IDF targets and kills food aid workers

[forgetful]

Even the Republican nutjobs aren't saying the money went to Hamas. They are saying they went to pro-Hamas groups. How do they know that? They looked at their website. 🙄🙄🙄

https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/west-virginia-politics/taxpayer-money-went-to-pro-hamas-group-because-of-inflation-reduction-act-capito-says/amp/

Anyway, try to at least be literate.

Not to mention supporting Palestinians does not equal pro-Hamas.

[4everwarriors]

Wrong. Palestinians elected Hamas to govern Gaza, 'member, hey?

[rocket surgeon]

Even the Republican nutjobs aren't saying the money went to Hamas. They are saying they went to pro-Hamas groups. How do they know that? They looked at their website. 🙄🙄🙄

https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virginia/west-virginia-politics/taxpayer-money-went-to-pro-hamas-group-because-of-inflation-reduction-act-capito-says/amp/

Anyway, try to at least be literate.

  nice spin, but but but the oceans continue to rise eyn'a?

[TSmith34, Inc.]

  nice spin, but but but the oceans continue to rise eyn'a?

Poodle. Calculus.

[MU82]

  nice spin, but but but the oceans continue to rise eyn'a?

Yes.

https://www.usharbors.com/2023/11/the-outer-banks-prepare-for-the-impact-of-rising-sea-levels/

https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/topics/sea-level-rise#:~:text=Sea%20levels%20across%20Florida%20are,based%20on%20tide%20gauge%20data

https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-la.pdf

https://www.georgetownclimate.org/files/impacts-of-global-warming-on-hurricane-related-flooding-in-corpus-christitexas.pdf

[Uncle Rico]

Yes.

https://www.usharbors.com/2023/11/the-outer-banks-prepare-for-the-impact-of-rising-sea-levels/

https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/topics/sea-level-rise#:~:text=Sea%20levels%20across%20Florida%20are,based%20on%20tide%20gauge%20data

https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-la.pdf

https://www.georgetownclimate.org/files/impacts-of-global-warming-on-hurricane-related-flooding-in-corpus-christitexas.pdf

Humanity will get what it deserves and it won't take a five point plan

[Pakuni]

Wrong. Palestinians elected Hamas to govern Gaza, 'member, hey?

That makes you pro-Biden, I guess.
#4everlogic

Never mind the fact that the majority of Palestinians hadn't been born when those elections took place. Or that the majority of Palestinians don't live in Gaza.

[The Sultan]

  nice spin, but but but the oceans continue to rise eyn'a?

Spin? That is literally what the article I linked to says. The Congresswoman quoted never claims that the money went to Hamas.

[NCMUFan]

Interesting article.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bill-maher-clashes-with-jewish-actress-saying-antisemitism-comes-from-the-right-no-it-doesn-t/ar-BB1ndKxu?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=7833c0f30e48467ea6743c4dd8e2ce4f&ei=17

[The Sultan]

There is nothing about Sandra Bernhard or Bill Maher that in anyway could be described as "interesting."

[Pakuni]

There is nothing about Sandra Bernhard or Bill Maher that in anyway could be described as "interesting."

On the other hand, Maher getting eviscerated by Bill Burr was fantastic.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/everyone-loves-bill-burr-telling-bill-maher-he-is-full-of-crap

[Skatastrophy]

Celebrity talking heads are goofy, unless it's the celebrity talking head that I agree with.

[tower912]

I swore off cable news for my 2021 New Years resolution.  January 6 and the school shooting in Nashville (wife's favorite cousin's kids go there) have been my only two lapses.   It is kind of like putting posters on ignore.  My life is better for it.

[cheebs09]

I only care what Ja Rule thinks about it.

[MUBurrow]

Never mind the fact that the majority of Palestinians hadn't been born when those elections took place. Or that the majority of Palestinians don't live in Gaza.

This is true, and the "Palestinians elected Hamas" narrative is obviously hamfisted.  But that also provides cover for denying the uncomfortable reality of Hamas' empowerment, proliferation, and fusion within Gazan society.  "Palestinians do not equal Hamas" is objectively true, but its also not like Hamas is some foreign occupying force ruling in spite of Gaza Palestinian resistance.  At best, Hamas has flourished in a Gazan environment that lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep them down.  At worst, they rule with implicit consent of the Gazan population.

[tower912]

Was Hamas the Palestinian equivalent of MAGA?

