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Gaza aid boat rammed by Israel

BBC News

A boat delivering 3.5 tonnes of Cypriot medical aid to the Gaza Strip has been rammed by Israeli naval vessels in international waters, activists say.

The Free Gaza campaign group, which operates the Dignity, also claimed shots were fired towards the crew.

The boat later docked in Lebanon after sustaining serious damage to one side.

Israeli officials confirmed there had been "physical contact" but denied reports of shooting and said the crew had not responded to radio calls.

The 20m (66ft) Dignity was carrying 15 civilian passengers, including several doctors, journalists, a former US congresswoman and a member of the Cypriot parliament, says Free Gaza.

Heavy gunfire

Crowds turned out to greet the Dignity as it arrived in Tyre port.

The organisation sent out an urgent statement on Tuesday saying the vessel had been surrounded by at least six Israeli military ships.

"They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage," said the statement.

"We heard heavy gunfire in the background before all contact was lost with the Dignity."

The boat was eventually able to reach the Lebanese port of Tyre, where it was greeted by a flotilla of fishing boats.

Heavy damage was clearly visible along one side but there were no reports of any injuries.

The Dignity's captain, Denis Healey, told reporters in Tyre they had been attacked "without any warning, any provocation, or anything".

"There were two other gunboats on our portside with search lights shining at us, distracting us, while a third boat came from ahead and rammed us," he said.

Another crew member, British doctor David Halpin, described hearing "the most almighty three bangs" and said he thought he was going to die.

Free Gaza said the incident was "an act of terrorism", as well as a violation of international maritime law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7805075.stm
www.freegaza.org

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Originally posted by piratenews:
Cynthia McKinney on CNN discussing Israel trying to sink her and USS Liberty

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:

Why I ask you, why aren’t the peaceful and friendly Hamas terrorists in Gaza left in peace to bomb Israel?

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Originally posted by chrisisall:
I say we let them fight it out their way, but without OUR money. I don't see any good guys, government-wise, over there.

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FREE GAZA!

(While supplies last)

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Originally posted by Geezer:

Yep.

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Originally posted by chrisisall:

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:

Why I ask you, why aren’t the peaceful and friendly Hamas terrorists in Gaza left in peace to bomb Israel?

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I say we let them fight it out their way, but without OUR money. I don't see any good guys, government-wise, over there.

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
And you must stop France, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and a host of other nations from sending aid, much of which goes directly to the Palestinians to be used for military efforts.

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Originally posted by chrisisall:

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
And you must stop France, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and a host of other nations from sending aid, much of which goes directly to the Palestinians to be used for military efforts.

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Why do all those countries hate America so?

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
France, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are allies.

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:
If Rue wants to sign on I would count it as truly bizarre, and then if Auraptor joined us I think we could call it a disturbance in the force.

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Originally posted by chrisisall:

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
France, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are allies.

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We need better allies.

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Finn: Obviously, everyone in the world would aid Palestine because Palestine is desperate for an ally, and every power wants a desperate ally, because they'll let you do anything, such as set up a military base. This is why despots always have China, Russia or the US backing them up.

But this still doesn't make your argument work. The money and weaponry Israel has by itself without US aid already vastly exceeds that of Palestine and all that it gets from its friends.

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Originally posted by chrisisall:

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
And you must stop France, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and a host of other nations from sending aid, much of which goes directly to the Palestinians to be used for military efforts.

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Why do all those countries hate America so?

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FINN

Actually it does. My argument works just fine, whether you want to wipe out Israel or not. It’s you’re argument that doesn’t work. If you’re going to let them fight it out, then let them fight it out. You can’t claim to let them fight it out, while you’re supporting one side with aid. Logically, the two are mutually exclusive.

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JEWELSTAITEFAN

Because they are Muslim, and we are not. Muslims have been told they are the chosen children of God, yet they can see they are a century or more behind us - so it must be due to cheating by us as well as the Jews. Except Russia and France. France lost it's spine between WWI and WWII, and Russia is ticked that after Reagan gave them a chance at freedom, Clinton let them down and ignored them, allowing their current government situation to arise.

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Originally posted by piratenews:

Cynthia McKinney on CNN discussing Israel trying to sink her and USS Liberty


McKinney and CNN journo rammed 3 times by Israeli navy


The Real Black Candidate Who's Actually A US Citizen TM
http://piratenews-tv.blogspot.com/2008/12/cnn-israel-tries-to-assassin
ate-cynthia.html

“So while our focus obviously is on Gaza right now, this could turn out to be a much larger conflict. We’re looking at potentially a multi-front war here. I don’t think there’s anything at this point standing between Iran and nuclear weapons other than the possibility of the use of military force possibly by the United States, possibly by Israel,” added the former ambassador, suggesting that a strike on Iran’s facilities by Israel alone would be risky but could push Iran back by three or four years."
-NeoCon John Bolton US ambassador to UN Corp

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:
If you want Israel to be free from muslim attacks, then Israel would have to stop laying claim to additional muslim territory. Gaza is solidly muslim and has been for far longer than any human or govt. in the region has existed.

