Why

[kygorski]

I cant understand the animosity over Hagels nomination for the post he was selected for. The guy had and has the right to voice his feelings, HE EARNED IT. Our soldiers and service men didnj't loose the war in viet nam. the politicians did! They made fun of Gore, who was there in some capacity. Kerry was riduculed for his nam service.What did we accomplish in iraq? Is it safe, no bombings, no sectarian killings? We kicked the crap out of the talaban, and al-queda, so why didn't we leave? If its politics, let the politicians pick up the rifles and go there.I'm a supporter of Isreals right to exist, I have no sympathy for them settling palestinian territory. Iran is going to have a nuclear weapon some day, so what?Who gives us the right to determine another countrys fate? We still didn't learn that any government, which does not have the support of the people will eventually fall.Start using our brains not our billions.

[jcb]

I'm a supporter of Isreals right to exist, I have no sympathy for them settling palestinian territory.

Where is that territory, exactly?

[kygorski]

Lets start with the UN mandate, surely there were boundrys made.The lines changed when wars changed them.I wish I knew the answer, I dont! maybe Isreal has its own "manifest destiny " goal.

[RoadToad]

While I unquestioningly support Israel's right to exist, and believe the US needs to stand firm with our allys, I too question our knee-jerk support of Israel's settling of territory that is outside the boundaries the UN drew up. However, Hagel has made some "unfortunate" comments and he does need to explain himself, like when he talked about the "Jewish lobby intimidating people." And he mistakenly identified the US policy on Iran as "containment." That's something the future Secretary of Defense should KNOW.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Lets start with the UN mandate, surely there were boundrys made.The lines changed when wars changed them.I wish I knew the answer, I dont! maybe Isreal has its own "manifest destiny " goal.

I think you are both right.
Borders of Israel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Seems like what was clearly defined borders of Israel over time and conflicts have changed several times. Compare it to the US developement. We'd say something was part of our country, other countries would dispute that, and then we'd either get a treaty that gave us the land, or we'd buy the land, or we'd just kick the other countries butt and take it.

Biggest difference is the US became so powerful that countries don't try to take our property anymore. Israel is not as big, though they pack a punch, surrounding countries keep trying to take real estate from them. And last, Israel, when attacked enough from a certain area (Golan Heights), does occupy territory on other countries soil to establish a buffer zone. The buffer zone is intended to provide distance from Israeli borders, so that when folks shoot stuff at them, it falls in the buffer zone instead of on their citizen's heads, homes, and businesses. Example, if my neighbor throws rocks at me from his back deck, I'm gong to find a way to keep him off that deck so I'm out of range of his rocks.