Enough is enough. Obama needs to say something. Just today, at least 40 killed at UN School in Gaza

[TeamJordan23]

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tank fire killed up to 40 Palestinians at a United Nations school in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, medical sources at two hospitals said.

Two tank shells exploded outside the school, spraying shrapnel on people inside and outside the building, where hundreds of Palestinians had sought refuge from fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants. In addition to the dead, several dozen people were wounded, the officials said.

Medical officials said all the dead were either people sheltering in the school or local residents.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE50544520090106

How long is the massacre going to continue before any of our political leaders has some guts to condemn actions like this. While Israel has a right to defend itself, the invasion and the amount of people they are killing is unjust. Some people here like to defend the actions by saying the response does not have to proportional. Let me ask you then, when people in Iraq target our planes by rocket missiles, should we just go and cluster bomb the whole town where the rocket missile came from.

I understand there is only one president at a time. But the world is looking at Obama as President now. They don't care about Bush; never have and never will. It is time for Obama to quiet playing it politically safe and stand for principles that are right and just and condemn this crap.

[cali]

1. I don't know. I have mixed feelings on this.

If Obama speaks out, the backlash will be intense. It's not really about world opinion so much as American politics. That said, I don't see why he couldn't endorse a cease fire.

[MADem]

2. Obama and his team have said, repeatedly "One President at a time."

The world is looking at Obama as President-Elect, not President. They won't look at him as President until he takes the oath and dances at the balls.

He's not stupid. There will be a day when HE steps down. He doesn't want HIS successor stepping on HIS exit, either.

People who can't understand why former Presidents, even from opposing parties, are reasonably collegial with one another forget that it's the rarest job in the world--there aren't too many people with whom you can compare notes about that unique experience.

He's not playing it safe. He's playing it the way any President-Elect with good sense would do.

Also, I wouldn't count on strong condemnations in any event. Obama has weighed in on this issue in the past, when he was in Israel, in fact. There might be appeals for cease fire and negotiations, expressions of regret over loss of life, but I wouldn't look for Obama to get up on a high horse and excoriate Israel.

[ananda]

8. Gaza is an extraordinary situation ..

.. requiring all humans to step up and
take a stand.

Not to do so shows the same mindset that
allowed Nazism to grow.. sitting back
and doing nothing.

[MADem]

13. Don't get mad at him when he doesn't do what you want. NT

[JuniperLea]

3. I don't think it's a good idea until he is actually in office

They love Bush the Warmonger, are you kidding? Do you want to give Bush an excuse to start WWIII before he leaves office?

I trust Obama to do the right thing. I'm sure he's privy to a lot more information than we are at this point.

He could speak out in favor of a cease fire, but at what cost? Would that cheese off Bush/Cheney? Is it worth the risk? Would the benefit outweigh the risk? I don't think any of us knows for sure.

[brianna69]

4. Obama doesn't have to say

shit until January 20. Bush is our president until then. I am sick of this attitude that Obama needs to be the savior of the world. After January 20 Obama will speak out plenty about our foreign policy position in regards to this and many other issues. Whoever can't deal with that - tough.

[Jennicut]

5. Its not going to stop Israel. They need real action taken against them

like cutting off their aid. Until then, its just words.

[zipplewrath]

6. The problem is

His condemnation today could become the basis of increased violence on the part of Hamas. They could see it as support for almost any action they could dream up. Until he is in a place where he can communicate through all available channels, he has to be concerned how what he says is consumed.

[depakid]

7. One thing for sure- the current Israeli government is giving him a LOT of polical capital

to deal with them once he gets in office, provided that he has the courage and politcal foritude to use it to get them to the table and negotiate in good faith.

Perhaps they're banking on the fact that he'll forgive them for putting him on the spot with their repeated atrocities- while at the same time endangering America's economic recovery.

We shall see.

[democrank]

9. Many times in American politics

principles take a back set to handlers. Then there`s the don`t-make-waves-where-they-matter factor. It happens over and over and over and we make excuse after excuse after excuse. This "one president at a time" is pure bullshit. If that`s the case, President-Elect Obama should have stayed quiet on ALL issues.

We can`t have it both ways...or all ways...or no ways and then pretend we stand for something.

[zulchzulu]

10. Wow. My calendar must be broken. Is it January 20 already?

I'm supposed to be in DC for the Inauguration WHEN OBAMA BECOMES PRESIDENT... dang.

[Thrill]

11. Israel is on a mission, nothing Obama can say until he is President

will stop them

[yourguide]

12. I also have mixed feelings about this.

My feeling is, Israel did this specifically prior to Obama taking office so they could get away with whatever they can now.

Obama comes out now, calls for a cease fire, and is in no official capacity to dictate what the US will or will not do if Israel does not comply. Then Israel will see the writing on the wall and try to get in as many of their last licks now. That will mean 100s more killed, 1000s more injured, etc

[Mira]

14. How many more have to die? Principle and Presidency ascendancy

be damned.
It is not right today.
It has been deplorable yesterday.
And it will not magically become OK to state an opinion about it come January 20.

I want to trust Obama based on previous impeccable judgment on many issues.
But this is slaughter. It is disproportionate. The reasons for the rockets sent into Israel are not explored and publicized.
This gives OVERKILL a whole new perspective as retaliation, and I cannot condone his silence. I simply can't.

What exactly has Condi been up to in her stiletto heels with her butt wagging in the air anyway?
8 years of no furthering of any movement towards solutions, I am spitting nails.