Top Hamas figure killed in Israeli airstrike (IDF says, "Happy New Year, Hamas!")

MSNBC ^ | 1 Jan 09 | N/A

[elhombrelibre]

Israel assassinated a Hamas strongman Thursday in its first assault on the top leadership of Gaza's rulers, escalating a crushing aerial offensive even as it declared it was ready to launch a ground invasion.

The airstrike targeted the eight-story apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp that was home to Nizar Rayan, 52, ranked among Hamas' top five decision-makers in Gaza. The attack killed 12 other people including two of Rayan's four wives and four of his 12 children, Palestinian health officials said. The Muslim faith allows men to have up to four wives.

While escalating its 6-day-old military offensive against Hamas in Gaza, Israel also appeared to be sounding out a possible diplomatic exit from its campaign by demanding international monitors as a key term of any future truce.

[Mojave]

"THE day before a powerful blast sent his headless body flying out of his Gaza home, senior Hamas leader Nizar Rayan predicted that the Islamist movement would defeat Israel."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24864540-12377,00.html

[elhombrelibre]

I guess he spoke too soon. ;-)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

["including two of Rayan's four wives "]

Brood mares for producing more trrorists. Too bad something culdn't be put in the food supply to handle the entire problem...

[G8 Diplomat]

Woo! Nice to start off 2009 with some good news!

Happy New Year, Hamas!

السنة الجديدة السعيدة يا حمس

[bert]

I have been writing it incorrectly all these years..... Inshallah or Enshallah rather than your 'In šāʾ Allāh' (إن شاء الله)

Ironic isn't it. Alla ahkbar....... has brought 'In šāʾ Allāh' (إن شاء الله) raining freom the sky

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Israel should declare Gaza to be a sovereign country and should immediately cease the delivery of ALL goods to that sovereign country until all hostilities (i.e. rocket firings, etc. cease and desist). Let their Muslim “brothers” take care of them. It makes absolutely no sense to be conducting air strikes while shipping petroleum, food, medicine, etc. to their adversaries each and every day.

Afterward, a full artillery barrage should follow every rocket attack. Flame throwers should be deployed along the border as well.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

["The day before a powerful blast sent his headless body flying out of his Gaza home, senior Hamas leader Nizar Rayan predicted that the Islamist movement would defeat Israel."]

Maybe he wanted to get a head start on the project.

[romanesq]

Gaza residents have about as much influence/control over their “government” as a resident of Taliban controlled Pakistan/Afghanistan.

As in zero. So why give the propaganda advantage. Right now the IDF is using smart guided munitions of various kinds to great affect.

And Hamas has not even shown any indication of wanting a ceasefire. So let the IDF do what they need to do as they deem necessary. They are applying the US precision capability very well.

They need to take out the heart of Hamas and those fundamentalists don’t exactly view this level of death as problematic. When they do, you will hear the crying secondhand in the press.

But even then, the IDF should not slow their impact until they certify satisfaction with the operation. Otherwise, the situation will be repeated in less than a year.

One also has to consider what is an effective disruption of the Iranian plans. And right now those plans are being disrupted. Best to let it continue.

[dbacks]

“Israel assassinated a Hamas strongman”

And this just in, Hamas has been assassinating Israeli school children and other civilians for years and the world couldn’t care less. Hypocritical bastards!

[goldstategop]

"International monitors?" Oh wait - you mean the same EU monitors that fled when Hamas took over Gaza? If this is what Israel is fighting for, I'd rather have the war called off now, if its not serious about winning. Gaza is not worth the life of a single Israeli soldier if Israel has no intention of returning there to stay for good!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Nizar Rayyan's death was a righteous deed. Israel needs to eliminate the Hamas leadership and make them understand they are not safe anywhere!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[teletech]

The MSM is pure EVIL!

[dbacks]

“I guess it's an assassination when you knowingly kill a mass murderer and its an insurgency when you randomly fire rockets into populated areas intending to kill whomever and whatever you can.”

