Two events show us that an emboldened Hamas in the Gaza Strip is moving toward war with Israel.
First, an Israeli school bus, painted bright yellow, was hit by fire from the Gaza Strip and at least one child was seriously wounded. This is not just another terrorist attack but part of a wider strategy. What is strategically significant here is how the bus was attacked. Usually, attacks from the Gaza Strip — either carried out or sanctioned by the Hamas regime there — are by homemade rockets, mortars, or attempted cross-border ground attacks. Deaths and damage are usually random.
In this case, though, the attack was carried out with an advanced anti-tank rocket. In other words, a terrorist deliberately aimed at the bus and fired, hoping to kill the maximum number of children.
But there’s more. Hamas can fire an advanced anti-tank rocket because the Egyptian revolution has ended a regime that acted in its own interest to block most arms shipments to Hamas. The Egypt-Gaza border is now open. Terrorists and superior weapons are flooding into Gaza.
Another demonstration of this fact was the second major incident in which Hamas fired an Iranian-made Grad missile, far superior to the usual homemade rockets, at Israel. In this case, it was shot down by an Israeli anti-missile, part of the new defense system deployed only a few days earlier. A total of 50 rockets and mortars were fired on that one day, equaling the number shot from the Gaza Strip at Israel during the entire month of March. There were also several attempts at cross-border ground attacks, more in one day than at any time in the past.
It was clear to the Hamas leadership that this escalation — and probably more to follow — brings the situation closer to another war like the one fought in December 2008-January 2009 after Hamas ended the ceasefire and launched a massive rocket and mortar barrage against Israel.
While saved politically by Western intervention — which does not favor the overthrow of the Hamas regime and largely accepted Hamas propaganda portraying Israel as a villain — that war was a bad defeat for Hamas. Its forces fought quite poorly, especially when compared to Hizballah’s units in 2006 in Lebanon.
A very dangerous game.
What I don’t understand is why the Israelis are bothering with the puppets while the puppetmasters are free to pull their strings. Perhaps it is time to cause some unfortunate ‘accidents’.
Funny…..the same thing can be said of the United States and its Israely Master!
israel is surrounded by low class haters who live in a bygone era namely the 1400′s–they have not given society anything but suicide bombers(tells you how much love they have for their own children-they would rather see them dead then like get an education or live to be older then 25)they have nothing to offer but suppression of women,children and whom ever they can intimidate–the arabs have more land more people, more resources then israel–how has israel survived thru the years??God-He is protecting the race-He has done so done thru the centuries-egypt try to destroy them,the babylonians,germany etc etc..they still live-praise be to God who calls them the ‘apple of His eye”-all muslims will rue the day they have tried to destroy israel-the land belongs to them given by God
With the fall of the Mubarak government in Egypt and the soon to be rise of an Islamic state it seems like it’s inevitable that Hamas will flex it’s muscle and attack Israel. The terrorists see this as an opportunity that should not be wasted; the United States doesn’t seem very interested in helping the only democratic country in the ME and there is a new spirit of anti-Semitism rising throughout the world. New, advanced weaponry is being delivered to the terrorists and they have sworn to destroy Israel and kill the Jews. What I believe they are going to discover is that fanaticism and a willingness to die are no substitute for strategy, tactics, training, conditioning and determination. The Waffen SS in WWII also thought they could win the day with their willingness to attack any object regardless of the risk and in total disregard of the loss of life. They were wrong, the terrorist are wrong as well.
Well stated Naddy. As I post below, the IDF needs to use those tactics, training and strategy to end Hamas as a political or military force. This is an existential threat to Israel, Hamas needs to be rendered a footnote in history.
Naddy Bumpko – Spot-on. The only thing I would change of what you said is your opening line: “With the fall of the Mubarak government in Egypt … ” Your use of the passive does not identify what really happened. A better opening line would be: “With the Mubarak government forced from power by Obama … “
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Wake me up when you get to the last “Om mani padme hum”.
So-called palestinians have ethnically cleansed almost all Arab christians from Bethlehem. The next time this happens, I hope Gaza, which Israel abdicated control of in 2006, is evacuated of all potential threats from Hamas once and for all, considering that Israel left Gaza to Hamas so they could look after themselves and get on with their lives in peace with israel, which they did not do.
Throw in a buffer region of Sinai and then palestinians can go live in the newly “free” state of Egypt. where they will be respected
Violence hasn’t worked in over 6 decades so the brilliant solution?
More violence.
Great. Where can I get my official, “Part of the Problem” t-shirt?
Violence and war only works if it is sufficient to impose one’s will on the other side. Israel has never gone that far because of their liberal and supposed moral tendencies, and becuase of the extreme pressure they receive from the rest of the world in taking any kind of defensive measures, let alone those sufficient to impose their will. I say “supposed moral tendencies” because in my view the moral thing would be to beat their enemies to a pulp, who are no doubt the aggressors, so that they will accept that Israel is here to stay and will not be f’d with. Only then might they decide to start thinking about making a life and nation for themselves and stop obsessing about the tiny State of Israel in their midst.
The one, make that two, persons who chose armed conflict against Israel, but then chose to forge a peace treaty with Israel were Anwar Sadat, and King Hussein of Jordan. The ‘muslim brotherhood’ killed Sadat for his trouble, and Hosni Mubarak kept and enforced the peace treaty, along with Kings Hussein and Abdullah of Jordan.
I’d say, in simple terms, the machismo, or whatever else it is in islam is freaking staggering. They can never put enough of the killers in jail or six feet under, but that is where most of the peacemakers, I beg your pardon, “apostates” of islam are likely to end up.
Just look at Iran, when Iranian people got chewed up when they demonstrated and protested a rigged election. Iran is in big time shia expansion mode with proxies in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Egypt Lybia etc. they’ve ethnically cleansed Lebanon, but not completely. Iran seems to be the major beneficiary of U.S. Adminstrations either indifference or it’s participation in “pro-democracy” protests and demonstrations, depending on whether they hurt or benefit Iran’s malignant ambitions or not.
