The Ghost of Snapped Shot

Israel launched its ground offensive at Noon Central DST.

The media is calling this a massive incursion while saying that it will be a bloody one for Israel. They say this because Hamas has told them so.

They, and Hamas, say that they will also take Israeli soldiers prisoner and hold them hostage.

Now, ignoring the fact that Hamas is a terrorist organization and not due any respectful treatment accorded to official soldiers during a time of war, but if Hamas takes Israeli soldiers hostage and parades them on TV, then I demand that all bets are off for Gaza Strip.

If there are hostages taken and paraded on TV, then it should be time to level Gaza and reclaim it for the security of Israeli civilians.

Updates to follow..

Update 1: UN Security council to meet behind CLOSED DOORS in about an hour (6 pm central) to hammer out a FORCED cease fire without saying anything about Hamas. Calling Israel excessive and indiscriminate.

Update 2: Arabs are up in arms at the UN saying that Israel is not interested in peace and bent on starving and killing the arabs of Gaza. Of course, the UN has always been friendly to Israel. Only US ambassador is calling out Hamas.

Update 3: UN Sec General is calling out Israel and demanding an end to the terrifying violence against Gaza. (balanced??)

Update 4: Fox News host to Israeli ambassador to UN... "Can the UN come to an agreement to bring peace to the area?" Umm.. hello!!?!? There is a battle going on because there will never be peace between terrorists and Jews. Besides, this current meeting is to force another cease-fire upon Israel to allow Hamas to re-arm and rebuild. The other Fox News host is taking UN Sec General's words against the Israeli ambassador. The Israeli ambassador basically said.. SHOVE IT!!

Update 5: UN Sec General demands that Israel allow humanitarian assistance in. Hello you idiot, they already have been. They are even taking in arab sick and wounded. They have allowed in more food and supply trucks than Egypt has. Many of the world food programs are actually telling Israel to slow down the shipments because they have too much as it is. And the UN food rep even admitted that she found no starving people.

As Israel is using pinpoint attacks right now.. how can the area really be a CRISIS?

Fox News reporter on ground stated that he has been with members of the Hamas terrorist organization while they assemble and fire their rockets at Israel. Wonder if he called anyone to tell them of this wholly illegal and anti-human action?

Update 6: Pres Bush is reportedly stated that while Hamas is a terrorist organization, he will promise $85 million to the Palestinian arabs. UGH. Socialism has never worked and will never work when those in power are corrupt, and as in Hamas, terrorists.

Former Amb John Bolton is scolding the Fox News hosts that there is no level of proportionate response when countering terrorism. WOOHOO!!!

Update 7: I think it is funny that TV people in the US are pontificating on what is going on on the ground in Israel and Gaza. People in Los Angeles are talking about what Israel soldiers are going to experience and what they should do.

Update 8: Rusty over at Jawa finds another good reason why Hamas should be extinct.

Update 9: Fox News Host to IDF spokesperson: "Will this ground offensive bring about a long and lasting peace?" OMG!! can you be any more friggin stupid? The only lasting peace Israel is going to get is if they DO retake Gaza and completely force out Hamas. Not to mention the Hezballah terrorist organization.

Another question, "Will you be calling up additional troops?" IDF: "yes, we will be calling up reservists. We are prepared."

Update 10: Allahpundit mirrors my concerns about pulling out of Gaza too soon and allowing Hamas to declare a victory by just waiting Israel out.

He also cites that Israel had 10,000 soldiers on front line before the incursion and has called up 10,000 reservists as well. He also cites some in Israel who want this to be a very decisive victory against Hamas to the point that they are very unable to govern (that means make terror against Israel) any more.

But then they will be left with the mini-terrorists PLO and Fatah.

Update 11: Fox News host: "Could Hamas been a group that Israel could have sit down and talked to?" In other words, is this Israel's fault for not talking to Hamas about their grievances? HELLO!?!? Rockets, Mortars, Suicide bombings, Kidnappings!! And, Israel has tried to talk to Hamas through back-channels, but Hamas only wants to kill Israelis. Can't make peace with that.

Update 12: Hamas is reportedly calling for the Palestinian arabs to rush the border with Egypt and force them in to the battle as well.. or at least force an opening to the border so that they can bring in more weaponry.

Update 13: Gateway Pundit has video of a bloody riot by Hamas supporters (or is that anti-Israeli supporters) in London. Even clashed with police.

THERE were bloody clashes outside the Israeli embassy in London today as protesters threw fireworks, stones, shoes and glass bottles at riot police.

Around 200 police confronted protesters with batons, leaving several wounded, as masked men raced towards the gates of the Israeli embassy carrying Palestinian and Hezbollah flags.

Earlier, thousands of demonstrators - including human rights activist Bianca Jagger and Respect MP George Galloway - marched through the capital, as protests against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza intensified.

“My thoughts are with all of those who face senseless violence and with all Californians who are affected by conflicts throughout the world.”

Near East Consulting surveyed Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip in late December, where results found that a full 60 percent of Palestinians there believe Hamas made a mistake by not seeking to renew the ceasefire with Israel.

Which means 40% do support Hamas’ decision. Hardly a small minority. But read on.

Regarding the needs of Palestinian families in the besieged coastal strip, 42 percent surveyed said they are most concerned about food supplies; about 20 percent named electricity as their top concern.

About nine percent said their children’s safety is the most urgent concern, while a full eight percent said “all of the above” were equally complicating their lives.

Hamas moves on Fatah 'collaborators'
35 Palestinians killed by Islamists, 75 shot in legs in the past week "to ensure they don't help Israel."

Palestinians were throwing explosive devices at IDF soldiers operating in the Jebaliya refugee camp late Saturday night, Israel Radio reported.

What the media have declined to notice is that the outcome of the war will not be determined by the number of Hamas buildings the IAF destroys. The outcome of this war - like the outcome of all wars - will be determined by one factor only: Which side will achieve the goals it set out for itself at the outset of the conflict and which side will concede its goals?

Depressingly, the current machinations of the Olmert-Livni-Barak government demonstrate that when the fighting is over, Hamas and not Israel will be able to declare that it accomplished its goals.

Here it is important to recall just what Hamas is. Hamas is an illegal terrorist organization and an Iranian proxy that is conducting an illegal terror war against Israel. The EU is arguably committing a war crime by accepting Hamas as a legitimate side to a dispute. In turn, by accepting the EU as a legitimate interlocutor, Israel itself gives credence to the view that Hamas is a legitimate actor.

 Tags: hamas The Religion of Peace