May 21, 2025 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Anther new startup, Cochrane Exploration, proposes two direct-to-orbit spaceplanes
So far nothing more than great graphics.
- Computer simulations say Jupiter was once twice its size and had a much more powerful magnetic field
To say there is uncertainty in these conclusions is a mild understatement.
- Axiom touts its partnership with Omega watches
As Jay notes, “I remember Mel Brooks from Space Balls: ‘Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made.'”
- Video of fire at SpaceX test stand during static fire test
The tweet speculates this might have been a failure of a Raptor-3 engine.
- French parliament report worries about job losses if Airbus and Thalia Alenia merger goes through
The report also worried about decreasing interest in ESA’s government Iris2 constellation, proposed to compete with Starlink but far more expensive and not expected to launch for years.
The second point is actually more important. It signals the shift among European governments away from the failed government model, something that the French parliament is apparently not yet able to comprehend.
- On this day in 1978 Pioneer Venus was launched to orbit Venus
It was the first American orbiter to arrive there, and operated from late 1978 until October 1992.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
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For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
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Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Anther new startup, Cochrane Exploration, proposes two direct-to-orbit spaceplanes
So far nothing more than great graphics.
- Computer simulations say Jupiter was once twice its size and had a much more powerful magnetic field
To say there is uncertainty in these conclusions is a mild understatement.
- Axiom touts its partnership with Omega watches
As Jay notes, “I remember Mel Brooks from Space Balls: ‘Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made.'”
- Video of fire at SpaceX test stand during static fire test
The tweet speculates this might have been a failure of a Raptor-3 engine.
- French parliament report worries about job losses if Airbus and Thalia Alenia merger goes through
The report also worried about decreasing interest in ESA’s government Iris2 constellation, proposed to compete with Starlink but far more expensive and not expected to launch for years.The second point is actually more important. It signals the shift among European governments away from the failed government model, something that the French parliament is apparently not yet able to comprehend.
- On this day in 1978 Pioneer Venus was launched to orbit Venus
It was the first American orbiter to arrive there, and operated from late 1978 until October 1992.
Readers!
My annual February birthday fund-raising drive for Behind the Black is now over. Thank you to everyone who donated or subscribed. While not a record-setter, the donations were more than sufficient and slightly above average.
As I have said many times before, I can’t express what it means to me to get such support, especially as no one is required to pay anything to read my work. Thank you all again!
For those readers who like my work here at Behind the Black and haven't contributed so far, please consider donating or subscribing. My analysis of space, politics, and culture, taken from the perspective of an historian, is almost always on the money and ahead of the game. For example, in 2020 I correctly predicted that the COVID panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Every one of those 2020 conclusions has turned out right.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
The one condition George Lucas gave Mel Brooks when he okayed Spaceballs was “No merchandising”
I thought the reusable booster made direct takeoff space planes even less viable.
“It signals the shift among European governments away from the failed government model, something that the French parliament is apparently not yet able to comprehend.”
The French are fairly socialist, and marxist principles tend to dictate that government should control jobs and employment. It is not surprising that they think space should have a top-down control for its exploration, exploitation, and other ventures.
For the U.S., which prides itself on free market capitalism, driven by We the People and not government, we really should be surprised that a government agency, NASA, was our accepted space program. Perhaps it was because we expect our government to do what we want it to do (it is our government, after all) that we thought NASA was going to bring us the space stations that Disney and von Braun showed us and that we thought we would get the shuttles and Moon bases that Kubrick and Clarke showed us.
Fortunately, We the People are now doing our regular American way in space: bottom up, free market capitalist ventures that aspire to accomplish;lish what customers are willing to pay for. There are plenty of companies finding out what can be sold from space and plenty of companies launching those efforts into space at a much more reasonable price than when government was in control.
