JERUSALEM - The giant Caterpillar bulldozer, used by the Israeli military to destroy Palestinian homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, now comes with a controversial new feature: remote control.

Israel says its remote-control technology will lower risks to soldiers. But Palestinians fear it will lead to more frequent raids using the machines and make the three-year conflict even bloodier.



The remote-controlled D-9 bulldozer and a remote-control version of the Humvee, equipped with machine guns, were developed by the Israeli army and the Technion Institute of Technology. Both machines are U.S.-made, with Israeli modifications. They are expected to go into service in the next few weeks.



The army refused to comment or reveal further details about the new equipment.



Israel has been a pioneer in unmanned weapons systems for nearly three decades, developing one of the first remote-controlled planes and more recently creating machine guns and grenade launchers that can be fired from afar. The weapons are equipped with cameras, so their operators can see what they are doing.



Describing a day of field trials, a Technion statement quoted an Israeli army officer as asserting the thousands of dollars invested in each machine would save lives. "Today the bulldozer drivers are exposed to great danger when they knock down buildings that have militants hiding in them," the statement quoted the officer as saying.



But Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat warned the unmanned machines would lead to even more Palestinian deaths. "The whole idea is despicable," he said. "If an unmanned bulldozer is used, human life is in much greater danger," Erekat said.



The Israeli military regularly demolishes suicide bombers' homes and other buildings militants are suspected of using for cover to attack Israelis.



For Palestinians, the name D-9 has become synonymous with destruction.



The gray, heavily armored machines, which stand as tall as a small house, already have turned hundreds of buildings into dusty rubble heaps and ancient olive groves into wastelands with their powerful shovel blades. Israeli commentator Nahum Barnea has called them "the terrifying beast of this war."



The D-9 gained notoriety in the weeklong battle between soldiers and Palestinian militants in the Jenin refugee camp in April 2002, one of the fiercest in the past three years. With a deafening roar, the bulldozer plowed through narrow alleys, shearing the fronts off homes, to cut a path for advancing soldiers.



The human rights group Amnesty International says the destruction of homes is a grave violation of international law. However, Amnesty's Israel director, Amnon Vidan, said the group has no opinion on the specific types of vehicles used.



Ramadan Nawaf, 52, watched his house and groves of olives and oranges flattened by a D-9 four months ago, during a large-scale army raid of the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. "It was moving like a monster," said Nawaf. "It was very big and destroyed everything in front of it."



But developers say the new machine will save lives on both sides, pointing to the case of American peace activist Rachel Corrie, 23, of Olympia, Wash., who was crushed to death by a bulldozer — not a D-9 — on March 16 while trying to block a house demolition in the Gaza Strip.



The army said the driver, sitting in the heavily armored cabin, could not see Corrie.



The new D-9 has a wider and better field of vision, with cameras mounted much higher than the driver's cabin, said Technion project developer Shai Hershler.



U.S. Embassy spokesman Paul Patin would not comment on the specific vehicles. He said that when Israel modifies U.S. products, the Pentagon makes sure "they are used in a manner acceptable to our laws."





The Peoria, Ill.-based company, Caterpillar, which produces the bulldozer, said in a statement that it "shares the world's concern over unrest in the Middle East," but that with more then 2 million of its machines in use worldwide, it has "neither the legal right nor the means to police individual use of that equipment."

No D-9 driver has been killed in the last three years of Israeli-Palestinian violence, despite operating in densely populated Palestinian cities where they are exposed to sniper fire and bombs. However, Israel is concerned they could fall victim to roadside bombs that have destroyed three Israeli tanks.

Earlier this month, three U.S. Embassy security officials were killed when one of these bombs hit their convoy.

The army also uses remote-controlled machine guns and grenade launchers. The guns are used outside military outposts and placed atop armored personnel carriers, where soldiers inside or in a control room, can aim and fire them with joysticks.

