Suffice it to say all societies have their meaningful post-death rituals. But moving along, as long as those political/military entities which have the red-ass against Israel know the Israelis are willing to trade a goodly number of captured prisoners for one or two deceased Israeli bodies, then those political/military entities have even greater incentive to continue with this particular strategy. In fact, with success comes greater incentive.

Not really, Ray. You neglect to mention how Israel has a tendency to hit back quite hard when provoked. I believe the kidnapping of those two soldiers is one of the main things that set off the extensive bombing campaign and occupation of Lebanon a couple years ago.

Ascertaining how "extensive" the bombing campaign was presents some problematic considerations. Western style nations ("style" used to include Israel) tend to be at a disadvantage in fighting radical Islam because of certain self-imposed rules of conduct. For instance, Westerners are loathe to attack commonly recognized religious structures as Mosques are presented as being. Yet those who presumably venerate those Mosques have no trouble using them for military purposes. NOR, do those who venerate their Mosques include such recognition toward the religious structures of other faiths.

This is one example, but is representative of the difficulties of conducting war-like activities when not all parties are signed on to the same code of conduct.

Orthodox and possibly Conservative Jews as well, have a tradition which says that a soul cannot dwell with the Lord if there are any marks or scars on the body, such as mutilations, tattoos, etc.

However, wise rabbis long ago concluded that there were many cases in which Jews would be forced to do things they didn't want to do, for example receiving their Auschwitz tattoos.

Most of the philosophical interpretations of biblical laws by enlightened rabbis conclude that if a Jew is forced to eat pork to survive, or forced to get a tattoo, or is scarred in battle with an enemy, he still gets to dwell with the Lord.

Therefore, the body exchange is correct in easing the minds of the families of the deceased, but as to Israeli Jewish soldiers who were blown up, beheaded or equally mutilated, their souls, whether the bodies are returned or not, are gonna be okay with God.

Of course there are fundamentalist orthodox Jewish sects which deny this, but screw 'em.

Lenny Bruce had a good joke about that which is off topic, but I'll tell it anyway.

Bruce had a navy tattoo on his forearm, and one day his grandmother saw it and started screaming "Oh God, you can't be buried in a Jewish cemetary." Bruce replied "Dont worry, they'll cut off the tattoo and bury it in a gentile cemetary."

When Bruce went on the Tonight show, he was heavily censored, of course. They wouldn't let him tell the above story, claiming it was offensive to Jews. He argued that he was Jewish and it was not offensive.

So they said "Well, it's also offensive to gentiles."

Bruce asked how it was offensive to gentiles.

The censor said "You're implying the gentiles don't care what they bury."

That was television in the early sixties.

you may now resume the discussion at hand.

Bottom line....those days of Israel's military dominance in the ME may be over; no more 6 days wars. The surrounding Muslim countries have gotten much stronger and savvier.

You may be perfectly right. Or maybe it could all depend upon whether the Israelis are conducting a limited attack to achieve a specific objective, or if they believe they are in an all-out fight for survival, with a willingness to throw everything they have into the battle.

This is the kind of thinking which some Americans have that worry me and the world.

I am just wonder uncle Ray what do you mean throw everything into the battle,does that mean the Talmud,or are you talking about Israels nuclear weaponds.I am sorry to say that Iran is going to be the "modern day David/Samson" and once attacked is going to bring down Goliath,is going to bring down the temple,who says the world is going to make it to 2012?

Look Ray the whole world knows why Israel and America wants to bomb Iran and thats because Iran is an obsticle to the new world order,just admit it Ray and I will be silent.While your thinking I think the forces of nature have been summoned,hold on to your hats.

Oh I can't do that. We'd miss your incisive commentary on world events.


Summoned? The "forces of nature have been SUMMONED?" Awwwww. What have you been doing, Cassie-poo? Have you been dabbling in...

(here it comes)

...dabbling in the...

(wait for it)




...dabbling in the DARK ARTS!?!?


HAHAHAHA I slay me!

Then we don't have to worry about Iran's nuke, do we?