________________
Amy Shira Teitel, space historian of The Vintage Space YouTube channel, has recently released a video on why we haven’t gone back to the Moon, and it has changed the way I have seen the early space industry. For one, she confirms that NASA was pretty much always a political tool: James Webb had thought that NASA needed an engineer or scientist to lead it, but that was not the purpose of NASA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FcuV4hvGDM#t=647 (1¾ hours)
“I need somebody who understands policy. You’ve been undersecretary of state, and director of the budget. This program involves great issues of national and international policy, and that’s why I want you to do it.“ — John F Kennedy to James Webb, to convince him to be administrator of NASA
Something else about Eisenhower and Sputnik: I read a book, a decade or so ago, in which the author explains that Eisenhower saw a problem with the first satellite to orbit Earth. A nation’s airspace had no upper limit, and any satellite would necessarily have to fly over many nations in their airspace. If the U.S. were first to put up a satellite but it could be seen as military, then the Soviets could complain that their airspace was violated, and artificial satellites could forever be banned. When Sputnik 1 was launched, instead of an American civil science satellite, then precedence was settled that artificial satellites could overfly any and every country. Eisenhower was satisfied.
Miss Teitel does explain in her video that it was the large size and mass of Sputnik 2 that made everyone concerned about the ability of nuclear strikes from rockets and from artificial satellites.
This being an open thread, I would respectfully like to ask a question. I am appalled by the murder of the 2 Israeli diplomats today. There is never an excuse for the murder of innocents. But I am also appalled by the murder of so many innocents in Palestine. We may argue about numbers, but there is no doubt a huge amount of innocent folks have been killed and displaced…. My question is this though. If I , or it seems anyone else raises our voices (as should be our right in a free world) against the actions of Israel we immediately get shouted down as anti semitic. Why is this? Is it not using religion as a tool to close down free speech? I have no problem with Judaism… Worship who you like, it’s not my business. I have a huge problem with the actions of the Israeli government, but in the current environment, no one is allowed to agree with me, they are called anti semitic. Is this not a problem very similar to the “woke” culture that most of the posters here (including myself) condemn? I’m genuinely baffled, and wondering how I can express my anger against what is essentially politics, without being painted with.the brush of antisemitism. Thoughts?
You are always going to have lone wolf nutters, of any political stripe.
The space planes look to be airbreathers–not buying it–even if they did name it after Zefram :)
Now, side mount it on a monster like Energiya, and it would work…like a scaled up Dream Chaser.
TSTO is about as good as we will ever get.
Lee S: This video from Charlie Kirk nicely encapsulates what it feels like discussing the Hamas war with you.
You and this Cambridge student still see almost everyone in Gaza as “innocent”, and thus think no war against them is ever justified. That they started it with the unprovoked torture, rape, and murder of more than thousand innocents matters not.
In other words, from your perspective (as well the Cambridge student) Israel should sit on its hands and allow Hamas — which was voted into power by the so-called “innocent” citizens of Gaza — to kill innocent Israelis.
Is it any wonder some people think you are anti-Semitic? It may not be so, but it sure looks that way.
I must note however that almost no one here at BtB has used this as an argument against you. You however have tried to make believe this in order to ignore the points we make. That close-mindedness on your part is an entirely different problem that you need to address.
Bob…. You miss my point completely… It is absolutely possible to disagree with the politics of Israel without being antisemitic. We disagree on what is occurring in Palestine. Fine. That does not mean I have a problem with the Jewish faith. Why is it now impossible to be critical of the politics without being labeled antisemitic?
And as I stated, this situation is remarkably similar to several of the “woke” brigade situations, whereby expressing a viewpoint they disagree with, you get painted with the same brush as others you may very well disagree with.
How does one criticize the actions of the Israeli government without being labeled antisemitic? I could genuinely not care less about religion… I do care about situations. We may disagree absolutely about the current situation in the middle east, but I am being cancelled by the use of the “antisemitic” card…
I am not allowed to state my opinion without being called anti Jew. As you know, I am a free speech absolutist, and I feel my right to speak my mind has currently been revoked.
Just for the record, I will repeat, I mourn every lost life in this and all the other conflicts around the globe. Every life is precious, and every one lost is a tragedy.
Oh, and by the way Bob…. I am asking here because I know you are of Jewish decent… I’m not looking for an argument, I’m trying to find answers… And you do do me an injustice by presuming to know what my thoughts are on the subject of the situation in Israel/Palestine… It’s so twisted as to be impossible to untwine… I’m just against kids dying because of someone’s stupid beliefs. And my question is, how do I ask questions of the Israeli government without sounding antisemitic? I use other forums than here… And a little knowledge can be useful.
Related: Another proof of how the Liberal becomes an extreme Leftist that can justify all and every act and becomes a threat to all.
