I remember a cartoon called the Wizard of Id. One day the king was in his tower, and he looked down to see an angry mob rioting in the streets. He asked his advisor who they were, and his advisor said that they were "Peace Protesters". The king replied, "My army should be so peaceful."

Jay Tea,( I have only a few moments) I don't think you can have it both ways, even with your site's love of 'the deliberate ambiguity' of Israel. If Gaza and Israel are in armed conflict, then probably Israel, by virtue of your quoted The San Remos Rules For Armed Conflict can board 'humanitarian vessels' even in international waters' for purposes of inspection, but then Hamas if they are in armed conflict with Israel, certainly has the right to declare war on Israel or lob rockets at them -which they are not doing, or have been doing since January 2009. It seems you only want restraint or a 'cease-fire' from one side, and a ceasefire status as of January 2009, even with the oppressive blockade, was the acknowledged situation, in the Gaza until 48 hours ago.

RE: 2:

Where's Lee when you need someone to shout LIAR?

Steve:

RE: "But then Hamas[,] if they are in armed conflict with Israel, certainly has the right to declare war on Israel or lob rockets at them."

1. Hamas is a political party - not a country. Countries can declare war - not political parties.
2. Hamas is a minority in what is basically a civil war. Gaza is about all that they control as a political party.
3. Lobbing rockets that indiscriminately kill civilians is a violation of international law. They certainly have no "right" to do that.

Steve Crickmore.

Was the USA at war with Cuba or USSR when we blockaded Cuba?

We had Cease Fire with Iraq for 9 years and during that time the US Navy along with US Coast Guard boarded ships for inspection.

So what your point?

"So what your point?"

Stevie has no point. And no answer as to WHY there is a blockade in the first place.

Crickmore, Israel has operated (and has a right to) a constant blockade because the Arabs in the region (Re: Muslims) have a long rich history of taking what seems to be periods of quiet and (although strained) peace as an opportunity to simply re-arm for the next battle which will commence at a time prescribed by them.

These periods of relative quiet are usually preceded by a drop in support for their behavior or they've gotten their asses kicked in an all-out fight.

Your few moments are up Steve. Thanks for playing.

LIAR!!

Great job Crickmore! With Lee Ward and jim_x coming out in favor of terrorism on the other thread, our leftists have decided to stop even pretending!

They are all in for terrorists now!

Of course, knowing their level of competence, they will probably all end up like Bill Ayers' first girlfriend . . . Rest in Pieces!

Supporting terrorism? Lol... Addison is such an idiot. No basis in reality, as usual.

All I did was point out that what Israel is claiming was a "weapons cache found on the ship" is, on closer inspection, nothing more that kitchen knives and the usual tools you'd find on a ship that size.

I guess pointing out lies from the right gets one labeled as a "terrorist supporter" -- how original - shouldn't that be "commie sympathizer" instead? Lol... what an idiot. Addison, grow up.

When all else fails, the ad hominem attacks begin.

"....nothing more that kitchen knives and the usual tools you'd find on a ship that size."

Usual tools? Gas masks, baseball bats, sharpened metal rods (glorified shanks), smoke bombs, firebombs, wristrockets, sharpened metal rods, machetes, etc. are usual tools found on a boat of this size? No, Lee, as usual the only tool found around here is you, peddling your cheap, dismissive explanations for pro-Hamas sympathizers who calculated and provoked an Israeli response to gain international attention from an all-too-quick-o-believe media. If role was to be a useful idiot for Hamas in all this, and indeed it looks like it, then "Mission Accomplished", baby.

lee weird - "All I did was point out that what Israel is claiming was a "weapons cache found on the ship" is, on closer inspection, nothing more that kitchen knives and the usual tools you'd find on a ship that size."

Having spent 20 years in shipboard life (U.S., Navy) I fail to recall any shipboard use for wrist-rockets, 2x2's of 3 foot length or firebombs.

Enlighten use lee weird what could they be used for?

All I did was point out that what Israel is claiming was a "weapons cache found on the ship" is, on closer inspection, nothing more that kitchen knives and the usual tools you'd find on a ship that size.