CNN: IDF surrounds Gaza City
posted at 9:30 pm on January 5, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Time to set up camp and wait for the inevitable UN condemnation, or are they going in to look for Hamas leaders? Hmmm. The Guardian claims the scope of the mission might have very quietly broadened:
As the onslaught progresses, officials are more confident of “changing the equation” in Gaza and are predicting the collapse of the Hamas administration…
The head of the Shin Bet internal security service, Yuval Diskin, told the Israeli cabinet that Hamas was finding it increasingly difficult to govern with its leadership in hiding from Israeli rockets and much of its infrastructure blown to pieces.
He was backed by the chief of the general staff, Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, who said “not much” remained of the Hamas government, and by the head of military intelligence, Major General Amos Yadlin. “Hamas has absorbed a very hard blow…
Diana Buttu, a Palestinian negotiator involved in talks with Israel over its 2005 withdrawal of settlers from Gaza, said the Israeli assault had strengthened short-term solidarity with Hamas, but was likely to have weakened the group politically.
“People in Gaza are under assault right now so they’re going to support Hamas. But when the dust settles I think we’ll get a very different perspective, a lot of questioning about whether Hamas has the right strategy. Not so much blaming Hamas for the onslaught but more questioning of whether Hamas is taking us in the right direction,” she said.
Olmert insists they’re not trying to get rid of Hamas, but just in case, European leaders are scrambling to put together a settlement that would place international monitors on the Egyptian border to watch for weapons smuggling. See Anne Applebaum, among others, for why that means little more than kicking the can down the road. Quote: “Further negotiations will make sense only when Hamas’ leadership — currently emboldened by a combination of popular indignation and Iranian support — finally arrives at the same conclusion as its secular counterparts [that Israel can't be eliminated], and a new generation of Israelis is again convinced to believe them.”
Here’s The One once again voting present on the subject this afternoon, supposedly in the interest of not stepping on Bush’s toes even though his thinking matters a lot more to Israel’s timeline now than Dubya’s does.
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Jugular?
artist on January 5, 2009 at 9:33 PM
Chicago Jesus-Present-Elect
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 9:33 PM
“Obama says he has received regular briefings on the situation in Gaza and is concerned.”
We are the one’s we have been waiting for!
We have arrived!
artist on January 5, 2009 at 9:34 PM
“predicting the collapse of the Hamas administration”
regime change baby! IDF FTW!
Buckaroo on January 5, 2009 at 9:36 PM
the puck in me suspects Obame$$iah is weighing whether to irritate the Jews by yanking our support of Israel, or get his followers who want to go Neville Chamberlain on radical Islam in a twist…..
if Bambi hurts Israel it is on in ways he can’t fathom here at home, and if he irritates the moneymen he was bought by his party goes schizoid…..
look for a “Present” on the issue with lots of flowery moral equivalizing.
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 9:38 PM
The IDF should just blast some Orphaned Land and…ummmm….hell, just blast some Orphaned Land!
DethMetalCookieMonst on January 5, 2009 at 9:39 PM
By saying he doesn’t want “two voices” coming out of America on this issue, seems the Messiah isn’t going to be following the Bush Administration protocol of unwavering support for Israel.
JetBoy on January 5, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Code Pink is not happy with The One. Every minute that passes reinforces my belief that the smartest man in the world doesn’t have a clue.
Cindy Munford on January 5, 2009 at 9:41 PM
alex342 on January 5, 2009 at 9:47 PM
The Obama is waiting for the situation to resolve itself so he can then say, “As I’ve always said. . . .”
Nothing is so perfect as 20/20 hindsight.
Skandia Recluse on January 5, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Yeah, pretty much.
Kind of his “eerrrr…..I plead the fifth” moment.
DethMetalCookieMonst on January 5, 2009 at 9:48 PM
maybe they can permanently trisect gaza into three enclaves and give on or two to fatah?
reliapundit on January 5, 2009 at 9:50 PM
didn’t stop his being rather more vocal with less at stake last fall.
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Are you new here? Mention the word Obama and it`ll be all hell breaking loose.
And before anyone says anything, I am NOT an Obama supporter by any means, just telling it like it is.
