Israel tells Gazans to brace for war escalation

[Joanne98]

Source: AP


GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli air force has dropped leaflets on the Gaza Strip warning residents that it plans to escalate its two-week-old offensive.

The notice says Israel is about to begin a "new phase in the war on terror." It says Israel will "escalate" an operation that already has killed more than 800 Palestinians.

The army said Saturday that it has dropped the fliers throughout Gaza. It says the notices are meant as a "general warning."

Israel launched the offensive two weeks ago to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks. The army says the operation is directed only at the ruling Hamas militant group. But Palestinian officials say roughly half of the more than 800 casualties have been civilians.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ioi_0...

[Joanne98]

1. Names of the co-sponsors to H.RES.34

Recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d111:5:./temp/~...

[No Elephants]

9. I've tried to open that twice, but I see only "temporary error.". I thought the Senate vote was a

unanimous voice vote? Is your link supposed to be to the House vote?

Sorry, I'm just confused. I've already emailed my Senators expressing my displeasure. I like them both, so I'd be sorry if I did so for nothing.

[slipslidingaway]

15. S. Res. 10 was the senate vote, passed unanimously n/t

[ohio2007]

76. Whats up with the 22 that voted "present" in the house ?

How many of the "present" company are concerned about re election already ?

US Congress votes to back Israel
09 Jan 09 -- The US House of Representatives passed a resolution expressing support for Israel
and condemning Hamas, Rob Reynolds reports. al Jazeera

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3c2_1231624876

Present AZ-7 Grijalva, Raul

Present CA-6 Woolsey, Lynn
Present CA-7 Miller, George
Present CA-9 Lee, Barbara
Present CA-13 Stark, Fortney
Present CA-17 Farr, Sam
Present CA-33 Watson, Diane
Present CA-47 Sanchez, Loretta

Present GA-4 Johnson, Henry

Present HI-1 Abercrombie, Neil

Present MA-1 Olver, John

Present MD-4 Edwards, Donna

Present MI-13 Kilpatrick, Carolyn
Present MI-15 Dingell, John

Present MN-4 McCollum, Betty
Present MN-5 Ellison, Keith

Present NJ-10 Payne, Donald

Present NY-22 Hinchey, Maurice

Present OR-3 Blumenauer, Earl
Present OR-4 DeFazio, Peter

Present VA-8 Moran, James

Present WA-7 McDermott, James

[slipslidingaway]

11. Only five people voted against the one-sided resolution

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll010.xml

Kucinich
Moore (WI)
Paul
Rahall
Waters

[No Elephants]

13. Thanks. Kucinich figures. Paul is something of a surprise to me, but maybe he shouldn't be.

[slipslidingaway]

14. Paul was the only no vote back in March 2008 when they

passed a similar resolution.


http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll093.xml

"Condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, and for other purposes"


http://cnifoundation.org/index.php?option=com_content&t...

"This resolution problematically includes a strong defense of the recent Israeli incursions in Gaza. The following is one such exert: “Whereas the inadvertent inflicting of civilian casualties as a result of defensive military operations aimed at military targets, while deeply regrettable, is not at all morally equivalent to the deliberate targeting of civilian populations as practiced by Hamas and other Gaza-based terrorist groups…”

Below is Rep. Paul's statement he gave to the House before the vote:

...."

[legin]

47. Congressman Ron Paul is a good egg on war issues

He may suck on other issues but he is a good lad when it comes to bush*'s 'war on terror' and I/P.

[No Elephants]

80. And on everything else, he's a just a big yolk. ( Barum Bum!)

[leftchick]

2. so where the fuck can they run to?

this is so out of control.

[Joanne98]

5. They can't run, Egypt still has it's border closed.

[lynnertic]

22. With US troops 'monitoring' it.

[hack89]

27. That's not quite accurate

they have engineers helping the Egyptians ensure that Hamas' tunnels aren't being used to smuggle weapons.

They are not stopping Palestinians from crossing into Egypt.

[SOS]

71. Egypt is allowing the injured out, but Israel blocks the northern side

From the Jakarta Post 1/11/09:

Egypt's Ambassador-designate Ahmed M. El Kewaisny shared his views with The Jakarta Post's Lilian Budianto on Friday, saying the Egyptian government was willing to open its borders to the Gaza Strip, but added that doing so would do little good as Israel had blocked the border from the other side.

