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Israeli Soldier Investigated After Posting Photo Showing What Appears to Be a Palestinian Boy in Rifle’s Crosshairs

Feb. 19, 2013 7:24am Sharona Schwartz

An Israeli soldier posted a picture on Instagram showing what appears to be a Palestinian boy in the crosshairs of a sniper rifle.
That picture caused sever backlash, and was eventually taken down.
The soldier claims he did not take the photo, but rather found it on the internet and re-posted it. Israeli authorities are now investigating.
The controversy is similar to case about a week ago where an Israeli soldier was disciplined for posting on Facebook a photo of himself standing next to four detained, blindfolded Palestinians.

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Israeli Soldier Investigated After Posting Photo Appearing to Show a Palestinian Boy in Rifle’s Crosshairs

Photo that soldier posted on Instagram (via Times of Israel)

A sniper in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is facing possible disciplinary action after posting a photo online appearing to show a child – presumably Palestinian – in the crosshairs of a rifle. It is unknown if the photo is real or was photoshopped. Even so, the IDF is taking the case seriously and is investigating it as a breach in military values.

According to Israeli media accounts, the photo was posted late last month by 20-year-old soldier Mor Ostrovski on his private Instagram account. Ostrovski serves in the IDF’s sniper unit.

The photo shows the back of a boy’s head as seen via a rifle scope The construction of the homes in the photo’s background is consistent with the style seen in Arab villages, though TheBlaze cannot verify the authenticity of the photo, the date it was taken or if it was indeed taken in a Palestinian village or in another Arab country.

The pro-Palestinian website Electronic Intifada posted it on Friday night. Ali Abunimah wrote, “There are no other images to suggest that the photographer actually fired at the person in the image in this case. The image is simply tasteless and dehumanizing. It embodies the idea that Palestinian children are targets.”

Breaking the Silence, an Israeli organization opposed to IDF activity in the West Bank, wrote: “This is what occupation looks like…This is what military control over a civilian population looks like.”

The photo was quickly taken down Saturday and Ostrovski’s Instagram account is no longer accessible. Abunimah also posted other photos purporting to show Ostrovski posing with his rifle.

The Times of Israel reports that before it was shut down, Ostrovski’s account received negative comments including death threats.

The Guardian reports that Ostrovski told the IDF he found the picture on the internet and then uploaded it to his Instagram account.

The IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit told Ynet that “this is a severe incident which doesn’t accord with the IDF’s spirit and values. The issue was brought to the attention of the soldier’s commanding officers, will be examined and properly handled.”

It’s not the first case in which an Israeli soldier got into trouble for posting questionable photos on the internet. The Times of Israel reports:

Similar outrage ensued in 2010 after a female reserve soldier named Eden Abergil posted pictures of herself posing next to handcuffed and blindfolded Palestinian detainees on social networking site Facebook.

Following the Abergil incident, the IDF said it would crack down on soldiers posting offensive and humiliating photos on social networking sites.

Separate from the crosshairs photo, Ynet and Haaretz report another soldier was punished about a week ago over an inappropriate photo. A soldier in the Infantry Corps was sentenced to 14 days in detention after posting on Facebook a photo of himself standing next to four detained, blindfolded Palestinians who he was guarding in the Hebron area.

Ynet reports, “The Palestinian men were wanted for questioning over alleged terrorist activity. The picture was taken while they were waiting for their transport for further interrogation.”

The soldier who took the picture (of the men, not of the boy and the crosshairs) was not punished, according to Ynet, but the soldier seen in the photo was sentenced to 14 days detention. He was also told to take the photo off his Facebook account and to delete it from his cellphone.

“Sources within the unit claimed the soldier was punished so severely to emphasize the army’s zero tolerance toward cases of this nature,” Ynet reported, explaining that the offense is not considered criminal, rather subject to disciplinary action by his commanders.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said, “The soldier was judged for a moral failure since photographs of this nature falsely represent the IDF and its values.”