THE RADICAL LEFT HAS CONDENMED ITSELF
“This hateful act last night perpetrated by a radical Leftist “progressive” so called “Social Warrior” against two innocent people and the state of Israel, I will assume parroting the Luigi Mangion cold blooded murderous act against corporate America is going to bring the full weight of the American government against itself.
Who is shooter Elias Rodriguez? Super-woke Chicago socialist was BLM supporter with no criminal history | Daily Mail Online
This violent and indiscriminate act by a Leftist “Super Woke” radical will result in a federal death sentence for both the perpetrator and the movement. And I think you can now bet on that.
This hateful, murderous, indiscriminate antisemitic act marks the beginning of their end.
Are you paying attention yet America? JGL 5/22/25
https://www.sigma3ioc.com/post/the-radical-left-has-condenmed-itself
@Cotour…. As I have mentioned many times, linking to your own website doesn’t make a fact… And let’s be honest here… There are WAY more shootings committed by far right nut jobs than left … I don’t know the politics of the guy that shot these two people…. It doesn’t matter… He killed 2 innocent folks, for whatever reason… But is in custody, and will pay the price.
The left is currently being silenced by the right… The same thing you guys were crying about 3 or 4 years ago… As I predicted, the pendulum has swung… Although Trump is a little more aggressive than anyone on the left ever was… It’s actually dangerous to have an anti government viewpoint over there right now. Still the land of the free?
This appears to be his political orientation: First you are a Liberal, then after growing up supported by other people’s money and resources you begin to believe that you are a superior human being. And at that point you can justify ANYTHING.
“Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, is a far-left activist who worked as an ‘oral history researcher’ on African American communities at educational non-profit The History Makers, participated in anti-capitalist demonstrations, and has been a member of the party for ‘socialism and liberation.’ ”
You mention lots of irrelevant to the subject at hand things Lee S.
Lee S: You ask for my Jewish perspective but when I give it to you, repeatedly, you clearly refuse to accept it. That’s your problem.
To add one point: Jews all know the history of their religion, centered entirely on the repeated effort of many over the eons to destroy them. It is for this reason we joke that every Jewish holiday can be summed up as follows: “They tried to kill us. They failed. Let’s eat!”
When Hamas, with the apparent full support of the population in Gaza, moved on October 7th to massacre more than a 1000 innocent people, almost all of whom were Jewish, we all recognized this for what it was. You can’t, which is why you keep making excuses for these genocidal murderers. And as I said, that’s your problem.
Wayne must not be up yet so I’ll post this:
“Light speed is too slow. We’re going to have to go right to ludicrous speed.”
“Spaceballs – They’ve gone into plaid”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7VWcuVOf0
“They tried and failed to kill us–let’s eat”
MSFC should adopt that
Jeff Wright: How neatly you trivialize the attempted genocide of an entire people.
Lee S asked: “If I , or it seems anyone else raises our voices (as should be our right in a free world) against the actions of Israel we immediately get shouted down as anti semitic. Why is this?”
It is because you ignore the context of situations. Two Israelis were killed in a place that is not in a war, but Hamas declared war on Israel with a sneak attack on civilians. That your only concern is with Hamas supporters and that you shed crocodile tears for the two Israelis* is why you might be seen as antisemitic**. You only express concern for the innocent Israelis killed, maimed, and kidnapped in that surprise attack when you are pressed, but you defend the attackers consistently. The attackers, Hamas and the Palestinians, are the bad guys and always have been, but they are the only ones you support. Even the two dead Israelis don’t get your support, just those bogus tears, shed in defense of the comments you know are coming. You support the bad guys.
“Is it not using religion as a tool to close down free speech?”
Who said that you cannot speak or comment? Indeed, does not your complaint against those who disagree with you mean that you want the disagreers to shut up? Sounds that way to me. So where is my free speech to disagree with you?
“It is absolutely possible to disagree with the politics of Israel without being antisemitic.”
If this is your point, you failed to make it. You did not mention the politics of Israel, only “the actions of the Israeli government,” and even then you only mentioned this in your response to disagreement with your comment, as though we are supposed to read your mind. Instead you side with the evil Hamas and the civilians that it uses as human shields.
Even the Geneva Convention allows the attacks that harm your evil friends. When the enemy turns an otherwise protected location (hospital, place of worship, etc.) into a base of military operations, it becomes a fair target. Civilians who take up arms likewise become fair targets. You don’t complain when Hamas or other Palestinians harm civilians, only when Hamas or Palestinians are harmed, and you hold fast to this bias.