Violence has never worked. Really, it seems to be working pretty well right now for the Muslims whose threats of violence are enough to make most Americans willing to dump the First Amendment when it comes to Terry Jones’s freedom of speech.
A friend of mine recently said that Koran burning should be used as a tactic. Burn a few Korans to draw the protesters out in the open, and then drop a Daisy Cutter on them; the next time drop a Daisy Cutter on their Mosque too. After a few of these demonstrations of strength Terry Jones and any else could burn all the Korans they want. Ultimately, lives would be saved.
Hopefully, Israel will be given an excuse to invade Gaza ASAP. Why let Hamas import more hardware and recruit more idiots…however, my thoughts are that Hamas should be destroyed, the border with Egypt sealed and Gaza reoccupied…then Israel can bring the PA back in to Gaza…flooding the strip with economic aid could turn some loyaties over the long term…the smuggling tunnels should be found and destroyed too…
Hopefully, Israel will be given an excuse to invade Gaza ASAP
which seems to be the excuse Obama, under the spell of Samantha Power, will have for loosing the “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine of “no fly zone” on Israel.
They ran a test of the political excuse in Libya and most probably now feel free to subject the Jewish state to constant attacks leading to its demise. How dare the Jews defend themselves.
Do you really think our pilot will fire on Israeli’s?
Gaza is not reoccupied. It is annexed and becomes a part of Israel. Hamas leaders/members are either killed or imprisoned. Those Palestinians who wish to stay and live free and prosper can do so, living under normal laws (and actually free from fear). those who do not can move to any other Arab country.
Israel, when attacked, can pretty much do what they fricking want to do, in my opinion. Any group that purposefully attacks a school bus or celebrates the slashing of a three-months old child deserves to be exiled and spread by the wind (not sure where that came from but what the heck). Maybe Israel needs to impress upon the Gaza inhabitants that this is what will happen, the UN and the anti-jew people can basically go to you-know-what.
The only problem with that is that Israel doesn’t want to absorb yet more Arabs who, given the first chance, will happily vote away their rights in favor of a theocratic state (i.e. democratically vote to decommission Israel). They may have freer lives in Israel, but ideologically they will give it up in a New York minute.
Amen, David. If I were the Israeli Chief of Staff, my orders would be: Go to Gaza and RAZE it to the ground! Spare only women and small children. Take children five and under with us to be brought up as Jews. If the Egyptians make one false move, retake the Sinai–this time, we’ll keep it! Then let the Israeli delegate to the U.N. ask the Assembly, what are we doing differently from what any one of YOU would do under the same circumstances? You all reek of unctuous hypocrisy! Any Muslim adults still alive should be sent to Libya or the Sudan. If possible, spare any Christians still in Gaza.
In this case, I don’t think any amount of “flooding the strip with economic aid” will do the least bit of good. The only thing that might do some good for the people of Gaza would be the total elimination of Hamas in Gaza.
Don’t forget that Hamas is a creature of Iran; works in cooperation with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood so long as that suits Iran’s purposes; and, has sworn to annihilate both Israel as a nation and the Jews as a people. Negotiation with this mindset will produce, at best, a hudna, and at worst a catastrophe for Israel.
I want to take your point one step further. Economic aid to the Palestinians is what fuels increased violence. It frees up funds for terrorism and weapons purchases. That is why Chris Patten, the EU commissioner in charge of aid to the Palestinians, blocked an investigation of how the money the EU has provided was being spent. He knew what it would show.
Syrian instability may be driving this too. Remember, Hamas’s real leader Khalid Mishal, lives in Damascus. A Hamas war might just take pressure off the Syrian regime.
Frankly, it seems strange that this moment has been chosen by Hamas to heat things up, given that their support from Egypt has not been firmed up. Egypt is still in flux and cannot be counted upon. Instead, I suggest that Iran is reaching a critical stage in the development of its nuclear weapons project and needs to cover itself now. As in magic tricks, never watch the hand that is moving, if you want to understand what is happening.
Hamas has spent the last five years being kowtowed to and fawned over by practically every self-styled “intellectual” in the West, who were encouraged to do so by the Democrats’ control of the U.S. Congress, which group was also busy swooning over them (namely Pelosi, Reid, et al).
For the last twenty-nine months they have also had a U.S. President and SecState falling all over themselves to worship Hamas’ worldview, mainly because said worldview does not include the continued existence of Israel, the U.S., or the West in general, which synchronizes very well with this administration’s Orwellian delusions.
And now, they have a friendly government in Egypt, and the prospect of even more friends seizing power elsewhere in the Arab world. Friends who will support them with arms and money, not just speeches. (Qaddafi talks a lot about “driving the Jews into the sea”, much like Arafat, but his actual sympathies are with Fatah, not Hamas.)
From Hamas’ point of view, this is the best environment for open warfare they have seen since Carter. And it could get even better, from the U.S. quarter. If Samantha Power replaces Hillary Clinton as SecState (which could happen before the next election), Hamas would have not merely a “friend” in charge at State, but practically a kindred spirit.
I would not be at all surprised if a SecState Power ordered U.S. troops into Gaza on an ostensible “peace-keeping” mission, but essentially unarmed and with orders to take no action against Hamas’ attacks. Why?
So they would be there basically as “human shields” to prevent Israel from retaliating against Hamas for fear of hitting U.S. forces. Leaving both Israel and the U.S. military with a devil’s choice that her boss, The Self-Exalted One, would gleefully exploit to the limit. (Think “firing any U.S. general officer who objects at a JCS meeting” and “cutting off all aid to Israel ‘for cause’”.)
Hillary wouldn’t quite dare to pull something like this. Power would do it in a heartbeat.
And Hamas knows it. From their standpoint, as long as the present administration is in Washington, things can only keep getting better for them.
And worse for Israel, and the rest of us.
clear ether
eon
Jerry, good point especially considering some of the pronouncements coming out of Teheran in the last few weeks.