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Comments (68)

GreatAmericanSpirit
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:40pm
As a Christian, I was taught that we are all God’s children and that thou shalt not kill. I’m sure the people of Israel are wonderful and I know their hearts do not condone this. We should remember the Golden Rule. Jesus Christ is King.

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- bobfrommosinee
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 10:23am
  Actually, I believe you should post your point to the Palestinians, They are the source of the most danger to their children, They send them out as suicide bombers, In firefights they hide behind their children while shooting at Israel soldiers, Palestinians send their children out to plant bombs and draw fire to recon Jewish positions, and responses to intrusions into security zones, The Palestinians train their children from birth to hate Jews and Israel, and that to die attacking Israel and Jews is a direct path to paradise.
  
  Until the Palestinians Love their children enough to not use them as tactical assets, This picture will be common wether some one post it on line or not.
  
  The picture is just a fact of war, A genocidal War against Israel and Jews.
  
  Report this comment
- Maji
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 12:31pm
  While not for everyone I understand the pic.
  Something about standing on the borders while
  kids try to pelt you with rocks would change a person!
  
  Report this comment
katzkiner
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:08pm
Snipers look a lot, shoot very little. A tweeny is not a high value target. The picture should serve as a warning to tweenys to stay away from NML. In 5 years the next sniper will have to pull the trigger, no doubt. Kids are the preferred look out for the terrs. So innocent unless he has a phone.

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supercally_56
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:34pm
this photo is nothing, go to youtube and search for Israeli Settlers. The one where the Jewish kid says, “We killed Jesus and we’re proud of it” is really nice.

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:25pm
Alinsky ruse put up by palestinian radical or whatever… Using the alinsky radical angle, it’s really a poetic piece of art. Does it really matter that the kid is only a few years away from being a GROWN UP radical? It’s a pretty good statement of what is to become of the kid.

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TJexcite
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:10pm
Would not be surprised if the photo came originally from Pro-Palestinian propaganda. To show how evil the IDF are when their attack at Israel.

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- GreatAmericanSpirit
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:50pm
  It’s unwise to characterize people based on ethnicity, origin, or citizenship. That could be you sitting there. We are all human beings. Matthew 7:16 By their fruits you will know them.
  
  Report this comment
JJ0369
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:56pm
That’s quite an adjustment for wind, looks to be about 4 mils, I hope his spotter can get him on target.

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No_More_War_Please
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:48pm
This was a big error in judgment on the part of the soldier responsible for it. If the Israelis are going to hope for the heat to be taken off them, they must minimize political blunders like this.

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bhosux
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:18pm
So what’s the big deal anyway?

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PurrrpleMtnMajesty
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 12:59pm
Also, the Soldiers are so bad because of what they look at in their rifles, yet in early 2000s the palestinians tortured killed and tossed 2 Israeli soldiers to a crowd who ripped them apart and ATE them. You don’ t hear much on this do you? Look it up. Happened in Ramallah

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PurrrpleMtnMajesty
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 12:57pm
Yes, the Palestiians can kill a whole family including children (infants and toddlers) and that barely gets mentioned, but THIS, how horrible.
Those kids have been trained since they could walk to take out Israelis …to ignore them would be a serious mistake.

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john vincent
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 11:10am
ok its a picture-

what is the INTENT of he who snapped the shot??

-was it to say ‘boom your dead?’
-was it part of a training session to identify a target?
-was it a lesson on windage, trajectory, velocity?
-what was the distance of the person in the crosshairs?
-was the ‘shooter’ testing the quality of his magnification?
-was the ‘shooter’ trying to identify the ‘target?’
-what was the yardage?
-what was the magnification of the scope?
-was the ‘shooters’ finger on the trigger???????????????????????
-usually, a target is centered perfectly, this is not- (wide left ear)
-was this really the alleged shooters pic??
-what time of day?
-witnesses?
-since it takes two hands to hold a rifle and center it that perfectly, what hands were used to snap the camera???

If the Israeli ‘shooter’ took this pic himself, to maliciously intend to paint a picture of ‘killing an enemy,’
then yes, he should face some kind of admonition, but tha’ts it

Finally, the most obvious, the shooter could be showing it is within his range and power to kill an enemy, but chooses not to……………….

