"Looking deeper, it doesn't ban the pride flag specifically any more than it bans the confederate flag or that stupid "Don't Tread on Me" flag."

It probably should be banned. Unless it's a US flag, host nation flag, or some sort of special occasion, why would another flag be flown.

I'm not sure I like the optics of someone in the Embassy throwing up a University of Alabama flag because they love them some Crimson Tide.

#39

Y'know, the ISIS freedom fighters seem to once again be on the up and up.

Now you have another team you can cheer for.

"It's really strange that the US, Russia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan actually have a singular common enemy that actively threatens each country simultaneously."

The only time where I've seen the US, Russia, and Iran play nice is when it came to ISIS. Go ahead and add the Taliban to that list as well.

Russia needs to keep a few of those bombs in reserve to drop on ISIS foreheads.

An objectively, if it were Ukraine, killing a bunch of people at a concert would surely qualify as a significant battlefield victory.

And doesn't the world just live terrorists? I mean, Hamas gets lots of love from Team Tik Tok...but I don't think most informed first-worlders look favorably on what just happened in Moscow.

"The perps were fleeing to Ukraine,this looks more like Ukraine was somehow involved than otherwise."

And Israel, too.

I think the FSB and maybe even the GRU have spent too much time focusing on monitoring Russia opposition in the country, as opposed to terrorist. Or freedom fighters, and Tres_Flechas might refer to them.

Muslim extremists attack a music festival.

Didn't we see this somewhere else a few months ago?

"If you're going out in public without a mask during the pandemic, you're increasing the risk for others."

Only the others who go out in public. That risk can be managed by not going out in public.

"I bet they will be hiring."

NATO also just opened up a new airbase in Kuov, Albania.

"2 billion to sit an wait for war... nobody hungry needs that."

If you're hungry, you can always--------- on a street corner.

And you'll have $5 if you're not already full.

"Is you managing my risk your personal thing?"

If it were, it wouldn't be a personal thing.

Or should I have the right to stop you from doing stuff you might otherwise want to do?

#88

It's a matter of...prevent the next COVID case at any cost...or consider the cost of preventing that next COVID case.

You live in the US. You are fortunate. Europe was hot garbage under COVID. The US did things better. Some states were chasing the hot garbage model originating in Europe, but in other states COVID was done by May 2020.

Really, risk management is a personal thing. It always is, it always has been. So far as I know, the government has never tried to prohibit social distancing, or vaccines, or closures. The problem is government making those things mandatory. Especially in an environment where those who are most likely to die from COVID are those who are most likely to die.

And Snoofers, I'm guessing you're in agreement with Effete on Russia's liberation of those areas that were occupied by Ukraine. I mean, Ukraine is not even a real country after all. Just a notional concept created by the USSR.

Right, Effete?

"Those civilian deaths happened because the IDF bombs landed exactly where they were targeted."

Yup.

Most likely it was no different than Raqqa, or Mosul, or Kobani, or any other city that was unfortunate enough to be occupied by those with aspirations to an Islamic State.

Although in all fairness-and I'd never thought I'd say this-ISIS is (gag) probably a bit more honorable than Hamas. At least Hamas was willing to die for what they believed in. Hamas leadership will die -------- on gold plated toilets in Doha.

"How many Israeli's support the massacres in Gaza and West Bank?"

I can't speak for Censored, but please get back to me when the IDF intentionally targets people attending a cultural festival. Not just with killing, but rape, torture and kidnapping.

Ready...Go!

"Israel has been supporting the Hamas terror regime in Gaza for 25 years because they thought it was politically expedient."

Supporting?

How?

"7 million Jews invading and claiming a "God given" right to oppress the local populations is more than a small factor."

Is that what Tik Tok tells you happened?

"So why not take their land?"

Yes.

That land belongs to Hamas.

"He added that the area could've had great potential if "all the money" in Gaza had gone into "education and innovation," instead of its tunnel network and munitions."

"We know you're too much of a coward to switch parties to send the message to the republican party that you don't approve of their transformation into a fascist cult."

Dude, the last thing the Democratic Party wants, or needs, is someone like you attempting to explain their positions.

You're a left-wing weirdo. The fact that the Democratic tent includes people like you is why I'll never be a Democrat.

You're the Dems version of MAGA. Most of the voters in this country are not fans of extremists or radicals.

"Definitely the completely normal thoughts of a completely normal person."

I'm just curious how much OPLAW experience you have.

Does Tik Tok get into much OPLAW?

"That wasn't the question."

It's the question you were intending to ask, if you're being honest. I don't really suspect you of being honest.

In this case, many if not most of the deaths in Gaza can be legally attributed to Hamas and their illegal activities according to the Law of Armed Conflict.

LOAC states that belligerents are required to segregate themselves from the civilian population. Hamas uses them as cover. Presumably, Israeli targeting policy is close to the US in that it requires things like CDE, proportionality, military validity, etc. If this is the case, then the deaths in Gaza are a function of criminal Hamas activity. At least with regards to International Humanitarian Law. Although I'm sure friends of ISIS (including yourself) will disagree.

"Islamic Resistance is not going away, at least not in the timescale of the next 75 years of Israel's existence."

Or, you can show Palestinians that everything bade that's happened to them has been because of Hamas. Kind of like the Sunni awakening against Al Quaeda a decade ago.

"Killing civilians is a war crime now?"

IT most definitely is when the civilians are the intended target. Under the Law of Armed Conflict, civilians have no military value.

"How many civilians has Israel killed?"

I don't think Israel has targeted any civilians. Maybe a handful who fit the profile of valid military targets based on their positions within Hamas.