Although I am only glad that the civilians there, can finally sleep for a night or two, I cannot help seriously questioning the prolonging of this operation for the mere sake of opportunism. Why didn’t the state of Israel stop two weeks ago, one week ago, heck even yesterday? What about those who died in between? Why should innocent children have been subject to such excruciating conditions, for even one extra minute (assuming that the operation was warranted to begin with), so as to Israel manages a clandestine attenuation of mass public criticism for its wrongdoings?
As fascinating and historical as Obama’s inauguration ceremony is, IMO, it is only a mistake to get carried away with it, insofar as turning a blind eye on what just happened in Gaza. If you cared at all.
You have to hand it to Hamas. These guys have some big brass balls. Amazing how a small group that keeps getting its ass handed to them has the temerity to try to make demands.
“The group says any ceasefire must involve Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and an immediate lifting of the Israeli blockade.”
insofar as turning a blind eye on what just happened in Gaza.
Both sides have so many demands on the other that the cease fire will only be temporary, if at all since Hamas has vowed to continue fighting. Besides, this is merely Israel’s attempt to shift the public’s attention to Hamas and away from the fact that they are the ones that have killed 1200 people (most innocent civilians) - “we want to stop the hostilities but Hamas will not let us…”
“Besides, this is merely Israel’s attempt to shift the public’s attention to Hamas and away from the fact that they are the ones that have killed 1200 people (most innocent civilians) - “we want to stop the hostilities but Hamas will not let us…””
So I guess you never heard about the 6,000-10,000 missiles and mortars that Hamas has continued to shoot across the border into Israel? I would also like to hear your sources that show that of the 1200 killed, they are “most innocent civilians”.
Too early for cease fire; we don’t have a victor yet…Victory would be defined as one side saying they give. I don’t here that from Hamas or Israel - so let the bombs fly. We need a clear winner. No BCS champion in the middle east; lets win it on the field. No peace until we have a winner…
“It sounds like it is more of a guess than a fact”
Sometimes, with things like this, you can’t get an accurate count. A guess is the best you can do. Doesn’t the fact that the best guesses are in the 6-10 thousand range tell you something? It’s not like we’re talking about a range from 0-10k. We know it’s been several thousands of rockets and mortars. This is like arguing about whether or not the sky is blue or really really blue.
**What is the limit? When does rocket fire go from no problem to problem? **
I would want to make sure the range isn’t 2,000 - 6,000 first. Then I would want to know how many actually had the ability to reach Israeli citizens, and out of the 6,000 - 10,000, how many actually caused an injury or death.
If they presented the actual facts, then you can start to build a case against Hamas and probably get a unified opinion against them. When you present wildly disparaging facts, many people are not sure if any of it is true.
If they said Hamas fired 343 rockets and 17 were within striking distance of Isreali citizens, I would believe it and support retaliation. If they say we “think” there were 6,000 - 10,000 rockets and we think some might have injured an Israeli, it makes you wonder about their intelligence. If they exaggerate on this case, what else are they exaggerating and if their intelligence is wrong, maybe they are wrong on other things.
There seems to be a series of exaggerated claims from both sides, many of which cannot be independently verified, and that is a problem, at least for me.
Why didn’t the state of Israel stop two weeks ago, one week ago, heck even yesterday?
Ummm, you must not be paying attention. Israel is going to continue the assault until Hamas stops lobbing missiles into Israel. Pretty easy to figure out. Once they stop being the aggressor, Israel will stop defending.
If they said Hamas fired 343 rockets and 17 were within striking distance of Isreali citizens, I would believe it and support retaliation. If they say we “think” there were 6,000 - 10,000 rockets and we think some might have injured an Israeli, it makes you wonder about their intelligence. If they exaggerate on this case, what else are they exaggerating and if their intelligence is wrong, maybe they are wrong on other things.
There seems to be a series of exaggerated claims from both sides, many of which cannot be independently verified, and that is a problem, at least for me. The Limit is 1
Who cares once the number is greater than 1? I certainly believe Hamas has fired some number of rockets into Israel. Once that is the case, retaliation is warranted. Do you really think any sovereign country on the planet should just let a bordering region attack whenever it wants without taking action??
What if the Japanese just dropped a few bombs on a few ships on a tiny island that was just a territory anyway and not anywhere near the continental US, should we have just ignored that?
Thank you for being on the intelligent side of the fence Android.
What is so freakin’ hard to understand about this situation if you were not born into Islamic Jihad, The PLO, Fatah, Hizbullah, Hamas, or any of their wonderful cousins-in arms?
I would want to make sure the number is zero since more than 1 is too many. I could care less if they can reach a city or people unless it was an accident. Otherwise 1 is too many to be launched.
Imagine you sitting in Texas and Mexico launches a couple of rockets/motors into the US. Do you think we would find out why, where, and how? Would Mexico be apologizing? If this happened every day for an extended period of time would we (USA) just let it happen because of an ancient dispute or would we we go rectify the problem? If you want to go back in time look at Pearl Harbor. We were attacked.
Although the losses of the Palestine people is sad and unwanted Israel only postponed the launching of weapons at their country to a later time. I don’t even know if there is really a winner in this.
IMO Israel would be pretty happy just existing with no one attacking them if the rest of the world was willing to accept them. The British bodged the job of creating the country but at some point there has to be peace. Although since this has been going on for history, I don’t think that 20+ days of war is going to solve it. It’s really up to the people of the region to learn how to get along or continue to fight.
" Ummm, you must not be paying attention. Israel is going to continue the assault until Hamas stops lobbing missiles into Israel. Pretty easy to figure out. Once they stop being the aggressor, Israel will stop defending."
Israel ceased its fire unilaterally. Hamas followed suit after a little noise, who is to say this same pattern would not have happened last week?
"Thank you for being on the intelligent side of the fence Android.
What is so freakin’ hard to understand about this situation if you were not born into Islamic Jihad, The PLO, Fatah, Hizbullah, Hamas, or any of their wonderful cousins-in arms?"
An important category you failed to include into your suggested classification: People with a little introspection ability, such as this guy:
**Weakness never ever rules in the Middle East! **
So how as the approach that Israel has taken and what you seemingly advocate, been working for last 60 years? Have you ever once considered that it will not work and that maybe another approach is warranted?
Time to read history in the region
I lived in the region so not sure why reading would be so much more valuable.
**too many morons in the LR **
It seems anyone who even hints at Israel being wrong at least once in all of their history, is considered anti-Semitic and that is moronic.