Not insurgents, rather Guerrillas fighting for their freedom....NOT!

[ksm1]

This guy Rayyan wasn’t the boss, but it’s still a big fish. Good hunting IDF.

Now if we get Ismail Haniyah and Khaled Mashal, break out the champagne.

[kaehurowing]

Hopefully the first of many to come.

[elhombrelibre]

Maybe it's just a way to smoke out the moral grand standers by pointing out the obvious. That is, that their critics in Europe will gladly engage in tawdry moral exhibitionism, but put their soldiers on the line is politically impossible. If you don't think the Israelis should lose a life to in Gaza in a war that isn't worth winning just to have EU monitors, would the Germans, Italians, French, or any others in Europe take the risk of losing young citizens against the Iranian-sponsored suicide bombing maniacs? Besides, Hamas would never agree to this idea. But I do think the current regime in Israel is scared they'll lose the election if they wimp out.

[GVnana]

Israel Pest Control Campaign Kills Hamas Strongman

You could start a thread...

[rigelkentaurus]

“The airstrike targeted the eight-story apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp that was home to Nizar Rayan, 52, ranked among Hamas’ top five decision-makers in Gaza. The attack killed 12 other people including two of Rayan’s four wives and four of his 12 children, Palestinian health officials said. The Muslim faith allows men to have up to four wives.”

Frankly, I am disappointed. Where was the followup strike? There are still 2 “wives” and 8 evil spawn left crawling around?

[LayoutGuru2]

Since when does killing terrorists or enemy military units of any name assassination? Where are the headlines announcing the assassination of Israeli citizens?

According to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary.

Assassinate:

1: To injure or destroy unexpectedly and treacherously

2: To murder (a usually prominent person) by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons

< sarc > This poor man was murdered for political reasons. Since the Israeli victims of the rocket attacks are not prominent people, they are not being assassinated. < /sarc >

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks....learned a new word....

*********************************

Noun

1.	opprobrium - state of disgrace resulting from public abuse obloquy disgrace, ignominy, shame - a state of dishonor; "one mistake brought shame to all his family"; "suffered the ignominy of being sent to prison"
	2.	opprobrium - a state of extreme dishonor; "a date which will live in infamy"- F.D.Roosevelt; "the name was a by-word of scorn and opprobrium throughout the city" infamy dishonor, dishonour - a state of shame or disgrace; "he was resigned to a life of dishonor"

[mkjessup]

The airstrike targeted the eight-story apartment building in the Jebaliya refugee camp that was home to Nizar Rayan, 52, ranked among Hamas' top five decision-makers in Gaza.

What a great day for Rayan! He not only gets his 72 virgins for being martyred for 'allah', he can meet up with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and ask him why he let his parking permit expire a few years ago:

[doug from upland]

Well, those two remaining lonely wives are going to have to get back into circulation.

[wastedyears]

Happy New Year, Israel.

[Lancey Howard]

The Muslim faith allows men to have up to four wives.

Hm.... hmmmm.

[AliVeritas]

Happy New Year fellow watchers.

I just had a mountaintop meeting with God for New Year’s... and various interesting individuals.

This will indeed be a good year, in spite of future leadership.

Underway.

[bigheadfred]

MSNBC: “We put the ‘ass’ in assassinated...

[bigheadfred]

Well, those two remaining lonely wives are going to have to get back into circulation

Rejoin the herd, you mean...

[bigheadfred]

The Muslim faith allows men to have up to four wives.

Hm.... hmmmm.

NOW you know why they are so apesh!+ crazy...

[Mojave]

Well, those two remaining lonely wives are going to have to get back into circulation.

They'll find men to rape them and stone them in no time.

[pharmamom]

There goes the MSM again...it wasn’t an “assassination;” it was a successful military strike against a legitimate target. By using the word “assassinated,” MSNBC is trying to make Israel’s action appear immoral and out of the bounds of the rules of warfare.

[pharmamom]

No goats in the apartment! They value their goats more than that—wouldn’t use THEM as shields.