So don`t go all bat-s**tty on me, K?!
ThePrez on January 5, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Here’s the comic book:
Frame 1: Israel sits in his house, reading a book. Suddenly a rock breaks through his window.
Frame 2: This continues, and eventually one of his children is injured by one of the rocks.
Frame 3: He storms next door, finds Hamas (depicted by snot-nosed children) throwing rocks.
Frame 4: He goes to hit the children, but the UN, Hamas’s mother, grabs his arm and calls the police and arrests Israel.
Frame 5: Hamas proceeds to burn Israel’s house down and kill his family.
jimmy the notable on January 5, 2009 at 9:52 PM
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 9:50 PM
Speaking as a candidate on these things is sort of necessary to indicate how you intend to govern. It’s not quite the same thing as being the known, incoming president.
alex342 on January 5, 2009 at 9:52 PM
I’ve seen news reports saying diplomats are trying to negotiate a ceasefire. I say if the diplomats get in the way of Israel doing what it needs to do, shoot ‘em.
backwoods conservative on January 5, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Burn it to the ground.
KSgop on January 5, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Why can’t PE Obama just say he agrees with President Bush in this matter? Does he have an alternate viewpoint? Doesn’t sound good for Israel.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 9:55 PM
If the One does anything that comes close to supporting Hamas, he is telegraphing support for Iran. Now is no time for the One to become distracted.
Or is it best for the rest of us that he does? Yea, focus on the Senate crowd of players and their games. That way he’ll gain some field experience before going International.
Muskoka-Eh on January 5, 2009 at 9:56 PM
traveling overseas while the United States is in a time of hot war is sorta new there champ but keep on spinning.
If Chicago Jesus could share his views on the Pals back in August and go to Europe and slag our efforts in the ME Chicago Jesus may as well start making his intentions known to our allies through back channels….that is of course making the very big assumption he has a strategic vision beyond “turn the US into the UK in circa ‘49″
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 9:58 PM
Death to Hamas.
CP on January 5, 2009 at 9:58 PM
alex342 on January 5, 2009 at 9:52 PM
That’s fine. But he’s picking and choosing what he wishes to comment on. I heard today that he’s going to hold a press conference Thursday to talk about his Economic Stimulas Plan. Isn’t that acting Presidential?
He does not want to tick off his Jewish or pro-Palestinian supporters. That is why he’s keeping his mouth shut on this issue.
kingsjester on January 5, 2009 at 9:59 PM
yup
“Present!”
+1
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 9:59 PM
The Guardian newspaper is running some stories about the plight of civilians in Gaza.
My sympathy done ran out long time ago.
I’d suggest the refuges in Gaza be introduced to some of the Germans who were in Berlin when the city fell to the Russians at the end of WWII.
Skandia Recluse on January 5, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Canada just wons the Junior (International) Hockey Gold Medal. Yeah, eh?!
Muskoka-Eh on January 5, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Bizarre. It isn’t like this issue is going away. Unless Israel completely destroys Hamas, and I mean to the last scum sucking terrorist, the issue will be there next week, next year and next decade.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Good point.
Itchee Dryback on January 5, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Surround the city and wait Hamas out. When they come out, kill ‘em.
GarandFan on January 5, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Dear God… we (and Israel) are all sorts of screwed.
wccawa on January 5, 2009 at 10:06 PM
President-elect Barack Obama says he has received regular briefings on the situation in Gaza and is concerned?
…….thank you fuckstick, damn I’ll sleep great tonight!!
try again later on January 5, 2009 at 10:06 PM
One down one to go in Lebannon.
BroncosRock on January 5, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Surround, than flatten. Duh.
SouthernGent on January 5, 2009 at 10:09 PM
BroncosRock
More than one more my friend…Iran, Syria, Eurabia…the list appears endless.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Bingo. This is becoming like the fate of Prometheus, famous fire-stealer. He was bound to a rock, where an eagle would come and eat his liver, only to have it grow back, and the same process repeated the next day. This is one of those times when violence DOES solve something–provided there is enough of it.
smellthecoffee on January 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM
smellthecoffee et al
Violence is all these animals understand. To bad that moderates and liberals don’t understand Islam. They want to kill us all. Period. My job is killing these monsters and, unfortunately, business is good.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:12 PM
But he’s just fine with laying out his economic proposals and pushing for a trillion-dollar “stimulus” while there’s another president in office.
