Jerusalem
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27 January 2009
Recently I was invited to the Lithuanian Embassy in Washington D.C. to receive an award for journalism in Afghanistan. I was incredibly happy to receive this journalism award from the Lithuanian people, and the Lithuanian government, and would like to thank the Lithuanians for standing their ground in Afghanistan and other troubled places. Lithuanians stood up against the Soviets, so it's doubtful that they fear al Qaeda or the Taliban. The Lithuanians are concerned, however, that America will turn its back on Lithuania. We must assure Lithuania that we will stand with them.
I was also invited to a reception at the residence of the Israeli Ambassador to the United States. I wanted to tell the Ambassador that I hope the Israeli Defence Forces ripped Hamas out by the roots. Apparently they did not, but the thousands of rocket strikes against Israel warranted a serious response. Some people say that the Israeli response was disproportionate. I agree. A more proportionate response would have seen Israel launching thousands of rockets into Gaza. I read one report that the peak times for Hamas to launch on Israel is when the kids are going to school, or coming home from school. Yet while many international players reflexively point their fingers at Jews and Israelis, clearly the Israelis want peace. The Jews would rather be in school than in a tank.
I am at the Jerusalem Conference in Jerusalem. Important Israelis are speaking here and one of the key topics is Iran. If Iranian leadership gets its wishes, Israel will cease to exist. The United States should under no circumstances allow Iran to attain nuclear status. A nuclear armed Iran is a recipe for genocide. We've got to stand up to Iran. If we do not, millions of people might die.
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Comments
The Israelis would have likely killed about the same number of Gazans as the number of Israelis that have been killed by these rockets, about a dozen.
Saving the lives of hundreds of Gazan civilians would have been welcome for sure. Did you happen to suggest this to the Ambassador?
People that think the doctrine of proportionate response calls for "an eye for an eye" misunderstand the concept, and in fact may be advocating something that, in the long run, is much more destructive. Israel could fire rockets into Gaza indiscriminatel y all day long, but this wouldn't end the carnage, whereas crushing Hamas once and for all might.
The reason there is none is because Gaza residents still think they can win, and until Israel crushes that hope as the Allies finally crushed the Axis' hope for survival, they won't quit.
Frankly, I hope Israel pushes all of Gaza into the sea or into Egyptian minefields, then seals the border behind them. Shoulda done it in '67..
If its war then people will die. Gazanƒ??s donƒ??t want war? Simple, donƒ??t attack.
Gazanƒ??s wannaƒ?? get their azzes kicked? Attack Israel.
To hell with appropriate/proportionate ƒ?? lay hellfire down on them.
I guarantee that when thereƒ??s no more hamas then the rocket attacks will be significantly reduced.
I only ask, why did Israel stop?
The Israelis have turned their cheek long enough, it's time they wake up to reality and destroy Gaza, Hamas, and all their supporters. The rockets will not stop till then.
What would Gen George Patton have replied about proportionate response? BS pure and simple. Kill them all before they kill you.
Paul, take off your rose colored glasses, this is reality.
Hmmmm... which of the two sides has made something of the land they live on? Israel is a thriving place which allows Arabs to live among them...maybe to their detriment. The Palestinians only want trouble. If they can't have Israel, no one can. They live for destruction they are nothing with out it.
It's called "winning." When the US firebombed Kobe, they lost only a handful of soldiers and at least 50,000 Japanese were killed. War is not a game.
And another reason for the imbalance between deaths in Gaza and Israel is that the Israelis protect their citizens with shelters and such, while Hamas puts rocket launchers in civilian neighborhoods and digs tunnels to fill with arms instead of bomb shelters for the civilians.
Israel seems to have taken the stance that it is better that civilians die lest one Israeli soldier be killed... Hence white phosphorous smoke screens, etc.. I don't know, because I'm not there, but it seems to me that while they are certainly restrained in their response, their primary goal is not to take the moral high ground, but eliminate the threat.
Just an observation
It's called "winning." When the US firebombed Kobe, they lost only a handful of soldiers and at least 50,000 Japanese were killed. War is not a game.
And another reason for the imbalance between deaths in Gaza and Israel is that the Israelis protect their citizens with shelters and such, while Hamas puts rocket launchers in civilian neighborhoods and digs tunnels to fill with arms instead of bomb shelters for the civilians.
Jim? He was in every theatre of war during WW II, from two days after Pearl Harbor and through the whole war.
Who's Jim? He was 18 when the Japs hit Pearl Harbor and tried to enlist the following day in the U.S. Navy, but failed the physical. On the 10th, he signed up for the Merchant Marine as an O.S. Five years later he was Captain James. S. Greenberg, the youngest skipper, at 23, in the Merchant Marine, and I sailed with him on that trip. He went on to Captain 16 ships. The first ship he sailed on durng the war had a fake gun aft, made from a telephone pole, and ran alone, with no escorts!
In Sdirot, Israel, he was shown the piles of rockets collected by the police. Only one officer spoke English, a woman. The day before one of the rockets had killed a woman 30 years of age. In the prior two years more than 3,000 rockets had been aimed towards this little western type village, but when the alarms go off some people continue shopping in the stores as if it is nothing.