[behzinlea]

A great way to start the new year off with a bang.

[SunkenCiv]

[singing] ka-boom, ka-boom, yadadadadada, yadadadadada...

Israel Ambassador Prosor: Hamas is the obstacle to Middle East peace
Telegraph | January 1, 2009 | Ron Prosor
Posted on 01/01/2009 12:18:44 PM PST by IsraelBeach
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157295/posts

[WesA]

thank God one country doesn’t give in to political correctness...

[doug from upland]

I am working on the mocking YouTube sing-along. :)

[SunkenCiv]

keyword gaza, alphabetized, link opens in same new tab:

• Airstrikes rock Gaza as truce remains elusive
• Alan M. Dershowitz: Israel, Hamas, and moral idiocy (Good overview)
• Americans Closely Divided Over Israel’s Gaza Attacks (Rasmussen poll)
• Analysis: While Israel fights in Gaza, Egypt and Saudi Arabia take on Iran
• Arab Leaders Call for Palestinian Unity During 'Terrible Massacre'
• As Gaza Fighting Continues, Egyptian Clerics Intensify...Ohio Muslim (see link for entire title.)
• The assault on Gaza offers the best hope of peace: Israel is right to seek the destruction of Hamas
• BAM STIRS FEARS IN ISRAEL
• Comments About Gaza From A "Moderate" Muslim Cleric
• Egypt refuses to fully open Rafah (Gaza/Egypt Border)
• Egyptian MP: Hamas abandoning Gazans
• Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton Gauges Global Impact of Gaza Crisis
• Gaza strikes have "achieved changes," Israeli diplomat says
• The Gaza War: Is It Really So Hard to Understand?
• Gaza: A Matter of Proportion
• Hamas Covenant 1988
• Hamas Plans To Defeat Israeli Force With Epic "Last Stand" At Gaza City
• Hamas vows 'painful response' to commander's death (OK! Next stupid quote)
• HAMAS: a couple 12 year olds
• Has Israel learned its lesson?
• Has-Been, Unfunny Comedienne Roseanne: I Was Gonna Go w/Jihad Cindy on HAMAS Love Boat
• How does Israel's humane army manage to cause only a few hundreds deaths after so many strikes?
• IAF VIDEO : attack on Gaza mosque full of rockets. 31-12-08
• Iranian Hardliners Threaten Egypt-- Give 48 Hour Deadline
• Is Israel Using ‘Disproportionate Force’
• Israel Ambassador Prosor: Hamas is the obstacle to Middle East peace
• Israel can't bomb its way to peace (Mega Barf)
• Israel Demands Monitor As Part Of Gaza Truce
• Israel kills top Hamas figure, escalating campaign
• Israel rejects truce call, attacks Gaza
• Israel Says Gaza Truce Proposal Unrealistic
• Israel Sends More Troops To Gaza Border
• Israel The Canary In The Coal Mine
• Israel's Window is Closing IT MUST ACT NOW !!!
• Many Egyptians want to steer clear of Gaza trouble
• NYT: Hamas upgrades = success / Israel defends = disaster
• Olmert: No peace in Gaza till Hamas rockets stop
• On eve of his death, Hamas leader Nizar Rayan predicted victory
• OPERATION CAST LEAD The IDF's Fight Against Terror in Gaza"
• Palestinian Propaganda 101
• Palestinians Breach Egypt Border as Israel Bombs Tunnels
• Phila. marchers protest Israeli attacks
• Sleepless in Ashkelon as Missiles Fall
• Some Moderate Proposals [Victor Davis Hanson's 'modest proposal']
• Statement From Cynthia McKinney on the Israeli Attack on the "Dignity" (She's all wet)
• Statement on Gaza Violence and Bishops' Visit to Middle East
• Top Hamas figure killed in Israeli airstrike (IDF says, "Happy New Year, Hamas!")
• Winds of war blow Netanyahu's way,Poll predicts sweeping victory for the Likud
• Your questions to Hamas. [Live ? BBC 1PM EST - Could be a Hoot!]
• [12/31/08] Palestinian Terror Rocket Explodes in Ashdod Playground

[gidget7]

These terrorist, like any terrorists, THINK they know, that if Israel or the US, or any other western nation they are trying to kill, realizes there are human shields present, we will recognize them as innocent victims and therefore we will not bomb that place. That is why they are there. IOW, using our values and moral codes against us. (Hey wait, that's exactly what liberals do! and then call it hypocrisy. They have no values or morals, so it isn't hypocrrisy for them.)