Question: The Egyptian Embassy has been a site of many protests because Cairo is not opening its borders to Gaza to allow flow of medical and humanitarian aid and other supplies. Could you throw some light on this?

Answer: The demonstrators conveyed their wish to help, and our government is also concerned about the injured Palestinians. But it should be understood that the Rafah crossing cannot be used to transfer medical aid, food or any other supplies.

The entrance to the Rafah crossing lies in Egyptian territory but the other end is located on the Palestinian side, which is controlled by Israel. This crossing (as allowed by Israel) can only be used for passengers or individuals. Trucks cannot pass through this crossing but we can still offer ambulances to carry injured Palestinians. We have had many injured Palestinians transferred to Egypt for treatment. We will put the injured in field hospitals located near the border. Israel is keeping a close watch on all activities at the crossing.

To transfer materials, we can use the other crossing called Karm Abu Salim, which is controlled by Israel on the other side. We have to coordinate with Israel to get access because it is sometimes closed, especially during the air raids and bombardments. Our side asks them to open it and they may tell us no because Israel is conducting air raids.

[K Gardner]

7. Nowhere. They've been trapped like fish in a barrel since day one. n/t

[No Elephants]

12. Nowhere, and everyone knows it. This is just so that Israel can claim it's their own

fault. It's not as though these people have money to stay in a hotel and eat in restaurants until this mess is over. No one ever calls Israel on that "It's their own fault. We gave them plenty of warning." crap. You want to claim self defense and they started it, fine. But this warning stuff is a sick joke.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. This... just isn't good...

[dipsydoodle]

4. war on terror aka how to make the world unsafer

I wonder where they got that expression from.

[K Gardner]

6. I'm sorry.. a little confused.. it CAN "escalate" ? What, Israel going nuclear? n/t

[Cass]

8. "a general warning". Where are they supposed to go?

Egypt fired on fleeing Palestinians a week or so ago so these people are literally trapped. Supposed safe houses, schools and UN aid convoys are bombed with impunity. And our Congress votes to support this slaughter.

I don't think Israel will stop until Gaza and it's inhabitants are annihilated.

[Chulanowa]

74. Pack them all into "safe houses". Bomb the safe houses

Israel's been targeting civilian infrastructure, relief and aid agencies, and known "safe points" for civilians. These leaflets are PR for the US. The Palestinians know that Israel will kill them no matter what.

[jeff30997]

10. Fuck 'em all !

Those murdering bastards At least in the US they're are protests against the war in Iraq!

[zazen]

16. I bet there are protests but they aren't covered

I haven't read up on this lately but I thought there was sizeable anti-zionist internal opposition in Israel. I feel like the sane majority in Israel is in our position vis a vis Bush. He stole two elections and millions of us protested his violent policies, but only a few brave souls here were willing to go to jail for their opposition (and I wasn't one of them--my bravery extended to wearing protest t-shirts in the mall in 03-04 and "fearing" I'd be kicked out or briefly arrested for disruption.) I think it must be like that there, except it must be even harder to speak out.

I wonder if the Israeli Jewish opposition to the Hamas slaughter are called "self-hating Jews" in their own country. Kind of sounds like the "America haters" epithet hurled at us, doesn't it?

[pjt7]

17. Obama can stop this

& we all know it.

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. And how pray tell can he do that???

[pjt7]

20. With one news conference

~

[Are_grits_groceries]

21. And what would he say that would bring this madness to a screeching halt?? nt

[lynnertic]

24. "Stop this shit or my administration will cut funding to Israel, completely"

"And PS: no more arms sales to you either"

[Are_grits_groceries]

28. Not gonna happen.

And even if he did, I'll bet the Israelis would call that bluff. They'd bet it
wouldn't happen.

[pjt7]

31. What bluff?

America NEEDS the Billions it gives to Israel & Egypt.

[Are_grits_groceries]

34. And those are billions we will not stop.

We are enmeshed in the Middle East in so many ways. I'll bet nobody knows what
talks and alliances have been built up. President Carter wrote a book that took
on the Palestinian problem. He was reamed from pillar to post. That's one reason
he didn't give a speech at the convention. Few people will take on the Israeli
lobby. Look at the resolution supporting Israel. It was almost unanimous.