His favorite hero today, Michael Yon. He does not have a computer, but I've sent him lots of Michael's material. Michael, Jim took all his photos during WWII with a $2.00 box camera, and you'd be amazed at his archives. He's as brave a man today as he was at 18.
He heard about the suit against Michael Moore on FOX, and says, "Nail him." Well, he said a bit more, but genteel in manner.
In Germany, we overwhelmed their ability to defend against us, by using bombs and manpower. In Japan however, their people were prepared to fight to the death. The cost of lives would have been almost innumerable on both sides, especially compared to losses by bombings, fire OR atomic.
The aftermath of war, in both Germany and Japan, was horrendous, as it should be! It should be horrible to go to war. It should be humiliating to lose a war, no matter what side you are on. Humility is what keeps sane people from going to war.
Freedom is not free. And there are many who want to take it from us. We HAVE to be continually prepared to defend our rights to freedom. And our rights to freedom, guarantees the rights of freedom to all.
Good luck with your conference. My only comment would be the reticence of the Israeli's to put forward their point of view to the rest of the world and allowing the international media to put their own spin on everything they say or release. The Israeli's need a TV channel in english broadcasting by satelite to compete with Al Jazeera and Press TV (Iran). We all know HAMAS can spin the media even when they launch rockets from a UN school. You get everyone's attention if you are an ambulance chaser and Israeli's enemies have honed this down to a fine art.
Regards,
so glad you are in Jerusalem. It is the final battle ground for peoples who want to be free. The seeds of Al Queda were born in the Holy Land. It is unfortunate that we have to fight to preserve our way of life, but that is how it is. Peace will never happen in the world as long as there are those who want to destroy another people. I feel for the Palistiniians, but there are over a Billion Muslims, and only a few million Jews. They have to have a right to exist and live in peace and to defend themselves against aggression. I live in Minneapolis. If you say this is Jerusalem, then Gaza City is a mere 40 miles away, less than an hours drive. It would be like having Cuba 40 miles from Miami and loaded with armed missiles. Bless you for your work, Michael, and telling the story that few in the mainstream media want to tell.
That isn't exactly true. The international response to Hamas actions is to dump millions of dollars in aid on the poor souls. "No more cash for rockets!!" should be the mantra. "Death to Hamas!" should be the chants in Pali streets. I'll keep dreaming.
The following is excerpted from a threat assessment which I researched and produced. I'll be happy to provide a list of my resources (all of which are open source) if requested.
On 14 December 1987, Hamas was formed by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. He named the organisation Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or "Islamic Resistance Movement.ƒ? The common-usage name Hamas is an acronym from the Arabic name, while the Arabic word hamas means ƒ??zeal.ƒ? Hamas was established as the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine, a group with which Yassin had a long association. As with the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas is a Sunni Islamist organisation.
From its inception, Hamas actively encouraged the Intifada, engaging in violent action against Israeli citizens, military, government, and infrastructure. It is dedicated to achieving its Islamist goals by violent means. The Covenant guides the movement with this statement: ƒ??There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.ƒ?
Furthermore, the Covenant outlines Hamasƒ??s absolute, uncompromising opposition to the recognition of the Israeli state. While Palestinian Nationalism is a significant factor in the Hamas ideology, and power the ultimate goal, the reasoning that most strongly shapes it is based in the Hadith, the handed-down accounts of anecdotal events in the life of the Prophet Mohammed.
Article Eleven of the Covenant declares: ƒ??The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. Neither a single Arab country nor all Arab countries, neither any king or president, nor all the kings and presidents, neither any organisation nor all of them, be they Palestinian or Arab, possess the right to do that. Palestine is an Islamic Waqf land consecrated for Moslem generations until Judgement Day. [...] This Waqf remains as long as earth and heaven remain. Any procedure in contradiction to Islamic Sharia, where Palestine is concerned, is null and void.ƒ?
The finality of this last statement clearly communicates the political stance of the organisation.
The goals of the Islamic Resistance Movement are simple. First is the destruction and elimination of the state of Israel, and the concomitant expulsion of all Jews from Palestine. Next is the establishment of a Palestinian state, though not of a secular nature and not merely the territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. As a Sunni Islamist organisation with a strong nationalist streak, Hamas seeks the formal creation of Palestine ƒ??from the river to the sea,ƒ? under Sharia law.
In pursuance of these goals, Hamas has utilized pitched gun battles, bombings, and rocket attacks against either its rival Fatah or Israeli interests, in order to derail any talks or forthcoming compromises that have a possibility of coming to fruition. Compromise with or acknowledgment of Israel is not in the Hamas lexicon, and will not ever happen.
Respectfully...
Besides, there are 10 Arabs for every Israeli. Hamas would be happy to trade one involuntary martyr for one Israeli. A fair and proportionate response is ten Hamas terrorists for each Israeli.
Read the first paragraph again: It isnƒ??t about fair. Itƒ??s about winning.
