Israel Finds Hamas Are No Longer Amateur Fighters
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 22nd, 2014
Good morning!
The latest from CNN.
Israel finds Hamas are no longer amateur fighters
Gaza City (CNN) – Israel’s ground incursion into Gaza, which it says is intended to destroy Palestinian militants’ tunnels and stop rocket fire into Gaza, has entered its fifth day with the death toll mounting on both sides and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arriving in Egypt. CNN’s Ben Wedeman, a veteran Middle East correspondent, puts the incursion into perspective.
How does this incursion compare to previous ones by Israel into Gaza, in terms of military force?
Unlike 2008/09, this incursion seems to be focused on areas with high concentrations of people, initially focusing on the Gaza City neighborhood of Shaja’ia. In ’08/09 the focus was on areas where rockets were being fired, which were typically away from highly populated communities.
And of course at this stage, it’s unclear how many Palestinian casualties there have been in these locations. The people have been warned by the Israelis to leave these areas with phone messages, but while many have left, a significant proportion has stayed behind.
My impression is that Israel has mobilized a much larger military force than in 2008/09 and in 2012. This is part of the picture of the Israelis going into heavily populated areas — which is a much more dangerous operation, as can be seen by the deaths of at least 13 Israeli soldiers on Sunday.
Is Israel likely to achieve its objective of destroying the tunnels, and stopping the rocket strikes?
So far, Israel hasn’t been wildly successful in its stated mission. Since this started, Hamas has been using tunnels in an attempt to ambush and capture soldiers and continues to fire rockets at Israel, although the number fired has gone down. What we see is that as Israel’s capabilities have changed, so have Hamas’. Whenever Israel comes up with new tactics, Hamas and other factions seem to find new ways to counter them, such as by using longer-range rockets to fire at Israel, for example.
What is significant now is that Hamas fighters appear to be better trained, with a new set of skills that I don’t think Israel anticipated. One Israeli soldier who came out of Shaja’ia was quoted in an Israeli publication that Hamas is fighting like Hezbollah, which waged a successful guerrilla war against Israel’s occupation in the 1980s and 1990s, and inflicted high casualties on Israeli forces during the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon.
The last serious street fighting I saw in Gaza was in early 2008, and it was almost like it was “amateur hour,” with fighters in Gaza parading around with their weapons but not really able to stop the Israeli forces. Now it appears they’ve learned they must keep a much lower profile. They’ve developed what could be called commando tactics, and are taking full advantage of their knowledge of their turf.
How long do you believe this incursion will last? How soon before it realistically is better described as a war?
This is now a war, in my modest opinion — it’s gone beyond a mere incursion. Hamas shows no sign of backing down, and didn’t jump at Egypt’s cease-fire proposal. They want to show that they’re a military force to be reckoned with, and are in it for the long run.
Israel’s defense minister said it would take two or three days to destroy the tunnels. If this crisis is to end soon, Israel will have to pull back and Hamas needs to stop firing rockets. In Hamas’ opinion, they have achieved one of their objectives, which is to give Israel a bloody nose.
They claim to have captured an Israeli soldier — as yet this is unconfirmed — but if true, it would be a huge feather in their cap, in their own terms. When Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas in a June 2006 raid near the Israel-Gaza border, it took five years before he was freed, in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners — so, if true, this will be a huge bargaining chip for Hamas.
Will the death toll already suffered by Israel have a serious impact on public opinion in Israel?
Israelis are used to this sort of death toll from Hezbollah, but not from Hamas. I was on the streets of Gaza on Sunday night, when Palestinians celebrated the claims that an Israeli soldier had been captured.
Shortly afterwards, the guns on Israeli navy boats opened up. The immediate conclusion of everyone in the street was that this was Israel’s response to the capture of one of its soldiers.
How much effect will the pressure/condemnation from the United Nations (and in the off-mic remarks from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry) have?