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What is Muslim territory? What you decide it is? What Hamas decides it is?

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So, I agree with Chris and Geezer that the only real solution is to leave the Israelis to sort it out

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:

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What is Muslim territory? What you decide it is? What Hamas decides it is?

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Nope, that would be where muslims live. It helps when there's an internationally recognized boundary, and a govt. in this case, a democratically elected one.

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:

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JEWELSTAITEFAN

Because they are Muslim, and we are not. Muslims have been told they are the chosen children of God, yet they can see they are a century or more behind us - so it must be due to cheating by us as well as the Jews. Except Russia and France. France lost it's spine between WWI and WWII, and Russia is ticked that after Reagan gave them a chance at freedom, Clinton let them down and ignored them, allowing their current government situation to arise.

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Oh, where does one even start. Muslims are apparently a single small child with only one opinion, which is to hate. But I'd rather go over to

"France had a spine?" I missed this part of history.

Next, So, Russia only became antagonistic to the US after Glasnost? (Reagan wasn't president when the Berlin wall came down.) So I guess that whole cold war thing was just because they were too cold to go to war.

Oh why bother.

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Because they are Muslim, and we are not. Muslims have been told they are the chosen children of God, yet they can see they are a century or more behind us - so it must be due to cheating by us as well as the Jews.

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:
JTF,

1. I gave reagan credit, that's why i said glasnost.

2.

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Because they are Muslim, and we are not. Muslims have been told they are the chosen children of God, yet they can see they are a century or more behind us - so it must be due to cheating by us as well as the Jews.

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That does sound like an assault on if not all muslim people, all muslim nations.

Reality Check: They don't hate us. Some muslims are increasingly irritated at Israel and at the US for a few simple reasons

1. Incursions into Palestine
2. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
3. Support for very unpopular regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
4. Threats of more war with Syria, Iran and Pakistan.


blah blah blah blah i'm not listening to any reason blah blah blah lalalalalala blah blah blah i'm ignoring all reasonable discussion blah blah blah blah.


1. The US, China and Russia are behaving in an expansionist manner. This is pretty typical empire behavior.

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:
Nope, that would be where muslims live. It helps when there's an internationally recognized boundary, and a govt. in this case, a democratically elected one.

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They elected Hamas and Hamas has a policy of destroying Isreal. Guess the folks got the change they wanted.

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Iran and Pakistan aren’t Arab, and neither were directly involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Most Muslim nations side with the Arab nations on this issue for political, national and religious solidarity, but you’re right, they aren’t necessarily preoccupied with it.

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
It’s always the same story with you, Dreamtrove. Everytime a situation arises in Israel, it’s almost always, Hamas or Hezbollah or Fatah violating a ceasefire to kill Jews, and everytime, you insist it’s all Israeli fault who are killing the peaceful and innocent Palestinian terrorists. Basically, your position is it’s okay for Palestinians to kill Jews, but the Jews are wrong if they defend themselves, which means you want to see Jews killed. That’s the only logical way to explain the bias in your argument.

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Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
His anti-semitism does not seem to cover the entirety of his bias - he seems to also think it's OK for Al-Queda (a strictly Islamic-based organization) to attack New York and Washington, DC, but not for the U.S. to pursue the Reynolds Doctrine and kill 'em right back, nor preempt future attacks by killing them at home. Unless he considers All Americans to be Jews and included in his Kill-the-Jews bias.

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
... In much the same way that the Mafia or gangster lifestyle is romanticized in popular culture. The difference is that most people realize that these are fictional archetypes. Dreamtrove doesn’t. That’s why he’s unable to see Hamas as having any culpability for actions. In his mind, Hamas is a noble band of freedom fighters.

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FINN
Hamas is a noble band of freedom fighters.

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JTF: he considers All Americans to be Jews and included in his Kill-the-Jews bias.

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:
I actually laughed out loud reading his post. He missed my posts blaming Hamas for the whole incident, or where I never glamorized Hamas. Hamas is despicable. They used to kill children intentionally just to start riots. But this isn't about Hamas, and it's not about the holocaust. This is about a few things.

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Originally posted by Riverlove:

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Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
... In much the same way that the Mafia or gangster lifestyle is romanticized in popular culture. The difference is that most people realize that these are fictional archetypes. Dreamtrove doesn’t. That’s why he’s unable to see Hamas as having any culpability for actions. In his mind, Hamas is a noble band of freedom fighters.

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What's NOT noble about :
Strapping suicide bombs on children?
Strapping suicide bombs on mentally ill?
Hiding weapons inside mosques?
Hiding behind women & children during firefights?
Launching 3,000 missiles into civilian areas?

Those are all very noble things right?

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