Iran is pulling the strings in Gaza and Lebanon. As soon as Hamas provokes Israel into a fight, Hezbollah will attack from Lebanon. And the world will sit by and criticize Israel for using excessive force in defending itself.
Between this, the U.s. gov’t budget issues, and the massive debt by western governments, there’s a perfect storm forming.
That seems to be the plan. As comment #40 seems to indicate.
Fortunately the Israelis are smarter than their enemies. (I wish I could say the same for the current leadership in the U.S.)
Hamas should be dealt with in the way the Brits dealt with the IRA in Northern Ireland.
Like the IRA–Hamas has a political wing and a militant wing.
The Brits successfully negotiated with the political wing of the IRA to end the violence with assistance from US Senator and judge George Mitchell
“For his involvement in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations, Mitchell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Liberty Medal (on July 4, 1998).
Mitchell, in accepting the Liberty Medal, stated:
“I believe there’s no such thing as a conflict that can’t be ended.
They’re created and sustained by human beings.
They can be ended by human beings.
No matter how ancient the conflict, no matter how hateful, no matter how hurtful, peace can prevail.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Ireland_peace_process
There is no military solution to the situation in the Holy Land.
The US and the World have lost all patience with the situation
–the parties in the Holy Land need to negotiate their own way out of their violent quagmire ASAP
Enough is enough.
That only works if both sides want to end the conflict. In this case the Palestinians do not. After nearly a century they still cling to the national fantasy of eliminating the Jews. You cannot negotiate with a national psychosis.
Victor, please show me the part of the IRA charter that says that Great Britain must be destroyed and replaced with an Irish state in which only Irish would have legal rights, that English people are a menace to humanity and must be exterminated, and that those who survive will be reduced to a permanent subservient status. For that matter, show me where the IRA broke into British homes and slit the throats of sleeping infants.
The IRA’s raison d’etre was establishing an Irish state, and later uniting that state with Ulster. If the Palestinians wanted a state, they could have had one numerosu times over. Hamas’ raison d’etre is to abolish the existence of the Jewish state, and to kill or reduce to servitude all non-Muslims and particlulary Jews. I am not making this up; read their charter.
The I.R.A had a training manuel(charter) called the Green Book.This is only part of it,
The Strategy ,
A war of attrition against enemy personnel which is aimed at causing as many casualties and deaths as possible so as to create a demand from their people at home for their withdrawal.
A bombing campaign aimed at making the enemy’s financial interest in our country unprofitable while at the same time curbing long term financial investment in our country.
To make the Six Counties as at present and for the past several years ungovernable except by colonial military rule.
To sustain the war and gain support for its ends by National and International propaganda and publicity campaigns.
By defending the war of liberation by punishing criminals, collaborators and informers
The I.R.A stated it’s aim was/is to destroy the British State through
violence.
Sinn Fein still doesn’t sit in Parliment because they won’t plead allegiance to the Queen.(it wasn’t part of the Good Friday agreement to recognise the British in Northern Irelands right to exsist).
‘For that matter show me where the I.R.A broke into British homes and slit the throats of sleeping infants’
The I.R.A choose to blow up children killing and maiming them as they shopped.
The Omagh bomb in 1998 killed 33 included a mother 8 months pregnant with twins.
They would break into houses and shoot fathers/mothers in front of their children(i remember a mother being killed whilst bathing her two young son’s).
They would drag men out of houses while there children were screaming, strap them into a van full of explosives, take to whatever target and detonated it.
It was known of the ‘human bomb’.
Don’t even try to underplay their violence as a better class of terrorist.
lolly
‘Please don’t compare the Irish to the koranimals’
The I.R.A did not represent the Irish people.
Are you saying it is only terrorism when it’s muslims?
I’m in the U.K and it’s this belief of Americans not to see the I.R.A as animals that led to them funding and supporting these terrorists.
Peter King claimed they were not terrorists because they haven’t attacked America!
That didn’t do down very well here.
Please don’t compare the Irish to the koranimals.
I have a news flash for those who still don’t seem to get it. As long as Obama can be just “neutral” enough toward Israel to keep the leftwing, Israel-hating (quite a few of them leftwing, Israel-hating Jews, by the way) wing of the Democrat Party at home come contribution and voting time (that is, he isn’t publicly seen as trying to actually *help* wipe Israel off the map), he couldn’t care less if Israel survives or not. I have no idea why this is so hard for Israel (though they seem to finally be figuring it out) and a lot of moderate and conservative talking heads/analysts in the U.S. to figure out. Obama will not lift a finger to help Israel, no matter who attacks it or with what weaponry, up to and including WMD/nukes. He shows every sign of hating the place almost – but not quite – as much as he hates America.
For some reason I think that Hamas will not call for an all-out war with Israel until it is sure that Hezbollah and, especially, Iran and maybe even Egypt are ready to step in to help them. There have been some strange warnings coming out of Iran these days that the 12th Imam is about to arrive and if you’ve been following this situation the 12th Imam can only come if the Middle East is almost literally on fire. It sounds strange, but the mullahs in Iran actually believe this stuff. The question is, is Iran ready for a war with Israel? What do they know that we don’t? Is Iran closer to a nuclear bomb than we thought it was? Or does Iran have some other weapon, like a chemical weapon, that it can now use against the Israelis? This is a very, very, dangerous time no in the Middle East, but I still think Iran is the key. If Iran isn’t ready for all-out war, Hezbollah won’t be, so then an attack by Hamas would be foolish.
Read the Cordesman report from the ISS; http://csis.org/publication/iran-israel-and-nuclear-war
And don’t forget the Samson Option where Israel thanks the powers that be in the EU for allowing Iran to become armed; say bye to Beruit, Aswan Dam, Mecca, Berlin, Paris, Rome, London, and TEOTWAWKI, at least over there; Saudi oil fields radioactive for 25,000 years (Crash of ’79…Israel would be justified in pulling the whole house down if those people want to bring on the 12th Imam
I am starting to suspect that Jerry (here) and Henry Reardon might be right about Iran’s progress. That is my first comment.
