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The Media's Giant Error: It's tiny Israel that faces a pitiless Goliath.
Opinion Journal ^ | 04/02/2002 | THOMAS J. BRAY

Posted on 4/2/2002, 4:09:51 AM by Pokey78

Edited on 4/23/2004, 7:04:21 AM by Jim Robinson. [history]

The American media's story line on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is clear. As "60 Minutes" correspondent Lesley Stahl put it to Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Sunday evening, it's "David vs. Goliath"--Israel being the Goliath, of course, and the Palestinians the underdogs, up against a pitiless giant.


(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: islamicviolence
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1 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:09:51 AM by Pokey78
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To: Pokey78,dennisw
bttt
2 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:15:14 AM by Travis McGee
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To: Pokey78;Islamic_Violence
To find all articles tagged or indexed using Islamic_Violence

Click here: Islamic_Violence

3 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:22:52 AM by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Pokey78
Returning to a Clintonian attitude of neutrality between Israel and its terrorist foes might please the press corps. But it is a recipe for long-term disaster. Ultimately, it comes down to this: If Mr. Arafat wins, bin Laden wins--and America and the civilized world lose.

This says it all, and I sadly fear this is the way it is going to go, thanks to our liberal media.

5 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:26:16 AM by ladyinred
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To: Pokey78
Just one problem with the Israel = David analogy.

This David has a nuclear slingshot.

Not to mention conventional military power much greater than all potential opponents combined, in practical terms.

You would think that pro-Israelis would eventually figure out that this "Israel as victim and underdog" bit is a good part of what got them into their present fix.

For decades the Israelis played the victim card. We were supposed to support them not because they were on the side of right, but because they had been victims of the Nazis and all the Arabs wanted to kill them. Because they were victims.

In the last 10 years the Israelis have been out-victimed (until the last year or so) by the Palestinians, who managed to get most of the good press of the mean Israelis making them go thru checkpoints, etc.

The writer of this article is trying to revive the idea of Israel as victim/underdog, as though there is no other possible reason to support her.

Why not support Israel because it's (sort of) a democracy, and has a (more or less) free press? Israel, with all her flaws, is certainly a far more attractive society and much more deserving of our support than any of her neighbors are.

But lay off the competing for victim status.

6 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:27:55 AM by Restorer
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To: Pokey78
AMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:27:57 AM by timestax
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To: ladyinred
>>>>>thanks to our liberal media.<<<

And Clintonites in State Department !
While Army is fighting against OBL, Foggy Bottom provides diplomatic support to Bin Laden allies in Bosnia. Kosovo and Israel.

8 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:32:25 AM by DTA
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To: Pokey78
I hope this gets ugly and Sharon nukes every country that tried to push Israel off the map. You know if the nuclear situation were reversed, Israel would have been nuked decades ago.
9 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:36:00 AM by JailToThe Chief
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To: Lazarus Long
talk about bias in an interview...

How many times has Arafat praised the suicide bombers/terrorists?

Why would Sharon hate Araafat? Gee, I don't know, must be irrational hatred.

Ms. Stahl is another leftist media apologist for the terrorists.

Why anyone opposed to terrorism would consent to an interview with her is beyond me.

10 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:39:35 AM by mcenedo
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To: Lazarus Long
I missed that, but I did see Christianne Amanpour (sp) "interview" the Israeli head of defense. It was more of a hostile interrogation.
11 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:48:53 AM by Goldsters
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To: ladyinred
This says it all, and I sadly fear this is the way it is going to go, thanks to our liberal media.

The media gets away with it because nobody stands up to them. I still remember the Iran-Contra hearings when Ollie North stood up to the traitors in the Senate and called them for what they were - traitors. The outpouring of support from all around the country was tremendous and perhaps saved the Reagan administration.

12 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:50:30 AM by gore3000
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To: Pokey78
Very interesting news/talk out of Israel on www.israelnationalnews.com in English 24 hrs./day. Just found it, and thought someone else might enjoy, too. Sorry to interrupt thread, but cannot figure out how to create a separate one.
13 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:55:51 AM by whadizit
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To: RCW2001
Israel is bankrolled by American taxpayers and given the most effective of modern weaponry. Bray is spouting nonsense.
14 posted on 4/2/2002, 4:59:36 AM by mv1
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To: Restorer
Not to mention conventional military power much greater than all potential opponents combined, in practical terms.

