400 dead, 1700 wounded in Gaza- Is there going to be a ground war?

[undeterred]

Poll question: 400 dead, 1700 wounded in Gaza- Is there going to be a ground war?

[chucktaylor]

1. I believe so, unless the rockets stop. That could seriously dent their excuse for a ground assault.

2 days without rockets and a public call for a truce from Hamas would gain public support outside of those solidly entrenched with one side or the other.

[Fozzledick]

16. Which is why the rockets will not stop, Hamas WANTS a ground war

Hamas plans to defeat Israeli force with epic "last stand" at Gaza City

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report

January 1, 2009, 12:39 PM (GMT+02:00)

DEBKAfile's military sources report that Hamas does not propose to put its entire 15,000-strong army in harm's way against the expected Israeli military invasion. It will confine its resistance to small pockets and sabotage and let Israel troops occupy most of Gaza Strip territory. Assuming the incoming force will stop short of conquering Gaza City and put it to siege, Hamas planners believe this siege force will be Israel's Achilles heel. They propose to wear it down over weeks by nocturnal guerrilla forays from within Gaza City and force an inconclusive end to the conflict.

Thousands of Hamas combatants have begun infiltrating Gaza City after shedding their uniforms and are taking over civilian apartments.

http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5815

[Selatius]

2. Israel may attempt to execute again what it tried to do with Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon.

That is, a massive incursion with the aim of disrupting or destroying Hamas infrastructure/communications. Whether or not Israel succeeds is another issue. Hamas is deeply entrenched, and it has "home-turf" advantage in terms of knowing the terrain.

I predict, though, that if such massive force is utilized, Israel will succeed only in making Hamas even stronger at the end of the day. Hezbollah support increased after Israel launched the war in Lebanon in 2006, reversing a slow downward trend over the last several years. Lebanon has been in political upheaval since then.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. They will not make that mistake again

The IAF took a very different approrach in Gaza, I expect the gorund forces to do something like that as well.

If Hamas is removed from power and the PA takes over, that will be enough to stop the air strikes and any ground combat

[Selatius]

9. At this point, I don't see how Hamas could be removed from power without a direct ground assault.

Hamas would not willingly hand over Gaza infrastructure unless their members were removed from it dead or alive. A ground incursion might do it, but given the population density in Gaza, it is difficult to imagine one where there weren't massive collateral damage akin to what was seen in Lebanon. For many people, losing family members as "collateral damage" is enough to push them to join Hamas.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. There is the PA, standing by waiting to resume control of Gaza

There have already been reports of Hamas and Fatah fighting each other. I fully expect some sort of takeover maneuver from them. That has a lot of good things about it
- Hamas is out of power
- Israel has said they will talk to the PA
- Egypt will reopen Rafah

Its clearly the best way out for Gaza and the Palestinians.

[Selatius]

13. The problem is the PA has little power inside the Gaza Strip.

Ever since the conflict between Hamas and the PA began, Hamas has basically purged PA members from the Gaza Strip. They would need military power to dislodge Hamas positions and its power base in the Strip. Israel has that kind of firepower, but the collateral damage may make a military solution unattractive.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. True, Hamas killed or ran off Fatah and the PA and then would not allow elections

but few dare call them fascists.

A starving and battered people offered food and survival for overthrowing a known fascist overlords could be very tempted.

[malaise]

3. The ground war will mean that Israeli soldiers will be killed

That won't help those election polls.

[Xenotime]

5. They are as blood thirsty as our military

[MercutioATC]

4. Skirmishes? Yes. A ground war? No way.

The main reason for the rockets is they're the only means of warfare that can be effectively used against Israel. A gounnd war would be suicide.

...unless you're suggesting that Israel might start one. That's possible.

[undeterred]

11. They might.

And I wonder what the US would do. Send in troops to help the Israelis? God forbid, the Arab world will never forgive us.

[opihimoimoi]

6. No signs of abatement.....40,000 dead maybe....270,000 wounded..maybe

4,000,000 dead??? 40,000,000 ? When the Hell does it end??

Total extimction??? 7 BILLION?

Are we Nuts?

[dysfunctional press]

7. war?

don't you mean slaugh-ter...?

[santamargarita]

12. Yes,..

...and they will find a way to attack Iran before "Shitbag Bush" leaves office.

[MiniMe]

15. They know that Bush will support them no matter what

And they aren't sure if Obama will be supportive. So I would expect them to try to end this quickly

[EFerrari]

17. Gaza residents near the border are evacuating. n/t

[spanone]

18. war, uh good god, what is it good for, absolutely fucking NOTHING.