“How does one criticize the actions of the Israeli government without being labeled antisemitic?”
Have you tried criticizing the actions of the Israeli government without supporting its enemies? I didn’t think so.
“Just for the record, I will repeat, I mourn every lost life in this and all the other conflicts around the globe. Every life is precious, and every one lost is a tragedy.”
Just for the record, the only lost lives that you are appalled about are “in Palestine.”
“I’m not looking for an argument, I’m trying to find answers… And you do do me an injustice by presuming to know what my thoughts are on the subject of the situation in Israel/Palestine”
You have clearly expressed your thoughts on the subject. Unless you told us things that you don’t really believe. You could just be trolling us, sounding like you seek answers to innocent-sounding questions.
“There are WAY more shootings committed by far right nut jobs than left … I don’t know the politics of the guy that shot these two people…. It doesn’t matter”
Maybe more right wingers shoot up your country, but it is leftists shooting up the U.S., including the guy that shot these two people — he is a socialist. Yes, it does matter, otherwise you would not have claimed that it is right wingers shooting up the place.
“The left is currently being silenced by the right”
Maybe in your country, but here in the America the news media is almost entirely left wing, schools are almost entirely left wing, and so are social media, television, and movies. Even Disney has gone leftist.
The difference between you and the right in America, where free speech is concerned, is that no one has shunned you for your views, but right-wingers in America are shunned all the time — even Robert was shunned by his caving friends (well, he once thought they were friends). We only point out where and why you are wrong. We do not tell you that you must change your mind — we think you never will — but we listen to what you have to say. We then exercise your own free speech to disagree with you, just as you are free to disagree with us.
I find it strange that you have failed to see free speech in action when it happens to you personally.
____________
*If you have any concern for the two murdered Israelis, it is superficial. You did not bring it up as a topic for discussion but only to attempt a defense for your position of support for the evil sneak attackers.
**I don’t recall anyone actually calling you this, but keep in mind that today you are the one who brought it up.
Nothing trivial about bashing folks who build rockets that don’t shed debris over the Caribbean.
Mr. Zimmerman, please make corrections, because:
Venera 9 – First Orbiter of Venus
Launched by: USSR (Soviet Union)
Launch date: June 8, 1975
Arrival at Venus: October 22, 1975
Significance:
First spacecraft to enter orbit around Venus
Successfully delivered a lander, which transmitted the first images from the surface of Venus to Earth
Questioner: I forgot to insert “American.” Now fixed. Thanks.
First Update from Dianna Cowern (Physics Girl)
May 22, 2025
https://youtu.be/vqeIeIcDHD0
12:22
There are non so blind as those that refuse to see… ( I have no idea where that quote comes from…. But it springs to mind )
I find it very offensive that every commenter presumes to know how I feel about the violent death of anyone. Yes, I feel that Israel is going a little over the top in Gaza, but I also mourn the Israeli deaths. No innocent deserves anything less than a peaceful natural end to this world. Please do not do me the disrespect of assuming I believe anything else.
And my question is still not answered…. Why can I not criticize the actions of the Israeli government, ( let’s be honest, Netanyahu is quite invested in a hot war to avoid charges against him ) , I also have problems with the actions of “the settlers”, and the protection provided by the Israeli state when documented acts of extreme violence are committed against the locals.
Non of this has anything to do with religion. Nothing. I have a hell of a lot of problems with UK policy, that does not make me Anti-church of England, so why does a criticism of Israeli policy automatically make me antisemitic?
You might disagree with my viewpoint on Israeli policy, you might think I am stupid or misinformed…. But my question once more… Why can I not have an opinion on Israeli policy without being labeled antisemitic?
And @ Cotour….. Quote “then after growing up supported by other people’s money and resources you begin to believe that you are a superior human being”
I have worked from the age of 15… It was just me and my father from the age of 14, so I did what I could to throw money in the pot. Yes, I had good Paternity leave here in Sweden, but am absolutely paying it back now with 33% tax. It’s fine… I don’t mind throwing money in the pot. As I was still employed while taking my paternity leave, I have never been unemployed since the age of 15, so please don’t presume you have the slightest idea of my childhood situation. Growing up in an old industrial area in the UK that no longer has any industry was anything but a privileged upbringing.
