President condemns Israeli attack that killed Hamas leader and 14 others

Associated Press / SFGate

[goodieD]

Exactly! why would we believe the Pali civilian death count...it's ALWAYS women and children according to them...

[RightWhale]

You, too, can live next-door to a warlord.

[TomGuy]

And shame on the President for addressing this at all.. I'm getting tired of him trying to pander to everyone at once.

There is an old saying in the South: He's anyone's dog that will hunt with him.

GWB seems to be just that. What we need is a leader who is Trumanesque with another old saying: The buck stops here. We need a leader who is decisive. Pandering is not decisiveness.

[hchutch]

Did the Israelis have the right to take that Hamas pigf---er out? You bet I think they did.

However, I'd rather have used something a little more precise. You cannot conduct surgery with anything dropped by an F-16. The President could have made a betetr statement on this ("We're not sorry to see that Hamas leader killed, but we regret that there was collateral damage" would have been far better, IMHO.), but this does give the PLO punks some support on the PR front.

[cibco]

Wonder if Arafat took note? Seems like Israel is moving up the "Chain of Command" with their hits on Pali leaders.

[freeperfromnj]

I'm glad they got this guy since he was the mastermind behind so many suicide bombings. What disturbs me about this operation is that more innocent Israeli children are probably going to die in the next day or two when they come back for revenge.

[FourtySeven]

I can't really blame Israel for this. They probably just wanted to eliminate any remaining tracks.

[DSHambone]

I'm glad to see there are tacticians in the midst - but sometimes you strategist for the big picture.

[monkeyshine]

Yes and no. They are also playing politcs with the locals both in Israel and in the PA. Europe and US opinion is not the only concern.

Many have suggested that Israel's restraint policy has only been interpreted as weakness and encouraged more attacks. By retaliating in "heavy handed" ways, a message is sent to the Israeli public, the Palestinian public, and to the Arab world. It could play out to the advantage of peace if Palestinians continue to weaken their resolve because of strikes like these.

They lost 23 men fighting in Jenin because of their concern for innocents. They simply cannot justify sacrificing 23 men for every 52 they go after in order to please the Europeans. All of Gaza is a lot like Jenin, dense and dangerous. Israel will have to use many different tactics to win, and this will unfortunately have to be one of them. In the future, perhaps people will not want to live near terrorist ringleaders. And of course the terrorist ringleaders, if they love their wives and children, will not want to be around them knowing a bomb has their name written on it.

[Windsong]

"...but I will not oppose God regarding His clear guidance about Israel"

For Petes sakes! Israel as portrayed in Revelations is a SPIRITUAL manifestation. Not a physical one! Anyone who follows Christ is part of "Israel"!

[tessalu]

Hey, Bush, we are going after terrorists and all who support them, remember?

[Mudboy Slim]

"...more innocent Israeli children are probably going to die in the next day or two when they come back for revenge."

If the MidEast stays true to form, those innocent Isreali children would have died regardless...MUD

[LisaFab]

Come on. Everyone's getting a little crazy here. The president is compelled to comment on this as he has layed out the US plan for peace in the ME. The WH's remarks are nothing but a soft rebuke, IMHO.

Remember, there were those here that thought GW would cave in to Arafat because he would not use the word "terrorist" to describe him. Well, I think Mr. Arafat has a pretty good idea now that there will be no US-brokered peace while he remains in power. I think W prefers actions to words and agree with those above who belive he has given the 'full speed ahead' order to Israel, even while calling yesterday's action "heavy-handed."

[Born in a Rage]

Hey, Bush, we are going after terrorists and all who support them, remember?

I think he has changed his philosophy to 'we are going after those who may have helped the terrorists on September 11th and may help them again because they could help them if they want to'.

[American in Israel]

A little more intelligence, and they could have taken out this dirtbag with a sniper or a car bomb.

They have been trying on this dirtbag for over a year, but he hides low and deep. Israel does not do carbombs, but they do F16 bombs just fine.

Dirtbag had a bunker, they had to hammer him harder than if he did not. That is why the ole missle in the window treatment was not used I bet. They hit him hard enough to take out him and his bunker this time. Don't build bunkers in housing districts, you don't get civilians killed. (go figure)

[rockfish59]

Hey Dubya, shut the H E double toothpicks UP!!

[linn37]

Nobody likes to see kids killed or injured on either side.Its time for the Pali's to realise that Israels going to come after them no matter what so its time for them to throw out the terrorists and make a deal.

[Mudboy Slim]

"You cannot conduct surgery with anything dropped by an F-16."

War ain't surgery, and puttin' a li'l FEAR into the opponent's population ain't a necessarily all-bad thing.

FReegards...MUD

[freeperfromnj]

those innocent Isreali children would have died regardless...

No doubt. I just have the feeling that the retaliation this particular hit is going to draw will be much more horrendous than usual.

[AmericanCompatriot]

One more reason I won't be voting for Bush. It's time we STOP playing World Politics and START talking about REALITY.

I recommend we legalize cloning and get a few samples from Ronnie before we lose him. We certainly don't have any leaders on stage that can save us from our doom.