My second is probably better understood by those living in Israel or who follow the Israeli political scene fairly closely, and it is this:
“I miss Yoav Galant.”
And Danny Yatom as well.
The other comment is for Barry Rubin. You are a fine analyst, but enough with the ‘international opinion will create this or that result.’ Because, this time, we are going to rock the casbah. Too bad if people don’t like it.
Israel knows exactly the danger it faces. Hamas has improved it’s hardware and they have soldiers who may fight more skillfully the second (or 70th) time around. Meanwhile, they have Hezbollah to the north and the Iranians east.
If Hamas attacks, Israel needs to make an example of them. If the Egyptians act in support of Hamas they will need to be taken out of the game quickly. I would assume that Hezbollah will act up simultaneously. Egypts military has a healthy respect for the Israeli defense forces, they may supply Hamas, but I would think they will avoid direct conflict.
It will be interesting to see what the Saudis do. They need Israel to destroy the Iranian nuclear weapons program. My bet is that they will sit it out.
The entire matter has been rendered more difficult to read because of the recent revolution in Egypt and the other instabilities that have roiled up.
When the war commences Israel needs to completely take the gloves off. This amounts to an existensal battle for them. They will be condemned in the UN anyway so they need to ignore the little doggies in the UN, protect IDF forces and end Hamas. If that means reoccupation, so be it. Hamas must be destroyed. Lebanon is a hostile country now so if Hezbollah moves they will need to be held off by the IDF and then destroyed in detail. Lebanon was on the path back until the Shiites diverted the recovery. The Long suffering Lebanese are going to suffer alot more if Hezbollah attacks Israel.
It will be a blood bath and take an extended period of time to resolve. The Israelis will win in the end. It will be very expensive. Obama will flap about violence not being the answer, blah, blah. Gates needs to quietly make sure that the IDF has everything it needs. The Repubs in the house will need to put out a bill quickly to provide military aid to the IDF.
Elections have consequences, folks.
Nobody has brought this up but Israel has a major knife on the throat of Egypt should the new IB government decide to get frisky. The Aswan Dam holds back the huge Lake Nasser in the south of the country. A few 200 kt strikes on the dam and the Nile basin floods disastrously. Given that about 90% of Egypt’s population lives in a tiny ribbon tracing the river this means that the entire country drowns within 48 hours.
If (big “if”) the new government in Cairo is smart they will not go all-in for the Hamassies.
Great opportunity. This time around the Israelis should wipe out Hamas and any others who come to the party. As our revered leader, The Obama so cogently stated, ‘if they bring a knife, you bring a gun’, ‘get in their faces’. I would take this as spiritual guidance from the most exulted One. The mistake that the Israelis’ repeatedly make is to back off, in response to Western pressure, before the job is finished. Well, the peace loving West is now actively engaged in hostilities in Afghanistan, Libya, and the Ivory Coast. Israel should do whatever it takes to eliminate, not just punish, its tormenters, and screw world opinion; in other words, the Putin Doctrine. And while their at it, they should tell Norway to shove a herring up its collective butt.
ISLAM HAS BLOODY BORDERS.
Y’all forget the Jewish calendar. I have lived in Israel, and I know from personal experience that the Arab terrorists are big on symbolism.
April 18th is the first night of Passover, the holiday that symbolizes freedom from Egyptian slavery and the beginning of the 40 year march to the promised land (Israel). The regional political events which allow for more attacks are dovetailing nicely with the Jewish holidays; what better way to say I Hate You than to bomb Israel while it is celebrating its (whether perceived or real) historical right to exist? And just wait for May, when it’s Israeli Independence Day….I am afraid, this is going to be a bloody season. Now that there are no checks to the mental imbalance of Hamas, Hizbollah, et al.
Really Israel ought to take the opportunity to go in and destroy Hamas’ rockets and rocket factories now. Hamas is still shooting civilians, and it is cheaper to blow up the factory and the terrorists making the rockets than to shoot them down with iron dome.
In addition, it looks like Egypt will be much more anti-Israel soon as the muslim brotherhood gains influence, and will smuggle arms to Hamas.
I will only add that the Hamas fighters are learning how to fight much more effectively with higher quality weapons and larger amounts of them.
At some point, an Israeli military incursion into the Gaza Strip will be too difficult and dangerous to carry out, and the only Israeli response will be the use of massive artillery and missile fire, killing and wounding thousands of Palestinians. This will probably result in the Hizballa and the Egyptians ganging up on Israel with all that implies.
Israel has two choices, kill off as much of the Hamas political and military leadership as it can, and soon, thus denying Hamas trained and credible leadership and deterring others from replacing them.
Or worse, Israel must act soon to kill as many of the Hamas fighters as it can, and destroy as much of the Hamas military infrastructure and supplies as is possible.
The events are not moving in Israel’s direction, and despite the Obama administration’s hostility towards Israel, Israel is going to have to deal with the Hamas problem very soon.
Unfortunately, there is WWIII looming on the horizon. And what better theater than the Middle East. The Democrat Socialist Party and media of the United States is salivating at this possibility, to hawk their expertise at misinformation and disinformation, and will supply photographic evidence of atrocities, although staged by the muslim mujahideen. “There’s cash in them thar wars!”
Nowhere will you be able to determine what is an unarmed civilian, trying to stay out of any conflict, from the armed, fully trained and suicidal, muslim mercenary. (Actually, the mercenary will have more women and children in the immediate area, some wearing explosive vests. A day care center, school or hospital will also be close by.)
While Japan is distracted by past and continuing disasters, the United States has a president that leaves town when the heat starts building up, in the same fashion that Democrat legislators in outlying States, go AWOL when hard decisions have come to the final vote.
The United States has turned it’s own allies against itself by showing, not only disrespect, but confusion and lack of leadership, with the most picayune domestic ‘crises’.