Quote “You mention lots of irrelevant to the subject at hand things Lee S.”
However I can compose sentences that make sense in English.
Oh my…. I keep reading back thru this thread, and keep finding more points I feel need answering…. For the record, I am absolutely not pro-hamas… I find there actions abhorrent, the attack in 2023 was terrible, and their use of hospitals, schools and such as human shields is unforgivable… But two wrongs don’t make a right. There were not 50000+ Hamas militants in Gaza, I understand Israel’s need for defense to rabid Islamic lunatics on their border… But most Palestinians just want a peaceful life. And there is no excuse for the IDF preventing aid from reaching civilians…. I have a problem with not allowing civilians to eat… That does not mean I am antisemitic.
Ahhhhh…. The silence is deafening.
I am always accused of avoiding points raised by our host and the usual suspects. I have tried to answer all, and to explain my position clearly on this thread. If there is anything I missed or needs clarification then please ask away. ( Preferably without writing many paragraphs telling me how wrong I am and how right you are. It’s hard to give a straight answer when bombed with nonsense )
Love and light.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/26/thousands-join-israeli-flag-march-through-muslim-quarter-of-old-city-in-jerusalem?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Is it antisemitic to point out that this behavior is extremely prevocational? Admittedly, this behavior is religiously based, but obviously backed by the Israeli government… Once more, I will state clearly, I am atheist, but I respect everyone’s right to worship how they wish. I do have problems with Islam, I also have problems with the Catholic Church, I have problems with Judaism, I have problems with Hinduism… I have many problems with Christianity in general…However, if someone wants to worship to whoever, that is up to them… As long as they leave everyone else alone… Pray to who whoever you like. Just don’t try and convert me, and don’t use your faith to justify violence on me…
And to preempt comments on this statement, I hold this on all religions… Islam is especially troublesome… The religion holds us all as infidels. 99%of Muslims don’t subscribe to this doctrine , but 1% can cause some damage.
I don’t claim to hold any answers, but violence is very rarely the answer… I’m not anti anything, in principal, but in reality, I am very anti the death of innocents… Of whatever color… Israel lost 1000ish innocent folk in a terrible attack by Hamas, and shame on those that think I don’t feel for the victims and their families… But I also feel for the 50,000+ Palestinians… Most of which had nothing to do with politics or the military… And so very many women and children .
Because I care about the lives of innocent Palestinians does not not mean I don’t care about the lives of innocent Israelis… I am going to a festival with my kids this summer, and can only imagine the horror those poor innocents endured, or are still enduring. But as I have stated, 2 wrongs do not make a right. Looking from over here it seems like Gaza is going to be totally flattened, and no help is being allowed to enter the area… Death by starvation is a war crime. It’s not a good look for Israel…..
I cry about the state of the world right now…. Civilians slaughtered in Gaza, Ukraine… There is more war than any point in my lifetime up untill now…. You might think what you like about me, but please don’t do me the disrespect of thinking I greave less for one people than another. I am atheist, but still consider every life precious.
“And @ Cotour….. Quote “then after growing up supported by other people’s money and resources you begin to believe that you are a superior human being”
I have said nothing about how anyone grew up, my point is after one has grown up one can come to believe that you and your flavor of morality are superior to all others and can justify burdening everyone with it. Through force of necessary.
ALL Socialistic / Moralistic and oh so preachy high and mighty ideologies ALL must at some point use force to make their opinion about how one is supposed to live.
Choose your “ISM”:
What “ISM” is superior, given these three core human requirements:
1. You and your family live in relative peace, safety and free from fear of your government and its abuse of power.
2. You and your family live in relative personal freedom and Liberty in what you say, think and do.
3. You and your family have the opportunity to be as prosperous in your wealth and personal property as you are able.
Below I have listed essentially all of the forms of governance “ISMS” that have historically existed and have been employed over the last 5,000 or so years. Assuming that you agree with my 3 personal requirements for a governmental organization structure and the cold hard rules of existence, tell me in real terms, which one is superior to the Objectively constructed Constitutional system that embraces Capitalism?
Absolutism: Government by a single absolute ruler (Monarchy).
Socialism: Government by a centralized state control of wealth and property.
Communism: Government of a classless society where the individual cannot own property.
Anarchism: A doctrine where all government should be abolished. (Then what?)
Tribalism: Shared tribal or familial affiliation and association above all others.