Israel first started working on remote-control systems after its vaunted air force suffered heavy losses during the 1973 Mideast War as pilots flew almost blindly into barrage after barrage of Syrian and Egyptian anti-aircraft missiles.

Two years later, Israel had developed drones that act as decoys and also provide real-time images of the battleground. Today, unmanned U.S. Predator planes attack ground targets, including in Afghanistan and Yemen.

Menachem Shmul, head of the military aircraft division at Israel Aircraft Industries, said these planes are not as sophisticated as a piloted jet. "Once you get to air-to-air combat and multiple threats, it becomes much more complicated," he said.

In addition, remote-controlled combat vehicles have limited effectiveness, said Isaac Ben-Israel, head of the security studies program at Tel Aviv University.

An army has to have its people on the ground, he said. "If you look at the last war in Iraq, in the end you had to have people in every street."

Distancing the human element from the decision of destroying a persons house or running over a peace witness (such as Rachel Corrie) is the next step in making open warfare against civilians an issue to be absorbed surreptitiously and unscrutinized by the American taxpayer.

How far now to Golgotha?

We must stop funding IDF terrorism. The arrogant racism of Israel is disgusting.

Milk: good

Zionism: bad



Milk. It does a body good. The other white meat. It's not just for breakfast anymore.

...evil JOOOOS defend themselves!

If only they'd just curl up and die, it'd make Parmensroom and hex and adrian happy.

They are mobilizing robot dozers in Palestine and robot voters in the US who have been brainwashed by decades of Bible mumbo-jumbo, bad propaganda movies like Exodus, and outlandishly untruthful media outfits like Fox News.

Oscar Meyer London Weiner, you're just TOO funny.

You've got every book Michael Moore has written, don't you?

Sucker!

She said that the Communist Manifesto was a good read, and Meyer keeps a copy of it on his coffee table, just because she said to.

You two losers are right ; I own and have read a number of Michael Moore's books, and I first read the Communist Manifesto in 1968 - long before I heard of Barbara Ehrenreich, by the way. She's also written some good books - you two might try reading them instead of playing with the internet all day while you have a television going with Fox News or ESPN on.

Here are some topics on which you two might consider buying books or checking them out of a library: 1. how to find gainful employment as something other than a provocateur. 2. how to select the best treatment for your mental health problems.3.the roles that poverty and racism play in US society. 4. the lives of Eugene Debs, A. Phillip Randolph, Bill Haywood, Rose Pastor Stokes, and Howard Zinn. 5.how to deal with anger in ways that don't make your lives even more screwed up than they are already. 6. how capitalism leads to unemployment , poverty, imperialism and war. 7. how Zionism is a racist ideology and how Israel has played the role of a settler state similar to the old South Africa for more than half a century.

In addition, you might try reading some classic novels and other forms of literature that will provide you with alternative ways to interpret life than those you find on Fox News, at the sports bar, or at the militia training camp outside Palmdale or Visalia. Start with Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Thomas Hardy

and Henrik Ibsen.

How about that! Whodda thought Meyer London, the hate dominated anarchocommieSocialist would have a sense of humor?! Pretty good stuff too, Meyer. You should take that stuff on the road, boy, I bet the North Koreans would get a hoot outta you! You'd kill 'em in China and I betcha Castro would make you the guest of honor at the annual Political Prisoner hearings in Cuba.

Hey here's a good one for ya Meyer...Come out on stage lookin' like a wealthy capitalist version of Rodney Dangerfield and break into a "I don't git no respect" and a "take my country...PLEASE!"

HAR!

ML knows the exact month and day he read it. It changed his whole life. He had an epiphany. He realized that the starvation and genocide of one hundred million people was not nearly enough for him.

That's when he dedicated his life's work to the pursuit of achieving a truly communist state.

Can I get the ISBN numbers on some of those books you listed? Just pull them off the shelf of your personal library and look 'em up for me...thanks.

