Aah, the wonderful Friday Thing

[andrewducker]

But really, who was to know that blasting the leader of Hamas out
of his wheelchair (and killing seven assorted bodyguards and
bystanders) would have stirred up so much trouble? What's with
those Palestinians? Are they pre-menstrual or something?
Really, why can't the Palestinians just shut up for once and
accept the Israeli occupation? Moan moan moan. They're like Dot
bloody Cotton sometimes. Probably the Israelis hoped that Hamas
would replace that nasty mumbling Yassin with someone a bit more
happy and smiley. But no, they've only gone and elected an
articulate hardliner who vows vengeance What a pisser.

Mr Rantissi, the new leader, is being terribly unreasonable. "We
will not surrender, we will never surrender to Israeli terror."
Oh dear, that's unfortunate. "My dear people, you who were
displaced by the Jews from your cities and villages, you will
return to your villages and cities through fighting, because we
don't have any other strategic option. Resistance is continuing."

Ah. Perhaps when they blow up Mr Rantissi, it will make
everything better again. Yes. Maybe that will happen.

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Comments

umm

[josephgrossberg.livejournal.com]

And where, exactly are all the suicide bombings, assassinations of Israeli leaders and other consequences of "opening the gates of hell" that were supposed to ensue?

Leaders matter. Hamas has lost their #1 leader.

I would have preferred keeping him in jail in the first place, but that's a decade's hindsight.

I'd say that, so far, the operation has been a success.

Re: umm

[webmacher.livejournal.com]

Right.Well, keep in mind that Israel has been foiling tons of attempted attacks... but that doesn't mean they'll be able to foil all attacks. Also, unfortunately, it's possible something big is in the works. Passover starts on the night of the 5th, and there are fears that there will be an attack like the one two years ago.

It's interesting to note that all of the Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians has not caused the Israelis to decide to pull up stakes and move somewhere else. Nor have the attacks on Palestinians caused Palestinians to back down either. This bloody war of attrition will likely continue on its merry way for decades. It's just an endless cycle of reprisals.

Creating more martyrs seems like a TERRIBLE idea to me.

Re: umm

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

And where, exactly are all the suicide bombings, assassinations of Israeli leaders and other consequences of "opening the gates of hell" that were supposed to ensue?

Er, Joseph? This idiotic assassination only took place last Monday - just a week and a half ago. I think it's a little premature to be certain that just because there have as yet been no consequences there will be none: especially as, to date, the known results of Israeli assassinations have been more suicide bombings.

Leaders matter. Hamas has lost their #1 leader.

Let us suppose that al-Qaida successfully assassinated George W. Bush. (I don't myself consider Bush to be a #1 leader of anything, but I know he has an important symbolic value to a significant minority of Americans.) What do you suppose the effect on Americans would be? An immediate impulse to do exactly what al-Qaida wants, because, after all, they've just killed the President of the United States?

That does appear to be your reasoning.

I'd say that, so far, the operation has been a success.

I'd say that that is probably the most stupid assertion I've ever seen you make. To claim "success" on the basis of less than a fortnight's reaction to a tactic that has never yet proved "successful" long term before? That's beyond stupid. That's just bizarre.

Re: umm

[pacotelic.livejournal.com]

Well, what we have here is nice tidy flamewar in the offing. Israle/Palestinians always makes for this ort of thing. If the Palestinians were gracious little helots, would the Israleis treat them as equal citizens? I doubt it. Would they treat them a lot better? Yes probably. This is one of those classic eye for an eye situations that's going to do all involved a lot of good. In related new Ms. Robionson of Ireland and the UN, who censured Israel and classified suicide bombing as a valid form of protest (which it clearly is not, blurring the line between combatant and non-combatant), will be giving the commencement speech the year at my Alma Mater, Emory. Good Times.

Flame On!

Re: umm

[josephgrossberg.livejournal.com]

Hooray for name-calling.

If Bush got killed by someone we were already dedicated to destroying, it would certainly disrupt the US's actions.

The goal wasn't to affect the motivation of Hamas's rank-and-file; it was to disrupt their capabilities and send a message to other terrorist leaders, some of whom value their own lives.

Assassination has never proved successful before? Now that is just bizarre.

In any case, I said so far. If the columnist Andrew quoted can fairly remark on the repercussions, I don't think it's unreasonable for me to do the same.