Why Israel's bombardment of Gaza neighborhood left US officers 'stunned'

Al Jezeera ^ | Mark Perry

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I don’t believe in “disproportionate”, I believe in surviving and winning.

[Gritty]

... said the senior U.S. officer. “... Killing civilians is a sure prescription for defeat...."

Sure. Just like happened in WWII when we bombed German and Japanese civilians.

[Ocoeeman]

Precisely; as this was against a concentrated enemy. In this type of war these opportunities are few and far between.

Khe Sanh was fought because the US Military was frustrated in finding and bringing a superior firepower against a concentrated enemy. Until this point General Giap had been applying asymmetrical warfare techniques. There is still much debate as to why at this point in time he did so.
Despite what you read from many sources, if it was a diversion the following Tet Offensive, it was militarily a disaster for the NVA and set them back many years. It was however strategically a victory for the NVA from a propaganda viewpoint.

[wita]

“Listen, we know what it’s like to kill civilians in war,” said the senior U.S. officer. “Hell, we even put it on the front pages. We call it collateral damage. We absolutely try to minimize it, because we know it turns people against you. Killing civilians is a sure prescription for defeat.

You picked up on the same BS I did. Seems the prescription has done a one eighty since the last war we really WON.

[DCBryan1]

Yep. Our leaders need to read about how to end wars via Patton, Sherman’s march to the Coast, and how Pax Romana came about.

[factoryrat]

Judging by recent events in the ME, I think Israel, along with Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, and the Saudis, could pretty much care less what the US or obama
say or want. The US, no thanks to obama and his douchebag puppet kerry, have pretty much destroyed any credibility or influence we may have had in the region. They have more urgent problems to deal with, including some problems caused or exasperated by the US itself.

[JAKraig]

In war you don't have acceptable proportionate DEATH.

One death is too many, you do what ever it takes to stay alive, that often means killing the enemy. They can die or give up but when you agree to let a like amount of your soldiers to die just to keep things even you're stupid. You should just give up if that is what you want.

It is Hamas that is killing, why don't they get bad PR?

[epow]

Only God can save this nation at this point.......

Exactly right, but the pagan nation that the US has become within the past 1 or 2 generations is now rejecting His laws that have been the backbone of America's justice system since it's inception, and is turning against Him and His chosen people, aka Israel, as well.

Sadly, if this rejection of God and His laws continues to expand as it has over the past few decades America's incredibly rapid changeover from a predominantly Christian nation to a Godless, atheistic one will eventually culminate in the destruction of the US as a great nation. Over the course of my 77 years I have seen the US change so radically that it's hard to believe that I still live in the same nation that I remember as a teenager.

I hate to say all that, but I don't foresee any changes for the better in the immediate future, and will only get worse unless we as a nation return to God and His laws as the basis of our laws, our society, and our government.

[bert]

I take a more positive outlook.

We as American business men have daily ongoing dealings with the various Arab nations mentioned. As far as I can see, those relations have not changed. The commercial ties remain strong.

The are not dummies and know that America is not Barack Obama. It is Barack Obama and his minions that have lost credibility.

The recent decisions are evidence that they have decided to follow a course deemed to be best by the Obamaless coalition. The world is laughing at the Obama regime.

There is a strong tendency onFree Republic to view all the mideast through a warped Islamic prism. That view is severely distorted. The real power lies with the money men

[factoryrat]

I understand that part, but it is the political meddling that has caused more problems than it has solved. As far as business goes, wait until the US government under obama starts using sanctions to smack down anyone who refuses to side with their jihadi buddies in the muslim brotherhood.Even obama himself said he would side with the muslims if opinion turned against them, and so far, through his actions and policies, he is siding with the most radical elements of islam, including the MB, IS, and hamas. Of course the ME has plenty of other customers in the rest of the world, and it would probably be easier to deal with them, instead of a radicalized US regime.

[SZonian]

"“Holy Bejesus,” exclaimed retired Lt. General Robert Gard when told the numbers of artillery pieces and rounds fired during the July 21 action. “That rate of fire over that period of time is astonishing. If the figures are even half right, Israel’s response was absolutely disproportionate.” A West Point graduate, who is veteran of two wars and now the Chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Gard added that even if Israeli artillery units fired guided munitions, it would have made little difference."

Screw you "general"...the terrorists started it, for decades they have been maiming and killing innocents in Israel. How "disproportionate" is a Hamas missile landing in a school yard maiming and killing school children?

Freakin' loser...

[bert]

You speak of middle east customers here. I’m talking about American customers in the Arab states. The Arabs are still very good customers of American industry. We sell them lots of stuff. They like American products.

America has extensive investment in Arab companies. Look up the Sadara Jubail to find one such massive project currently underway.

Although there is an emphasis on oil, trade is not limited to oil or petroleum products.

[Pollster1]

I read this entire article and many other articles on this particular battle and on the entire operation. I am disgusted by Hamas and have no objections at all to Israel’s actions (other than their excessive restraint and foolish willingness to negotiate with people who want to murder all Jews).

[bert]

This is the only comprehensive piece I have read on this battle.

Could you direct me to other articles? I’m particularly interested in the description of the Hamas forces engaged.

I imagine yellow jackets boiling out from a hole in the ground but my imagination is probably off base

[Arlis]

We’re on the exact same page, bro.........

[factoryrat]

Maybe I didn’t word it right. I have no problem with trading and doing business with the Middle Eastern countries. The problem I see is that obama and his regime have alterior motives when it comes to dealing with the ME. The perception is that he has sided with the most radical and disruptive elements in the ME, and may use any means, including punitive financial sanctions to further his goals. What I am saying is that maybe the cooler heads among the governments in the ME should form more local alliances with their neighbors, and plan for dealings that don’t involve the US, at least for the time being. Just like the ME, the US has its own radical elements to deal with, including the ones currently residing in the white house.

[RedEyeJack]

“That’s a massive amount of firepower and it’s absolutely deadly.”

Shock and Awe, Baby!

All these experts failed to mention that Hamas could have withdrawn or surrendered but they chose to fight it out in Shujaiya in fixed positions of great strength... IDF choice was it's soldiers blood or Hamas’s. No choice at all to me.

[bert]

The alliances exist and are working.

The primary alliance is the Arab league.

Then there is the GCC, the Gulf Cooperation council consisting of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman. Generally, Saudi Arabia is their voice. The recent statement by a high Saudi cleric to the effect that ISIL was not Islam is a powerful statement. There is some question in my mind about Qatar being completely in the fold so I will hold them aside. Originally, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the USA were allied to oust Bashir Assad. Defecting Syrian officers and troops fled to Turkey where they met with the coalition noted.

We don’t know what happened to the cohesion but it fell apart when Obama would not agree to some unknown way forward.

Turkey has also not been so prominent in the fight.

With the Saudi announcement it is my belief that the coalition is now going to resist the ISIL extremism. How? I have no clue.

Then there is Egypt. The GCC led by Saudi Arabia saved Egypt from the Moslem Brotherhood. Egypt has been tough on Hamas and Gaza...... contrary to the gloom and doom on Free Republic whete many feared the death of Israel at the hands of Egypt. Just the opposite has occurred.

We learned yesterday of UAE air strikes believed to be from Egyptian bases on Libya. The UAE planes had to traverse SaUdi air sPACE so the strikes had Saudi tacit approval.

We have spent lots of money training the forces of the GCC and Egypt. It seems to be paying off.

[Pollster1]

I wish I could be more helpful, but I don’t have the links saved.

[dfwgator]

Everybody is going to be stunned how Israel acts if a war gets really hot in the region.

Well Israel better do it soon.