I have a legitimate question about the conflict in Gaza

[DainBramaged]

Does anyone think Israel is "testing" Obama? Or, are they taking advantage of the remaining 3 weeks before the end of an error? And yes, Hamas has been raining hellfire down on them.

Your take.


Israeli minister vows ‘war to the bitter end’
Israel turned the force of its punishing Gaza campaign toward Hamas field operatives on Monday, sending warplanes to bomb their houses in a sweep meant to tear at the roots of the militant organization.

Yet even with their senior leadership in hiding, the battered Islamic militants managed to fire dozens of rockets at southern Israel on Monday.

A tough-talking Israeli defense minister promised them a "war to the bitter end," as the three-day death toll in Israel's shock-and-awe offensive rose to 364.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28404637/

[cali]

1. I think it's more taking advantage of the last bush days.

[Political Tiger]

12. Yeah, I agree with that.

Especially since Obama is not president yet and it's possible this current conflict could be over before he is even sworn in.

[JuniperLea]

2. Anyone with power who is hell bent on "war to the bitter end"

Will no doubt get their wish. Disgusting.

Someone better start negotiations in earnest... real discussions with real concessions on both sides.

[tekisui]

3. Last run under cover of chimpy, and show of muscle before local

elections.

[RJ Connors]

4. The thing I worry about is

weather or not this is the run-up to open the war with Iran. I know the Russians are ready to go should that be the case.

[DainBramaged]

5. I don't think Booshe will get involved, but you could be right

what better time to take advantage then right now.

[bstender]

6. very good question

"Does anyone think Israel is "testing" Obama?"

My first response was that they have a clear window to take advantage of, but maybe you are right. they do need their payments in the coming 4 years, so it is quite an interesting challenge to throw down... sadly, it means most likely Obama's signals that he is fully on board with the campaign is for real and has no intention of crippling his administration before it even starts by taking on _that_ Godzilla.

[BB1]

8. Obama is not really opposing AIPAC,

is he? Something about most trusted friends, or the like.

[bstender]

10. no way!

that would be political suicide.

but i have hope he'll be a positive force for change...do what he can with a loaded deck. he seems sincere anyway. <crosses fingers>

[Fozzledick]

7. Hamas renounced the cease fire and escalated rocket attacks

Israel could not fail to respond directly, and they learned the hard way in Lebanon that a restrained response only encouraged more attacks.

[bstender]

9. Hamas?

I was under the impression that Israel broke the cease fire:

"A four-month ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza was in jeopardy today after Israeli troops killed six Hamas gunmen in a raid into the territory.
Hamas responded by firing a wave of rockets into southern Israel, although no one was injured. The violence represented the most serious break in a ceasefire agreed in mid-June, yet both sides suggested they wanted to return to atmosphere of calm."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/05/israelandthepalestinians

and;
Israeli Strikes Kill 7 in Hamas As 5-Month Truce Comes to End

By Scott Wilson
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, July 16, 2005; Page A10

GAZA CITY, July 15 -- The Israeli military killed seven members of Hamas on Friday in rocket strikes that renewed Israel's policy of assassinating militant Palestinian leaders and effectively marked the end of a five-month truce.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/15/AR2005071500162.html

of course there's an endless string of he, did, she did's one can point to all the way back to the Balfour Declaration!

[yeswecanandwedid]

11. I say fock em. Let them kill each other. Why are they fighting anyways? nt