He’s very selective in what he’ll comment on.
amerpundit on January 5, 2009 at 10:14 PM
the newsies are not very selective about what they’ll press him on*…..
*nothing with no exceptions
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 10:15 PM
alex342
I am not asking him to run FP at this point. Just stand with the President and one of our staunch allies, condemn Hamas and support Israel.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:15 PM
I am sure Israel has stocked up plenty of weapons & spare parts for the eventuality that someone like Obummer would be elected. If the people of Gaza have no power & water and start running out of food I am pretty sure they will bring the bodies of Hamas leaders to the soldiers of Israel in exchange for food.
izoneguy on January 5, 2009 at 10:18 PM
I hope they have stockpiled weapons and food…I certainly have.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:20 PM
What Israel needs to remember;
“It’s impossible for words to describe what is necessary to those who do not know what horror means. Horror. Horror has a face… and you must make a friend of horror. Horror and moral terror are your friends. If they are not then they are enemies to be feared. They are truly enemies. You have to have men who are moral… and at the same time who are able to utilize their primordial instincts to kill without feeling… without passion… without judgment… without judgment. Because it’s judgment that defeats us.”
Apocalypse Now …. Colonel Walter E. Kurtz
dmann on January 5, 2009 at 10:20 PM
words to live by…
sven10077 on January 5, 2009 at 10:22 PM
tank,
Glad to see you back. You were here the other night on a similar thread and called out the pussies and all was quiet until you sacked out. I enjoy your insight and the way you communicate. Thanks for what you do; here and there.
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:23 PM
thomasaur
Thank you. It is easy and fun to refute the liberals. Fish in a barrel or Hamas in Gaza.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:25 PM
You must, therefore know that there are two means of fighting: one according to the laws, the other with force; the first way is proper to man, the second to beasts; but because the first, in many cases, is not sufficient, it becomes necessary to have recourse to the second.
- Niccolo Machiavelli
MB4 on January 5, 2009 at 10:26 PM
MB4
Excellent point. I believe in ROE (I live by it), but at some point it has to change when dealing with this vermin. I wish I had the answer.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Is it a bad sign that these days whenever I hear “camp” I think of Adam West?
OneGyT on January 5, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Why doesn’t Obama just say he’s “concerned” when asked about the economy?
“Obama continued his meetings Monday with lawmakers on Capitol Hill looking to restore an economy that Obama describes as “bad. And the situation is getting worse.”
“We have to act and act now,” in order to break what he called the “momentum of this recession,” Obama said before meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He met with key Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but also reached out to Republicans.”
Of course it’s rhetorical.
artist on January 5, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster. My aim, then, was to whip them, to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread us. Fear is the beginning of wisdom.
- William Tecumseh Sherman
MB4 on January 5, 2009 at 10:29 PM
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:29 PM
HA bloggers, riddle me this: are the folks on this site a minority in the U.S. regarding our values? How can this country be governed by the doves in the places of power?
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:30 PM
amerpundit on January 5, 2009 at 10:14 PM
If you’re calling him a hypocrite generally, I’m sure I’d agree. Still, commenting on domestic plans and on foreign policy that may effect how other states act or don’t act are two different things.
alex342 on January 5, 2009 at 10:31 PM
If all else fails, hit them with a big hammer.
Murphy9 on January 5, 2009 at 10:32 PM
MB4
Completely agree. War is NOT a political tool…it is a last resort when the diplomatic and political process has failed. Those that have been fighting radical Islam understand this and it is the last thing we want to do. But if we don’t have the stones to quickly and decisively wage war, it will never it.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:32 PM
alex342
I still don’t understand why PE Obama can’t support current foreign policy. It gives the impression that he is going to reverse our relations vis-a-vis Israel.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I’ve seldom praised Obama. But I think his restraint on this issue is the only sensible and classy way to go. And I don’t expect to accuse Obama of being either sensible or classy again soon.
snaggletoothie on January 5, 2009 at 10:34 PM
All at HA, bloggers and commenters, are dissident miscreants who are only being tolerated … … for now.
