Hamas has always been a little weak in the secondary.

/hotter than the desert

Made me laugh; unfortunately its too late for HLOTY nominations.

Israel's air force obliterated symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming Gaza assault, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home

That showed him. Or at least it showed his neighbor. Take that, neighbor of a symbol of power!

Ever get the feeling that whole area has been trolling us for decades?

+1

/if I lived in Winnipeg, and they still had a hockey team, good chance I'd get the shirt

Shatner's Bassoon: Israel's air force obliterated symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming Gaza assault, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home

That showed him. Or at least it showed his neighbor. Take that, neighbor of a symbol of power!

that's where his wives were kept...

Go Giants

Jets pound Hamas

I would have gone for a porn joke.

/or something to do with the sharks feeling left out

+1 to subby, I LOL'ed.

Jets however suck.

Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...

If only the Gaza strip was being controlled by a democratically elected government like the US had been calling for. Oh wait, it's only democracy if the people we like win. Same brand of democracy spread in Vietnam.

I guess teaching your kids to hate Jews, and that it is the highest goal in life to kill them, is not working out so well......

abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312


Must be election in Israel next year.

Firing rockets typically is a declaration of war. Don't start what you can't finish. Suck it Hamas.

abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...

If only the Gaza strip was being controlled by a democratically elected government like the US had been calling for. Oh wait, it's only democracy if the people we like win. Same brand of democracy spread in Vietnam.

When cops kill a lot more criminals than criminals kill cops, you have the same argument?

And your totals include the Hamas scumbags who launched constant attacks on Israel. They are certainly not 'civilians' But in your view unless the missiles kill, they 'don't count'

Hammas spokesman commented, 'U can't touch this'.

FTA:

Israeli leaders have said the operation might be long. "The goal of our current operation is to ... create a situation where Israeli civilians living in the south of the country no longer have to live in constant fear of a Hamas rocket attack," government spokesman Mark Regev said Monday.

Abdel Hafez, a 55-year-old history teacher, waited outside a Gaza City bakery to buy bread, one of the few people visible outdoors. He said he was not a Hamas supporter, but believed the strikes would only increase support for the group. "Each strike, each drop of blood are giving Hamas more fuel to continue," he said.

abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...



To me, it's more like telling Hamas to quit poking the tiger with a sharp stick. They have to know that lobbing rockets into Israel is going to provoke this kind of response.

abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...


Not saying you're wrong, but the death count is such an oversimplification of the situation that it borders on completely meaningless.

Shatner's Bassoon: Israel's air force obliterated symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming Gaza assault, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home

That showed him. Or at least it showed his neighbor. Take that, neighbor of a symbol of power!

So was that #664 or #668?

abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...

If only the Gaza strip was being controlled by a democratically elected government like the US had been calling for. Oh wait, it's only democracy if the people we like win. Same brand of democracy spread in Vietnam.

As much as I don't like Israel's current policy towards the Palestinians and their habit of making life in the Gaza strip almost unbearable, this is sort of called for.

First, they have to respond in some way to the constant rocket attacks from Gaza. What would you feel if people in Mexico were constantly shooting rockets into San Diego, be there casualties or not?

Secondly, much like the U.S., the Israelis are very sensitive to killed soldiers. So the military solution to an impossible problem is air attacks. In a region like Gaza, where you have 1.5 million people packed into 115 square miles you will get collateral damage. Apparently, the Knesset thinks it's worth it.

Coming to "democratically elected government" - Hamas did win the last election, but the government is formed by both Hamas and Al-Fatah. Hamas controls the Gaza strip, Al-Fatah controls the West Bank. Until they can agree, there is de facto no ruling power over the Palestinian mandate.

The real twist to this is, that even if the current bombings ruin Hamas' infrastructure, it will probably increase their support from the civilians. So in the end they will come out stronger.

Keep in mind also, that Hamas isn't a very popular speaking partner in the region. Other arabic states don't like them either.

abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312


"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." Gen. George S. Patton

I guess one side just has this figured out a lot better than the other.

ieldanth: To me, it's more like telling Hamas to quit poking the tiger with a sharp stick. They have to know that lobbing rockets into Israel is going to provoke this kind of response.

1. Lob rockets into Israel
2. !!!
3. Profit

abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...

If only the Gaza strip was being controlled by a democratically elected government like the US had been calling for. Oh wait, it's only democracy if the people we like win. Same brand of democracy spread in Vietnam.

That's an appalling statement. Israel is better country and it's under constant threat. It reserves an inalienable right to defend itself from any perceived using effective means. Those 312 people killed were present in a Hamas compound. Who else would want to hang out in an 'arab community' compound besides terrorists plotting against Israel and their families, for whom I no respect whatsoever for supporting a 'resistance', against Israel.

Okay...You lob rockets into Israel, and then whine and complain and gnash teeth when they kick your asses.

I stopped trying to make sense of this a long time ago.

myspamhere: abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

When cops kill a lot more criminals than criminals kill cops, you have the same argument?