I believe the U.N. remarks will have no effect in Gaza. There is a perception there that the U.N. “talks but doesn’t walk” — it’s toothless in other words. Hamas realizes it has few friends in the outside world.
The remarks of the White House last week though will not go down well in Israel, I believe. And the comments of John Kerry on Sunday — which left some wondering whether he was criticizing Israeli assurances that its ground offensive in Gaza would be limited — indicate American patience may be wearing thin. After one of his deputies mentioned the latest number of Palestinian casualties, Kerry was heard to say, “It’s a hell of a pinpoint operation.”
It is estimated that 70% of the more than 500 Palestinians killed in Israel’s assault have been civilians. Washington has tied itself to Israel, and that country’s right to self-defense, therefore the U.S. is going to feel some responsibility. Americans support Israel rhetorically, but this high Palestinian death toll is very problematic for the U.S. This is why Kerry may be feeling uncomfortable — he spent almost a year trying to forge a Mideast peace deal, and what’s he got to show for it now?
*****
Blog me.
Darrel: I suppose you are correct. I’m just frustrated and angry that this is happening so much and not much is being done about it. And the thugs that act this way know that, so they basically get away with it. What about the recent where the man was killed after the cop held him in a chokehold (an illegal maneuver)? The man being choked repeatedly said, “Can’t breathe.” When does it stop? Thanks for commenting.
Steve: I was wondering how long it would be before I was called a man hater again. I’m not surprised when the tiny-dicked men get riled up and say that I am a man hater, because they can’t deal with their own inadequacies.
Let me say it again and perhaps it will seep into your thick head..I don’t hate men, I only hate the things that men do. It is the men that are abusive, raping and murdering women for doing nothing…for just being women…it is the men that hate women not because of anything we do, but just because we are women. If men didn’t do the horrific things they do to women, I wouldn’t have any reason to hate…Period.
PS With respect to your silly comment, about why women make less, read Trish’s comment…I think she’s onto something that probably applies to you.
Peace out.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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July 22nd, 2014 at 10:55 am
Howie, sense you know so much about what is happening in Russia, is it true that the US is grounding passenger planes heading to Tel Aviv because they are aware that one of those Buks are heading for Gaza.
I was told that it was dismantled and is being shipped to the Gaza Strip to shoot down any planes heading in or out of Tel Aviv.
What say Ye?
July 22nd, 2014 at 10:58 am
It’s a shame Michelle that tiny penis wonders like Steve can’t get pass their inadequacies.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:00 am
Wipe Gaza off the map israel.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:01 am
Israel cannot fight face to face their bunch of pussies you go Hamas.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:01 am
Yay for Hamas.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:07 am
We have one of yours Howie. When we get through with him he will love dick. Then we will trade him for thousands of our prisoners.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:19 am
CN#6, you are sick. Other people are haunted by mass deaths because they value life and have a conscience, as opposed to most Moslems who rejoice at news of a mass murder committed in the name of Allah.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:39 am
It appears another of your predictions is coming true Howie. The Republicans are clearly shirting around the need to pass legislation to defeat ObamaCare by getting the federal judges they appointed to just kill it.
Evidently the republicans are emboldened by how well the general public accepted the destruction of the Constitution by S.T.A.R.K. of SCOTUS.
What’s next will one of their federal appointed judges order the arrest of Obama?
——————–
U.S. Appeals Courts Issue Conflicting Decisions On Obamacare Subsidies – http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/07/22/334034284/u-s-appeals-court-deals-blow-to-obamas-health-law
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:43 am
Israel hits hundreds of targets in Gaza with airstrikes after one of their soldiers is confirmed missing in area
Missing soldier has been identified as 21-year-old Sergeant Oron Shaul
He was among seven soldiers in vehicle destroyed by an anti-tank missile in Gaza at weekend
In the past, Israel has swapped hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for a single Israeli held by Hamas
Number of Palestinians killed in the fighting passes 600 – UN says 75 per cent were civilians
Israeli Prime Minister says Hamas are violent Islamist extremists like ISIS and Boko Haram
UN Secretary General calls on both sides to ‘stop fighting, start talking’ and tackle root causes
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:44 am
Last night, Mohamed Z. Tantish, his wife, and all 5 of their children were killed when an Israeli missile struck their apartment building. There were no arms caches or Hamas fighters there – just people cowering in terror. And now they are dead.