DasObamaReich on January 5, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Agreed. Just what exactly will it take for Israel to stop yielding to the opinions of those who have no love nor respect for it???
For example, an op-ed on the front page of yesterday’s SMH (Sydney) had some wanker claiming that Israel had a “dubious casus belli” because only 20 Israelis had been killed in eight years of rocket attacks by Hamas. I’d love to have seen how he would react if one of those 20 people was his wife, child, or parent.
Of course, the wanker reporter said nothing of the fact that those rockets have fallen on homes, schools, and other targets of either dubious or no military value whatsoever. Ditto for the fact that the rocket attacks place a severe strain upon the Israeli economy. But hey, nothing to see here, move along…
I agree also with other commenters that Obama’s silence on this issue, when he is talking very publicly about other issues where he disagrees with the current Administration, is troubling in the least. Israel had better be prepared to have a contentious or openly hostile relationship with the new Administration, come January 20. And it had better begin to learn that so-called “restraint” gains it nothing, nothing at all.
Meanwhile look for Obama to pull yet another Clinton move by kicking the whole foreign policy can down the road, while our enemies use the time to prepare for war against us, as they did in 1992-2000.
Wanderlust on January 5, 2009 at 10:36 PM
“But I think his restraint on this issue is the only sensible and classy way to go.”
Classy? A guy who was “family” close to Wright for 20 years?
No.
Political expediency.
He can only hide for 2 more weeks.
artist on January 5, 2009 at 10:37 PM
I honestly fear that we are a minority and the power structure has been taken over by 60’s and 70’s radicals and cowards. Their heros and professors are by and large Anti-American scum. And I didn’t say un-American on purpose.
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:37 PM
The Israeli bloggers have already been reporting that Hamas is on the ropes. I belief the IDF is going to go house by house looking for weapons. There is also the problem of long range missiles that have been smuggled into Gaza that they have to find before they are moved to Northern Gaza. I can’t belief you would quote the Guardian on anything Israel. Same as to that Obama fellator, Anne Applebaum.
A ceasefire is only an opportunity for Hamas to smuggle in more arms. No ceasefires. And no international monitors because they will act as human shields. Thought it would be nice to see Israel call their bluff and take out a few blue helmets.
Blake on January 5, 2009 at 10:38 PM
onslaught, I call it victory.
rob verdi on January 5, 2009 at 10:42 PM
But there are already 100,000 U.S. troops in Eurabia. The U.S. cannot invade a territory it already controls anymore than Napoleon could invade France or Churchill could invade Britain.
aengus on January 5, 2009 at 10:43 PM
How hard would it be for him to reaffirm that Israel is our ally and say that he supports the current president’s stance on this issue?
Y-not on January 5, 2009 at 10:43 PM
A “ceasefire” in this case is akin to finding a colony of cockroaches in your bedroom and deciding that after spraying a few of them with bug killer, you will then assume that the rest will magically stop breeding and infesting your house.
There is no ceasefire, only HUDNA. Any idiot believing otherwise isn’t worth a bucket of warm pi$$.
HAMAS are like cockroaches in that their goal is stated, unchangeable, and everything they do is aimed at furthering that goal – one which is harmful to anyone else.
I hope IDF kills every last one of them, and tells the UN to go to Hell.
Wanderlust on January 5, 2009 at 10:44 PM
My Grandpa always said “A fair fight is when you have a bigger club than the other guy”.
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:10 PM
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Modesty becomes you..
TexasJew on January 5, 2009 at 10:45 PM
EXACTLY!!!
Wanderlust on January 5, 2009 at 10:45 PM
It could be said that Australia was created by dissident miscreants.
We should start our own country.
Any ideas for a name?
JoeAvg on January 5, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Had drag it over from another thread because it seemed to fit. ; )
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Because he doesn’t?
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:48 PM
JoeAvg
No new country. America is just fine. We will survive any administration. The radical Islam issue won’t go away and we CANNOT tolerate it because we can’t survive it if these terrorists have their way.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:49 PM
thomasaur
That is what scares me. That PE Obama doesn’t support Israel.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:50 PM
aengus
Good point on U.S. troops in Eurabia. I think they are past the point of no return with their increasing Muslim population.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Bingo!
