UndertheHalo

no, i get your point. However for the PLO/PA its difficult to just turn their noses up at Hamas. Hamas is a part of the political fabric and bringing them under control strengthens the Palestinians. It is a difficult and complex position for Abbas and the PA. Israel has used the divide between Hamas and the PA as grounds to not negotiate. So, it is in the interests of the Palestinians at large to bring Hamas under control and take away that Israeli argument. Despite the extreme positions that Hamas has taken. So again, I will emphasis the point, that if Hamas has in fact sanctioned this ridiculous action with the Israeli teenagers, the PA will likely have little choice but to call off the arrangement with Hamas on grounds that it completely undermines the PA.

well at least one person gets me ! Its interesting that this story has not been more widely reported.

them island mexicans sure are good at the baseball.

This thread is fairly high on the excellent scale. Congrats to the Shoemakers !!! I'm sure happy to have Matt on the team. Literally saving the team !

they just reached an agreement to jointly govern. To kidnap Israeli's in the west bank would be a pretty significant betrayal. So yes, this is probably the last straw.

they've operated independently for years. The elections havent happened yet and Hamas has no actual power within the PA. I dont think it will be a problem to break again. The AP version of this story also indicates that this Arouri fellow also masterminded some plot to topple the PA in the West Bank. Like I said, I cant imagine that Abbas will be able to not act. You may be right that some violence between the groups will break out. In the West Bank anyway.

if this is true, and I dont know why it wouldnt be, it appears that Abbas and the PA will have no choice but to completely break with Hamas. We shall see how that shakes down. The incredible stupidity of Hamas is mind boggeling. This also may reflect a break within the group itself. Hamas senior political leadership has been denying this since day 1. It is highly likely that the armed wing no longer operates in a subordinate manner to the political leadership.

Certainly not giving them a pass, Im just saying where I think they came from.

Eric is correct actually, apparently between syria and iraq the number is in the neighborhood of 80,000 which is shocking ( i cant imagine the orgainzation is capable of arming and coordinating all these people though, it may be more of a supporter type of number). However I still think the spirit of what I was trying to say is valid. What i mean by the western interference, is that we have been propping up these malignant regimes in places like saudi arabia and for a long time iraq. Before that it was colonial activity. The wisdom of these policies is certainly debatable. However its not really secret that the west has contributed to the chaos in the region in a great number of ways.

I stand corrected.

its not a cop out, ISIS is estimated to be what 6000 people max ? There are well over a billion muslims in the world. Its not really fair to group them all in the condone what ISIS does group. I mean everyone is entitled to their own opinion but to me, this is more about the enviornment then the religion. We've seen horrible groups do horrific things in the balkans in the last 2 decades. Lets not forget the fighting in Ireland. How about Africa ?. There is a common theme in all these places, and it is not Islam.

extreme accuracy. Just ****ing terrible news. Go Angels, I guess.

as soon as i posted the previous comment I knew someone would say something to this effect. Don't underestimate humanity's ability to be awful. Even Christians ( i am a christian). We are fortunate to have stability here, in the middle east....particularly in war zones there is an absolute void of order and authority. ISIS has risen out of this void. People have always warped religion for their own twisted agenda's. Right now, the middle east and Islam are particularly vulnerable, a result of a centuries worth of western interference. The problems there (sectarian in nature) just have to play out, it will take time and much of it has and will continue to be ugly. I dont think ISIS represents what Islam is about.

:-/ this is somewhat akin to saying the Westboro baptists are representative of Christianity.

Unfortunate. But, not surprising.

it is a good team, its not a fantasy baseball team. Also, when do we start saying that Scoscia is doing a good job. He is, and its time for the Scoscia haters to admit it.

I think CJ Wilson is mostly a pretty solid signing

well, theres no denying the organizations ability to sniff out good lemons....and then give them monies.

no lemon laws in baseball

yea, its a shitty break for him. Im just glad to see him get right at least after they sent him down. That trade has gone amazingly well for us...well except for the tommy john thing with Skaggs but that is what it is. Both Skaggs and Santiago will be critical arms for us.

man, I cry about Aybar hitting 5th. The A's have the great Johnny Gomes of the .236 BA hitting 4th....Yikes.

if one takes the time to actually read the interview/article you will find that he's not "calling hamilton out". He's just stating a fact that he has not been the same dangerous bat that he once was with the Rangers. He thinks its a confidence thing. I don't see anything unusual with this.

thanks.

Albert definitely leads when pouting.

needs to work on some stuff. send him back to salt lake.