Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (285701)	12/29/2008 9:03:02 PM
From: mph	3 Recommendations Respond to of 793917

I'm not sure anyone can control Carter.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (285701)	12/30/2008 12:01:12 PM
From: FJB	Respond to of 793917

Israel's surgical strikes aim at reasonable goal suntimes.com December 30, 2008 BY STEVE HUNTLEY The surprise Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip has killed scores of Hamas leaders, terrorists and allies, reduced their key installations to rubble and stunned the Islamist fanatics and their supporters with the magnitude, fury and success of the attack. While we hear complaints from the usual suspects about a "disproportionate" Israeli response to Hamas provocations, the real issue is whether in the end the offensive will have been strong and decisive enough to constitute a "terrible swift sword" cutting down Hamas' ability to wage terrorism. Neither Israel nor the civilized world's struggle with Islamist terrorism can afford a repeat of what, in appearances at least, was the inconclusive outcome of the Second Lebanon War in 2006. Though Israel inflicted major damage and casualties on Hezbollah, the perception was that it failed to defeat its enemy. That enabled Hezbollah to claim a victory against the heralded Israeli military, spread its power in Lebanon and present itself as a symbol of terrorist prowess to the Arab street. We could use a high-profile victory over terrorism right now. It was only a month ago that Islamist terrorists wreaked death and havoc in Mumbai. Headlines tell of a resurgent Taliban making gains in Afghanistan. And, unfortunately, disenchantment with the war in Iraq obscures the concrete victory achieved over al-Qaida. So the stakes are very high in Israel's offensive. Fortunately, there are reasons for optimism. First, it's clear Hamas caused the Gaza crisis. Though you'll read news stories using neutral terms in saying the informal cease-fire between Israel and Hamas "collapsed" or "expired," the simple truth is that Hamas announced --announced! -- last week it was ending the truce and stepped up rocket attacks on Israel. I say "stepped up" the attacks because in truth, the terrorists never stopped targeting Israeli civilians. During the six months of this so-called cease-fire, 215 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel. And a month ago, the Israelis discovered a tunnel from Gaza to Israel, dug no doubt with the intention of kidnapping an Israeli soldier or civilian. Hamas, a rabid hater of Israel and Jews, was never committed to a meaningful break in violence, only to a tactical lull in hostilities to solidify its hold on Gaza while it rearmed. Among the Israeli objectives in the current offensive are 40 tunnels between Gaza and Egypt used to smuggle weapons and explosives. Also working in Israel's favor is the small size of the Gaza Strip. It's only about 25 miles long and measures 7½ miles at its widest point. So Hamas doesn't have the option of retreating beyond the reach of Israeli arms as Hezbollah did in Lebanon. Egypt deployed troops to keep Palestinians from breaking into the Sinai Peninsula. It's worth noting that Hamas doesn't have the unqualified support of Arab governments today, though that may change as anger builds in the Arab street. For one thing, the informal truce Hamas killed was brokered by Egypt. In 2007, Hamas staged a coup to push the Palestinian Authority out of Gaza, and Arab states are unhappy that Hamas has resisted their efforts to reconcile the two groups claiming to represent Palestinian interests. And Hamas is funded and armed by Iran, stoking Arab fears about Persian ambitions for hegemony in the Middle East. Another plus is that Israel planned well for this offensive. Civilian casualties are unavoidable when killers like Hamas hide amid the innocent -- a war crime -- but the Jewish state has taken pains to surgically target the terrorists. Its surprise attack caught them out in the open. While Israel has called up reservists in preparation for a possible ground assault into Gaza, it does not plan to reoccupy the strip and its population of 1.5 million Palestinians. Also in Israel's favor is its goal: End the daily missile attacks on 250,000 of its citizens who live in the cross hairs of Islamist terrorists in Gaza. That's a clear, reasonable, attainable objective.