Obama has been telling anyone whom would listen, for more than four years, that America would not be up to the level of leadership it has established in the world, since he knows his own immature capacity for leadership and lack of, or even desire for, executive decisions.
What better time for an oppressive, dictatorial regime to press ahead with their desire to eliminate a perceived rival religious sect, and dominate an area of the planet with their suicidal, parasitic, self destructing society?
A war in Gaza (which would certainly mean fully engaged Israeli tanks and troops), with it’s attendant civilian casualties would be a rallying point throughout Islam, probably just what the thug dictators are praying for in these days of political unrest.
It would be pointless for the Israelis to provoke such a reactioj unless the objective had sufficient value-namely the elimination, once and for all, of Hamas. Surely 50+ years of half measures most have taught them something.
Economic “aid” is off the charts. The Democrats continue to think money is the answer to everything….
Link: http://wwwtwosetsofbooks.blogspot.com/2011/04/message-to-john-boehner-241m-taxpayer.html
I think Hamas does not want another Cast Lead. At the same time the low level counter attacks by Israel serves its purposes. They are trying to keep that balance. An incremental approach is not in Israels best interests.
In addition to Iron Dome the Trophy Tank protection system is a potential game changer. This system was specifically designed to provide armored vehicles with protection from RPGs and anti tank missiles at close range and in close urban fighting. It has already proven itelf in live conditions last month when it automatically detected and destroyed an incoming RPG fired at a tank at close range on the Gaza border. This is very bad news for the Hamassholes.
http://www.dailytech.com/Trophy+Tank+Defense+System+Gets+Official+in+Israel/article18085.htm
Sick bastards shoot straight at a school bus. Where is the UNHRC now? The moral depravity of the UN is beyond contempt.
“The moral depravity of the UN is beyond contempt.”
Right. So tell that to our U.N. genuflecting state department, Noble Peace Prize winning President and our moral elite who gaze upon the middle east in their superior clueless all knowing way.
Are the Islamist so delusional to think that Israel will fold without launching everything it has and wiping out their ME enemies cities and people before they go down? Hard to believe, but I guess so. The Israelis are already hated by the West and the world, so nothing lose here if it comes to it.
Spare me the, all the ME people want is economic revival and peace. Maybe the guy on the street does, but not the powers that be. Convince me.
Israel, instead of meeting with and being CONSTANTLY railroaded, then assured and then given the standard and expected, ‘et tu Brutus’? soundbyte when supposed ‘ally(ies)’ speak of the ‘misunderstood and peaceful self-proclaimed martyrs/Trans-Jordanians’ by Uhbama and other metrosexual/spineless ‘leaders’ of the West, you MUST give the green light to your creme de la creme IDF forces/Mossad agents to cut the head off the Hamas and it’s spider-like network snake throughout the M E.
Diplomacy, decorum is as alien to these worms and their supporters and the frighteningly ignorant, passive masses squatting in Gaza through the decades. Their ultimate, disgusting endgame is annihilation of the Jewish peoples. Whether through weaponry, propaganda, empathy or all of the above tactics, they can’t win.
I as well as tens of millions wish we can do far more..
“…their most likely response — demands for a ceasefire and criticism of Israel…
NATO with especially willing Norwegian Nazi assets in the region might broaden response options.
dangerous crisis is being developed that could bring renewed war within two years and possibly far less time. It’s a crisis for which U.S. and European policy is totally unprepared.
It’s a crisis for which the US and the Europeans are totally responsible for.
I would never dare to advise Israel on how to conduct itself in the face of Islamic lunacy. They are only too aware that demented Islamists’ belief in the superiority of their diseased socio-political theology is just infantile compensation for total inadequacy in all meaningful fields of human endeavour.
Offering no advice whatsoever, merely a thought:
No mercy.
Hamas can try as many times as it takes to destroy Israel, the west won’t allow them to fail, the west an not admit it failed and the two state solution living peaceful side by side must be perpetuated even if it’s a myth.
Deep down the they really want peace and nice things, so the money spigot must be kept turned on.
The Jewish people will be faced with the Samson option, as their paralysis and straight jacket imposed by the west allows them little room for defensive action until the hoards are at their doorstep, raping their wives and killing their children, (Oh I forgot, they are doing that already) well I hate to say it but with the help of Hussain Obama and others, the Jewish state is in for some very trying days…….
It seems clear to me that these provocations are merely a warm-up for May 15, when they hope a third intifada will be launched, with international support.
thank you for the essays Barry Rubin.
I think that there is a wider plan. they are taking advantage and agitating with the help of their many allies. (I include the white house in the former).
they are testing the Israelis and the world response.
personally I think Israel has been too accommodating and to the arab world that is weakness. if it is war then fight …stop trying to please those who will never be pleased. there are a lot more people with Israel then the media likes to show.
Hamas is the minion of Iran who works in conjunction with China. The real problem is whether the Obama administration has the capabilities to unravel the threat and defuse the situation without the US getting mired in still another middle eastern war. Because they refuse to take a leadership role in world affairs it’s almost like our military is reduced to being mercenaries to the oil interests. If the US developed its domestic supply and staunchly defended Israel this situation would be easier to handle. Having strong allies, Iraq & Afghanistan, on both sides of Iran would be applying pressure sending insurgents into Iran.
Israel must react and not lightly like with Hezbollah but full power decisive assault is called for. Israel must stand on the promises of G_d and he will fight the battle for You. Trust and obey. Remember go ye possess the land.
When Obama told Mubarak to go — are we to assume he didn’t realize that he was putting in danger Egypt’s protection of the border with Gaza — one of Israel’s most vulnerable points — leaving it open for arms smuggling? Are we really to assume that he didn’t know very well what he was doing?
Who wasn’t worried (long before this crisis) about what would happen if Mubarak wasn’t there? Who didn’t know that Mubarak’s Egypt was a major lynchpin to any kind of stability? Not only with Gaza, but as a force against Iran.