Capitalism: A doctrine of private ownership and free markets should govern economies.
Constitutionalism: “the concept of the limitation of government based around the will of the people, is based upon the idea of a social contract. The government agrees to protect the interests, the lives, and the property of its citizens, and the people agree to support and sustain their government (Study.com)
I and most others do not desire to be told how to live and what to think by some moralistic Liberal / Leftist authoritarian.
Lee S,
You wrote: “There are non so blind as those that refuse to see… ( I have no idea where that quote comes from…. But it springs to mind )”
Physician, heal thyself. You asked for answers, and we provided answers. You said you didn’t want to argue, and you provide nothing but argument.
“I find it very offensive that every commenter presumes to know how I feel about the violent death of anyone.”
You have spent much space telling us how you feel about the death of many, violent or not. We can only go by what you tell us, and so we go by what you tell us. That your feelings change with the changing days is on you, not us.
“And my question is still not answered”
If you believe that statement after my many answers, then you really are trolling us.
“I also have problems with the actions of ‘the settlers’, and the protection provided by the Israeli state when documented acts of extreme violence are committed against the locals.”
Once again, you are changing the argument from what was answered to something that you never asked before. Do you want answers, or do you just want to troll?
“Non of this has anything to do with religion. Nothing.”
It has everything to do with religion. If Islam could coexist with other religions, then we wouldn’t be having this argument.
“I have a hell of a lot of problems with UK policy”
Well, that’s new information. Once again, you change the argument.
“Why can I not have an opinion on Israeli policy without being labeled antisemitic?”
As I said before, no one here labeled you that, but you brought it up yourself. Either you are arguing on the wrong blog instead of the blog where they called you antisemitic, or you feel antisemitic all on your own. You are the only one calling you antisemitic.
“Quote ‘You mention lots of irrelevant to the subject at hand things Lee S.’”
It isn’t just me who dislikes it when you change the argument and pretend it was your argument all along.
“But two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Attacking a military base is not a wrong. The Geneva Convention allows it even when that base has been installed in a hospital. There is only one side doing wrong in the Hamas war, and that side is Hamas. The other side is not doing wrong, so there is not a second wrong for a right to be made.
“Ahhhhh…. The silence is deafening.”
Yeah. It is a holiday, over here. We are memorializing Americans who have died to protect our rights. Hamas does not protect rights.
And come to think of it, it was only two days between your questions and my answers to you but three days between my answers to you and your response. You took longer to respond than we did. You were silent longer than we were, including our holiday. In fact, you only waited 24 hours between your comment and your first impatient response to our holiday. On the other hand, maybe everyone else is tired of arguing with you, so they are no longer responding at all.
You, Lee S, just complain about everything, don’t you. Like an American leftist, you apply a double standard. You may take as long as you wish, but if we take too long to respond for your taste then “the silence is deafening.” You say that you want answers, but when you get them you implicitly reject them — if you didn’t want the answer, then you shouldn’t have asked the question. You say you don’t want arguments, but then you start them. You complain that you are called antisemitic, but you are the only one calling yourself that. You make a statement but then say something else when your first statement becomes inconvenient. Anyone would get tired of continually responding to all that.
“I don’t claim to hold any answers, but violence is very rarely the answer”
In the case of Hamas, violence is the only answer. Israel gave peace a chance, and this is the result. Trying peace over and over again fits Einstein’s definition of insanity (responding to you over and over again would also fit that definition, except that I already know the results will not differ). There are people who respond to reason and negotiation, but the fanatics of Palestine are not among them.
“I am very anti the death of innocents”
When the Palestinians voted for Hamas, they knew of and agreed with their policy of destroying Israel. They also cheered October 11th. The Palestinians you think are innocent are not as innocent as you want to believe. They are guilty of knowingly putting evil in power, because they themselves believe in the evil.
You are the one who convinced me that, although all lives matter, the lives of good people matter more than the lives of evil people. You convinced me that the value of the people of Hamas and its followers is very low, because of their evil nature.
To reiterate the answer to your question: “How does one criticize the actions of the Israeli government without being labeled antisemitic?”
Criticize the actions of the Israeli government without supporting its enemies.
Then when your opinion turns out to be wrong, don’t assume that you were just called antisemitic but understand that someone merely pointed out that you are wrong. Being wrong happens to the best of people.