When did you become such a credulous bigot?
Oh do one you silly woman.
I'm simply pointing out that one biased source is easily matched by another.
I do not believe that IDF troops have targetted ambulances without reason. If they did they would be no better than the scum who target Israeli women and children so regularly.
If terrorists use ambulances to transport weapons who can complain if they're shot to bits?
A good result in my book.
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That sentence shows a complete and utter non-understanding of the nature of guerrilla/asymmetric warfare, and of tactics used by pre-independence Jewish fightersPerhaps if the miltants didn't secrete themselves and their weapons amongst civilians this would happen far less?
No, they have the "right" to target those who transgress the law. They don't have the right to carry out what amounts to arbitrary collective punishment based on assumptions about the presence of terrorists in the area giving them a legal basis to do so.The IDF have every right to target militants and indeed would be remiss in their responsibilitiies to Israel if they did not.
It doesn't matter whether they have a written policy or not, what matters is what is communicated to the forces on the ground from the command; the attitude of officers to non-regulation behaviour toward non-combatants etc.At the moment we only have your word, that of a few other equally biased posters and a few far from independent links that the IDF have a policy to purposely target civilians. We know for damned sure that Palestinians target civilians.
maybe reflect on whether the practice of targeting ambulances arbitrarily is fitting when it's actually a case that some ambulances are used by some terrorists when transporting weapons.
That sentence shows a complete and utter non-understanding of the nature of guerrilla/asymmetric warfare, and of tactics used by pre-independence Jewish fighters
Once again VP, I take issue with your use of "arbitrary" and additionally "collective punishment"No, they have the "right" to target those who transgress the law. They don't have the right to carry out what amounts to arbitrary collective punishment based on assumptions about the presence of terrorists in the area giving them a legal basis to do so.
It doesn't matter whether they have a written policy or not, what matters is what is communicated to the forces on the ground from the command.
Did I say that? Nah.So if previous terrorists have done it, so can these? Balls.
So, you're taking issue:Once again VP, I take issue with your use of "arbitrary" and additionally "collective punishment"
For instance if a command comes down the line to suppress activity in a certain sector, it becomes the "problem" of the local command how they deal with it. If a local commander chooses to interpret "suppression of activity" as roadblocks, curfews etc he's within his remit as he sees it, but he may also choose to interpret "suppression of activity" in a much "heavier" manner.For instance?
I do not accept that the targetting of any ambulances is in any way arbitrary.
Or should I expect you to have recourse to the "nah, can't be bothered" route?
VP said:You see, where I'm standing "arbitrary" is a fair description of an applied punishment that doesn't conform to standard reasoning, i.e. it's not necessarily rendered against the "wrongdoer" but against people who reside in the locale of the criminal act, and "collective punishment" is a fair description of rendering that punishment against a group of people rather than against the "wrongdoer" themselves.

Well, without bothring to start digging about for the IDF pilots' comments just now.....
I was recalling your "nah, can't be arsed" attitude on another thread in this forum.Why would you say that? I'm happy to elucidate as I believe you to be wrong.

The idea of "plausible deniability" seems to have passed you by.I absolutely agree with your definition of "arbitrary".
However I do not believe it's the way that the IDF have gone about targetting ambulances.
a) I do not believe that any soldier has been ordered to hit an ambulance unless inteligence has shown it's likely to be a threat or carrying weapons.
How you arrived at that conclusion is frankly beyond me, as arbitrary targeting would merely mean that you wouldn't know where or when to expect the targeting of the ambulance, it wouldn't follow a prescribed pattern (brass hats being very fond of patterns, ticks in boxes etc.b) If ambulances were targetted "arbitrarily" there would be none left out there.
Mmmm, I think you must have missed the multitude of stories about ambulances going about their normal business being interdicted at checkpoints, interdicted en route to hospitals etc, often causing medical problems or deaths unnecessarily.c) I think it far more likely that a few ambulances have been targetted specifically not "arbitrarily", because they were believed to be in the process of "wrongdoing"!
What any state fighting a war against a section of it's own population gains: Terror.d) What does Isael have to gain by "arbitrarily" targetting civilians and ambulances?
On which point, precisely?e) Got any links???????![]()

well the colonel responsible for the incident has been sent home for ten days ...