[pjt7]

41. You are correct

but public opinion in America is changing against Israel. Bernie Madoff riping off the World-Wide Jewish community, did not help. Obama wants a nation more engaged & he is getting it.

I feel like I need to explain that I don't want to see Israel destroyed or anything crazy like that, but I want an even-handed foreign policy that makes sense... especially going forward.

[mitchum]

61. Actual public opinion against Israel has never been quite as reported...

the difference is that now the propaganda is not quite as effective.

Cut them off.

[subsuelo]

79. "Not gonna happen" is not the point

You started out arguing that he could do nothing about it, yet very obviously, he can.

[pjt7]

30. He can defend the innocents getting slaughtered

in Gaza, bring up the Red-Cross efforts, int'l journalists being excluded etc.

Still acknowledging Israel's right to exist & defend herself, but emphasizing reasonableness.

I believe Obama has the power to stop another on slaughter by Israel, if he dares too.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to believe there was an understanding between Bush,Obama & Israel.

[Are_grits_groceries]

32. I've come to the conclusion that

nothing is going to stop it. Israel is going to keep going until whatever end game
they have in mind is reached. One thing I would push hard for now is for Egypt to
let women and children out into a refugee camp set up by the Red Cross or someone.

[pjt7]

33. Obama can be a game changer here

But he has to break away a little from the grasp of Israel power in DC.

I agree with you that Egypt needs to help.

[Are_grits_groceries]

35. I wish I thought Obama could stop it.

I am appalled. I just don't see him doing anything now.
That grasp is tight.

[silverlil]

65. I concur

it also makes me think this is why Gates was kept on because Israel has already said it has trained for the last year.
I am disappointed in Obama on this, plus 2 or 3 other things. Enough is enough, this shit needs to stop. War crimes are being committed and Obama has said nothing. I read where we are sending more shipments to Israel, this is not right. I love Obama, voted for him in February, then again in the General.
He gets intelliegence briefings now. I would like to see the former Jimmy Carter as a special envoy to take on ME crises when Obama is sworn in, I know Carter is getting on, but his book made a lot of sense to me.

[leftchick]

63. There is HUGE opposition to this insanity in Israel

and just like here in the US they are marginalized and censored. Look what the RW whackos in Israel did to these folks....

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/cpi040109.html

....Video at the link


Knesset members Dov Khenin and Muhammad Barakeh (Hadash) were among the political figures who attended the rally. "I came here to demonstrate along with thousands of citizens in Tel Aviv and all across the country, Jews and Arabs alike, who are calling for an end to this war, which is a disaster. It hasn't solved the security problems in the south, and nothing good will come out of it," said Khenin. "We came here to demand an end to the war, an agreement on a ceasefire, the opening of the border crossings, and a prisoner exchange deal," he said. "This will be the outcome anyway, and no unnecessary blood should be spilled in the meantime."

The demonstrators chanted "Defense Minister Barak, how many children have you murdered today?" Hundreds of right-wing activists, who demonstrated opposite the leftists in support of the IDF's ground incursion in Gaza, chanted, "You are the cancer of this country."

During the last week, and across the country, 471 Arabs and Jews have been arrested in protests against the deadly Israeli operation in Gaza, 149 of those minors.

[Elidor]

77. To paraphrase the Digby quote in my sigline...

People who don't believe in collective punishment must not only be marginalized, they must be aggressively repudiated in order to win elections and govern.

I probably need the sarcasm tag under that. There are people on DU who would find themselves in perfect agreement with that statement.

[4dsc]

19. More criminal acts by Israel...

Fucking criminal...

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. How much more 'escalating' can they do? Are they going to nuke the Palestinians?

[Pavulon]

36. A bit of perspective. This is a teeny little event

when compared with death in DPRC (over 6 million in last few years) and historical military operations. This is the Paris Hilton of conflicts.

Strategic (area) bombing is technically an option for Israel. They F jets they use can carry more than a b29. We used those to kill 300,000 people in 12 hours. In 1945 with firebombs. That is hundreds of dead people a SECOND.

We obliterated Iraqi formations in GW1, not the highway of death that is a media event, but near division sized formations with 155, mlrs (rockets) and bombs. 15,000 or more dead in a few hours.

