[bbloke]

Thanks, guys.

Originally Posted by rhisiart

I think what is so frustrating is that we're virtually powerless to do anything about the situation. We elect our politicians to formulate sound foreign policies and to apply pressure in regions where cultural hatred gets out of control.

I think this frustration applies to much of politics in the West. Many feel they vote and then don't get what they voted for, or that "they're all the same." This can lead to people becoming disenfranchised with politics and politicians. I think when people no longer feel listened to and feel they have no political means to express themselves, things become Bad. Mmm, I sense a parallel with the theme at hand!

Originally Posted by rhisiart

Yet a significant number of contributors to this forum come from two countries that behave as arrogantly as the Israelies.

I'd go along with that in general terms, but there are some areas where I think Israel is on particularly shaky ground. I think some Western countries are indeed guilty of major arrogance and tend to invade and overthrow who they want to and whenever they want to. At the same time, though, I think Israel goes a bit further and sometimes approaches "ethnic cleansing," which is more serious in my view.

Originally Posted by rhisiart

We can hardly lecture the Israelies or Hezbollah on restraint when you have someone like Donald Rumsfeld arrogantly using terms such as ‘Strike and Awe’ as his war planes bomb the living crap out of Baghdad (with the full backing of my country's politicians).

I'd broadly agree, but then again I think one could live in the West and still thoroughly disapprove of both Western and Israeli actions.

A lot of all this is about point of view. "Freedom fighter" or "terrorist?" "Liberation" or "invasion?" "Self protection" or "aggression?"