And in most instances the west does indeed do everything possible to minimize the threat to civilians. But once a person uses themselves as a human shield, they are no longer victims, but the enemy. In this case, unavoidable hazard of fighting terrorists.

[gidget7]

These terrorist, like any terrorists, THINK they know, that if Israel or the US, or any other western nation they are trying to kill, realizes there are human shields present, we will recognize them as innocent victims and therefore we will not bomb that place. That is why they are there. IOW, using our values and moral codes against us. (Hey wait, that's exactly what liberals do! and then call it hypocrisy. They have no values or morals, so it isn't hypocrisy for them.)

And in most instances the west does indeed do everything possible to minimize the threat to civilians. But once a person uses themselves as a human shield, they are no longer victims, but the enemy. In this case, unavoidable hazard of fighting terrorists.

[pillut48]

I’ve known it to be true, but now he knows that God has a sense of humor! :-)

“Headless”—him AND Hamas! Bwah!

[Marine_Uncle]

Happy New Year elhombreliber, may it be safe, healthy, and prosperous. Yeah! Good news to start off the new year. Hope the Israeli really bust up Hamas this time around. The palis have to start understanding they voted in a bunch of total asshole*.
Haven't noticed you on the threads of lately. Welcome back.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Landshark!

[shielagolden]

December 18, 2008

Russia provides 10 MiG fighter jets to Lebanon for free
(Yuri Kadobnov/AFP/Getty Images)
Russian MIG-29 fighters
Tony Halpin in Moscow
Russia gave Lebanon ten MiG fighter jets yesterday in a deal to boost defence cooperation.

The MiG29 Fulcrum fighters would be provided free to Lebanon under an agreement on military-technical assistance, the head of Russia’s defence cooperation service said. Mikhail Dmitryev said that the jets would come from Russia’s existing stock.

He said that Moscow was also in talks to supply Beirut with heavy armour, adding that supplies of such weaponry were “now possible after the situation in this nation has stabilised”.

He said: “We view the Lebanese army as the main guarantor of this nation’s stability, therefore the armed forces of this country must be strengthened.” The deal followed a meeting in Moscow between Anatoly Serdyukov, the Defence Minister, and Elias Murrhis, his Lebanese counterpart. Mr Serdyukov said that Russia had received a detailed list of armaments sought by Lebanon.

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When details of the deal emerged on Tuesday it was suggested that the aircraft would be sold at a discount. Mr Dmitryev confirmed yesterday however that they would be free, with delivery paid by the Russian Defence Ministry. He said: “Military-technical assistance, this means assistance in budgetary funds.”

The MiG29s, one of Russia’s best fighter jets, will provide considerable additional firepower for the Lebanese air force, which currently has only five outdated Hawker Hunter jets and 16 helicopters.

The gift is certain to strengthen Russian influence in the Middle East as Moscow seeks to restore a position that was lost with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The agreement is likely to prompt concern in Israel and the United States, given the continuing power and influence of the Islamic militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ria-Novosti news agency reported that Lebanese officials were also seeking tanks, antitank rockets, air defence systems and helicopters.

Russia is already a major weapons supplier to neighbouring Syria, which is keen to acquire the latest MiG29s and was reported to be seeking the latest Sam S300 air defence missiles earlier this year.

Moscow denied that it would sell the systems to Syria.

The northern Syrian port of Tartus has also been identified as a possible base for the Russian navy to gain a permanent presence in the Mediterranean. Russian warships visited Cuba this week for the first time since the Cold War after taking part in their first war games with Venezuela.