These parties have good publicity teams. That is why this is big news. If this were in africa or latin america it would be buried on page 13. This conflict is a lifestyle and cause for people who have no interest in seeing it end.

All the drama, imho, actually prevents a reasonable negotiated solution.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Pavulon]

43. Having driven over half of Yugoslavia

I can tell you this is a teeny tiny conflict made more complex by both sides media efforts. Both on geographic and casualty scales it is small.

There was some possibility that the breakup of Yugoslavia could have started some European war, you know like the ones that killed 40 million people last century, but it was slim.

This conflict has almost ZERO chance of creating a global conflict.

[pjt7]

44. "This conflict has almost ZERO chance of creating a global conflict."

That might be the dumbest statement I have ever read on DU.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pjt7]

50. "Maybe Iran, and that is a very long shot."

There you go buddy. You're starting to think a little.

A long shot? The Neo's in Israel are drooling to start something w/ Iran. & it looks like they are the one's in power.

[Pavulon]

52. So explain how Iran becomes WW3

a regional mess at best. Now how does that become a global thermonuclear war?

I have been listening to and beating down that Iran conflict scenario since the S. Hersch oil bourse bullshit. Same shit for years.

Iran is not going to be attacked by the US. Israel may blow up some of their reactors, maybe. And that will not lead to nuclear war.

Neo what, Israel has been involved in 3 real wars in the region since 48. None started ww3, those happened during the cold war and had real potential to make people glow in the dark.

[pjt7]

54. If Iran get's pulled into this fully w/ Israel

bombing them, you are going to see terrorism escalate world-wide. Maybe it won't be a "classic" WWIII scenario or even include any nukes. But the global scale of violence will equate to a world wide battle (IMO)

It's easy to imagine serious bloodshed in America,Britain,Egypt,Iraq,Pakistan, India & all over the world where there is Jewish or Muslim communities.

Just look at the massive World-wide protests this conflict is producing.

I hope it never get's there, but to think this "small" event in you're eyes doesn't have a lot of domino's connected to it, is misguided, in my view.

[Pavulon]

56. World Wars kill tens of millions

skirmishes kill 1000 people. You have NOT provided a vector for Iran conflict to lead to a war between G8 nations.

A protest does not equal a world war.

Nothing equals a world war. Again Israel participated in 3 real wars during the cold war where the US and USSR had interest in the outcome. That did not lead to a world war. What is different now?

[acmavm]

45. There are no 'teeney' conflicts. Only people with a very teeney sense of

human decency.

[Pavulon]

49. This is a cause, a lifestyle

for people. Those agents for one side or the other pretend this is the only conflict that has ever happened. That this is unique. This should have been forced to resolution at oslo. Religion and old cold war policy makes this seem difficult.

This conflict needs to end.

[pjt7]

51. "This conflict needs to end. "

Now you are talking.

[Pavulon]

53. For that to happen people need to back up

and agree that they are not special. God is on no ones side here. It is a classic weak force, strong force conflict.

If it were unconstrained there would be no gaza and all muslims in israel would be cleansed. That is not going on. Populations are forced to move around all the time. It may be horrible but it is a reality and outcome for many wars.

There are to many agents pimping there side and not enough brokers. The solution will have to be accepted by both sides It will have to be monitored and enforced, by BOTH sides.

[mbperrin]

40. So you would not mind if this "teeny little event" came to YOUR

neighborhood, right? Especially if it hit only your house - that would be microscopic.

So as long as bigger atrocities have been committed, it doesn't matter.

Some perspective there. Hope you get a chance to experience your thought in person. You might find out the worth of individual lives.

[Pavulon]

46. Ever been to Bosnia, I have

been to Sarajevo and dozens of towns where similar things happened. The point is that this conflict needs to be negotiated to an end.

It has dragged on and become a lifestyle for to many. It is not so big that it cant be stopped.

People who were killing each other in 95 get along now. Serbs were every bit as brutal as anything you see in this conflict. They may not like each other but they are not out shelling cities.

[High Plains]

68. Easy to say when the bombs aren't dropping on your head.

Sorry it doesn't meet your standards for mass blood-letting.