[The Sultan]

This is true, and the "Palestinians elected Hamas" narrative is obviously hamfisted.  But that also provides cover for denying the uncomfortable reality of Hamas' empowerment, proliferation, and fusion within Gazan society.  "Palestinians do not equal Hamas" is objectively true, but its also not like Hamas is some foreign occupying force ruling in spite of Gaza Palestinian resistance.  At best, Hamas has flourished in a Gazan environment that lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep them down.  At worst, they rule with implicit consent of the Gazan population.

I have no idea if they have any sort of implicit consent of the Gazan population overall.  My guess is that the population puts up with them because they rule with a lot of power through their association with Iran, and there is no other alternative. 

Kina like the equivalent of organized crime controlling a neighborhood back in the day. Most people just try to get along without causing anyone to get upset.

[Pakuni]

This is true, and the "Palestinians elected Hamas" narrative is obviously hamfisted.  But that also provides cover for denying the uncomfortable reality of Hamas' empowerment, proliferation, and fusion within Gazan society.  "Palestinians do not equal Hamas" is objectively true, but its also not like Hamas is some foreign occupying force ruling in spite of Gaza Palestinian resistance.  At best, Hamas has flourished in a Gazan environment that lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep them down.  At worst, they rule with implicit consent of the Gazan population.

Or, as has been repeated over and over throughout history, a political/power vacuum and bungling by geopolitical heavyweights allowed bad actors to seize control over a largely oppressed and impoverished population, which - even if it wanted to - lacks the means to depose their rulers.

The problem in Gaza isn't that it "lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep (Hamas) down." The problem is that Hamas is the centralized government.

Honest question for the "Gazans = Hamas" crowd ... what can/should average Gazan citizens - most of whom are just squeaking by to survive and provide - do to wrest power away from Hamas?
Hamas controls all the money, institutions and guns, and hasn't allowed an election since 2006. What are the options for the local schoolteacher or nurse or shop owner?

[jesmu84]

It's no surprise that Hamas' popularity among the Gazan population is directly correlated with oppression by Israel/others.

When there's any sort of indication of freedom or potentially loosening the apartheid state, Hamas' popularity plummets.

[MUBurrow]

Or, as has been repeated over and over throughout history, a political/power vacuum and bungling by geopolitical heavyweights allowed bad actors to seize control over a largely oppressed and impoverished population, which - even if it wanted to - lacks the means to depose their rulers.

The problem in Gaza isn't that it "lacks sufficient centralized governance to keep (Hamas) down." The problem is that Hamas is the centralized government.

Okay, but then this starts to look more and more like ISIS and less like "you can't fight an idea with a gun."  And that's not the standard of justification that is being applied to victory conditions.

[The Sultan]

Okay, but then this starts to look more and more like ISIS and less like "you can't fight an idea with a gun."  And that's not the standard of justification that is being applied to victory conditions.

I would guess that Hamas is a lot like ISIS, but minus the "religious zealotry" that caused everyone to hate them. Hamas is probably more tolerated than anything else.

[Pakuni]

Okay, but then this starts to look more and more like ISIS and less like "you can't fight an idea with a gun."  And that's not the standard of justification that is being applied to victory conditions.

Not sure what you mean. Explain further, please.

[Skatastrophy]

It's no surprise that Hamas' popularity among the Gazan population is directly correlated with oppression by Israel/others.

When there's any sort of indication of freedom or potentially loosening the apartheid state, Hamas' popularity plummets.

Hamas rose to power in the 80s from the Muslim Brotherhood and started suicide bombing Israel, and was then in the 200s elected as a majority in the Palestinian parliament at which point they took over Gaza. Thankfully Israel, Egypt, and the PLO/Fatah joined forces to block Hamas from also claiming the West Bank.

Thankfully the US continues to back the Egypt/Israel alliance in keeping Hamas/MB at bay in the region.

You can't celebrate Arab Spring and at the same time be pro Hamas (I'm not saying you are saying that, I'm saying it's one battle).

[lawdog77]

I would guess that Hamas is a lot like ISIS, but minus the "religious zealotry" that caused everyone to hate them. Hamas is probably more tolerated than anything else.

Not sure it was the religious zealotry that caused everyone to hate ISIS. It might have been the terrorist attacks and killings.

[The Sultan]

Not sure it was the religious zealotry that caused everyone to hate ISIS. It might have been the terrorist attacks and killings.

Repressing the people they conquered through religious zealotry, that including killings, kidnappings, etc.

My understanding is that Hamas generally leaves the Palestinian people alone as long as they don't get in the way of their criminalization or warmongering.