[Plantagenet]

The idea that Shias only give guns to other Shias is wrong.

Iran (Shia) is now giving guns and explosives to the Taliban (Sunni), for instance. Syria (Sunni leadership) is passing on guns and explosives to Hizbullah (Shia).

In Iraq the US (secular) is now giving arms to both the Iraqi government (Shia) and now to tribesmen (Sunni) to fight Al Qaida in Iraq (Sunni).

Politics in the middle east are extremely complicated. Don't oversimplify and assume you can put one color hats on the Sunni and another on the Shia. It doesn't work that way.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'T')he idea that Shias only give guns to other Shias is wrong.

Iran (Shia) is now giving guns and explosives to the Taliban (Sunni), for instance. Syria (Sunni leadership) is passing on guns and explosives to Hizbullah (Shia).

In Iraq the US (secular) is now giving arms to both the Iraqi government (Shia) and now to tribesmen (Sunni) to fight Al Qaida in Iraq (Sunni).

Politics in the middle east are extremely complicated. Don't oversimplify and assume you can put one color hats on the Sunni and another on the Shia. It doesn't work that way.

[evilgenius]

At any rate it is obvious that the situation is exacerbated by the influx of ammunition into the region. All of the video I saw yesterday showed profligate use of ammunition in the event that there was any kind of shortage. That can only be possible because major players are at work from the outside supplying ammunition. That can only be possible if the structure of power that has existed amongst the major players is changing or has changed.

Previously outside powers allowed arms but not at a level that could bring these kinds of changes. It doesn't seem that it is the case that the Palestinians have saved up because if that were the sole reason there would be some discernment in the use of ammunition.

If the balance of power controlling the region is changing there is still time to shift support at various levels and shut off the flow of arms. If it has changed the best thing to do is to enter into negotiations with TPB over the new situation.

If the Bush people could only realize that they aren't up to this that would go a long way toward changing things. Their small group is hopeless and needs help from those with differing opinions.

[highlander]

My point was to illustrate the continued demonization of iran by TPTB.

[Zardoz]

So now Hamas is in charge in Gaza, Fatah is running things in the West Bank, Abbas has dismissed the government, and Hamas says he can't do that:

Abbas sacks Hamas-led government

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'B')ut Hamas swiftly rejected Mr Abbas' decision.

"In practical terms these decisions are worthless," said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.

"Prime Minister Haniya remains the head of the government even if it was dissolved by the president," he told Reuters news agency.

[Plantagenet]

After all the bloodshed and assasinations and terror attacks and murder in the streets the Palestinians have finally achieved the two state solution.......Hamas controls their little state in Gaza and Fatah controls a slightly bigger state in the West Bank.

[Plantagenet]

...some of the Hamas fighters..led Fatah gunmen out of the building, some shirtless or in their underwear, holding their arms in the air. Several of the Fatah men flinched as the crack of gunfire split the air.
A witness, who identified himself only as Amjad, said men were killed as their wives and children watched.

"They are executing them one by one," Amjad, who lives in a building overlooking the Preventive Security complex, said by telephone.

The killers ignored appeals from residents to spare the men’s lives, said Amjad, who declined to give his full name, fearing reprisal. ...

“We are telling our people that the past era has ended and will not return,” Islam Shahawan, a spokesman for Hamas’ militia, told Hamas radio. “The era of justice and Islamic rule have arrived.”

----------

Sounds like there was an anti-Fatah Fatwa.

[basil_hayden]

....and in the evening news they're already talking about "what the US will do" about this.

How 'bout we do nothing and stop delaying the inevitable?

The clips showed everyone with an automatic weapon, and I mean everyone, hanging out on rooftops, out of car windows, walking in the streets constantly watching their backs.

F these tools, hand out more ammo.

[Eli]

I think this will be great for Israel. Hamas will create a Islamic Government right across from them.
This will all turn out well.

[ohanian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Eli', 'I') think this will be great for Israel. Hamas will create a Islamic Government right across from them.
This will all turn out well.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ohanian', 'W')hat happens next depends on Israel's new strategy.

[Plantagenet]

Fatah says it will now rule Fatahland by decree, ignoring the Palestinian Parliament

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6760975.stm

Israel and Fatah cozy up, Israel calls Gazaland a "terrorist entity."

[sirrom]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'F')uel shipments from the EU to Gaza's only power plant have resumed meaning an end to power cuts that have affected the territory all week.

[Richard]

What'll happen in the future when there's no fuel to deliver?

I assume they don't use renewables since there's not enough space? Why don't they use wind and solar? Think about it.

[perdition79]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Richard', 'W')hat'll happen in the future when there's no fuel to deliver?

I assume they don't use renewables since there's not enough space? Why don't they use wind and solar? Think about it.

[Ayame]

From the articles that I read in the financial times I gleaned that the EU pays Israel to send fuel to Gaza which pissed me off because they must fund it using taxes and my taxes at that! I don't care about a bunch of people living in a piece of desert who do nothing all day and get food aid handed out to them and I certainly don't want to spend my money on them.

[sirrom]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ayame', 'F')rom the articles that I read in the financial times I gleaned that the EU pays Israel to send fuel to Gaza which pissed me off because they must fund it using taxes and my taxes at that! I don't care about a bunch of people living in a piece of desert who do nothing all day and get food aid handed out to them and I certainly don't want to spend my money on them.

[Ayame]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sirrom', 'b')ut you support giving money to israel,even though they have murdered thousands of innocent people and forced 5 million people from their homes?

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') don't care about a bunch of people living in a piece of desert who do nothing all day and get food aid handed out to them and I certainly don't want to spend my money on them.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')
but you support giving money to israel,even though they have murdered thousands of innocent people and forced 5 million people from their homes?