And your totals include the Hamas scumbags who launched constant attacks on Israel. They are certainly not 'civilians' But in your view unless the missiles kill, they 'don't count'

Holy strawman batman!

Look at the number of people murdered by criminals vs. the number of people killed either in self defence by cops. I'd be willing to be the former figure is many times higher.

If you blockade a city for months and stop most vital food and aid reaching one of the most densely populated cities on Earth you're going to stir up hatred.

The vast majority of the 'missiles' sent by hamas are crude things that have small payloads and are about as easy to aim as fireworks. Israeli responds to these by massive air strikes with huge firepower, surrounding the city with tanks and preparing for a ground assault.

Yeah, that's proportionate and really going to stop people from hating you.

Just for fun, look at the situation, imagine it's in berlin and the Israeli's were communists. If this had happened in the Cold war we'd be looking at a nuclear holocaust by now.

zamboni: So was that #664 or #668?

it was #666
/duh!

myspamhere: When cops kill a lot more criminals than criminals kill cops, you have the same argument?

Not even the "War on Drugs" has sunk to the level that police departments are given warplanes to fire on civilian populations.

ieldanth:
To me, it's more like telling Hamas to quit poking the tiger with a sharp stick. They have to know that lobbing rockets into Israel is going to provoke this kind of response.

Of course they know that; this is the kind of response Hamas hopes for. Believe it or not, the innocent people losing relatives in Gaza blame the people dropping the bombs for using disproportionate force, rather than Hamas for provoking a disproportionate response. Israel feeds Hamas with this stuff.

abigsmurf: Yeah, that's proportionate and really going to stop people from hating you.

Just for fun...which group of folks cheered on 9-11?

/fark 'em!
//not a big fan of Israel either

Countdown to a suitcase nuke obliterating Israel........

Trade Favre to hamas for a couple of draft picks

Dumle:
As much as I don't like Israel's current policy towards the Palestinians and their habit of making life in the Gaza strip almost unbearable, this is sort of called for.

First, they have to respond in some way to the constant rocket attacks from Gaza. What would you feel if people in Mexico were constantly shooting rockets into San Diego, be there casualties or not?

Secondly, much like the U.S., the Israelis are very sensitive to killed soldiers. So the military solution to an impossible problem is air attacks. In a region like Gaza, where you have 1.5 million people packed into 115 square miles you will get collateral damage. Apparently, the Knesset thinks it's worth it.

Coming to "democratically elected government" - Hamas did win the last election, but the government is formed by both Hamas and Al-Fatah. Hamas controls the Gaza strip, Al-Fatah controls the West Bank. Until they can agree, there is de facto no ruling power over the Palestinian mandate.

The real twist to this is, that even if the current bombings ruin Hamas' infrastructure, it will probably increase their support from the civilians. So in the end they will come out stronger.

Keep in mind also, that Hamas isn't a very popular speaking partner in the region. Other arabic states don't like them either.

Al-Fatah are only in power because everyone because the US and Israel rejected Hamas' legitimate victory and basically forced a do-over so they could pretend they were voted in by 'the palistinian people'.

If you blockade a million people, cut off food, water, medical supplies, electicity. What do you expect to happen? Israel's blockade is illegal and doing nothing but stiring up hatred. What did they expect the people in the city to do?

MCStymie: Okay...You lob rockets into Israel, and then whine and complain and gnash teeth when they kick your asses.

I stopped trying to make sense of this a long time ago.

You lay siege to a city and get all pissy when they don't like it and resist.

ieldanth: To me, it's more like telling Hamas to quit poking the tiger with a sharp stick. They have to know that lobbing rockets into Israel is going to provoke this kind of response.

Er, tell Israel to not create a humanitarian crisis by blockading Gaza and preventing journalists and UN humanitarian aid from reaching Palestinians...

It could be that the rockets were in response to cutting off all supplies to starving people.

I mean, if you're an Israeli official and a 6 month cease fire is just about to come to an end, would you really block humanitarian supplies and news media from reaching Gaza? At the very least, it might be "antagonistic" or "dickish", or potentially "rocket inviting", don't you think?

Dumle: First, they have to respond in some way to the constant rocket attacks from Gaza. What would you feel if people in Mexico were constantly shooting rockets into San Diego, be there casualties or not?

The rockets would probably have a high % chance of hitting the Mexicans they were constantly shedding into San Diego, so not bad.

I personally enjoy watching this shiathole of an area get blown to farking nothing. If I was Israel, I think I would have World War'ed the entire Middle East a while back.

abigsmurf: guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...

Don't want to get bombed by Israel? Don't bomb Israel in the first place. Don't want civilians killed when your enemy bombs your military infrastructure? Don't place civilians as human shields around your military infrastructure by placing it in neighborhoods. But that is beside the point. Better questions need to be asked.