Actually, I'm already booked to appear on stage with another extremist in Bakersfield. Our Vaudeville-style skit will be entitled "Nonanarchist and Max leave the Militia Training Camp for a Whole Weekend and Are Overwhelmed by a Visit to the Big City - Visalia."

I'm sure it'll be a blast, Meyer. Maybe you could send me some free tickets so I can sit in the audience and heckle you. I hope after the skit, you guys break out into your famous "Who's on first" routine.

Abbott: Alright, now whaddya want?

Meyer London: Now look, I'm the head of the sports department. I gotta know the baseball players' names.

Do you know the guys' names?

Abbott: Oh sure.

Meyer London: So you go ahead and tell me some of their names.

Abbott: Well, I'll introduce you to the boys. You know sometimes nowadays they give ballplayers peculiar names.

Meyer London: You mean funny names.

Abbott: Nicknames, pet names, like Dizzy Dean -

Meyer London: His brother Daffy -

Abbott: Daffy Dean -

Meyer London: And their cousin!

Abbott: Who's that?

Meyer London: Goofy!

Abbott: Goofy, huh? Now let's see. We have on the bags - we have Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third.

Meyer London: That's what I wanna find out.

Abbott: I say Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third -

Meyer London: You know the fellows' names?

Abbott: Certainly!

Meyer London: Well then who's on first?

Abbott: Yes!

Meyer London: I mean the fellow's name!

Abbott: Who!

Meyer London: The guy on first!

Abbott: Who!

Meyer London: The first baseman!

Abbott: Who!

Meyer London: The guy playing first!

Abbott: Who is on first!

Meyer London: Now whaddya askin' me for?

Abbott: I'm telling you Who is on first.

Meyer London: Well, I'm asking YOU who's on first!

Abbott: That's the man's name.

Meyer London: That's who's name?

Abbott: Yes.

Meyer London: Well go ahead and tell me.

Abbott: Who.

Meyer London: The guy on first.

Abbott: Who!

Meyer London: The first baseman.

Abbott: Who is on first!

Meyer London: Have you got a contract with the first baseman?

Abbott: Absolutely.

Meyer London: Who signs the contract?

Abbott: Well, naturally!

Meyer London: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?

Abbott: Every dollar. Why not? The man's entitled to it.

Meyer London: Who is?

Abbott: Yes. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.

Meyer London: Who's wife?

Abbott: Yes.

Meyer London: All I'm tryin' to find out is what's the guy's name on first base.

Abbott: Oh, no - wait a minute, don't switch 'em around. What is on second base.

Meyer London: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

Abbott: Who is on first.

Meyer London: I don't know.

Abbott: He's on third - now we're not talkin' 'bout him.

Meyer London: Now, how did I get on third base?

Abbott: You mentioned his name!

Meyer London: If I mentioned the third baseman's name, who did I say is playing third?

Abbott: No - Who's playing first.

Meyer London: Never mind first - I wanna know what's the guy's name on third.

Abbott: No - What's on second.

Meyer London: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

Abbott: Who's on first.

Meyer London: I don't know.

Abbott: He's on third.

Meyer London: Aaah! Would you please stay on third base and don't go off it?

Abbott: What was it you wanted?

Meyer London: Now who's playin' third base?

Abbott: Now why do you insist on putting Who on third base?

Meyer London: Why? Who am I putting over there?

Abbott: Yes. But we don't want him there.

Meyer London: What's the guy's name on third base?

Abbott: What belongs on second.

Meyer London: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

Abbott: Who's on first.

Meyer London: I don't know.

Abbott & Meyer London: THIRD BASE!

Meyer London: You got an outfield?

Abbott: Oh yes!

Meyer London: The left fielder's name?

Abbott: Why.

Meyer London: I don't know, I just thought I'd ask you.

Abbott: Well, I just thought I'd tell you.

Meyer London: Alright, then tell me who's playin' left field.

Abbott: Who is playing fir-

Meyer London: STAY OUTTA THE INFIELD! I wanna know what's the left fielder's name.

