Planes strike at Gaza as Israel prepares offensive

[tocqueville]

By Nidal al-Mughrabi
6 minutes ago

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft struck at the Gaza Strip early on Wednesday and armored forces prepared for a threatened offensive after mediators said hope of recovering a kidnapped soldier through talks was almost gone.

The army said planes attacked two bridges on a route linking northern and southern Gaza to stop militants moving the captive. A helicopter attacked a power plant in central Gaza with missiles, cutting electricity to much of the territory.

At the edge of the strip, troops boarded tanks and armored personnel carriers as they revved their engines.

"Time is fast running out," Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said in a speech on Tuesday night.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&u=/nm/20060627/ts_nm/mideast_dc_64

[ShortnFiery]

1. How many more innocents must die ON BOTH SIDES? Tragic! n/t.

[Scorpio2000]

2. The alternative to war, is peace

None need to on either side.

Gazans should stop firing missiles and return the captured soldier.

Then negotiate a peaceful settlement.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Scorpio2000]

4. ..

Not proportional but appropriate

[tocqueville]

6. so bombing civilian infrastructure in one of the poorest

"countries" in the world with an overwhelming technological superiority is an "appropriate" response to the abduction of one soldier ?

Are you aware that defending this is about the same that defending the flatening of Fallujah (which BTW could be seen even better motivated)? You guys are pretty alone in this world in thinking that it is "appropriate"...

[Scorpio2000]

9. It's not a game

The simple solution for the Gazans would have been to arrive at a negotiated settlement.

They're impoverished because of their corrupt leadership, and the fact that they spend hard cash, energy and time trying to kill Israelis instead of building their infrastructure and economy. There has always been plenty of money waiting for them for these purposes from the EU and their Arab friends.

During the one year of NOT being occupied, they've turned Gaza into a mini Somalia.

[tocqueville]

10. Gaza has ALWAYS been a mini-somalia

since day one. Because they were not allowed to develop anything by Israel. And even if a lot of blame can be put on their own abilities, there is no reason to flatten them out for an abducted soldier. This is only a pretext. The problem is that the overwhelming force against the underdog is isolating Israel even more. Obviously there are still a few people that believe it's the way to victory. We know how succesful that strategy have been in Vietnam and Iraq.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

11. I HIT YOU. YOU HIT ME. I HIT YOU. YOU HIT ME.

AN EYE FOR AN EYE. THEY ALL SEEM BLIND NOW. NO ONE WITH BALLS TO SAY STOP!

[Scorpio2000]

13. They coulda been a contender

Gaza was occupied by Egypt for 20 years. Israel built an industrial zone, hothouses (which employed 12000) and improved the infrastructure. They even built a casino in the 90s to boost tourism.

During the year that it's been free of occupation, the Gazans have smuggled wepons and attacked Israel daily. Why not smuggle (not that they have to, they control the Rafah crossing) food and building materials and get on with the business.

There are plenty of willing markets just begging to purchase Gazan products.

What have they produced since taking control?
More and varied armed militant groups, more kassams and katyushas etc. None of that does anything to move themselves forward.

[AlamoDemoc]

12. Your comparison of the occupied territories to Somalia

is an ignorance of great proportion, and must be left there, and not be commented.

[Scorpio2000]

14. ..

OK, I won't comment on it.

Roving militias, armed men in the streets, gang wars between Hamas and Fatah.
Those Gazans who actually want peace don't stand a chance against the armed thugs.

One error however was made regarding the similarities between Gaza and Somalia.

The Somalis aren't firing missiles at their neighbors, just at each other.

[AlamoDemoc]

15. How do you measure occupation of over fifty years and a civil war?

...in other words, and your thinking...Somalia vs. the occupied territories?

[Scorpio2000]

16. ...

The comparison relates to the lawlessness and lack of central government. There was a low level civil war going on even during the occuapation.

They've been occupied since the end of WWI, first by the UK, Egypt and then by Israel.

What progress has been made during the first year without occupation?

There has always been develpoment funds waiting for an entrepreneur willing to create something. Don't you believe that there are Gazans who want to develop their economy and move forward?

[pelsar]

5. yes it is....

if your one of the soldiers going in.....war is not a game of "playing even" (well at least not for those who are playing....).

[tocqueville]

8. yep it's what some US generals are telling to the Iraqis...

those double standards when it has to do with Israel amaze me...

[peacetalksforall]

7. Don't 'cha just love the Pasestinian Air Force? And how about all those

off the assembly line tnaks? What a sharp outfit with their smart uniforms and newly issued weapons and supplies.


With deep sarcasm.