Jul 01 2006
Not Sure Assasination Is The Right Move
I have been watching the situation in Gaza with the kidnapping of a Israeli soldier (and killing of two others, lest we forget the depthe of Hamas’ crimes) and I felt Israel had taken proper steps. Hamas obviously wanted to start a new round and brand of terrorismm, why else kidnap and announce the holding of the young soldier. And Israel rightfully decided a massive response (with plenty of pleadings and off ramps for Hamas to get out of this situation) to nip this kind of new infitada in the butt before it gets rampant.
But this new threat to drive into Gaza and kill the Prime Minister (who was duly elected, unfortunately) may escalate the situation and bring moderate or quiet Arab states into this mess against Israel. Right now the world is pretty much aligned against Hamas. But even the West wilkl have to balk at the assasination of an elected leader because of the acts of forces inside the country. Of course, we all know this leader is complicit in this barbarous act and could put a stop to it if he wanted. But still. It seems a step too far. Two other soldiers were killed, a much worse act. It just seems to be more than Israel has every threatened for all the deaths they have incurred at the hands of Palestinian terrorists before.
Which leads me to my concern not being an out and out rejection. It is clear Hamas wanted an escalation in a violent and torturour way. The threat of another brutal beheading for the Islamic snuff film collection is implied in all of this. And the West will be forced to take stronger responses if we want to remind people that there are limits to what we will tolerate. So I am just not sure if this is wrong, or the time has finally come to step it up on our side as well. The problem with escalated a situation is that they tend to rise really fast to their peak (out and out war), and only slowly de-escalate as blood and money and will are expanded.
Addendum: I had not noticed the Hama Prime Minister’s idiotic comments which give a clear indication that he is not ready to end this.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Friday that Israel’s offensive in Gaza – including the kidnappings of some of his Cabinet ministers – was part of a premeditated plan to bring down the Hamas-led government.In his first public comments since the Israeli offensive started, Haniyeh said Palestinian leaders were working hard to end the standoff but implied they would not trade a captive soldier for eight Cabinet ministers and 56 other Hamas officials arrested Thursday.
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Israel’s air force has struck more than 30 targets in Gaza – including the Palestinian Interior Ministry – in response to Sunday’s kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19, by Hamas-linked militants. Thousands of Israeli soldiers backed by tanks also have taken up positions in southern Gaza.Haniyeh said the military offensive was not only about rescuing the soldier but also about crippling Hamas, which won January parliamentary elections.
The guy is a rabid fool. Does he think anyone is going to believe Israel planned this all out? What is ridiculous, and why I think Israel definitely overstepped with the assisination threat now, is the Prime Minister basically said that one Israeli soldier was worth more than the entire Palestinian cabinet and 56 ministers. That all the destruction Gaza is experiencing is worth it because an Israeli soldier is so valuable. Hamas’ is in trouble because Hamas cannot lead Palestine. And Israel could have used this fools comments to turn Palestinians against them. I doubt the cabinet members and others taken by Israel are going to be feeling good about being considered less valuable than one soldier
Anyone who is affiliated with Hamas is fair game. Fatah also, for that manner. The misery of the citizens is a direct result of them going to the polls and electing these psychopaths. If Israel squeezes them had enough, maybe, just maybe, a true peace movement will emerge in Gaza.
I think the only way that Israel can deal with Hamas is by being brutal. Killing the PM is brutal. Do it. And then publicly target ten more and then…do it. Then tell Hamas (and Fatah) that any future attacks will result in ten (10) members of Hamas (or Fatah) being killed without publicly identifying the intended victims.
The leadership of these two organizations are going to determine whether there is peace or war in the ME….make the leadership accountable and responsible….with their lives if necessaary.
As the boys in the Bronx say, “Whack ‘im”!
The prime minister was “duly elected”? Oh please. The next duly elected leader of a mexican gang in Los Angeles should not receive deferential treatment because of the “votes” he received. These people are thugs. Treating them any differently makes us prize suckers and first rate dhimmis.