[I wonder what makes you say that Egypt doesn't want war with Israel? What do you mean by "Egypt?" Which faction of Egypt? The rationally thinking faction of Egypt?]
Obama pokes Netanyahu in the chest — ordering him to do what Obama says … it’s an affront to the vain Obama that Netanyahu only partially complied … so he needed to teach him a lesson, didn’t he.
Same with Mubarak. Obama “told” him to promote more democracy. He didn’t listen to the “O.” (And the “International Community” sees the U.S. as “captive” to dem Jews by supporting Mubarak — O couldn’t have that on his lapel.) So Obama fixed him.
(There’s evidence that members of the Obama admin. met with some of the young “secularists” some months ago, and encouraged their “revolution.” My question is — who of the politically informed couldn’t see that they’d be overwhelmed by a vast majority of Islamists — ?)
One of Obama’s greatest hopes was that he could “fix” the Middle East — meaning Israel/Palestine — before he left office, even if he’s only a 1-term president. He’s done his best to “cover” his own complicity — and appear to be innocent of the events that are sure to come — and soon.
He’s “fixed” everything.
If he weren’t so convinced of his own idiotic ideological perfection — nor so driven by his own megalomaniacal belief in his personal power — nor his vanity — AND ironically — so weak — so foolish — the world wouldn’t be blowing up the way it is.
Soon, even the Saudi’s will find a way to “appease” Iran. That’s what they do — those comfy princes — they don’t want to fight — not with Iran.
Also, there is another “flotilla” planned for May 15 — evidently Obama’s friend, Bill Ayres, has been in the Middle East arranging this. Depending on what happens when Israel stops the boat ….
Obama will discover there are many unexpected consquences to his actions, non-actions, and “plans” … alas, for all of us to bear.
What better way will the tyrants and hopeful tyrants have to get their people in “order” than to turn their hatred of Israel loose in a war?
So the consensus seems to be pre-emptive strikes involving other nations and possibly all out war in the middle east that could result in World War III and the use of nuclear weapons if it goes terribly wrong.
You see, war always does go terribly wrong and 1973 a near thing. For people who like to trot out the lessons of history you seem immune to the terrible tragedies of WW I and II. Those lessons tell you the Muslim Brotherhood is already in charge of Egypt – it is stated as if fact. But World Wars get lost down a bolt hole and predictive abilities circumvented for a terrible agenda that involves the slaying of at least more thousands over holy rocks – rocks which must be read and prayed to and marched around.
And all this for what?
Oh, yeah. Peace.
Funny how the road to peace and the desire for peace is awfully similar to naked aggression and hatred.
If you can talk as if the Muslim Brotherhood is already in charge of Egypt, then I can talk about radioactive particles blowing East, wafting over Iran and Pakistan and India. Cairo, Tel Aviv and Tehran having people with their hair falling out crawling through rubble looking for food and water.
There is not a single doubt in my mind that you people are absolutely insane.
The destruction you deplore has been made possible by the appeasement of genocidal Islamicists you so despicably promote.
I’m imagining you saying that like Sylvester the Cat.
Don’t forget the drool bucket.
Use all caps, James. It is merely a matter of style; your incoherency demands it.
Go watch some film of mushroom clouds. That will offer some clarity because they are all caps.
Don’t forget the drool bucket and a dictionary.
So I get it, it has been said that Israel is at most a 3 bomb country. They need to wait for WMD casualties the scope of which the world has never seen before they look around to see who did it? The mullahs need to know about strike and counterstrike capability, we are so foolish, Persians love the US Arabs have been taught to hate us. Make peace with the Persians by helping them with regime change and the House of Saud will collapse as it should…
The mere fact that that Israel is on the the front page again is a victory for Hamas. In the ordinary mind, concurrent civil upheaval, rioting and open war in huge and densely populated Arab countries in the region are minor by comparison to the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians. Hamas has once again succeeded in concentrating billions of small minds on the true problem in the region.
My take is that the dramatic details of current events in the region detract from the larger picture of Israel’s peril this Passover eve.
The military assets of the former colonial powers of the region, European and Ottoman alike, have not been welcome there since 1956. Alas, Barak Obama is no Dwight Eisenhower.
The presence in the heavily armed NATO coalition of newly Islamist Turks and reflexively Jew-hating Norwegians, all eager to ingratiate themselves with restive Islamic populations at home by attacking enemies of Islam far away, merits special attention.
Recall that the French all but stepped of the reservation in Libya. The model Nordics selected by the SS for their Lebensborn program are brimming over with self-serving righteousness and eager for the “arrogant chosen People” to be punished for their crimes against Palestinians. The Turks are eager for Muslim street-creds among the Arabs they once ground under their heel.
Former National Security Adviser General James Jones explains away the administration’s mercurial and confusing Libyan intervention “policy” by hemming and hawing that Lybia was kind of a “pop-up” situation. Hamas would like to see Israel become the next thing to pop up. Likewise some in the administration.
hmmmm Powers and her Responsibility to protect …scary very scary
A good crisis wasted Israel, turmoil in the Arab world these past two months could have seen your borders secured for a period of time had you acted forcefully against Syria and the Palestinians. Screw, absolutely screw those opposed, they more than anyone else will be your downfall.
I pray for the people of Israel. Obama will be fiddling with a grin as all burns.
Getting close got closer today. Multiple rockets and mortars in Ashkelon. Three Iron Dome intercepts. How well Iron Dome is doing is difficult to say because it is programmed for selective interception. The pattern of attacks seems to be targeted longer range missile strikes accompanied by mortar barrage. The attacks are being launched from well within populated areas.
We should keep in mind that Hamas pays a price for allowing in Iranian elements and weapons. No doubt they lose some control. This does not get Hamas off the hook by any means. It may be that the escalation is being engineered by Tehran against the wishes of Hamas. That is an interesting possibility. If it is true then perhaps this would be the time for Israel to hit harder and force a split.