[peacetalksforall]

25. I feel Israel dropped the warnings for some future legal reason. I don't

know how to elaborate, I'm not a lawyer.

It is so stupid to warn them that the rest of them are going to be made extinct?

Is it part of their religion to warn people so that they can say prayers for the remainder of their life that has been shortened by another culture, religion, authoritative and complicit military and intelligence who seem to think they know where Hamas people are and who plant or send signals to those who fire.

It is now so desperate a situation, that those people might as well move to the water's edge.

I never thought I would ever experience living history as we have seen in these last eight years - from Katrina, to the prisons of torture scattered all over the planet and prisoners flying with blindfolds on in white Leer jets contracted by the CIA or our jet - since we paid for ownership nd the contracts.

Now, all good intentions and previous brave souls who helped broker peace from all countries - now they all know it was a waste of time. Israel is slaughtering the people of the Gaza Strip.

If you don't approve of this message, then explain it without the missile excuse.

Missiles are to Israel what wmds were to the U.S. A %#&^*$^$*$ EXCUSE to slaughter.

How utterly inhumane. Support for Israel now withdrawn. Creature leaders - just like ours. To compare them to animals is a crime against animals. Creature of their own making.

[Pavulon]

42. Drama

you would be correct if they were using area bombing. Sustained dropping of dumb bombs to level the cities. Or firebombs to burn it all down. It is actually easier to just level a grid on a map than target specific things.

I am pretty sure they could stack bodies faster if that were there goal. We killed 300,000 people overnight in Tokyo when we burned it to the ground. In 1945.

Israel has the same capability. Firebombs and airplanes.

You could look at it like this. DONT SHOOT MISSILES AT PEOPLE WHO CAN KILL YOU.

This needs a negotiated solution.

[peacetalksforall]

55. I won't look at it like you say here -

"You could look at it like this. DONT SHOOT MISSILES AT PEOPLE WHO CAN KILL YOU."

Missiles are to Israel as wmds were to Iraq - AN EXCUSE.

I don't believe it anymore.

What invasion was in Iraq by the US is what invasion in the Gaza Strip is ot Israel.

Land, oil, gas, submission, rule - for a few, for the profits and gain of a few.

Israel want the land and all the coast.

Missiles are a sorry excuse or Israel would have desired peace and agreed to live with Palestinians as agreed to a long time ago. The eye for eye has now ended - Israel has opted for an eye for EYES - lots of eyes.

Damn arrogant. I don't believe the lies of Israel leaders any more than I believe the lies of the US leaders.

What history will hsow is that in the first eight years of the 21st Century the US and Israel led a reign of terror on the people of the Middle East. The U.S. did not invade Iraq without the help of Israel and they did not send spies into Iran to spy without the help of Israel. And they co-wrote the plan to bomb Iran.

[Pavulon]

57. Dont bring a knife to a gunfight...

hamas has been shooting rockets. They still are. They were all over the radio 3 weeks ago talking about how ready they were to die fighting israel. Now they got what they wanted.

Gaza was part of egypt, Israel had the land. They GAVE IT BACK. And now hamas is there, shooting rockets and playing martyr.

Arafat fucked up at OSLO. Seems like when he went to shop it to all the arab nations it never came back.

[ohio2007]

26. EU said readying plan to restore Fatah-led PA rule over Gaza crossings

snip
European diplomats are mulling a proposal which would restore control of the Gaza Strip border crossings to the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, the Times of London newspaper reported in Saturday editions.

According to the proposal, Palestinian security personnel loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas would govern the border crossings with assistance from Turkish and French soldiers who would be stationed as monitors, the Times reported.

snip

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054239.html

Will Hamas agree to reopening the border,for the sake of the Gaza citizens, under those conditions ?

If not,
Why not ?

[Are_grits_groceries]

29. I'm not sure.

Hamas and the PA hate each other. They have been using this time to kill members
of each others group according to what Richard Engel said.

[Pavulon]

37. Hamas makes a negotiation

much more difficult. They have stated they have no use for a long term (50 year) hudna. Hudna is a time to re arm, that is what hamas does.

fatah may be willing to negotiate. They have in the past.