1) Gaza and Hamas are not synonomous - the governing body Hamas took, and keeps, control by force. Equating the citizenry with the government is like saying all Americans should suffer for any misdeeds of our President. Or that thousands of Iraquis should suffer because we didn't like Saddam Hussein.
2) Israel has seeming been very indiscriminate about who is attacked, and how. There are credible accounts of people, including women and children, who are indisputably non-combatants, being wilfully killed. Israel has shelled UN compounds where civilians took shelter. They seem to have used white phosphorus as a weapon, not for illumination - against Protocol III of the Geneva convention. And on and on.
With a very high density of civilians throughout Gaza, great care must be taken when targeting military objectives. That care seems lacking - indeed, often not considered at all. And it is never excusible for soldiers on the ground to target non-combatants willingly.
As someone else pointed out, and Michael Yon has repeated, we didn't start winning in Iraq until we supported those wanting peace, at the same time as attacking those who would destroy it. That balance is completely lacking in Gaza, and Israel is creating thousands of "terrorists" who will say "never again". Israel needs a Gen. Petraeus.
Israel is in violation of NOTHING! Living next to them is a gang of murders, thieves and thugs. COCKROACHES. The name is Humas.
Israel needs to take off the gloves and really terminate the COCKROACHES.
When will the rest of the world understand that the Israelis are completely justified, in my oh so humble opinion, to use their nuclear arsenal against Iran, who backs pretty much every Sunni group there ironically enough, and Damascus then unleash their full military response against regions that have harbored these terrorist groups. But guess what? They prefer to solve this as peacefully as possible, they actually need the Palestinians for a variety of reasons, economic and otherwise, many are quite friendly with each other....but when a populace agrees by vote or lack of dissent to be led by radical lunatics hell bent on bringing death and destruction on their own people to further their own goals this is what happens.
If the Palestinians want peace then they will rise up against Hamas and choose a peaceful government that will assuredly gain much more ground with the Israelis than lobbing rocket or blowing up buses every will.
Like my dear departed Grandmother used to say "you keep doing what you keep doing and you will keep getting what you keep getting".
As you have so often written Mike, it is this very thing that turned the tide in Iraq. The civilians were not willing to be the pawns anymore. The terrorists were forced to move out.
If only all civilians had the proper backing to make it happen. Terrorism would be history then. A bad memory.
As far as Hamas, Hezb'Allah, Al Qaeda and all the rest of those murdering animals; they are Illegal Combatants and as such should be dealt with like Pershing did in the Philippines. Interrogated and then summarily executed. Illegal Combatant=zero legal rights.
Netanyahu is right, Iran makes the global financial meltdown appear as the fleeting troubles of school children. POTUS better ruck up real soon now and deal with Ahmanutjob and the Mullahs. I would just as soon no harm come the general population of the Iranian people, but if it comes down to the nitty gritty, IMO it is better for there to be a few hundred thousand collateral damage casualties in Iran from a massive first strike, than for the millions and millions who would be incinerated in a full nuclear exchange between Iran and Eretz Yisrael, or worse.
As the Lord is my witness, I hope we have SpecOps folks in there working with the Iranian Resistance, to help them help themselves so we can avoid the Armageddon scenario.
And screw the "Oil Crisis" excuse to do nothing. The Oil Corps have been screwing us blind for a while now and are continuing to do so by cutting back on production so they can keep profits up - as if the obscene profits of the last six quarters, or so, aren't enough. So what do we have to loose? And I could care less for the rest of the world's opinion.
Couple thoughts:
I think it's easy for people outside Israel to pass judgement on Israel's response. If ANY nation were to continue to launch rockets across our borders what would our response be? Total decimation of the enemy. No second chance allowed. Until the majority of people writing or commenting about Israel live there and feel what it is like to be surroundeded by enemies, maybe we should let it alone.
We should be kicking the UN out of the US. Have them go to Brussels, they are useless to us and just as corrupt as any third world country. Nobody is scared of the UN.
My comment about appropriate or porportionate response is this. If my dog bites my wife or child, I don't wack her on the nose and tell her don't do that again. I put her down so I know she will never bite ANYONE again.
Hamas is weak, cowardly, and manipulative. We should stay out of Israel's business and let them put Hamas down. After how many years of this going on is the international community going to figure out "Maybe its not Israel"?
As much as I applaud them for how they handled that, I also learned a hard lesson. The war goes on. What they did in Lebanon was fight a battle. They have not defeated an enemy. The war continues because their enemy remains. Whether the PLO, Fatah, Hamas or other terror group, the fact remains that those groups are still out there, and will continue to be a threat until they have been utterly defeated. Israel can not have peace until they and others like them are crushed.
In this context, the recent Gaza operation was merely a battle in the larger war for survival against enemies who seek her annihilation. I side with Israel, and hope beyond hope that her enemies are indeed crushed never to rise again. They do not deserve to walk the earth among civilized nations, for the depths of misery they have caused their own people and others around them will remain as an indictment against them for all eternity.
Yours respectfully
Val Kerry
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