I was recalling your "nah, can't be arsed" attitude on another thread in this forum.![]()
Does it? Nice line. Means nothing unless you care to explain it's significance in this context.The idea of "plausible deniability" seems to have passed you by.
How you arrived at that conclusion is frankly beyond me, as arbitrary targeting would merely mean that you wouldn't know where or when to expect the targeting of the ambulance, it wouldn't follow a prescribed pattern (brass hats being very fond of patterns, ticks in boxes etc.
? Mmmm, I think you must have missed the multitude of stories about ambulances going about their normal business being interdicted at checkpoints, interdicted en route to hospitals etc, often causing medical problems or deaths unnecessarily.
I'll give it a go. Thank you.Try reading General Sir Frank Kitson's "Low Intensity Operations". You can generally find a 2nd-hand copy for a couple of quid. It's badly-written (IMHO) and a bit thoughtless, but it spells out how states in the above situation can reap benefits from it (Kitson, btw, "blooded" himself in Kenya and was GOC Northern Ireland, and was an old hand in such practices by the time he wrote his book)
They would if/when the missiles strike alleged rocket factories. They can't when they strike blocks of flats or crowds on the streets.TP: "The IDF has conducted countless revenge attacks over the years.": In your mind, obviously, the IDF or IAF targetting a rocket launching site is a "revenge attack." Most rational adults would call it proactive defence.
On a daily basis? No, I'm not a Palestinian. I have lived under regular terrorism for many years in Spain though. Nor that it should matter whether someone is qualified to comment on a conflict. Neither does it mean that does who suffer from terrorism have the right to do just anything they want, no matter how wrong and barbaric.You certainly have strong opinions on the matter. Tell me, ever have to live under terrorism? On a daily basis?
What does that got to do with killing civilians then?As for people ebing killed by the IDF as it hunts terrorists, etc., I take a different tack. I blame the terrorists. Do you honestly believe that Israel would even have soldiers there if people were not trying to killIsraeli non-combatants? You are aware I assume that International Law protects the rights of sovereign antions to respond to imminent threats to its sovereignity or its citizens, yes?
Utter bullshit. Specially when the sovereign nation in question is engaging in State Terrorism itself, as well as war crimes.You are also aware I assume that collateral damage incurred inadvertantly is labled the fault of the insitgator who legally is defined as the terrorist entities, not the sovereign state, right?
Yes. The reason is called U.S.A.If not you should research it because there is very good reasons just why Israel has never even been charged by an International Tribunal.
Your attempts to justify indiscriminate bombings of civilian areas are as ludicrious as they are pathetic. Under the international laws you're so fond of, deliberate targeting of civilians is illegal, and can even be a war crime. No ifs, no buts, no excuses. Absolutely nothing justifies obliterating entire residential neighbourhoods populated by civilians. End of. That you attempt to justify such monstrosity makes you a disturbing extremist every bit as deprived of humanity as the very 'terrorists' from Hamas and Hezbollah you despise so much.As for Beirut, I will also remind you that there is also great reasons why Israel was never charged there. Hezbollah exists in contravention of International Law as well as Lebanese Law. Despite vows by Lebanon and UNIFIL to neutralise this great threat Hezbollah iniated a non-stop 5 month barrage of cross-border missile attacks in the winter and spring of 2006.
On July 12th of that year as they iniated yet another barrage a ccordinated attcak crossed into Israel after imploding 2 Border Barriers and fired an RPG aat an IDF Hummer killing 5 soldiers, 2 of whom they carried back across the border into Lebanon as pawns.
An hour later a Merkava was sent across as were some Infantry. The Merkva hit an IED and all crewmen were killed. thus began the 2006 War, where the incidents you reference took place. Beirut, specifically South Beirut is Hezbollah's stronghold and they operate openly. Israel, aside from being legally justified in targetting Hezbolli structures and facilities in Beirut sought to neutralise Lebanese Infrastructure which is Rule One for any army planning an incursion.
As well Hezbollah and its AMAL lapdogs used civlian edifices like the aprtment block in Qana as cover for its Katyusha launchers and weapons caches. They launch missiles and when the IDF seeks to neutralise them it sometimes incured collateral damage. You blame Israel. international Law though blames Hezbollah and Lebanon although you will not see them charged either because the Tribunal fears it would escalate tensions in the region and just lead to far more instability.
"Not a single bullet or rocket was ever fired from Beirut." Guess you missed the Israeli ship that was struck with a missle then, or the other missile launchings...I think you need to research the subject matter. As well you might want to look into ROW with regard to Infrastructure and Military Objectives outweighing risk of Collateral Damage...
What does that got to do with killing civilians then?
Oh stop sniping from the sidelines Granny.
So,
What are YOUR views on the colateral damage caused by Israeli forces while attempting to combat what they see as terrorism?
However, how would you tackle a rocket crew in an apartment block?
What's your read on the targetting of ambulances by the IDF?