Sorry, just isn't so. Israel has 100 to 1 in tanks against her, over 100 to 1 in men, 1000 to 1 in balistic missiles, and many times the number of American F16's against its small force. Sadam has a nuclear sling shot according to leaked reports, Iran has had them for years thanks to Russia. israel is about 8 miles wide in the waist and a hundred and fifty long. How much bio and chemical war heads do you think it takes even if you leave out the nukes?

Sorry, Israel is not trying for victim hood, Israel is just trying to survive. Bye the way, think about it, if We give in politicaly to this mass suicide bombing going on in Israel, instead of showing a clear hardening of resolve, you can bet your last dime it will become the main tactic of the Jihad. Unless you too want to eat exploding pizza, better get your act together quick. This wavering of response is causing the Islamics to believe that suicide bombings work against the west.

15 posted on 4/2/2002, 5:23:13 AM by American in Israel
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To: American in Israel
This wavering of response is causing the Islamics to believe that suicide bombings work against the west.

It can never be stated enough, campers...The only thing these hoodlums understand is FORCE!!!

Daisy Cutter BUMP

16 posted on 4/2/2002, 5:52:27 AM by sleavelessinseattle
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To: mv1
Israel is bankrolled by American taxpayers and given the most effective of modern weaponry. Bray is spouting nonsense.

Just not true. The latest block of F16's, the most modern are going to... (drum roll here) Egypt! That moderate Islamic nation that chains their Christian population up in the streets for public beatings, and burns American flags in parades. Don’t forget that Iraq, the worlds 4th largest army before Bush I was armed by... (nother drum roll) AMERICA!. Who does Saudi Arabia’s defense so that they can save money for suicide hijacker training? (tired, and despondent drum roll now) the USA! to the tune of 50 BILLION a year. Who trained the Palestinian snipers (dead silence) the CIA! Who armed the Palestinian Authority (rumbles of discontent) CLINTOON! What nation gives more aid, military and otherwise to Islamic Dictatorships and Kingdoms than any other nation in the world (outrage) The Land of the Free and the home of the Knave...

Sorry to inform you, but if it had not been for American creation of the modern (ha) Islamic Oil Cartel, (actually not our fault, they stole the wells from us) the world would not have 28 of the 30 insurgencies that are active out there right now. Despite the fact that we have been by far their greatest benefactor, the Islamic Arabs still sucker punched us with the worst surprise attack in Americas history. Wake up Bo-peep, the wolf has got you by the neck...

17 posted on 4/2/2002, 6:18:33 AM by American in Israel
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To: whadizit
Israel National News Radio pre-recorded

Live stream is only live between 9pm - 12pm Sunday to Thursday rest of the time is pre-recorded.

18 posted on 4/2/2002, 6:39:35 AM by anapikoros
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To: American in Israel
Sorry, just isn't so. Israel has 100 to 1 in tanks against her, over 100 to 1 in men, 1000 to 1 in balistic missiles, and many times the number of American F16's against its small force.

Please reference your sources for these numbers. I really would like to see them.

A couple of facts: Population of entire Arab world, 150-200 million. Population of Israel: 6,000,000.

That's a 25-30 to 1 ratio, not 100 to 1, as you imply. Still a large disproportion, but why not use accurate numbers? Why exaggerate and discredit everything else you say?

A major military problem the Arab world faces is that its forces are spread out over many thousands of miles. The logistics required to bring all its potential force to bear on the battlefield is far out of its capability.

Israel presently has signed peace treaties with both Jordan and Egypt. Thus the only likely armies she would face in an actual war are those of Iraq, which has obvious serious problems of its own, and Syria. Israel can whip these two standing on one leg.

A major problem is whether the Egyptian/Jordanian treaties would be honored in event of true war breaking out. The absence of these two countries from the Arab Summit is a very positive sign, though.

Sadam has a nuclear sling shot according to leaked reports, Iran has had them for years thanks to Russia.

Even you don't believe that. Do you really think either of these countries would have the restraint not to use such weaponry, if they had them? At the very least, they would promptly test them publicly as a way of intimidating their enemies into backing off.

In the modern world, a country with nukes becomes essentially untouchable in practical terms, as everybody knows.

19 posted on 4/2/2002, 3:11:41 PM by Restorer
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To: anapikoros
Darn!! Do you know of any that is not pre-recorded?
20 posted on 4/2/2002, 3:16:06 PM by whadizit
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