself neutral with regard to Hezbollah's existence?

I'll tell you right now that if you want the Senate to adopt a neutral stance between Hezbollah and Israel I will definitely oppose that.

[WMS]

No longer voiceing our "wholehearted support" for Israel's "destruction of Hezballoh" is a fairly substantive change in policy.

Are you thus saying that your amendment would mean that the Senate would be declaring itself neutral with regard to Hezbollah's existence?

I'll tell you right now that if you want the Senate to adopt a neutral stance between Hezbollah and Israel I will definitely oppose that.

No.  Jas was saying Jake's amendment would make us seem neutral towards Hezbollah.  Jas's oirginal resolution favors Israel, but recognize the need to condemn Israel's attacks on civilians.

Accidential attacks on civilians are not the same as deliberate ones...a statement of concern and regret is more appropriate.

[WMS]

No longer voiceing our "wholehearted support" for Israel's "destruction of Hezballoh" is a fairly substantive change in policy.

Are you thus saying that your amendment would mean that the Senate would be declaring itself neutral with regard to Hezbollah's existence?

I'll tell you right now that if you want the Senate to adopt a neutral stance between Hezbollah and Israel I will definitely oppose that.

No.  Jas was saying Jake's amendment would make us seem neutral towards Hezbollah.  Jas's oirginal resolution favors Israel, but recognize the need to condemn Israel's attacks on civilians.

Accidential attacks on civilians are not the same as deliberate ones...a statement of concern and regret is more appropriate.

Not caring if you hit civilians or not is not the same as "accidental."

I disagree that that is the Israeli position - they are warning civilians in villages on the target list to leave. Hezbollah, on the other hand, is deliberately targeting civilians.

[WMS]

No longer voiceing our "wholehearted support" for Israel's "destruction of Hezballoh" is a fairly substantive change in policy.

Are you thus saying that your amendment would mean that the Senate would be declaring itself neutral with regard to Hezbollah's existence?

I'll tell you right now that if you want the Senate to adopt a neutral stance between Hezbollah and Israel I will definitely oppose that.

No.  Jas was saying Jake's amendment would make us seem neutral towards Hezbollah.  Jas's oirginal resolution favors Israel, but recognize the need to condemn Israel's attacks on civilians.

Accidential attacks on civilians are not the same as deliberate ones...a statement of concern and regret is more appropriate.

Not caring if you hit civilians or not is not the same as "accidental."

I disagree that that is the Israeli position - they are warning civilians in villages on the target list to leave. Hezbollah, on the other hand, is deliberately targeting civilians.

I am not disagreeing that Hezbollah's attacks are more immoral or that they are targeting civilians.

However the number of dead Israeli civilians and damaged infrastructure and buildiings is negligible compared to Lebanon.  Lebanon does not equal Hezbollah.

Israel warned civilians they were going to be bombed.  And then they bombed.  They didn't wait for evacuations or provide a route for Lebanese to escape.  They didn't care about the Lebanese.

Well, at least we agree on something.

I'm going to reiterate what I said early on in this war - are you certain those numbers are accurate? I get suspicious when the Lebanese government consistently reports 100% civilian casualties and 0% Hezbollah casualties.

Actually, they did provide time for the Lebanese to escape. If you have to blame somebody, blame Hezbollah, which both fires rockets from the midst of civilian areas and even forces people to remain in zones that received warnings of imminent bombing.

[WMS]

I'm willing to go as far as a statement of concern and regret over the accidental civilian deaths caused by Israeli action.

[WMS]

Abstain. The damn war's over anyway...for the moment...

[WMS]

Aye.