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Study: Conflict has cost Middle East $12 trillion
Reuters
Published: 23.01.09, 22:59
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19 Talkbacks for this article
1. Not right
(01.23.09)
He forgot to say costed the Arabs in the middle east and the USA
2. Arrogant and uncritical commentary on this critical study
Darren ,   Oakland, CA   (01.23.09)
Sundeep Waslekar: "The choice they have to make is the choice between the danger of devastation and the promise of peace." First of all, who is this person who automatically, unflinchingly, and uncritically assigns blame when all he was assigned to do was crunch numbers? Second, does he really think Arabs and Israelis have not been seeking to achieve peace for the past 100+ years? Isn't this really what this conflict is about: Everybody has their own version of peace that they have no qualms imposing on others? Why doesn't Sundeep focus his efforts on his own country- after all, how much has Apartheid India with its Caste System invested in its wars of attrition with Pakistan and Bangladesh?
3. So, why then Rabin/Peres open the gate to Arafat
Jim ,   Chicago   (01.23.09)
and his gangs?
4. Send the bill to saudi arabia and iran!
GET REAL ,   USA   (01.24.09)
5. More anti-Israeli craps
Frank ,   Canada   (01.24.09)
Arab paid propagandists are lobbying for Israel surrender to Arab terror. Arabs are responsible for this war and a real stronger international engagement must consist in building a huge military coalition to destroy Arabs.
6. Democracy in the Arab countries.
Robert Bernier ,   Tel Aviv   (01.24.09)
The Arab leaders in the Middle-East are afraid of peace. They simply cannot afford it. Peace and closer relations with Israel means democracy in the Arab countries, the end of the dictatorship in the Arab countries first, and then, in the Muslim countries. Can the Saudi King Abdullah accept this ? can Basher al-Assad accept this ? can all the petty tyrants of the Arabic Peninsula accept this ? Besides, can the Arab countries abandon Jihad ? In order to understand what that means you should consult : http://xrl.us/bi7kq
7. Understanding Islamic hate.
Robert Bernier ,   Tel Aviv   (01.24.09)
In 1980, Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed “We do not worship Iran, we worship Allah. I say, let this land [Iran] burn. I say let this land go up in smoke, provided Islam emerges triumphant.” Ayatollah Rafsanjani said that “the use of even one nuclear bomb inside Israel will destroy everything. However, it will only harm the Islamic world. It is not irrational to contemplate such an eventuality.” Rafsanjani also noted that 5 million Jews would die in an Iranian nuclear strike, while a mere 15 million Iranians would perish in an Israeli retaliation—as small “sacrifice” considering the over one billion Muslims worldwide. In February of last year, a fatwa was issued in Qom allowing the use of nuclear weapons in war. An explanation at : http://xrl.us/okrfa
8. the secret
Arik   (01.24.09)
the secret is that if arabs and palestinians wanted a peace deal, truly, which did not involve some sort of staged plan for israel's destruction, the israeli public would welcome it with arms wide open, would elect a very left wing government, and be willing to part with all settlements and east jerusalem. its all about tapping the potential of the israeli electorate. a genuine arab 'nelson mandela' would turn the situation upside down.
9. Muslims don't care -- cost finance by dhimmis in entirety
AK   (01.24.09)
10. Thomas Greminger: lets do Munich II
AK   (01.24.09)
Another 'Peace in Our Times' initiative and Swiss want to make the fast buck, just like they did before. Again they're ready and willing to be accepting the deposits of Jewish gold teeth -- and all that in the name of WORLD PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
11. could have been richer........
sas ,   israel   (01.24.09)
hindsight is always better than foresight.
12. Jimmy from Chicago, #3...
Beny ,   IL   (01.24.09)
First you make allyah, then you talk rubbish.
13. Another big war is heading Gulf way!
Daniel ,   Israel/India   (01.24.09)
It may escalate to India-Pakistan war. Stop Iran and seize Pakistani N facility to stop it and damage it in such a way that it could not be re-opened. It is dangerous to the entire world including Arab and Muslim world. Sundeep, now calculate the whole situation and present it to Government of India.
14. LOL.. The Zionist should ask Bernie Madoff for a few shekels
RJBH ,   Methil   (01.24.09)
15. The cost
Zichron   (01.24.09)
The greatest cost is in lives lost by not having the 1947 partition plan in 1937 with modificatuions of more international zones and cities. Now the task is to have greater isreal and the palestian people protected by the nuclear shields.
16. peace in the middle east
Jesse ,   USA   (01.24.09)
There can only be peace if all parties agree. Israel is surrounded by those who hate them and believe that it is their "religious" duty as outlined in their "holy" book to kill the Jews. Israel could give them ALL the land, and they would still want all Jews dead. There will be only conflict until the Messiah returns.
17. Cost of izlam
Joe Kaffir ,   Wash DC   (01.24.09)
Sure, The whole conflict in the Middle East boils down to Israel and the Jews. Don't mention izlam what ever you do. The whole problem could be solved with the elimination of the Jews and the creation of one big massive sharia shithole in the MiddleEast. WOW ! What a visionary, Mr. Greminger should get some kind of prize.
18. very dangerous assumptions
tom ,   toronto, canada   (01.24.09)
it doesn't take very much intelligence to realize that peace is better than war. (but academics don't get funding for "common sense".) and the authors of this "study" obviously neglected to consider alternatives that didn't fit their conclusions, such as the possibility that continued israeli occupation, instead of the oslo "peace" accords, would have resulted in continued prosperity for the arabs in gaza and the west bank. but the middle east conflict isn't about peace or prosperity or even common sense. it is about the jealousy and hatred of a failed culture, that cares more about bringing down the west than about the welfare of its own people.
19. 12 Trillion
J.K. ,   Brooklyn USA   (01.24.09)
12 Trillion are meaningless,compert to a good spot on Allahs lap with the 72 maidens.
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