Nino: "Roma never suffered during the Holocaust?": Did I say that? It seems bizarre that you would just post that out of nowhere. First off, yes, Roma DID suffer along with Jews and many other demographics in the Camps but Jews suffered the most losses by far. I should also add that more Sinti than Romas suffered and that while the two groups are similar in their origina and practices there ARE differences, and it would seem strange to introduce the subject of the tragedy that befell Travelling People without mentioning the group that lived in Germany, the Sinti.
"As for Finkelstein...": No, you have much more thamn my word. His employer DePaul University fired him. I would offer that about closes the case to most people given that he was fired for academic incompetence.
"Primary, how conveinent.": I do not understand what you are trying to get at. If Olmert is not incarcerated and I do not see that happening to any sitting of former PM in Israel ever, as I said we look at financial crimes a bit differently than most nations plus it would be inconceivable that anyone in the justice system would seek the incerceration, why should he not TRY and maintain, or retain his position within the Party?
Actually, it would be inconveinet because only morons and synchophants would vote for him to retain even party membership. If I am home (I am a Kadima member and former Organiser) I will vote to bounce him out on his ear IF they allow anything near that as an option. It is not his financial improprieties that bother me as much as his mishandling of the last war.
Our Reserve Depots, where Reservists reporting for deployment are supposed to pick up filed gear and weaponry were usually in terrible condition, and while it is not directly his fault, Reservists' training regimens were made woefully inadequate in the last 7 years due to budgetary constraints within the military. I see that, and Arik is just as much remiss (more so given his vast expereince in the military establishment but he is not fit to pay for that mistake), as a crime worthy of a long incarceration (as harsh it may seem I think execution would be fitting since it truly endangered our entire nation because of the shirking of responsibility).
Olmert is not facing a very bright political future.
Spion: Please research the issue before jumping on the insult boat. DePaul FIRED him.
Grandma: Yes, I know you did not mention Finkelstein but you did mention manipulation of the Holocaust and the main proponenet of that nonsense is Finkelstein whose book was recently published on that very issue. The man is a sad person indeed. People often use the term "Self Hating Jew" much too casually but I see Finkelstein, as much as an armchair analysis is valid, as the epitome of that phrase.
Nino (AGAIN): I cite Dershowitz? I respect the man. He is a genius in his academic field. He also knows what he is talking about when he involves himself in terms of Jewish and Israeli issues. However, I have never cited him, nor do I reply on him to form my own opinions. Dershowitz was instrumental in DePaul taking what action it did but only because Dershowitz motivated enough academics to act on the issue and offer their opinion. DePaul could not ignore the issue in the face of such an outpouring of criticism.
As I told Phil in another thread, I do not feel that academics should be penalised for their personal views but like some other academics (I was mentioning Massad to Phil), Finkelstein misused his position to further his own purient interests, in addition to his academic fraud,etc.
