After continued daily rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, and after a warning by the Israeli PM Israel bombs Gaza killing 280 people.

The attack on Hamas targets are, according to reports from Israel, destroying rocket launching silos. That civilians are killed in this non surgical intervention is absolutely guaranteed. Gaza is the most populated place on the planet. People have to live somewhere.

Disproportionate responses like the Iraq war and this, seem aimed at the deconstruction of the enemies ability to retaliate, no matter the cost. It is the Bush doctrine post 9/11, to drop hand grenades into the nest of scorpions so they pose no danger. It has always been an American doctrine, to devastate enemies; a lesson learned from WWII.

Are these acts of war that effective in the “war on terrorism”? The problem is that the disease spreads in all directions. In an ancient sense, yes, Israel certainly had a right to the lands of the Levant. But so do the Palestinians. A dominant country dominates in order to prevent control slipping; the weaker force attempts to find a chink in the armour.

What strikes one as rather horrific is he confinement of a people. The echoes of the Holocaust can not be ignored; Israel can not stain itself in this way. The confinement of millions of people to a sub-state that can never have an economic sway is not civilized.

A treaty is required. Hamas may be deconstructed by Israel’s military actions. Huge force is a reflection of the fate the USA had for Iraq, but Hamas were reported to be firing rockets into Israel. There is some justification and a clear warning was given.

Any hope of Tony Blair’s passive diplomacy making progress or Bush’s active aggression bringing change are now irrelevant history. The world has progressed to the next move. What comes next?

If Israel can indeed remove Hamas from the political equation by an act of war will it improve matters? Seems highly unlikely. Israel claim to be forced into this situation. Israel at war, Hamas seem likely to now be a political martyr.

Links:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/27/israelandthepalestinians-terrorism