[Are_grits_groceries]

38. I agree. Hamas doesn't appear to care either.

The PA doesn't have much if any weight in Gaza.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Junkdrawer]

59. Israel has one week to finish off an operation that would normally take months....

As I've said on another thread, I believe the Obama administration wants the worst of it completed before they take office. That means this week will be particularly bloody. But don't expect to hear more that a peep about it in the Corporate Media. Israel is losing US popular support for this, so expect silence from the usual suspects.

[ohio2007]

60. January 18th

Thats what I heard from a wreckless journalist that was questioning French diplomats last week.

Hilliary will explain the US stand after 1/20

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fozzledick]

64. For those of you who haven't been paying attention

The IDF halted it's advance two days ago on the outskirts of Gaza City after completing the second stage of their planned counter-attack in order to press for diplomatic negotiations for a reliable and durable cease fire without having to assault the city.

It didn't work.

Hamas has continued their boasting that they will never cease fire until Israel is destroyed regardless of how many Palestinian civilians get killed in the process, Egypt has balked at allowing an international force on it's territory to block Hamas' supply line under their border, and the U.N. Security Council played self-serving political games while failing to pass a serious resolution condemning Hamas' breach of the peace or requiring them to actually cease fire.

Unless one of these conditions change very soon, Israel will proceed with the third stage of their plan:
to engage and destroy the Hamas forces in Gaza city, and to totally destroy their weapon-smuggling tunnels under the Egyptian border from the Gaza side. The Israelis are well aware of the risks of this operation, but they have been studying the tactical mistakes they made in Jenin and Lebanon, and are determined to do whatever is necessary to destroy Hamas' ability to make war against them.

Hamas will continue to do whatever they can to maximize civilian casualties, Israel will continue to do whatever it can to minimize them without giving Hamas a free pass for hiding behind them, and Hamas' supporters will continue to blame Israel whenever Hamas succeeds.

Unless Hamas or Egypt relent, things are about to get a LOT worse.

[pjt7]

70. Blinded by you're support for Israel

"Hamas will continue to do whatever they can to maximize civilian casualties, Israel will continue to do whatever it can to minimize them without giving Hamas a free pass for hiding behind them"

This is B.S.

[Fozzledick]

72. "and Hamas' supporters will continue to blame Israel whenever Hamas succeeds."

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fozzledick]

67. They've been trying for 60 years

That's what this is all about, isn't it?

[Name removed]

69. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blues90]

73. How are to brace themselves?

They have nowhere to go or hide , it's an abomination.

[rvablue]

75. Can someone explain to me the utility of dropping leaflets when there is NO place for

the innocents to run to? Where are they supposed to go?

This week, when they squeezed themselves into a U.N. "protected" school, they were bombed.

So, if someone gets one of the leaflets and they DO WANT to flee, where are they supposed to go?

[laststeamtrain]

78. From The Guardian(21.15 GMT): Israel to step up assault on Hamas

Saturday 10 January 2009 21.15 GMT
Israel to step up assault on Hamas
Leaflets warn Palestinians not to be 'close to terrorists' as hawks push to extend operations into city streets in phase three


<snip>

Some military analysts believe Hamas has largely avoided direct combat in order to hold its forces in reserve to fight in Gaza City, where the IDF will be more vulnerable than on the open ground it has so far occupied.

Phase three is one step short of a full reoccupation of the enclave, a move the government has consistently said it will not take. But an escalation will reinforce the growing belief among Palestinians that the assault is intended to topple Hamas. Israeli forces have in effect brought an end to the Hamas administration, with its leadership driven underground and much of the infrastructure of government destroyed.

The Israeli government is counting on Hamas being so weakened that it will agree to a ceasefire on almost any terms, including disarming and sharing power with the Palestinian Authority. It would also be expected to drop its demand for an end to the economic blockade of Gaza as a condition for a ceasefire.

But military and political analysts say that Hamas can block the Israeli strategy simply by refusing to agree to a ceasefire, no matter how bad things get. The military would then be stuck inside a potentially anarchic Gaza Strip, attempting to stop Hamas rockets, every one of which fired into Israel would amount to a victory for the Islamist group.

<more>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/10/israel-to-s...

[No Elephants]

81. Bill Moyers Journal this week: It's like Dante's Inferno. It's like bombing people in a cage.

Moyers was quoting someone, but I don't know whom.

[maddezmom]

82. updated link here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...