Abbott: What's on second.

Meyer London: I'm not askin' you who's on second.

Abbott: Who's on first.

Meyer London: I don't know.

Abbott & Meyer London: THIRD BASE!

Meyer London: The left fielder's name?

Abbott: Why.

Meyer London: Because!

Abbott: Oh, he's center field.

Meyer London: Look, you gotta pitcher on this team?

Abbott: Now wouldn't this be a fine team without a pitcher.

Meyer London: The pitcher's name.

Abbott: Tomorrow.

Meyer London: You don't wanna tell me today?

Abbott: I'm tellin' you now.

Meyer London: Then go ahead.

Abbott: Tomorrow.

Meyer London: What time?

Abbott: What time what?

Meyer London: What time tomorrow are you going to tell me who's pitching?

Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching. Who is on fir-

Meyer London: I'll break your arm if you say Who's on first. I wanna know what's the pitcher's name.

Abbott: What's on second.

Meyer London: I don't know.

Abbott & Meyer London: THIRD BASE!

Meyer London: You got a catcher?

Abbott: Oh, absolutely.

Meyer London: The catcher's name.

Abbott: Today.

Meyer London: Today. And Tomorrow's pitching.

Abbott: Now you've got it.

Meyer London: All we've got is a couple of days on the team.

Abbott: Well, I can't help that.

Meyer London: Well, I'm a catcher too.

Abbott: I know that.

Meyer London: Now suppose that I'm catching, Tomorrow's pitching on my team and their heavy hitter gets up.

Abbott: Yes.

Meyer London: Tomorrow throws the ball. The batter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me being a good catcher, I wanna throw the guy

out at first base. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who?

Abbott: Now that's the first thing you've said right.

Meyer London: I don't even know what I'm talkin' about!

Abbott: Well, that's all you have to do.

Meyer London: Is to throw the ball to first base.

Abbott: Yes.

Meyer London: Now who's got it?

Abbott: Naturally!

Meyer London: If I throw the ball to first base, somebody's gotta catch it. Now who caught it?

Abbott: Naturally!

Meyer London: Who caught it?

Abbott: Naturally.

Meyer London: Who?

Abbott: Naturally!

Meyer London: Naturally.

Abbott: Yes.

Meyer London: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.

Abbott: NO, NO, NO! You throw the ball to first base and Who gets it?

Meyer London: Naturally.

Abbott: That's right. There we go.

Meyer London: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.

Abbott: You don't!

Meyer London: I throw it to who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Meyer London: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING!

Abbott: You're not saying it that way.

Meyer London: I said I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You don't - you throw the ball to Who?

Meyer London: Naturally!

Abbott: Well, say that!

Meyer London: THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING! I throw the ball to who?

Abbott: Naturally.

Meyer London: Ask me.

Abbott: You throw the ball to Who?

Meyer London: Naturally.

Abbott: That's it.

Meyer London: SAME AS YOU!! I throw the ball to first base and who gets it?

Abbott: Naturally!

Meyer London: Who has it?

Abbott: Naturally!

Meyer London: HE BETTER HAVE IT! I throw the ball to first base. Whoever it is grabs the ball, so the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What, What throws it to I Don't Know, I Don't Know throws it back to Tomorrow - triple play.

Abbott: Yes.

Meyer London: Another guy gets up - it's a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don't know. He's on third and I don't give a darn!

Abbott: What was that?

Meyer London: I said I don't give a darn!

Abbott: Oh, that's our shortstop.

Max, you read like Eric.

come clean now.

"Max, you read like Eric.

come clean now."



Eric who?

First base.

You are right, Max, that A. and C. routine will be perfect. After all, we are going to be portraying you and Nonanarchist.

There's an easy way to solve this: The Palleys need to pack up and move their ass to Jordan.

You don't want to over-extend yourself Meyer. Best to stick to characters you have studied and know about.

I'm thinking Tito and Marx.