Is it inappropriate to speculate that Israel

[leftofthedial]

is getting its licks in before the new administration takes power and implements an actual Middle East policy?

I'm not defending the bastards who launched mortars or rockets or whatever into Israel, but the response seems pretty far out of whack.

Or is this just completely independent of any consideration related to the pending change in US administrations?

[niyad]

1. one does have to wonder about the reason for this insanity.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Could be a matter of the precedent we have set.... Saddam had

some pesticide in a 55 gallon drum and we destroyed Baghdad along with a good bit of the rest of the country... seems fair enough.

[aquart]

10. Yes. We are not in a good moral position to criticize others.

Yet it is possible to hope that if the US changes its aggressive policies, dependent Israel will also.

[Marr]

3. I think it has more to do with the timing of the Israeli elections than US elections.

[TahitiNut]

4. The claimed 'provocation' could have rationalized their excesses for the last 18 months.

It seems clear that their own elections in February AND the change in U.S. administration are "convenient" timing.
:puke:

[aquart]

11. No brownie points for 18 mos of forebearance, I take it?

Of course not.

[TahitiNut]

13. I'd say "forebearance" is a strange word for an inhumane blockade.

I guess the Gaza is just a handy prison yard for some.
:puke:

[The Magistrate]

5. Probably It Is Independent Of That Consideration, Sir

It seems the culmination of an operation long in planning stages, held in readiness for a certain level of activity by Hamas, which has recently increased the volume of its rocketing barrages considerably.

Most countries have other concerns besides the United States and it political life.

[leftofthedial]

6. You think Israel does not care about US politics?

Given our level of support, I find that unlikely.

Do you think Obama's policy in the region as relates to Israel is likely to differ from bush's?

I'm not being willfully America-centric. I'm just aware that without our support, Israel will have an even rougher time. I'm also aware of bush's laissez faire attitude toward Israel's relations with its neighbors. It seems likely to me that Obama will be much more engaged and proactive.

[The Magistrate]

7. In Many Ways, Sir, It Does Not Have To Be Much Concerned

Support for Israel is broad, main-stream policy in the United States, and in an operation aimed at suppressing a body like Hamas, Israel will enjoy support from any conceivable U.S. administration.

[leftofthedial]

9. "suppressing" is an interesting word for what is happening

[aquart]

12. True. This really just encourages them.

Which is why I don't see much point to it.

[The Magistrate]

14. THe Wisdom Of The Action, Ma'am, Is Certainly Open To Debate

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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

[surrealAmerican]

15. The Israelis have their own elections coming up.

The timing likely has more to do with that than any US policy.

[applegrove]

16. No I think they are just responding with force to being bombed.