The IDF with its new defensive systems, Trophy and Iron dome, can make Iran’s ‘gifts’ worth considerably less. If Hamas is convinced that its stockpile of Iranian rockets is now of less military value, and will continue to degrade as Israel employs more defensive systems, they may decide it is no longer worth the price to kiss up to the Iranians. Just thinkin’
Why doesn’t Israel have a system that automatically launches one intercept and one that lands at random in Gaza?
Let the rest of the world put a moral clause on that one. Israel can just say, “Hey, it’s out of our hands. It’s automatic. The best way Gaza can not be bombed is to stop bombing”.
The U.N. is run by morons – they need that type of clarity. I’d love to hear the U.N.’s argument against it.
Because Israel does not target civilians.
That would be the other guys.
Actually the Gazans would be targeting themselves.
If Americans were like Gazans you still couldn’t go into forests in the South cuz there’d be guys with spears wearing bear skins and Confederate Civil War hats making tiger pits.
What’s the opposite if it ain’t broke don’t fix it?
I think Hamas days are numbered. It’s been reported they have tried to acquire nerve and mustard gas. Doing so and using it will make them the untouchable skunks of the region and maybe an international group of Arab nations can finally be shamed into putting together a coalition and installing a democracy by force in Gaza which outlaws hate groups or expressions of hate and also religious political parties. It seems the least violent answer and one which would highlight the moral deficiencies off Arab nations themselves.
The West was wrong for not shaming Islam into intervening in Libya and instead once again let themselves play the dual role of shiftless barbarians protectors of the weak. I thought Islam touted itself as a protector of the weak.
I agree that Hamas and Hizbollah got to go the way of the Dodo. Hizbollah is another story from Hamas and how in the world Lebanon can ever get rid of that plague is beyond me but it must start in a system of gov’t that is not based a mutual cultural suspicion and balance of power. If that’s the way it’s gonna be you may as well split up the country in 3 right now and the whole world declare war on the Hizbollah part.
Gaza may be the most complicated battlefront ever James.
Seriously?
“…international group of Arab nations can finally be shamed into putting together a coalition and installing a democracy by force in Gaza which outlaws hate groups or expressions of hate and also religious political parties. It seems the least violent answer and one which would highlight the moral deficiencies of Arab nations themselves.”
I want some of what you’re smoking.
If they do have to go into Gaza these nifty gizmos might come in handy:
http://www.geekologie.com/2007/12/corner_shot_gun_shoots_around.php
Where can I get one of those?
Ya just have to love Israel. Is there any place like it left in the world? The attitude is always “There are no real problems in the world, just stuff we havent figured out the answers to yet.”
Events have spiraled so far out of control that world leaders are scrambling to buttress their positions and adjust long term policies. The President of Yemen is about to be overthrown leaving an Al Qaida government in control. The Saudi regime has put the $60 Billion arms deal with the USA on ice as its government cozies up to Russia and China. Why? Support for Saudi annexation of Bahrain. Iran has threatened a war against the Saudis and will use the nerve gas weapons stolen from Libyan stockpiles in Benghazi to attack the Sunni regime.
There is not a single world leader that trusts Obama. Rumors abound that Obama has had a nervous breakdown.He is indeed the most dangerous man on the planet.
I predicted a long time ago that Obama would have a nervous break down during his Presidency.
He has been a no-show lately and gov’t policy on Libya seemed to emanate from other than Obama himself, journalists mostly.
Maybe if we did like the journalists did on Libya and kept saying Obama has had a breakdown he actually would.
Over the last few years, since the 2006 war, Hezbollah has amassed over 50,000 rockets. Most have a longer range than the ones that were used up in the 2006 war.
Hezbollah has the ability to rain death down on the Zionists. When the Jews start their war against Gaza, much of Israel will be on fire within minutes.
Insha’Allah
إن شاء الله
Great plan Yassir.
Is that it?
So after the rockets then whet?
I always love how Arab propaganda is full of bluster about bringing death and destruction to the hated Zionists, but within 24 hours of the first shots, you guys go to the UN, to Western Media, to practically anybody who will listen to help put Israel back on its leash.
If one rocket hits Tel Aviv, I hope we bring out the nukes.
Hmmmm, that seems to be 50,000 reasons to use weapons of mass destruction. Lebanon could glow in the dark for centuries.
That’s not very nice. I think you should apologize.
I go along with Samizdat. “Hamas needs to be rendered a footnote in history”
Then there’s releasing the Aswan Dam, if push comes to shove.
Pushed to the wall Israel will pull out all stops. There will be not one blade of grass left alive on the planet. And the fate of a world which surrendered itself to the values of Sharia and sacrificed Israel first and then itself is richly deserved.
Theorectically speaking, could Honduras have that kind of status?
I hope the Israelis blow them all to kingdom come. Let’s hope there are so many dead they run out of virgins. And are forced to “share”.
I’m with those who say that, if Egypt attacks Israel, Israel should take out the Aswan Dam. Egypt would then never bother anybody again. It might be instructive for the rest of the Arab world to observe and reflect.
Well, for once, I am not totally opposed to Rubin’s analysis. Hamas is attempting to draw Israel into harsher retaliation. They are timing it perfectly, hoping to draw moral and material support from Egypt.
Since the net is faster than the old gray lady, I’ll self report that, during one of the largest protests in Tahrir yet, a call went out to march to the Israeli embassy. Several thousand, not all, but several thousand, marched to Israel’s embassy and began chanting anti-zionist slogans. Embassy pulled down it’s flag. Protesters burned Israeli flag. Military came and pushed protesters back, did not disperse. Crowd thinned, but still remains.
Twitter was suddenly alive with talk of zionists, leftists even jumping in. Then the liberals came on, not defending Israel, but insisting people need to stay focused on insuring Egypt’s future first. Several responded that this was playing into MB’s hands.
While not exactly 100,000 outside of embassy gates, it was significant that the MB used Tahrir protest, though not surprise.