I suppose more info will issue, but its good to think about the possibilities- I would be slow to chastise or punish him without ALL the facts

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- tonypro
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 12:32pm
  More propaganda to create hatred for Israel.
  
  Sorry, I ain’t biting.
  
  I know whose side I’m on, and I have no doubt who will win in the end.
  Jesus Christ is King of Kings.
  
  Report this comment
Welcome Black Carter
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 10:15am
Compare this to the images shown to muslim children in grade school to instill hatred of the Jews…
This is not even worth mentioning. Other than to say the crosshairs should be located to the back of the temporal lobe, not the ear…
He was probably just looking for lice anyhow.

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AUsername
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 9:59am
i am guessing the troops are the biggest killers of children after abortion.

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- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 10:58am
  Uh, no. That would be your drug dealers.
  
  Report this comment
- No_More_War_Please
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:51pm
  Actually Fubared, government is the biggest killer of people in the 20th century, period. Another reason why all governments should be opposed.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:00pm
  Stats would say marxist, then nazi, then liberal/socialist. Statist is a statist though. One more reason I am all for an anorexic gubmint. No more war is like saying no more people. Are you a burgeoning Mao, pol pot or Stalin with some peacenik bs moniker? War is who we are, it is what we do and you deny that at your own peril. You don’t have to like or seek it, just understand humanity on a base level. Oh well, I have to go make some chamomile tea and iron my peace symbol banana hammock.
  
  Report this comment
- No_More_War_Please
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:09pm
  Don’t kid yourself. Both Mao and Stalin were big supporters of the warfare state. (Wasn’t it Mao who said political power came from the barrel of a gun?) And no matter how you slice it, you cannot ignore America’s role in 60+ years of bad foreign policy.
  
  Report this comment
- No_More_War_Please
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:21pm
  Saying you support war, but want an “anorexic government” is like saying you want to lose weight but don’t want to quit eating twinkies.
  
  Big war is big government’s best friend.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN3EryUG0EA
  
  Report this comment
badge02812
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 9:16am
5…4….3….2….1……Everyone, welcome back Sturmbannführer @The_Jerk_Off!! and his Jew hating, Bible denying Catholic insights!

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:20am
.
Hell he might as well have shot him for all the trouble he got into……

Besides have you seen one of those kids chunk a rock? Theyd make Ernest T. Bass run and hide…..

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michaelhuggins2
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:16am
Racism. Bigotry. Ignorance. Intolerance

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- Shamrock241
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:45am
  Yes Michael it was ignorant and intolerable for this savage to mow down 3 white men and tomorrow when he is protesting and holding a sign saying Islam will dominate the world you can call him a racist. But you won’t will you liberal because you are hell bent on all white people’s destruction.
  
  Report this comment
dublinthewagons
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:15am
Untill we are willing to take the shot and fight these barbarians using their rules of engagement. We will never stop the spread of radical Islam. Get over it.

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:04am
.
He’s not a child, he’s a Terrorist in Training!!!!!…..

So what’s the Big Deal?……..

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- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 11:44am
  Looked to me like he was looking for an ear piece. Maybe just wanted to pierce his left ear. Harmless.
  
  Report this comment
- No_More_War_Please
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:52pm
  You can’t kill someone based on the “possibility” that they MIGHT grow up to be evil.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:02pm
  An abortion is done every minute NO MO WO. Same principle it would seem. Can’t deal with the evil implications of responsibility, so you enact war on a fetus. Semantics again, dang it.
  
  Report this comment
- No_More_War_Please
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:11pm
  What makes you believe I support abortion?
  
  Go ahead and keep distracting from the conversation at hand. Heck, it’s what your pal Saul Alinsky would do right?
  
  Report this comment
walnutportconservative
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:03am
Live by the sword, die by the sword.

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OldSurfRat
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:48am
On one hand what a sad statment that the palestinian leaders have made this a reality for their children.