http://t.co/L3noa8pYqn
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:46 am
Gaza had a booming fishing industry; it was driven out of business by the Israeli blockade – declared a “security risk”. Some of the best farming land in Gaza is closed to Palestinians by the Israeli military; “security risk”. Building materials – forbidden to be imported: “security risk”.
Over 2000 Gazans sit in Israeli prisons, held without charge – no access to lawyers, judges, or appeal. Their crime? None. They were simply declared “security risks”.
Sensing a pattern? And a source for boiling anger and resistance?
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:46 am
‘m curious. Why do we always see pictures of suffering Palestinians, but never see pictures of heavily armed Hamas militants on NPR? Just asking…
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:47 am
When the Israeli government is not busy indiscriminately bombing people in their homes, they force the Gaza population to get their goods through tunnels, which they are now destroying.
The Israeli government blocks peaceful flotillas from delivering humanitarian medical and food supplies from foreign countries. They are the warden of the largest prison in the world, that they created.
Also, Israeli settlement building in Palestine is a war crime under international law.
Palestinians have the right under international law to resist occupation, ethnic cleansing, colonization, aggression, and annexation.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:49 am
Mj#10, How can you say for certain there where no fighters or caches of arms? Did people who live in the building work in the rocket factories? Could the building be used in the future for rocket attacks? Or did they strike it to just inflict pain and suffering? The truth is we don’t know.
There are a lot of unanswered questions and I’m not sure anyone really has the full picture. I feel for the Palestinian people caught in the middle and don’t have anywhere that they can go.
But they did vote for Hamas, they do support them and maybe instead of digging tunnels to attack Israel they should have been digging bomb shelters, like Israel has been doing since Hamas started firing rockets at it.
July 22nd, 2014 at 11:52 am
Jacques#11, Of course, all this dastardly blockade stuff has nothing to do with all the rocket fire emanating from Gaza. After Israel withdrew from Gaza at great cost, leaving behind greenhouses and open borders. Just go on blaming Israel as if they’re the only one in the wrong. Really constructive.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Joseph#14, voting for Hamas makes everyone Hamas? Just like everyone is responsible in a democracy of israel, which has a missile shield yet chooses a ground offensive that causes nearly 5000 casualties in 15 days?
Let’s be honest about something, palestine has no Lovernment its 2 pieces of land cut in half by Israel anyone claiming to be a leader is branded Hamas by Israel and killed .
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:06 pm
FD#16, But for the the missile shield, how many Israeli casualties would there be?
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:07 pm
FD#16, “voting for Hamas makes everyone hamas? “ Good point, lest we Americans be judged by the likes of George Bush
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:08 pm
Joseph#14, So they were killed because their building might be used for future rocket launches? And that actually makes sense to you, right?
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:17 pm
MJ#19, Israeli soldiers will say they are just doing their job
same words spoken 60 years ago.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:19 pm
MJ#19, I have no clue to the motivation behind that particular strike and neither do you. So its hard to say one way or other if it was justified. I’m sad that civilians died, I wish that didn’t happen.
I also wish that Hamas would clearly mark their rocket launch sites Israel could hit them more accurately and wouldn’t have to guess. If Hamas is firing rockets at its neighbors, Israel should destroy Hamas’s ability to launch rockets. That includes removing possible launch sites, so yes that makes sense.
Maybe if Hamas didn’t use civilian buildings to launch rocket attacks Israel wouldn’t destroy possible launch sites. Maybe they are just firing indiscriminately, like Hamas is doing, I don’t know. So what is the alternative?