Order of business: Hamas sends missiles to Israel, small response from Israel. Continues. El Baradei, needing to establish his nationalist credentials, issues threat that Egypt will not allow Gaza to be attacked (as if he was already president). News continues to flash reports of attacks and counter attacks. (El Baradei probably gets STFU from military and issues no further statements). MB issues call for greater presence at Tahrir today (Friday) after shunning previous Friday protest. Hamas issues type of attack meant to provoke harsher response. Gets it. MB sends out message to march on embassy.
Now, whether this is totally coordinated or Hamas and MB playing off of each other, it is difficult to tell. Hamas needs Egypt. Maybe on far crazy of Hamas wing, they are hoping to draw Egypt, in a spate of nationalist hysteria, into war.
Hamas, as people note, is not an army. To have a war with Israel, it would need an army. In this case, Egypt’s army. Maybe, with spate of democracy/people demand, could convince army to move. Hard to say.
Maybe, not so far crazy Hamas wing is simply hoping to put any questions about Egypt Hamas relationship to bed and present a stronger front to Israel to prevent any future incursions such as Cast Lead. Or, for stronger negotiation position. Or, maybe just to insure border w/Egypt stays open for transport of weapons, money and men.
Problem is, as we had discussed before, not only are Islamist’s message prevalent, nationalist pride is very strong after revolution. This is dangerous time for Egypt. It could be pushed into nationalist expression. A war or type of war/threat would put current democracy and freedom trends on hold.
On the other hand, as someone mentioned above, Egypt army probably not interested in going to war with Israel. Bad mojo all around. We have the keys to their military. We have carriers in the vicinity. Gives Egypt MB excuse to beat chest, claim Zionist controlled US still oppressing and demand nationalist trend.
I don’t actually know the outcome and do not predict in this case what will happen. Does seem like majority of people remained at Tahrir and demonstration might have just been small group with no major connection to Tahrir celebration. However, MB et al, very good at staging such events for media attention.
However, I admit that twitter and facebook responses are unsettling. Nationalism can trump any other demands/needs. Wouldn’t be good for Egypt and, as ETAB has noted more than once, wouldn’t last long, but it would suck in the short run.
I believe this is why Israel is still cautious. It does not want to give Islamst/nationalist trend any more power than it hast to.
For your enjoyment
Egyptians in front of Israeli embassy appx 2 AM Saturday, April 9:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJHLuz_l0RQ&feature=youtu.be
Most liberals now reporting party is still in Tahrir square.
According to twitter, group at embassy calling for ambassador to be expelled and embassy closed.
Doubt army will respond to demand.
…and Beirut will cease to exist.
But it would not and they know this.
I remember an amazing photo last war of Beirut after Israeli bombing of hezbolla headquarters in southern Beirut. An area of several blocks totally reduced to rubble with neatly bordered lines and all adjacent buildings untouched. By reports blocks away the cafes and shops in the fashionable section were operating normally.
What does Israel want from Lebanon? Nothing really. Just no more fighting and if they can deal with it maybe some profitable business together. We really need to talk abut the gas fields, water, and why not do some consumer trade.
What does Lebanon want from Israel? Hard to say because Lebanon Is like a fracture not set properly. hez needs to keep up it’s image as resistance against an occupation that no longer exists.
Reminds me of a lesson from a teacher who taught me to practice drum rolls on a pillow. Yes my forearms got stronger but at a certain point the goal was playing music and pillow rolls are just an exercise. That lesson happens of it’s own accord because the student will grow tired of the pillow and will learn to apply the power gained to something more, where you can
gather with other players and crank out “Brown Sugar” or whatever to the delight of the audience. In my case the dog and whomever I can get…no matter.
Hezbolla and hamas are stuck in the exercise. They cannot make music.
There was the usual big demonstration in Tahrir Square today but this one had a different slant to it, a rather more serious one. The army announced in advance that anyone in the crowd in a military uniform would be arrested. Why would they do that if there was not a split in the army? And that damn helicopter that was always buzzing around before Mubarak left was back today.
CNN has reported that the protesters have protected some army men and attacked others.
At 3 am Cairo time there was a sporadic gun fire to be heard from Tahrir but which lasted a half an hour.
Already on the same day that Hamas proudly took credit for attacking a school bus they call on the international community to leash Israel.
Perhaps the UN building can replace the Isaiah quote (a Jewish Zionist anyway) on the front of the building with this one from Julius Ceaesar:
Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in caeser’s blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth even to the market place,
And, waving our red weapons o’er our heads,
Let’s all cry,
Peace! Freedom! And liberty!
Why should we care about a terrorist country like Israel which was caught using terrorism against us (Lavon Affair) and sold our secrets to the Soviets.
I love the expression. Everyone needs to express there own opinion and feel free to hear others. Keep it up
Mags you ignorant idiot Ted Kennedy was a big supporter of the Marxist IRA why don’t you call him out?
Forgot can’t criticize dead liberals even when they are living.
You have just made me spit my tea out.
Ted Kennedy is despised here over this very issue of supporting the I.R.A.
I have no idea why you believe i would not condemn Kennedy,
only King?
I only brought him up because his comments are recent.
However Kennedy would at least condemn some acts carried out by the i.R.A
Peter King wouln’t .
King was banned from the BBC for his pro-I.R.A views.
He was thrown out of a Belfast court room by a judge stating he is collaborater with the terrorists.
When in Northern Ireland he stayed with Mick McKevitt who was the Quarter Master General in the I.R.A responsible for weapons.
He worked with Gaddafi to get explosives and weapons.
He is in prison now for leading a group called the Real I.R.A who carried out the Omagh bomb killing 33 including children and a 8 months pregnant with twins woman.
I note that you haven’t critisized King’s and other Americans support for the I.R.A.
Reason?
Calling me an ‘ignorant idiot’ is oozing irony. For an American to say to a British person they are an ignorant idiot about the I.R.A is hilarious.
Ah yes Alex the commie has a problem with jews selling secrets to his brethren eff off troll.
You called me an ignorant idiot.I deserve a reply
Alex um Lewrockwell.com is the other way.
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