On the other hand he very well my grow up to be a bomber / murderer.

Hard call dont know if I could pull the triger but in times like these you do what you must.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:00am
  “Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.”
  Golda Meir
  
  Report this comment
- dublinthewagons
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:02am
  Palistinian children are not innocent once they can walk. They are the foot soldiers of terrorist.
  Political correctness is a tool the terrorist use.
  
  Report this comment
- OldSurfRat
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:06am
  RJJ
  
  So true. I have been fighting emotional times just because my child is going into the military. I can’t even imagine sending my child to kill themselves and others for some cleric
  and his bearded BS.
  
  Report this comment
- OldSurfRat
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:22am
  Dublin
  
  Understand but keep in mind that you are not your parents and may not follow their ways.
  I would not want my kids judged on my past actions. How many people do you know that had really screwed up parents that turned out ok becuase they did not want to be like their parents.
  That is why I said “Hard Call”
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:25am
  OLDSURFRAT, I can well understand that. We were concerned that our son would just go and sign up once he became of age just so he could be like his old man. He is sticking with college after all, and once he gets his education he can choose exactly what he wants to do and will be even more mature then. I wish your daughter well, and although I’m retired Army, Semper Fi!
  
  Report this comment
- dublinthewagons
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:29am
  Oldsurfrat: I no none from that part of the world that change their past. They do not think nor reason the way westerners do. You do not understand their culture.
  
  Report this comment
- OldSurfRat
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:36am
  Thanks RJJ
  Now you went and made me all emotional with the Semper FI.
  It’s weird I did not think it would bother me as much as it does.
  Bitter Sweet.
  HUGE chested pride but also with fear and sadness.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:49am
  OLDSURFRAT, Didn’t mean for it to come across like that. It was my way of showing respect for you and your daughter and give the both of you a form of verbal salute.
  
  Report this comment
- OldSurfRat
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 9:37am
  RJJ
  
  Was not taken the wron way at all and understood what you were saying. I have become a wuss over this and even looking at a marine commercial gets to me.
  
  Once again THANKS for the salute.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 10:35am
  OLDSURFRAT, You are anything but a wuss, you are a father.
  
  Report this comment
- gryffn
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 11:43am
  Moslems have said over and over that they love Death more than the Israelis love Life. And that is why, they say, they will win. Unbunch all your panties girls, and get a GRIP. Leave the soldier alone as HE is the one who stand between You and Death, you morons.
  
  Report this comment
- OldSurfRat
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 12:26pm
  Gryffn
  
  Dude WTH are you talking about?
  
  Please find anywhere that any of us put down the soldier and or question his motives or actions.
  
  All I said was “Hard Call” as a human beign that would be a hard call to take a childs life. I also said “in these time you have to do what you must”.
  
  Time for Eyeglass World there Gryff.
  
  Report this comment
GUYFROMMAINE
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:48am
Of course, you could say the setting reminds one of say, South American towns. I am sure Jews do not live in places that look like this. “Palestinian” children are targets? What about the Jewish children harmed by the suicide bombers, mortars, and rockets fired by the “oppressed Palestinian?” It is apparently alright for “Palestinians” to kill Jewish children, but not for a picture to be taken and posted (tastelessly, I’ll admit) of a child who might be Arab? But then again, what if that child is holding an AK-47 and just waiting for the day he can use it against Jews? Just saying if we are just suppossing.

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BackToTheWall
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:39am
Wars didn’t last nearly as long when the media was kept out of it.

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- SoNick
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:15am
  Yeah, the Hundred Year War was really the fault of that nasty 14th century talk radio and the liberal media elite!
  
  Report this comment
- BackToTheWall
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 9:15pm
  How long was the hundred year war?
  