Israel does nothing until Hamas finally figures out a way to destroy Israel? Sit back and be destroyed? Ask Hamas nicely to stop trying to destroy Israel, the 8,000th time is the charm, right?
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:24 pm
Joseph#21, “Possible launch sites” means “everywhere”. Perhaps there should be a huge buffer zone between Israel and Gaza.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:25 pm
Joseph#21, Your average National Palestinian Radio consumer thinks the Palestinians are launching nothing more harmful at Israeli civilians than pillows stuffed with feathers harvested from free-range fair trade geese.
The puppet masters on this network are too busy keeping a running body count, as if this war is nothing more than a continuation of the World Cup and nothing matters besides how few Jews are getting killed, while sweeping under the rug the fact that the Gazans elected a branch of the militant Muslim Brotherhood to administer the country the Israelis bequeathed them when they withdrew from Gaza.
I agree that not everyone has the full picture, and not every Palestinian Arab supports Hamas, but they have shown themselves to have no compunction about killing Arabs who oppose them; it’s probably safer just to keep their heads down and try to stay out of it. But to hear about Hamas’ killings of Arabs, you are going to have to search elsewhere than NPR.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Joseph#21, – Yes.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Joseph21, Hard to build bomb shelters when you can’t get steel and concrete.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:31 pm
FD#20, Israel is busy making more future enemies to fuel its military/industrial complex. It is a war economy that needs war to survive.
It is heavily subsidized by the western world to atone for the guilt complex it developed when it didn’t help European Jews and allowed the Germans to commit genocide against them on an industrial basis. Israel alternates its enemies – Palestinians for a while, SYrians, Lebanese, egypt and Jordan on occasion, back to the Palestinians and so on and so on and so on.
They always have Iran as a hole card. Much of the world hate of and concern for Iran is Israeli instigated. Whenever there is a possible breakthrough, Israel makes up lies to avert it. Israel is the source of most of the problems in the Middle East and in the world.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Ardat#23, Well at least this comment isn’t biased at all…
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Ruben#25, They don’t have a problem building concrete reinforced attack tunnels, with power and communication lines strung through out. It seems logical that knowing what Israel’s response will be, that they prepare for it appropriately.
But Hamas seems to care more about launching futile rocket attempts at Israel instead of protecting its citizens.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Colt#27, I don’t accept that Israel and Hamas are equivalent just because they are belligerents. Israel builds hospitals for its people. The Palestinians (Hamas or Fatah/PLO, pick one) send suicide bombers. Israel cedes Gaza, and builds barriers to keep Gazans on
their side of the border. Hamas ships in rockets. Israel embargoes the sea. Hamas builds tunnels to smuggle rockets in by land.
Israel installs a missile defense system. Hamas insists on launching rockets from heavily-populated regions, and caches them in schools and mosques.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:39 pm
There is never a “winning” side in war as long as there are people are being killed – everybody is either someone;s spouse, child, sibling or parent. It’s a lose-lose situation.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:39 pm
Ruben#25, They don’t have a problem building concrete reinforced attack tunnels, with power and communication lines strung through out. It seems logical that knowing what Israel’s response will be, that they prepare for it appropriately.
But Hamas seems to care more about launching futile rocket attempts at Israel instead of protecting its citizens.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:41 pm
MJ#19, These are precise missile strikes by the Israeli air force. Are you suggesting they (the Israeli government) are downplaying the fact that civilian life means just as little to them as a Hamas militants life?
That they use excuses such as ‘Hamas uses civilians as shields’ as a blanket cover statement for when they destroy a target (or miss) and kill someone/a group of people that were otherwise innocent?
That this conflict is as just as much about Hamas as it is about sending a message to the Palestinian population in Gaza? Agreed.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Colt#27, I don’t accept that Israel and Hamas are equivalent just because they are belligerents. Israel builds hospitals for its people. The Palestinians (Hamas or Fatah/PLO, pick one) send suicide bombers. Israel cedes Gaza, and builds barriers to keep Gazans on their side of the border.
