Posted on 07/14/2006 7:51:25 AM PDT by dinoparty
Many not of this earth. LOL.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. also
2006israelwar or WOT
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The Vatican on Friday strongly deplored Israel's strikes on Lebanon, saying they were "an attack" on a sovereign and free nation.
Absolutely correct.
Of couse The Vatican left out the attack on Israel by a sovereign and free nation in direct violation of their treaty obligations. A clear act of war. But that doesn't matter.
Atrocities, yes. Attitudes through the last 2000 years, no.
You are no doubt referring to Pius XII and the Holocaust. The Chief Rabbi of Rome was so impressed with what the Pope did for nearly a half-million Jews by shielding them and spiriting them out of harm's way, that he converted to Christianity after the end of the war.
With a German having lived during WII as a Pope, I would never expect the Vatican to embrace any military action anywhere regardless of circustances. That would be political suicide.
Good thing the Vatican is a religious institution and not a political one.
Ignorant people don't care about history or facts - - and you're obviously one of them. You think everybody in Lebanon is Muslim, and you think Catholicism is buddy buddy with Islam. That kind of ignorance would earn you a failing grade in a high school geography, history or social studies class -- but, maybe not in a modern government high school, which might explain your ignorance.
This is worth repeating, and in larger bold text.
"As in the past, the Holy See also condemns both the terrorist attacks on the one side and the military reprisals on the other. Indeed, a State's right to self-defense does not exempt it from respecting the norms of international law, especially as regards the protection of civilian populations."
Agreed. They should take a cue from the Muslim clerics' usual reaction to daily terrorist attacks around the globe and just keep quiet.
Bingo
Lest you also leave the impression of bigotry, perhaps you should explain yourself.
"If I was a Christian living in Lebanon - of whom there are many - I would applaud him for urging the military not to bomb civilian neighborhoods, such as my own. The pope has an obligation to his flock - even those living in Lebanon."
This could be a long reply but I'll try to sum up my opinion:
1) Israel is not bombing civilian neighborhoods, these are tactical strikes to cut off terrorist supplies and retrieve their hostage soldiers.
2) Israel has asked for peace for 20 years from terrorist organizations giving huge concessions and all they get is more terrorist crap.
3) Israel was invaded by Syria via Hezbollah where they killed soldiers and civilians. Not having a tough response emboldens such enemies. I could point out dozens of examples dating back to 1965.
Israel is God's chosen people. They are part of the flock and the Vatican should know this - Catholics are not the body of Christ, we all are. Israel will accept Christ as savior in the end-times.
Actually, I hope everybody reads the statement and not just the headline. The statement is more like what Bush said (avoid civilian casualties) and "condemns" the terrorists first. But of course the headline writers want us to think the Vatican was speaking only about Israel, and then when you read the article, there is even a little journalistic editorializing in it to call attention to statements criticizing Israel. The usual press manipulations.
Wrong again and again and again and again...
"No. Get some perspective Squire, it's not just about the kidnapping of these soldiers. It's about 50 years of murder and war.
Iran and Syria are calling the shots here, the Lebanese are simply caught in the crossfire. The Lebanese govt. is not totally blameless however, their desire for autonomy from Iran, Syria, and their terrorist agents is not matched by their actions against them."
Well put.
In fairness, the Lebanese problem is also 50 years in the making, it cannot be expected to be resolved in a year or two despite the recent amazing progress.
Hey Sodano, who has killed more civilians, Lebanon/Syria-supported Hezbollah or Israel? Answer that question and then rephrase your criticism.
I understand the Church's position on war, but I'd sure appreciate a little bit of consistency here.
This has nothing to do with Papal infallibility.
If that's true, then nobody should have any problem with what the pope (or his spokesman) said - which was that they should not harm civilians.
Why is most of the rest of the world so anti-semitic? WHat have the Jews done that's justifying 90% of the world's population hatred of them?
Do you think that Israel really cares? The Vatican's influence in the long run is inconsequential.
If the same Mexican terrorists had killed eight of our soldiers, and had killed them at the bidding of Vicente Fox, and this killing was only the latest in a long line of killings and terrorist activity, the US military would own Mexico City.
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