Why is Hamas placing their military infrastructure in civilian areas (aside for getting media shots of dead children)? Why are they wasting their resources on attacking Israel instead of focusing on building up their civilian infrastructures? Why are they not helping their own people instead of focusing on destroying others? Why has the Arab world, which rallies around the Palestinians every time Israel defends herself, otherwise have left the Palestinians alone in camps for 60 plus years?

As to Israel, they really need an upgrade in their media relations. Even when justified, their actions always seem wrong. A good press secretary may work wonders. Until then, they need to ask themselves a few questions and face a few realities. Why do they insist on policies that keep making martyrs? Why don't leaders realize that the heavy hand doesn't work all the time? They can't keep beating this enemy into submission. They can't just take whatever land they want without expecting some angry people -- this isn't the American west of the 19th century. Populations just can't be removed from their lands willie nillie. I know I would be pretty upset if some native Americans came over to my house and said "Get out. this is ours now," without, at the least, some eminent domain money (by the way, I love how Israel needs to pay Palestinians for their taken property, but no one is talking about paying Arab Jews for property taken from them when they were expelled, essentially, to Israel).

End of the day, this battle will continue until both sides realize that both sides have valid arguments and concerns and that some of their values are wrong. A cultural change needs to happen. Equitable results need to be obtained for all. Israel is not going anywhere. Neither are the Palestinians. I find it hard to believe, aside from radical fringes on both sides, that both societies want to fight and kill each other for another 60 years.

How about deploying some kind of biological or chemical weapon over the entire area and just wipe out all the palestinians and jews.

Turn the place into a giant historical park for all the jesus and jewish stuff and charge money for the fundies from everywhere to visit. Gets rid of the two annoying groups of people, and generates revenue.

lilplatinum: The rockets would probably have a high % chance of hitting the Mexicans they were constantly shedding into San Diego, so not bad.

If they can manage to avoid hitting Chula Vista, that would be helpful to them.

I saw a video on liveleak showing a bunch a little children being carried out of a bombed out building. It was great! Go Israel! That will teach Hamas!

Pounding them into

+1 to Subby for the headline

abigsmurf finally earned a spot on the block list after making sure to put in the "Israeli civilians killed" for the top statement, and somehow forgetting to include that work in his bottom one.

abigsmurf: myspamhere: abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

When cops kill a lot more criminals than criminals kill cops, you have the same argument?

And your totals include the Hamas scumbags who launched constant attacks on Israel. They are certainly not 'civilians' But in your view unless the missiles kill, they 'don't count'

Holy strawman batman!

Look at the number of people murdered by criminals vs. the number of people killed either in self defence by cops. I'd be willing to be the former figure is many times higher.

If you blockade a city for months and stop most vital food and aid reaching one of the most densely populated cities on Earth you're going to stir up hatred.

The vast majority of the 'missiles' sent by hamas are crude things that have small payloads and are about as easy to aim as fireworks. Israeli responds to these by massive air strikes with huge firepower, surrounding the city with tanks and preparing for a ground assault.

Yeah, that's proportionate and really going to stop people from hating you.

Just for fun, look at the situation, imagine it's in berlin and the Israeli's were communists. If this had happened in the Cold war we'd be looking at a nuclear holocaust by now.

1) Please know what a 'straw man argument' is before you accuse me of making one. (hint: This is not one, no even close)

2) Israel tried being patient.

3) It is tough to send in supplies, when they blow up the border crossing when they do let the supplies through

4) The 'small payloads' in the rockets are 500 lbs high explosive shells. You want to be near one when it goes off?


Imagine this, you are facing someone 50 feet away who has a pistol with no sights. (just so you know, 95% of people out there could not hit with a target pistol at 50 feet) Would you just stand there while this person takes shots are you and your family?

ieldanth: abigsmurf: Israeli civilians killed : 2
Palestinians killed : 312

guess which one the US calls on to stop being so violent...



To me, it's more like telling Hamas to quit poking the tiger with a sharp stick. They have to know that lobbing rockets into Israel is going to provoke this kind of response.

Well, part of the problem is the tiger is eating them slowly from the feet upward...

I would also poke a tiger with a stick if the tiger is harming me already and a stick is all i have, you know.

PHITA?

NavyBlues: Jets Pound Hamas

Same old Jets?

Naah, it's the ones that came with Benny. Gold lame won't stop a rocket, but the giant eyeglasses on the tank were just adorable!

myspamhere: abigsmurf:
Imagine this, you are facing someone 50 feet away who has a pistol with no sights. (just so you know, 95% of people out there could not hit with a target pistol at 50 feet) Would you just stand there while this person takes shots are you and your family?

Well, the reasonable thing to do would be to take the pistol away from the freak. If that is to dangerous i would shot him in the foot with my rifle.
But firebombing him, his house and his neighboars so he would stop shooting seems a little extreme, don´t you think?

CelebrityPharmacist: Hamas has always been a little weak in the secondary.

Doesn't help their consistent weakness in defending against the long bomb, either.

/aisle seat, please