Hamas ships in rockets. Israel embargoes the sea. Hamas builds tunnels to smuggle rockets in by land. Israel installs a missile defense system. Hamas insists on launching rockets from heavily-populated regions, and caches them in schools and mosques.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Ardat#29, It’s been tit-for-tat for decades. X kills Y. Y kills X. X kils Y. Y kills X. No side is blameless.
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Ardat#29, Wait a second: Israel *started* this entire debacle when it forcibly took territory against the protestations of every state in the region. You can argue all you want about Israel’s “right to exist” but you cannot say it has a “right to exist in peace” given its bloody birth.
If the historical situation were reversed would you expect Jews to not fight their oppressors? I take no sides in this issue except to say that the establishment of any ethno-religious state is an idiotic idea (this includes Islamic states) and that Isaac Asimov nailed it decades ago: http://www.goodreads.com/quote…
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:48 pm
James#32, Something else you need to know about the Gaza conflict. Global leaders no longer look to Barack as a figure of strength. Instead they call on the intelligence expert.
“Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he has stopped talking to US President Barack Obama on the phone, amid growing strains between Ankara and Washington over Syria and the Gaza conflict.
I have talked to (US Vice President Joe) Biden. He calls me and I call him.” http://news.yahoo.com/no-longe…
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:48 pm
“ There is a land of the living and a land of the dead and the bridge is love. ”
— Thornton Wilder
July 22nd, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Melanie#35, Israel’s “bloody birth” was bloody because the Arabs chose to make it such. The refugee situation was a result of neighboring Arabs urging the Palestinians to leave the area so they could “drive the Jews into the sea.”
The Palestinians chose to throw their lot in with the Arab states, all of whom lost their bets. And to think that if the Palestinians had accepted a two-state solution then, they could have avoided all the subsequent humiliations.
Israel may always have to sleep with a knife in one hand. That’s fine; no one has a “right” to peace. But if you are going to threaten, as both you and Hamas do, that the Jews should expect to live under the specter of constant violence, then you cannot cry foul when Israel dishes Hamas’ own remedy back to them.
Hamas started this a couple weeks ago; they deserve to get smacked. Hard. The Arabs may have the right to engage in violence against Israel, but they don’t have the rights to violence with impunity–much less the rights to victory or personal survival.
Lastly, the establishment of ethno-religious states in the former Yugoslavia quieted that region down pretty well. So regardless of whether the Middle East is ever peaceful, I think you haven’t reasoned through your opinions very thoroughly.
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:44 pm
Anonymous#37, let that be your defense when you are cornered in an alley by some criminal bent on taking your money or raping you and then making sure he isn’t caught for his 3rd strike.
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Drones are a lot more precise than what Israel is doing right now, but that doesn’t stop many Americans – on the left and the right – from denouncing Obama’s drone policy. It’s one of the major ways he’s disappointed his supporters.
July 22nd, 2014 at 3:56 pm
Larry#40, Just ask Pakistan, drones are way more precise, so precise that we have only killed close to a 1000 civilians roughly 200 of those being children and we have even admittedly killed U.S. civilians. Before we start pointing fingers we should take a look at whats really going on in the world.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:07 pm
The bought and paid for five S.T.A.R.K. are at it again. – “Supreme Court lifts ban on aggregate campaign donations.”
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court took another step Wednesday toward giving wealthy donors more freedom to influence federal elections.
The justices ruled 5-4, in a decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, that limits on the total amount of money donors can give to all candidates, committees and political parties are unconstitutional. The decision leaves in place the base limits on what can be given to each individual campaign.
“The government has a strong interest, no less critical to our democratic system, in combating corruption and its appearance,” Roberts wrote. “We have, however, held that this interest must be limited to a specific kind of corruption — quid pro quo corruption — in order to ensure that the government’s efforts do not have the effect of restricting the First Amendment right of citizens to choose who shall govern them.”
The decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, which came nearly six months after it was argued at the beginning of the court’s term in October, marks the latest round in the bitter national debate over the role of money in American politics.
More immediately, it alters the political landscape ahead of November’s midterm elections and could transform state contests as well. Legal experts said the ruling also erodes aggregate contribution limits imposed by the District of Columbia and 12 states, ranging from Connecticut to Wyoming.
SUPREME COURT: Justices side with Secret Service in discrimination case
SUPREME COURT: Justices uphold gun ban for domestic violence
It’s the most important campaign-finance ruling since the high court’s 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts independently to influence elections.
The court’s four liberal justices dissented vehemently from Roberts’ ruling. Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the minority, said the decision “understates the importance of protecting the political integrity of our governmental institutions.”
“Taken together with Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, today’s decision eviscerates our nation’s campaign finance laws, leaving a remnant incapable of dealing with the grave problems of democratic legitimacy that those laws were intended to resolve,” Breyer wrote.
RULING: McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission
MORE: Winners and losers from the McCutcheon decision
The case pitted the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech – which the justices previously have equated with spending money in elections – against the government’s interest in preventing political corruption. Roberts and the court’s majority had little trouble siding with free speech.
“The government may no more restrict how many candidates or causes a donor may support than it may tell a newspaper how many candidates it may endorse,” he wrote.
The decision was a victory for the Republican National Committee, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, and Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon, who challenged the $123,200 cap on contributions an individual can give to all federal candidates, parties and political action committees in a two-year election cycle.
McCutcheon’s challenge did not extend to the $2,600 limit on how much a donor can give to a federal candidate in each primary and general election or the $32,400 limit that can go to a national party committee. Those limits, which guard against corruption, are at the root of the federal law.
In his ruling, Roberts reiterated the importance of those limits in protecting against political corruption.
“Our cases have held that Congress may regulate campaign contributions to protect against corruption or the appearance of corruption,” he said. “Congress may not regulate contributions simply to reduce the amount of money in politics, or to restrict the political participation of some in order to enhance the relative influence of others.”
Under the court’s ruling, donors will have to stick to that $2,600 limit but can give to as many campaigns as they want without worrying about the previous $123,200 ceiling. The decision also could jeopardize separate contribution caps in at least a dozen states, from Arizona to Wyoming.
“While I understand some base limits on the dollar amount of single contributions, limits to the overall number of candidates, parties and committees are nothing more than unnecessary limits to First Amendment freedom,” McCutcheon said in reaction to the ruling. “The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the unconstitutionality of aggregate limits.”
McConnell, perhaps the nation’s leading opponent of campaign finance limits, noted the ruling doesn’t lift restrictions on the most corruptible contributions.
“Let me be clear for all those who would criticize the decision: It does not permit one more dime to be given to an individual candidate or a party,” he said. “It just respects the constitutional rights of individuals to decide how many to support.”
==========================
The republicans have shredded all facades that they wish to govern by legislation. They are going for the jugular with decisions to change the Constitution by their bought and paid for judges.
There is nothing sacred. As long as those five creeps are alive they will use them to make law from the bench.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:17 pm
jobu#41, You’re using the extreme high end for the estimates of civilian casualties. The low end is less than half that. This is from the New York Times on Nov 1, 2013: “Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense stated that 67 civilians had been among the 2,227 people killed in 317 drone strikes since 2008.
The Ministry said that the remainder of those killed were Islamic militants.” Obviously any civilian casualties are unfortunate, but the accuracy rate for the drone strikes sounds pretty darn high here, compared to the Israeli offensive at least.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Jobu#41, it is always interesting to hear those who benefit from the sacrifices of our military men and women come forward and pontificate about the morals of using drones.
That is so easy when their lives are not on the line defending this country. Drones keeps our military men and women out of harms way and that is okay with me.
Those of you who don’t like the moral implications of using drones, should volunteer your asses or the asses of your sons and daughters so we can put you and them on the front lines and save those drone strikes.
