One of the principal advantages Hamas obtained by violently wresting control of Gaza from the “lawful” authority of the Palestinian national police was the ability to operate openly and organize. It turns out that doing so came with certain disadvantages, especially when Hamas used its liberties to shoot rockets into Israel – Israel will shoot back:
Israeli F-16 bombers have pounded key targets across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 195 people, medics say.
Gaza officials and the Hamas militant group said more than 300 others were hurt as missiles hit security compounds and militant bases.
For their own part, Hamas has said that they will “unleash hell” in response to those attacks that were in response to their own attacks. I’m guessing that they won’t choose to do so by targeting security compounds and military bases.
The international “community” will probably conform to habit and condemn Israel for its “disproportionate” attacks in defense of poplulation centers within its internationally recognized borders. Because if the price of regional stability is measured in the consequence-free murder of the odd Israeli citizen from time to time, the international “community” is all too willing to pay.
Lex, Lex, have you forgotten that Israel is an oppressor, and as such is incapable of any form of ethical self-defense?
Besides, if they would just down and have a heart-to-heart with the Palestinians (and give them all the land between Jerusalem and the Med), Israel would find out their neighbors were Just Like Them.
Well, except for the whole “kill all the Jews and shove the bodies into the sea” thing.
Casey:
Your post was fine until you got to the end . Do we really have to quibble over the fine print in the legend on the “road-map” to peace? Quibble, quibble quibble. I guess your just not a big picture kinda guy……
Yup, Hamas is once more preaching chapter and verse from the Religion of Perpetual Outrage.
Sigh.
Are Israelis actual Nordic Oppressors, or just honorary?
I think a few 500 pound bombs in exchange for a few small rockets is a very good exchange for Hamas. They may disagree, but look at the much larger ordnance they get back for such a paltry contribution.
Grief! I would think this is a no brainer, but the world never listens. They will listen in the future, however. Read Ezekial chapters 38 & 39. The lesson will be ground into their faces then.
QM, in today’s topsy-turvy world, Ashkenazim Jews are the most popular Nordic Oppressors around, except maybe Dick’n'Dubya, and they’re outa here in a month.
virgil, agreed; I am very much a small-picture, “quibble quibble” kinda guy. I’m really annoying that way. I can even gin up a decent level of respect for those who revere the Stars & Bars, despite those who have manipulated irrefutable logic so that they could demonstrate how totally evil the Rebellion was.
Er, that’s the Evil Rebellion of 1860, not the Patriotic Rebellion of 1776. Just in case there are any Californians reading. {/snerk}
As for Tim, well… I think there are more than a few decent Muslims out there, such as the Militant Moderates.
Quartermaster, you suggested we take a look at Ezekial 38 & 39. If you are to look at this situation from this perspective, let’s consider a few more things.
First, looking at it from the book of Genesis, we see this as an extended “domestic”. All of them are the Children of Abraham. But as we look at the history, we see trouble right from the beginning. God promised Abraham a son, but Sarai was barren or unable to have children, which brought dishonor to both members of the relationship. In spite of this Abraham stayed faithful to Sarai, his wife. Sarai told her handmaiden to sleep with Abraham and bear him a son. The handmaiden, Hagar did exactly that and boy’s name was Ishmael. God came to Sarai and told her she would bare Abraham a son. Sarai, she just laughed, I’m an old woman. over a 100 years old. God said, “You laughed?! You will name him, Isaac. There was a certain point in time. when Ishmael starts to belittle Sarai. The wife hits the famous “tipping point”. No talking with Abraham, she calls Hagar and Ishmael and promptly banishes them from the family. Abraham is totally shocked and starts to argue. God confronts him and says, “Shut up and listen to your wife! This is the way it will be.” The blessing will go through Isaac and nothing but grief will come from Ishmael and his line.”
One note, Abram and Abraham are the same person, the name changes through this process. The same is true of Sarai and Sarah.
One last note, this is not the only hot spot.
I wouldn’t be catching any public transport in Israel for the foreseeable future.