Israelis blast church with invisible weapon

The Daily Telegraph via smh.com.au ^ | 16 April 2002 | Alan Phillips

[TopQuark]

Subjecting innocent people to this kind of sonic torture seems to go hand in hand with the Israelis general policy of seeking retribution against civilians and combatants in response to the homocide/suicide bombings of Palestinian terrorists. Interesting case of selective attention you provide: is it not the Palestinians who stormed the Church? Is it not they who occupied only the Armenian and Greek Orhthodox parts, calculating and manipulating Vatican?

And, by what measures do you judge this operation? DO you want the Israelies to do what we did 20 years ago: allow the standoff, which may last for years (unlike the Arabs, they will NOT offend Christians by storming the church)?

Interesting standards you apply, especially considering your screen name. "Curiouser and curiouser," said Alice.

[uncbob]

Because so far, I'm unimpressed with Israel's ability to distinguish militants from innocent civilians.

How would you know of their ability. You just get back from the war zone

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

re: "...Knights of Malta?"

"[JOKE: from the Latin jocus]:something said for the sake of exciting a laugh; a jest..." etc.

Always important to keep a sense of humor online and pick up on subtlety. BTW, the Knights of Malta do not have an actual military anymore - knowledge of this actual Catholic organization would have keyed one in on this and the nonserious jocular suggestion, phrased with tell-tale question mark. Lighten up.

[chilepepper]

Britney Spears "Oops I did it again" for 48 hours straight should do the trick...

[Inyokern]

It looks like just a larger version of this.

[StormEye]

"The Israelis should sing Christian hymns. That'll really drive everybody in the Church nuts. Start with Rock of Ages, on to The Lord of the Dance...

How about Onward Christian Soldiers?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

re: "...Britney Spears."

Shouldn't that be subduing American teenagers by now then?

[Poohbah]

I think anything more than two replays of anything by Britney that violates the UN Covenant on Human Rights...

[history_matters]

The main body of the Church of the Nativity is shared by Armenians, Greek Orthodox, and Catholics. The nave, altar and grotto of the Church is under the shared supervision of the Orthodox and the Armenians. The adjoining Church of St. Catherine is under the direct supervision of the Franciscans. There is complex arrangment by which these various Christian groups share the sacred site of Christ's birth. The Franciscans and the Greek Orthodox have made it clear that if it had been Israelis rushiing into the Church for sanctuary from an overwhelming Palestinian army outside, they would have done the same and remained to protect the Church and given sanctuary to those who sought it.

The use of a sonic weapon is invasion of the Church as much as if they had filled the Church with tear gas -- which is strictly forbidden under the accord with the Vatican.

[Redcloak]

Perhaps Celine Dion?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

If the goal is to trigger psychosis or somnambulization,
why not just pump in non-stop audio feed of Greta van Sustren and Geraldo 24/7?

[LarryLied]

Israel would have to call in the UN or some peace group to make the offer of safe passage credible but if they arranged that and those inside refused, it does seem to let the IDF off the hook.

[chantal7]

My history knowledge in this area must be below normal.

Why call up the Knights of Malta? Were they crusaders? Have a special connection to the Church of the Nativity?

[Redcloak]

...but seriously...

What they should do is broadcast a sinewave sweeping from 10 to 20 Hz; Vary the amplitude and the sweep rate for extra fun. The average human stomach has its resonant frequency in that band. The Palis will get nauseous as the sound shakes their innards. It should even be possible to mix it in with the shrieking they're playing now.

[history_matters]

One of the questions that I don't think has been answered is whether or not the PA still exists. If it does Bethlehem is Palestinian not Israeli. And the question of Israeli jurisdiction seems to be the problem in the negotiations that have been taking place. Had Israel made a formal declaration of war, then all bets are off, but because they didn't -- and it was very wise that they didn't -- I think they stand in a very gray place in terms of international law. Of course, as someone once said, "My jurisdiction is determined by the size of my gun."

[history_matters]

This is the oldest Christian Church in constant use in the Holy Land. Even the Persians left it standing because of its connection with the Magi who were widely believed to be Persian. The IDF filling this Church where Christ was born, filling it with noise, screaches -- it is a blasphemy just like the bearing of arms inside the Church by the Palestinians.

[Thud]

I had a roommate once whose brother was in a classroom attending the LA police academy when a cute young female tech brought in something experimental in crowd control technology. It was a big ominous looking black box on a cart.

She plugged it into a wall socket, turned it on and smiled sweetly as every man in the room grabbed his crotch and hobbled quickly out the door. The sucker put out some sort of low frequency sound which relaxed the adult male bladder.

But it only worked in enclosed rooms.

[Askel5]

Even though Israel was founded in large part by the political murder, terror, coercion and other deceits of folks like Menachem Begin (whom they returned to power ... just as they returned a terrorist and butcher like Sharon to power ... a man who uses his own settlers like stuffing for the sausage casing of conquest) ... I still hold Israel to a higher standard than ragtag, radicalized Palestinians whose cross to bear are the militant atheist communists applying the cat o'nine tails that is an already error-prone faith fueled by hate.

They are pawns ... simply a part of effecting the stated communist objective of an "arc of radical Islam" to confound us and constitute the crisis necessary to confect a security collective in the ME region. (Much like they finessed the New NATO in the Euro Soviet ... only different because they too see the brown and black people as exceptionally expendable.)

If I hold Israel to a higher standard, it's likely I have my reasons.

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?

Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

Then the Lord said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know." The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.

Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing-to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you!

Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

The Lord said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."

Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?"
"If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it."

Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?"
He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it."

Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?"
He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."

Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?"
He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it."

Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?"
He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

Thus spake the God of the Jews to Abraham ... father of Israel and God's own beloved who witnessed with his own life -- and the willingness to sacrifice his only son -- his being made in God's image.

- - - - - -

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

I hope they capture everyone of the terrorists and hang them. I know it isn't likely but one can hope can't they?

[chantal7]

The Israelis should sing Christian hymns. That'll really drive everybody in the Church nuts. Start with Rock of Ages, on to The Lord of the Dance...

Now that's the best idea I've heard since this began! Think we could throw in a bunch of prayers, too, and maybe convert a few heathens to a more peaceful and tolerant religion? ;)