Russia announced plans in September to sell antiaircraft systems to Iran despite American objections. It is already building a nuclear power plant for Iran that the West suspects is part of Tehran’s plans to acquire an atomic bomb.

The Kremlin is rearming Russia’s military too. Colonel-General Nikolai Solovtsov, head of the Strategic Missile Forces, told Russian news agencies yesterday that Russia would commission a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the RS24, next year with multiple warheads.

He said that Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces planned 13 practice launches in 2009, almost double the number this year. They would include five test launches of new missiles as part of plans to overhaul Russia’s Soviet-era nuclear arsenal by 2020 and counter American defence systems.

“By 2015-2020 the Russian strategic rocket forces will have new complete missile systems with improved combat characteristics,” General Solovtsov said. “They will be capable of carrying out any tasks, including in conditions where an enemy uses antimissile defence measures.”

[1-Eagle]

Good riddance. Another dead terrorist.

That being said, I take this opportunity to continue my campaign to push the idea of buying these hapless, land hungry, Jew haters an Island of their own and put them on it. It really is the most humane solution, and the only solution that doesn't involve "dropping the bomb" and turning sandy Palestine into a massive glass sculpture, although I'm sure it would be rather quiet for many hundreds of years after that, and as the years pass with more and more innocent blood spilled the idea starts to grow on me a bit.

Rather than nuking them, why not help them have a nice little island, or small set of islands, somewhere balmy and quiet and outside rocket range of anything important to the world. They can develop ceremonies of doing a new Palestinian style hula dance and throwing the "ceremonial coconut" into the sea in the general direction of Israel once a year, kind of like throwing the rocks at the pillars that symbolize satan that they do in Mecca, and then they can get back to doing their little island business thing of making snappy little souvenirs and everybody is happy. (insert smirk here)

As a bonus, the Island(s) could be blockaded to allow ship searches for anything inbound or outbound for a few decades until the hate cools off and they learn to be happy little island people.

[Redbob]

" The attack killed 12 other people including... four of his 12 children,..."

The Israelis are slipping;
they're only batting .333...

[1-Eagle]

Just for the sake of discussion: "progressive" is "newspeak" (ala George Orwells "1984") for socialist. Sounds kind of snappy. Who doesn't want to be progressive? But nobody seems to like being called a liberal or socialist or communist. Best to forget rebuilding the reputation of "liberal" and just start off fresh with something new... "hey.... lets call ourselves progressive! Catchy, eh?"

This is kind of like referring to infanticide as "Pro-Choice".

The liberal/socialists are being smart and savvy, and thats just scary as hell. Propaganda works. We just lost an election to massive propaganda. We have just elected a man that nobody knows. The few that do know him are largely busy with court cases, or making excuses for a radical past.

One thing we absolutely cannot do is to stop attacking Obama and his socialist friends and policies. They destroyed Bush... "death by a thousand cuts." They attacked him every day.

We need to fight back. We need to educate people on what has just happened and what to expect. One thing about this Blago thing... it drives home the point that was made during the campaign... Obama and his associates are corrupt beyond belief. That being said, Obama may yet be the best thing to happen to us, just like Clinton who left a "legacy" of a GOP controlled congress for the first time in 40 or more years. Obama may just be a windfall for conservatives, and I hope they will take full advantage of the opportunity the next time around and maintain control for decades. Its going to take some hard work to make that happen in an environment where people like to vote for "change" even if they don't know what the heck "change" means.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"The attack killed 12 other people including two of Rayan's four wives and four of his 12 children"

Hope the four children were the boys. It's never too early to start getting rid of the next generation of Islamo fascists.

[LukeL]

its not rocket science

Actually this story does involve many rockets.

[wedwo]

“The Muslim faith allows men to have up to four wives.”

Aah...that means 4 mother-in-laws? Oy Vey!

[rdl6989]

Hasta la vista baby.

[elhombrelibre]

Thanks, and Happy New Year to you too. I’ve been laying off of the net recently. Take care.