Leeds Ram

I actually believe in intervention as a method of helping citizens of those countries free themselves from oppressive tyrannical regimes. I don't believe the US's support for authoritarians is good and I've criticised Obama's policy of backing Sisi's coup over the Muslim Brotherhood and letting Assad gas his own citizens. I believe people in those nations deserve the same freedoms we demand for ourselves, that doesn't mean aligning myself with regimes or groups who are reprehensible. Giving the Palestinians a state with a Hamas led regime, or a regime where Hamas is a significant player is playing with geopolitical dynamite. Anyone who has read or knows anything about the region and the situation knows that. 

I didn't discredit Pappe, I said some historians, even in the 'new historians' field critique him which they do. I linked an article as such. However, I also highlighted that a lot of scholars, including some of my old lecturers, regularly use his materials and rate him. I gave a fair analysis of what I think. I don't buy what Finkelstein says and I've yet to know anyone who I respect on these questions who gives him any serious thought. 

It's not Hitler level for me. Again, your failure to distinguish between genocide with camps all over Europe, adapted killing techniques, dedicated murder squadrons, mass roundups for shooting and gassing and mass enslavement with a conflict in an urban environment of which many of the citizens are very young highlights your inability to separate out and distinguish between different types of actions. You can say what Israel has done is bad (I've written published articles where I've said this) and even illegal in the conduct of war but that doesn't mean it automatically constitutes genocide. I've yet to see a reasonable case be made that what has happened is a genocide according to the legal definitions of the term. 

I do believe Palestinians, like any people, have a right to defend themselves. I don't believe now that a Palestinian state is a viable political option and I do believe we're entering a new stage of the conflict where options will be limited because of the way both sides perceive one another. Of course I want Israel to give ground to Palestinians and I want Palestinains to recognise they won't get everything they want (like custody of Jerusalem) and settle for a bit less in return for an actual state and build from there. But that won't happen any time soon. 
 

That's my take and an expert's take on warfare and its legal limitations yeah. But fair play if you don't want to continue. 

it would likely qualify as more than a civil conflict due to the death toll right now I would say. I'd call it an intra-state war. Hamas has an armed wing of the organisation which is dedicated to fighting.

It's also likely not genocide given the legal definition and requirements of the word to meet the criteria. Eminent yale historian samuel moyn who has written a fantastic book called 'humane' on the history of warfare has spoken about how Israel still maintains legal limitations of war which in comparison to warfare from the 1950's-1970's is far less destructive.  

You're confusing wartime responses with whether a state is democratic or not. One is not necessarily congruent with the other. 

Most of this isn't really addressing what I said. I don't even think they're that smart, more desperate and bad. I didn't say it gives them a free pass, I merely said in the region they are by a long way the most democratic country.

I didn't speak to the moral questions about the war merely the fact that Israel qualifies as a democracy.

I didn't speak to the moral questions about the war merely the fact that Israel qualifies as a democracy.

Most of this isn't really addressing what I said. I don't even think they're that smart, more desperate and bad. I didn't say it gives them a free pass, I merely said in the region they are by a long way the most democratic country.

You're confusing wartime responses with whether a state is democratic or not. One is not necessarily congruent with the other. 

I just think you're giving what is a shameless violent ruthless cowardly terrorist group way too much credit tbh. Whether you like it or not, Israel is the most democratic state in the region by a pretty long chalk. 

I can imagine what B4 might have said to that.

An old link, but https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/planning-visit-cinque-terre
Let us know if you do go 🍻🐑

Ok. If I went for a week, I'd stop in Levanto which is a bigger town, then use the trains to stop at the 5 villages. 
It's basically 5 Italian Robin Hoods Bays in a row with walks in between

Planning on going with the Mrs to Rome for a week and then a week down by the coast. We didn't go on holiday last year as we were both in between jobs and wanted to be prudent. But now she's just got her dream architecture role and I'm in place with a university position we've got the money to do it. Any tips on where to stay?

The Cinque Terre just north of Pisa is excellent, but not the cheapest 

It's just so bizarre. I really enjoyed the performance against Barnsley, the first game I actually enjoyed watching all season from us live tbh. Then we go and do this and it brings all the old doubts back. 

It's just so bizarre. I really enjoyed the performance against Barnsley, the first game I actually enjoyed watching all season from us live tbh. Then we go and do this and it brings all the old doubts back. 

It's just so bizarre. I really enjoyed the performance against Barnsley, the first game I actually enjoyed watching all season from us live tbh. Then we go and do this and it brings all the old doubts back. 

It's just so bizarre. I really enjoyed the performance against Barnsley, the first game I actually enjoyed watching all season from us live tbh. Then we go and do this and it brings all the old doubts back. 

Had a cry when I find out and had another cry now reading all the posts
What a bloke - can’t count the amount of times he’s made me smile on here, it can be a bloody tough forum to read at times when you consider the club we follow but he was just the best
Not only hilarious but completely spot on - the team would do better if we got behind the lads like he did
I still remember laughing my head off as a younger Leicester Ram at the yellow belt saga, in another life I’m sure B4 will be running the resurgent DLF
Haven’t been to a game since my uncle died but would have made the trek from London come rain, shine or national rail strike for the Bristol Rovers game for Daniel
Unfortunately I’m in Vietnam and can’t make it back, have to admit I’m devastated because he deserves the best send off possible - remember back in the days of the DCFC Fans podcast that I said he was my favourite forum member and he always will be
If anyone is sorting out a flag for him etc but finding the cost a bit dear, please let me know as I’d love to help out
You Rams 🐏 

I semi expected a half-arsed performance tonight based on the fact that we've really struggled against the poorer sides this season. What I didn't expect is to see absolutely no youth whatsoever in the starting line-up.
On Saturday the game was over after around 65 minutes. Barnsley had given up, we were in complete control and carving them open at every opportunity. Perfect opportunity to give Weston or Robinson some minutes who would be on a high after the midweek game. We see neither. Okay, perhaps he's saving them for the FA cup game midweek I naively think to myself. We see neither again and instead only see Fapetu for 7 minutes in a desperate, panicked double substitution with Bradley as a last roll of the dice.
No Brown who is on fire in the academy, no Weston who scored for the senior team last week, no Robinson who has Prem clubs sniffing after him, instead we go for a 6'5 CB who we can rifle in diagonal crosses too. It's such a negative, backwards decision that genuinely makes me fear for the academy under Warne. Why would you choose to come here as a youngster when the manager won't even give a couple a chance in a game against league two opposition?
Losing tonight with half a team of kids would have meant nothing tonight. We would have dusted ourselves off and said oh well our focus is on the league. Instead our first team gets comprehensively beaten, the knives are out for Warne again, the fans are annoyed and our youngsters miss out on vital experience. A masterclass in mismanagement.

Don't understand how one week we can play like we did against Barnsley where it finally looks like we've got a formula that works and then we go and do this. It just kills all the momentum. 

Don't understand how one week we can play like we did against Barnsley where it finally looks like we've got a formula that works and then we go and do this. It just kills all the momentum. 

Not sure if it’s been covered off elsewhere but did anyone get caught up in the skirmishes at the station?
Barnsley and Derby fans started name calling and there was a bit of a surge with the police as usual caught up in the middle.
The usual kids on artificial bravery substances but also a depressing number of blokes my age who should be setting an example.