[bert]

This is an analysis of events previously noted but not in such depth. The object of war is to kill the enemy. Apparently the IDF located a large body of the Hamas enemy and did just that

Unmentioned is the exact number of Hamas killed. There are numbers reported for Gaza as a whole but I would guess the number killed in this engagement is classified because it is either very large or unknown.

The fact that the large number of guns was massed for use in just such an engagement is telling. The IDF commanders were prepared to rain down hell on a concentration of Hamas

This engagement alone might have led to a with drawal and cease fire. This neighborhood was likely a key objective to be absolutely destroyed.

We must wait a few years for the memoirs to learn exactly what happened.

[Diogenesis]

Curious Americans want to know:

What did/do these “officers” say about Obama’s release
of the Guantanamo Generals?

or the Obama transfer of MANPADs as an Ambassador
was left to be raped and murdered on live TV?

[wrench]

This action was not an attack, but a response to continued unprovoked attacks by Hamas on Israel.

Do not kick the hornet’s nest then complain about getting stung.

[DManA]

U.S. military sources speaking on condition of anonymity

Profiles in courage.

[yldstrk]

Israel had to make time and couldn’t mess around when it found Hamas in a civilian neighborhood. Hope they neutralized the majority of Hamas.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Looks like a propaganda piece to me.

[CitizenUSA]

You mean some countries still try to actually annihilate enemies? Why, that’s positively barbaric! /s

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They started it.

[faithhopecharity]

If American military officers really are surprised by the return of enemy fire, USA is in terrible terrible danger. Israel will continue to defend herself doing whatever is necessary. But will this new American military leadership defend USA ( or any of our allies) ? We have been sold out Please pray for America.

[nathanbedford]

The story suggests that Israelis are risking antagonizing the Palestinians in Gaza with indiscriminate artillery bombardment. The story also mentions but does not pursue the allegation that Hamas prohibited civilians from vacating the target area after warnings of the coming bombardment were delivered by the Israelis.

My feeling is that the Gazans are already anti-Israeli and the Israeli tactic is just as likely to turn them against Hamas as it is to aggravate their already existing animosity against Israel. The Israelis are telling the Gazans, there is a price to pay for putting these people in power.

I think there is an object lesson to the United States here. The Arab world responds to power but not to blandishment. Force them to choose between their own survival and a crazy ideology. Turn them against Hamas, Hezbollah, a Qaeda, and Isis as their most immediate and dangerous oppressors. Force them to that choice.

Force Hamas to fear its own population, that is the beginning of the end of a guerrilla operation.

[onedoug]

Isn’t Israel on with one of her see-saw ceasefires now?

Hamas merely taunts them.

Reminds me of us vs islamists. How long are we supposed to lie down?

As long as we have an enemy islamist President, and a Congress that will not challenge him.

islamism advances.

[Paladin2]

Sounds like the IDF was just steralizing the soil

[Arlis]

Simply the liberal mindset of how to wage (and lose) war. No such thing existed in WWII - it was win or die.

Israeli’s know that’s the situation with Hamas - win or die.

We are doomed trying to fight wars under liberal rules of engagement and if things ever get bad for us, we’ve already lost with this mentality.

Just like the shooting in Ferguson - cop shot Brown too many times. No, he shot him until the threat no longer existed as cops are properly trained to do.

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

[Netz]

Coming from the Arab world's PRAVDA and designed to defame Israel at any cost, these journalists at Al-Jazeera will always find an American military person who is “appalled” at anything Israel does.

The truth of the matter is that Israel showed MASSIVE RESTRAINT in this battle.

When you look at the amount of ordnance used by Israel, 200,000 Paleostinians should have been killed and not 2,000 over a 50 day period.

[Paine in the Neck]

Military sources say Pentagon's assessment of Shujaiya shelling alarmed even Secretary of State John Kerry

The violence of a kitten fight would alarm John Kerry.

[nuke rocketeer]

Israel’s response was absolutely disproportionate.”

I call BS on that. There is no such thing as "disproportionate" in war. You go in to kill your enemy. That's like stating the amphibious invasions of Normandy and Iwo Jima were "disproportionate" because the Army/Navy/Marines had battleships/cruisers/destroyers doing artillery support and had more troops/tanks than the Germans/Japanese defenders had.

BTW....a LOT of French civilians were killed at Normandy.

[ThunderSleeps]

You're right, the objective is to kill the enemy. Or at least render them combat in-effective. I read this as the IDF found a high concentration of Hamas fighters in the area. The best way to kill ground troops wholesale is with artillery, suddenly and violently. Typically it only takes seconds to find some cover, and a couple of minutes to find good cover. Firing a lot of rounds from a few guns would take time. That time would allow Hamas fighters that were out preparing to engage ground forces time to reach good cover. Using a lot of guns to fire the mission in a short amount of time increases the likelihood of catching them in the open.

Military sources say Pentagon's assessment of Shujaiya shelling alarmed even Secretary of State John Kerry

I think a couple of kids with cap pistols could alarm Kerry.

[captain_dave]

They’re supposedly amazed at the amount of artillery used, 11 battalions. Equivalent to that used by two manouver divisions. So what? Since when is using overwhelming strengh a bad idea. Besides, the IDF had to cover a large area. Also, by using so many guns, they’re able to keep all the crews well trained without wasting ammo at the range.

Kerry is such f&@%ing fool.

[Jeff Head]

The IDF warned the citizens that they were going to attack...which means they also warned the enemy.

When Israeli forces ran into have resistance, losing numerous of their own personnel, they eliminated the threat.

I am sad that innocent civilians were caught up in it, but that is either because:

1) They chose to stay after being warned, or,
2) They were forced to stay by Hamas fighters.

I am willing to bet that it is a lot more of the latter.

Israel is fighting craven animals with no regard for human life. I not only support their methods...I applaud them.

They need to do as much damage to Hamas as possible, eradicating them completely if possible.

Almost everyone of the people quoted in this hit piece were not there, and are relying on written reports, which themselves most probably carry some bias.

So what that Israel had that amount of firepower at their disposal? I for one m glad they did. It allows them, when faced with heavy resistance, to bring maximum fire power to bear.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

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

[Wyatt's Torch]

“If the figures are even half right, Israel’s response was absolutely disproportionate.”

Who gives a shit? Since when is war “proportional”? What is “proportional” to evil? This is such a lazy argument. None of these jokers would have had the temerity to do what was done in World War II.