I bet the first time you have to risk your life going into a hostile environment to achieve a military goal. you will be the first to suggest using a drone.
HYPOCRITES!
Your morals are okay risking someone else’s life to preserve them. As long as that life isn’t someone you love or care about.
The perpetrator doesn’t get to say how much or what force can be used to repel his bad intentions. But evidently you gutless wonders do.
July 22nd, 2014 at 4:30 pm
I stand with Robert#44, Larry#40 & the President on this one. A captured US pilot being beheaded on the world stage is an American president’s worst nightmare. If not for the enemy’s brutality drone sorties would be unnecessary.
And I for one am tired of our sons and daughters coming home in body bags or so badly wounded they need prostetics to function.
July 22nd, 2014 at 6:25 pm
#44 Robert, perfectly stated. Notice the gutless will likely not respond
July 22nd, 2014 at 9:19 pm
Mike,TM #42: Thank you for your comment. Somehow, someway, something must be done about those 5 knuckleheads known as S.T.A.R.K.. Their rulings are so blatantly unconstitutional, and made with such complete impunity. It appears that the legislative and judicial branches seem to have mysteriously merged, and have all but eliminated the authority of the Executive Branch. The US Constitution as we know it will soon cease to be at this rate.
Five creeps on the bench that will hand this nation over to the GOP on a silver platter.
July 22nd, 2014 at 10:35 pm
Al & Mike, TM, there’s very little that can stop STARK (#STARKravingmad) bc they’re untouchable … a total loose cannon of the constitution, how’d that happen that 5 people have so much power for life and there’s few checks and balances to hold them accountable and those that do are all apparently ought and paid for also … I would love to have been in the room when they came up with this incredibly dumb idea. I wondre if we still have AH the time traveler still out there and would like to give us the fill in on that bc I never understood that and it’s completely out of control now …
- ZL
July 23rd, 2014 at 4:12 am
ZL: Have not heard of AH, Adam, or Bita in a long time. Five men are holding the whole country down, it is hard to imagine lifetime appointments and un-touchability, to boot. Suppose they have the right people’s (money) support.
July 23rd, 2014 at 4:24 am
The S.T.A.R.K. 5 make a great case for retro-active abortion.
July 23rd, 2014 at 6:44 am
Al, I’m lol over here ‘retro-active abortion’ for these 5 I’m all for it, in fact, there’s a few LSOS that qualify…
So glad your back, missed those kind of comments … Luv, ZL
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:09 am
I’m glad you are back to Al. I hope we can be friends as you are with Zen Lill.
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:11 am
Michelle, if you are not Al and Zen Lill, Why does she have dibs on all the good ones on this blog?
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:12 am
I wish you horny bitches would get a life. No one has dibs on my man. That includes Zen Lill.
Besides she is not really all that.
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:21 am
i see the cat hair is flying early this morning. Linda why do you feel that you have “dibs” on AL.
It is not like he is up for grabs on a first come first serve basis. Yes, he’s obviously intelligent, a touch volatile (a lot of girls like that too), and he can make you laugh so unexpectedly as to seem gifted in analyzing the angst of others.
But he has not said that he prefers one Lady over the other as Anonz evidently did for Zen Lill. So until he does Linda “Alls Fair In Love and War.”
There go my panties into the ring,
Hello Al :-)
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:31 am
Zen Lill can’t help she has a way with the word. Don’t be so jealous Linda. They’re just friends.
Now as to whether she is really Michelle, that question is still out.
My husband doesn’t think so because he thinks Michelle can do no wrong. That little head thing.
His sister on the other hand says she sees the Michelle in Zen Lill when she makes sense. She’s a shrink so I tend to agree with her. My sister says that Zen Lill is totally made up by Michelle, but she’s a fox fake news fan (doesn’t believe in climate change) so her opinion isn’t worth shit.
My best friend says that if Zen Lill was real she’d have to be a 100 years old with all the experience she’s had. I really lean in that direction.