Y-not on January 5, 2009 at 10:53 PM
tank,
What do you fly?
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Obama knows nothing about foreign policy, economics, military matters, or about 98% of the other things that a President should understand in detail.
All he knows how to do is how to take things like money and freedom from decent hardworking American people and give it all to parasites and assorted scumbags.
Period.
He’s just useless crap that an idiotized and brainwashed nation elected in order to destroy itself.
TexasJew on January 5, 2009 at 10:55 PM
Agreed. I like this country best too.
I’ll tell ya though, I’m afraid that ‘business ‘ might be good right here, all too soon. Folks like you, & me, and Thomasaur are getting fed-up.
…and yeah, I’m well stocked also. But if it happens, I’d like to tag-along w/ you.
JoeAvg on January 5, 2009 at 10:55 PM
I flew A-10s for years, F-117s for 5 years, T-38s now and am going to fly the Reaper in April.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:55 PM
I am the wrong person to ask. I have no perspective on what real people think — I’ve spent the entire working life surrounded by academics!
Y-not on January 5, 2009 at 10:56 PM
What was it that Joe Biden said about pain?
OldEnglish on January 5, 2009 at 10:56 PM
JoeAvg
I hope for the best but plan for the worst. If we continue to bend over to the Islamist, it is going to get bad…witness Europe. It is sickening what has been happening politically here and with terrorism for decades.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Gird something? That was a slip and I think there is something on the horizon…
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 10:58 PM
I lived at the end of McClellan AFB runway when they did alot of maint on the A-10 and used to love watching that thing take off!!!
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 10:59 PM
That jet is AWESOME!!!! I loved flying it! Bribed one of the maintainers and got a GAU-8 barrel before I left Moody AFB. Going to build a bar around it, in true fighter pilot spirit.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 11:01 PM
I guess I jacked this thread. My apologies. It seems discussion ceases when I enter. Do I need a bath?
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 11:02 PM
fify.
(Just kidding!) ;-)
Y-not on January 5, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Umm… Yes.
That’s why we congregate here.
Mojave Mark on January 5, 2009 at 11:04 PM
My Uncle was USAF fighter pilot in Korea and Viet Nam and would have appreciated that. (retired and died of N/C)
thomasaur on January 5, 2009 at 11:05 PM
I declare this an aviation thread. Now can I talk about helicopters?
swash_plate on January 5, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Uh, you didn’t notice how the last elections worked out?
angelat0763 on January 5, 2009 at 11:07 PM
He sure don’t, baby!! And people in this country are: (a) okay with that because they think Israelis are a bunch of gun wielding maniacs or (b) too stupid to care.
Obama doesn’t want to take a side on this because he doesn’t want to make enemies.
Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes ever:
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
mjk on January 5, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Well…the result of uneducated voters determined the last election IMHO.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 11:10 PM
mjk
Too bad for PE Obama…on Jan 20th he will have automatic enemies. And her better pick the correct enemies and the correct allies.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I think you’ve misunderstood the larger question I was aiming at. The European Continent has been under US military control for several decades. If the Continent becomes “Islamised” what will be the US military response? Will the 100,000 US troops flee in retreat? Will they stay to arbitrate disputes between Sunnis and Shias? Do you consider the usurpation of an entire civillisation (under US military control), one which has a common bond with America, by an alien civillisation a great military defeat, an unfortunate oversight, a slight inconvenience or what?
aengus on January 5, 2009 at 11:11 PM
aengus
I guess I would expect that as islamitization occurs, the Nations in question will become more hostile and kick us out. It isn’t a military defeat, we stay on foreign nations soil at their request. They can boot us out anytime they wish. Am I missing your point? Sorry.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 11:13 PM
And I wouldn’t say under US military “control” as much as protection…a nuance to be sure, but an important one.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 11:14 PM
I can only speak for myself, but, when someone speaks, who is actually doing something about a problem, I tend to shut up, listen, and learn.
OldEnglish on January 5, 2009 at 11:15 PM
I am trying to learn…that is the point of engaging these sites.
tank_killer69 on January 5, 2009 at 11:17 PM
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