[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

I disagree. They do not claim a moral high ground, we share the same values, namely; the value of a human life - these are Judeo-Christian values.

Those are Islamic values too, just for the record. And it's not just about the value of life, it's about respecting human beings. Even prisoners. Saying that this soldier should not be criticized, or that people should lay off because well at least she's not cheering for dead Americans is a false comparison. Israel most certainly claims to be in the right, and they claim to be "better" than their enemies. That means acting like it.

Furthermore, the US supports Israel due to the economic and strategic asset Israel provides. Israel keeps US manufacturers like Grumman, Boeing etc, in business. That's what our aid does, it insures they buy American planes, helicopters and weapons, thereby, keeping Uncle Joe employed. US-Israel have numerous bi-lateral contracts and mutual interests, Google, the joint projects being developed. American technological companies, such as Motorola in Israel, and medical research being done with Americans notwithstanding.

And some Christian conservatives only support Israel because they want them to rebuild the Temple so Jesus can come again. If that's all our money's going towards, why don't we just buy planes straight from Boeing. (And no, those companies wouldn't all go out of business without Israel.)

I don't think Israelis will behave like extremist militants, anymore than the US will - that's not to say there won't be a few individuals who act alone. And that's what we unfortunately remember.

You're not saying anything that people don't know. No one's saying to draw and quarter this soldier, just that it was wrong and she should be (or should have been) punished appropriately.

And if the Israelis and Americans alike remembered that extremist militants did not represent the greater whole.. well we'd be doing a hell of a lot better.