My oldest friend says Zen Lill is the crazy bitch Michelle wants to be so she penned that character to let the wild out. Seems logical.
For five years I have been wrestlng with this dilemma. Any ideas?????
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:44 am
Yeah, Ellie, I got one. Get a life idiot. I’ve seen Zen Lill’s pictures. She’s very attractive, but she looks nothing like Michelle. I’ve seen Michelle in the flesh several times. I know the girl from her school days.
I’ve see her flash a peek at them panties once or twice. She doesn’t need to live vicariously through any character. The woman is a sexual treat to the eyes and she knows how to make it work.
If you bothered to read what she writes, you would have noticed the distinct different approach they take to analyzing an issue. Zen Lill is like a General Practitioner, she examines and probes all over the place.
Michelle on the other hand is like a skilled surgeon. She cuts through the flesh of an issue and seizes the ailment and attempts to cut it out.
On occasion I have tried to get into her panties, that is another story and a gentleman never tells. I haven’t met Zen Lill, but if Michelle says she is real, she is. The Lady isn’t a liar.
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:45 am
WOW! Lois#55, you are a SLUT!
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:55 am
Al#50, I agree with you assessment. S.T.A.R.K. has demonstrated they will stop only if they are made to. I wouldn’t suggest violence. That would set a precedence that would undermine the very concept of Democracy.
But something has to be done to reign those bought and paid for idiots in.
July 23rd, 2014 at 7:55 am
WE know who you are Frank#57.
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:44 am
Frank#57, one question. Was that peek, before or after camera phones.
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:46 am
Frank#57, just put that head on any decent body and you have a hot commodity. So where does she prowl?
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:47 am
You men are so sick.
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:48 am
Since when has drooling been illegal or even in bad taste if it is done discretely? Don’t let the Green show.
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:49 am
Anon#60, so is this where we start talking about her blog or what?
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:50 am
Fuck you Frank you and W need to realize it is NEVER going to happen.
July 23rd, 2014 at 8:52 am
Anon#65, you mean again, don’t you? Neither will your denials make it go away.
July 23rd, 2014 at 3:39 pm
Michelle and Zen Lill, my two oldest….I mean longest known, time wise, blog friends. It is hard to believe it has been 7 years since Howie and I stumbled upon this blog. Of course we were both directed here and you did come very highly recommended Michelle. And I have only had about 3 nervous breakdowns in all that time, again sorry ’bout that Michelle.
Took me a while to adjust to some of the others I had met at about that same time, don’t think I will ever be the same due to one in particular, not that I would want to be. Anyways ladies I know that I have gone off on occasion and I have since stopped trying to keep such a tight grip on reality. Let it loose and the unexplainable must remain unexplained, just feel it and believe what one feels, has been working for me. Life can be so freakin’ strange. I know you girls know what I am talking about. We all had a lot of fun back then in them early days when the blog was small and filled with our alien friends
Deb: of course we can be friends. Hi, how are you Deb, my name is Al we are officially friends now
Lois: and we can be friends too, thanks for the panties, symbolic of course, I seem to be acquiring quite a collection. Truly flattered. Don’t ask me why you would just take em off and throw em at me. Must be my Old Spice.
Linda, Sweetie: You are becoming a tad possessive, what’s up with you calling Lois a slut? And you really don’t want dibs, and I really don’t want you to want dibs, we can be good blog friends and me thinks you should apologize to Lois because I know you are much too nice to say such a mean thing, right Sweetie. Linda you gotta know that I like removed panties a lot.
I know I have been ranting for a good while, women are so much fun I cannot understand how men can be so abusive towards them. But some are and that is real fucked up.
July 24th, 2014 at 9:01 am
[…] Justin: Unless people wake up and start paying attention to what is happening, instead of just accepting what the repubs are doing to Obamacare and everything else that Obama is for in order to destroy our country, we are screwed. Don’t be surprised if they do try and arrest Obama. Impeachment is on their minds and in the plan. […]