Either somebody in Ariel Sharon's office has been reading my commentary or great minds think alike. Today's attempted elimination of Hamas terror kingpin and all-around obstacle to peace Abdel Aziz Rantisi nearly succeeded. Maybe the IDF's aim will be better next time.
In the meantime, the Pediatrician-of-Death is lying wounded in a Gaza hospital. There's always hope for a nosocomial infection.
I'm puzzled by the White House reaction that
''The president is concerned that the strike will undermine efforts by Palestinian authorities and others to bring an end to terrorist attacks and does not contribute to the security of Israel,'' White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reportersWhy is the removal of one irredeemable terror boss any less justified than the attempted assassination of any other irredeemable terror boss? Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 10, 2003 11:19 AM
It is really troubling that the IDF missed - my experience is almost non apropos to what was done, i did not do combat, but it just seems to me, that all the successful hits in lebanon were ground to ground, or if from the air, in open spaces - of course gaza has not much open space, but the lack of follow thru makes me almost get conspiratorial and think this was a warning shot of some kind - that would be quite the aim on the apache, to just snub the car, but i guess it is not possible since civilians were killed, which is a real real problem for the IDF. taking a big piece of humble pie in that my life is not at stake so long as rantisi is alive, i think IDF hurts the "cause" by not targeting better - and yes, i know that the palestinian terrorists target anything, the IDF is so much better - although this certainly is a war.
whatever, i am confused, but just wanted to spew.
Posted by: anon on June 10, 2003 02:42 PMThis attempted hit was the absolutely stupidest, dumbest thing that Sharon has ever done. At least that I am aware of.
Sharon is looking more and more like a total buffoon.
I hope that someone can persuade me that Sharon knows what he is doing as this assination attempt appears to be a tactic without a strategy.
What purpose did today's attack serve? Did it help Isreal in any way? This tit for tat killing solves nothing and helps no one, other than the politicians, on both sides. This attack was exactlly what Hamas hoped to achieve. In retaliating Isreal plays into Hamas's hand. This is not to say that sitting back and watching Hamas murders is the easy or proper solution. You want to attack and confuse Hamas? Don't play this long lived game of tit for tat.
Many people on both sides of this conflict have suffered great pain. But like children each side insists "No! You first.".
In order to get Hamas and others under control, Mazen needs an infrastructure. This was distroyed by isreal under Afraft's regime. A regime I must say he still holds Great control of.
This might be a start, but do you really think if Hamas could be killed off, Isreal would not yet have done it? I come from Northern Ireland and I can assure you, their will be an endless supply of terrorists to fill the shoes of dead terrorists, unless you support the idea of killing off all the Palestinians?
Posted by: Pais Mocara on June 10, 2003 06:01 PMShark, with all due respect (and this is one of the few case where I mean that cliche-ridden phrase) you know we disgree on this one. My response to you and ohters is on my blog. Roger
Posted by: Roger on June 10, 2003 06:01 PM