  Report this comment
RJJinGadsden
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:39am
Butler Creek scope covers.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:54am
  Are you the real R.J.?
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:02am
  GONZO, Of course, why do you ask? The scope cover looks like so many of mine and those on my son’s rifles.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:05am
  GONZO, Okay, just changed my avatar back from the JZS Sphincter to my LOL. I just put that up yesterday to screw with somebody else. Sorry if I disturbed you, LOL.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:20am
  I’m seeing different avatars.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:21am
  There was some loser posing as Monk this weekend, wanted to make sure you were the same R.J.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:41am
  GONZO, Yeah, I caught that too. I saw that the dash was missing right away and knew it was not THE-MONK. The feeling even from others that it was WANGO screwing around as THEMONK. Sunday night his profile page was full, but when I checked it yesterday morning it was down to three. Apparently, the moderators did not like what he said. What is funny, is how the WANGO account showed up again.
  When you spot a post that does not match what that person usually says, look the site name over to make sure its the real thing. Oh, I spotted a different spelling of ENCINOM yesterday morning. Something like ENCEINOM, but can’t remember off hand. May have to look that one up again. There were only three posts on that profile page too. I was expecting ENCINOM to stop around peeing his panites and blaming THE-MONK too, just as WANGO did. Oh yeah, when you spot SON_OF_RJJINGADSDEN, that really is my son. He and WANGO have already had a minor tangle too, and with those underscore lines, I wouldn’t put it past WANGO to make a play on his site name to mainly screw with me. My son was made well aware before he opened his account here with that site name, that he would attract some trolls.
  
  Report this comment
Gonzo
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:34am
How do we know it’s an Israeli soldier behind the scope and a Palestinian boy in front? Still, not the brightest thing for an Israeli soldier to post.

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- dublinthewagons
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:10am
  If it was a palistinian behind the scope. The boy would be dead. And the Israeli soldier would still get the blame.
  They are masters of simpathy to the cause. And life means nothing.
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:22am
  How do we know he’s not dead? The photo is not proof of anything.
  
  Report this comment
- dublinthewagons
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:34am
  If he were dead. The palistenians would plaster it all over the news. They fight with with terrorist tools. Not by wearing a uniform.
  
  Report this comment
biohazard23
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:32am
Anti-Israel/Pro-Palestinian heathen comments from The_Jerk et al in 3… 2… 1…

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:40am
  LoL BIOHAZARD, LoL!
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 9:56am
  Jihad jerk cannot maintain on a piece like this one. Wiki references and belligerence will ensue. Perhaps it is just jack boot polishing day or all of his good wife beaters shirts had beefaroni stains. There is no way he cannot post a dozen times at some point. Look for SillySally, MorsiEngineer69, Brasil and a user to have a nazi puppy pile on this too. RJ, butler creek caps work on cameras and lights too-keeps cleaning lenses to a minimum.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 10:45am
  FUBARED, Oh yeah, I got into photography heavily while in the service, and still have a good collection of cameras. lens, and equipment. Picked up a decent Bausch & Lomb telescope/lens when I was stationed in Upstate, NY. Along with a Bogan 3050 tripod. Damned thing could handle an M60 machine gun. Anyway, got some very nice shots of the moon and the Aurora Borealis. Anyway, have several Butler Creek lens covers too. Sure beat buying those elastic strap lens cap keepers that just got more in the way. That is a Butler Creek scope cap in the photo though. I look through those quite often out here where I live.
  BTW, give us some warning in advance of posts like the beginning of this one. I had a mouthful of coffee.
  
  Report this comment
- Brasil2520
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 12:06pm
  FUBARED
  
  I appreciate you mentioning me with such a realist group of gentlemen, my hat is off to you sir.
  
  How did you know today is jack boot polishing day ? FUBARED are you psychic ?
  
  Since you are psychic, tell me if the bankers control the purse strings then they control us, right
  
  Meine Ehre Heist Treue
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 12:33pm
  Brasil I checked the local credit union and a big resounding no was given. Sonnenkinder?
  
  Report this comment
- Brasil2520
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 2:27pm
  FUBARED
  
  All George Carlin comedy aside, I’m surprised you said “no” so nonchalanty.
  
  I was expecting you to be a little more receptive to the bankers control, OK well sorry for asking.
  
  Now back to the Carlin jokes
  
  Report this comment

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