quote:

Originally posted by Echo of Silence You know, as well as I know, that NONE of Israel's neighbors have larger armies. N O N E.

that is not true

Total Active Soldiers:
Israel - 175,000
Syria - 421,000
Egypt - 440,000

Reserves
Israel - 430,000
Syria - 500,000
Egypt - 150,000

Tanks
Israel - 4,300
Syria - 3,400-4,600
Egypt - 3,650

Total Aircraft
Israel - 449
Syria - 579
Egypt - 567

Total Helicopters
Israel - 263
Syria - 228
Egypt - 219
http://www.csis.org/mideast/stable/3g.html

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If God is the answer, it must have been a very stupid question.

quote:

Originally posted by Echo of Silence You know, as well as I know, that NONE of Israel's neighbors have larger armies. N O N E. Egypt receives 2nd most because of their contributory role in Middle East Peace. No other reason. And you know it. As I know it. And Mubarak has beautiful palaces. So many poor...they will become extremists. The next generation. And no one cares. As long as the administration supports Middle East Peace. A bribe. Nothing more, nothing less.

Look lady, the facts are the facts. I was trying to find a link for this National Geographic Map which has military data on it so you can understand exactly what Israel faces with its neighbors. The closest I came was to a site that sells it;

http://www.thesavvytraveller.com/in...middle_east.htm


But I did uncover this interesting map in the process:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/i...midEastCon.html

Try and get your hands on the first map, if its through the library or what not - it will let you understand the proportions of what Israel faces better then a list of links of who's military is larger.

Last I recall Israel does not have the largest army in the middle east, - both Syria and Egypt have more man power and more tanks. Israel does however, have the largest air force in the middle east. I'm not sure in regards to the navy, but since Israel has only some 15 or so "boats" it should only be a few billion dollar investment to surpass this.

Your right, - Egypt is only getting the money because they made peace with Israel, but guess what? Israel is only getting th money because they made peace with Egypt too! Go back - historically before 1978 US funding towards Israel was extremly limited! Precedingt he 1967 war in fact, Israel's #1 ally was France - but you know how the French are; money driven and champions of the underdog, once someone isn't the underdog anymore they lose their interest and pick another side. Not to mention the Arabs would be a much better market for military hardware then Israel could ever be.

Its not a right assumption to believe if the Palestinian had a military they would stop terrorism - the "Palestinians" were in the armies of the Arabs, and those Arab armies were defeated and lost everytime they attack. It is not hard then to say if the Palestinians had a conventional military today - it would be defeated as well; do you think they'd stop when their defeated and just give up? No they'd terrorize.

But this is drifting off topic....

quote:

Originally posted by Izzy Tanks Israel - 4,300 Syria - 3,400-4,600 Egypt - 3,650 Total Aircraft Israel - 449 Syria - 579 Egypt - 567 Total Helicopters Israel - 263 Syria - 228 Egypt - 219 http://www.csis.org/mideast/stable/3g.html

Hmm my bad, I guess Israel doesn't even have the largest Air Force in the Middle East - I must have remembered an old stat.

I guess it was the armored forces intsead...

Honestly, I'm not a worthy opponent in a debate. I have no "facts" and no "faulty" statistics to post. I think the statistics you post are worthless. You can find anything anywhere on the web to agree with your position. I could probably find a site that says Danish girls are the hottest sexiest things on the planet. That doesn't mean it is true.

Am I really incorrect in thinking the Israeli military (arms, soldiers, commanders, weapons which include nuclear weapons) is superior to the military of the other countries in the Middle East? If you tell me I am incorrect, I doubt I will believe you. I'll wait and hear what occrider says.

I am now in California. I read the newspapers. When the Palestinian child is killed by the Israeli military (why isn't your military more efficient if you have so much to work with over there?!!) it means nothing. When the Israeli youth is killed by the suicide bomber, it is such a bad thing. Soooooooooo wrong.

Of course, I wish not that an Israeli child be killed. But I also wish not that a Palestinian child be killed. And I think considering the resources, the Israelis should be able to not kill children. It would be a humane gesture. I see no humane gestures.

ps I am so obsessed with trying to speak proper English, I think it doesn't work well here. It sounds like I am angry or harsh and I am not. I am actually torn terribly on this whole situation. I don't feel capable of saying what I want to say in the way I want to say it.

Last edited by Echo of Silence on Oct-17-2003 at 02:45

quote:

Originally posted by Echo of Silence If you tell me I am incorrect, I doubt I will believe you. I'll wait and hear what occrider says.

LOL I'm no expert on the middle east! And you should always take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I've absolved myself from the entire Israeli vs. Palestine debate, however I will admit that I'm somewhat pro-Israeli. I will state that the US has good reason to provide Israel with funds (AND veto unfair UN resolutions), and that Israel has good reason to maintain a strong military. Their military has almost nothing to do with the Palestinians. The very existence of Israel has been challenged and pushed to the brink so many times in the past half a century that I feel that they have every right to remain diligentely strong. Especially considering their position in regional affairs. Anyone that who says differentely was probably asleep in history class during the three major decades of strife the middle east and Israel has endured.

That being said ... I disappear into the Israeli/Palestinian void unless someone would like for me to clarify my position!

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quote:

Originally posted by occrider That being said ... I disappear into the Israeli/Palestinian void unless someone would like for me to clarify my position!

Ya, I'm curious what do you think of my conspiracy theory? Or should I wait for Vesa and a neo-con edition?

quote:

Originally posted by Yoepus Ya, I'm curious what do you think of my conspiracy theory? Or should I wait for Vesa and a neo-con edition?

I think everyone is wrong. Since it is the holy land, I think Goddidit

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Hmmm now that I mention that, the irony of the most holiest of places being the most violent of places makes one think.

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about time you caught onto that one Occrider

Maybe it makes good for heavenly spectating?

quote:

Total Active Soldiers: Israel - 175,000 Syria - 421,000 Egypt - 440,000 Reserves Israel - 430,000 Syria - 500,000 Egypt - 150,000 Tanks Israel - 4,300 Syria - 3,400-4,600 Egypt - 3,650 Total Aircraft Israel - 449 Syria - 579 Egypt - 567 Total Helicopters Israel - 263 Syria - 228 Egypt - 219

have we got a list of the use by dates on some of this machinary? and a comparison of how many weapons of mass destruction each country in the area owns? money going into military research and development? no flamage just interested

quote:

Echo If you tell me I am incorrect, I doubt I will believe you. I'll wait and hear what occrider says.

although i respect occrider more than any of the other right wing people on this forum, i suggest if you want some neutral information
MrSquirrel and Renegade are probably as good as it comes. Or you could spectate an argument between Izzy + Yoepus and Cyrus + myself and weigh the facts each party bring up

quote:

Originally posted by tathi although i respect occrider more than any of the other right wing people on this forum,

I'm not right wing!!!! LOL!

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