Reply #8: I see we are not that far apart in ways of thinking, msmcghee

[subsuelo]

We are both outraged at injustices and war crimes committed by both sides. The only difference is in our perceptions of how far things have gone on the Israeli side. I hope you'll read further into the report. There is some disturbing material to read, which I've posted only a fraction of the testimonies below. But for me, it's nothing new. The descriptions here are pretty much what I've talked about previously. That serious war crimes are committed on the Israeli side, with impunity, and often these are simply acts of revenge, of crazed criminals given a gun and a green light, and even unconscionable orders handed down to soldiers who carry them out without thinking and/or without caring.

For me, if I see an injustice or criminal act I don't stay quiet about it or make excuses just because I happen to favor one side over another. I have never even tried to say it's just one side doing it. Both sides are doing awful things to one another. There is no favoritism when innocent people suffer, and there can be no excuses when crimes of war are committed.

But I would like to add, I think Jimmy Carter is right. You just *have* to sit down with all sides if some kind of peaceful resolution is to be hammered out, no matter how feared or how hated the 'enemy'. But just sitting around letting this conflict drift the way it has been, is not working. And, in my opinion, the people are not enemies of each other. It's the leaders that are settled in to this thing, riding the waves of war, who are to blame. But the people - on both sides - just want to live in peace and security.