I wish I had time to respond in more depth, because this is an issue I feel deeply about. However, I just wanted to give one possible answer to your question about how Hamas could claim recent events as a victory: It's all about the spin. Cold, hard facts are irrelevant to most of the world (and most of Hamas' audience) who have not directly experienced the incidents in question. If you can convince that audience that a defeat is a victory, then it becomes a victory.
As for the Al Jazeera poll, I suspect that many of those surveyed were not people directly affected by any retaliatory measures Israel might take against Qassams. It's really easy to be macho when your life or livelihood, or those of your immediate relatives and close friends, are not in danger. Witness the super patriots of America, who want to bomb Iran despite how well "regime change" worked in Iraq. Their kids won't be the ones doing the dying.
If you can convince that audience that a defeat is a victory, then it becomes a victory.
...which is incredibly frustrating, because it's a victory that leads to more deaths, except it looks like they don't care. As long as it's for the cause, and it makes Israel look bad.
You're probably right about the poll. I've been trying to figure out through the internet, Palestinian blogs, speculations with friends, how the Palestinians really feel right now about Hamas's tactics. But truthfully, it looks like the more Israel strikes back, the more they support Hamas. Which is frustrating to no end, because whatever happens, eventually, with Hamas, at the bottom of it all there's a fundamental disagreement between us that cannot be solved unless they ackowledge that Israel's there to stay, unless they change their position and make Israel trust them. And it doesn't look like that's gonna happen anytime soon.
I kinda like Bartlett in that quote... I know it's more complex than that but it always reminds me of this one (which I understand isn't actually a real quote):
"Ineffective, unfocused violence leads to more violence. Limp, panicky, half-measures lead to more violence. However, complete, fully-thought-through, professional, well- executed violence never leads to more violence because, you see, afterwards, the other guys are all dead."
I just wish the Hammas guys would take up gardening and leave everyone else alone.
I think in the end of the episode they actually end up not doing it - reason winning over emotion. But I was trying to demonstrate what the general sentiment here was.
Where's that quote from? It's... well, I can't say it's very uplifting. (I also can't say I trust my country to execute complete, fully-thought-through, professional violence. Because with all due respect, Gabi Ashkenazi is now Scott Summers, tactician extraordinaire...)
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As for the Al Jazeera poll, I suspect that many of those surveyed were not people directly affected by any retaliatory measures Israel might take against Qassams. It's really easy to be macho when your life or livelihood, or those of your immediate relatives and close friends, are not in danger. Witness the super patriots of America, who want to bomb Iran despite how well "regime change" worked in Iraq. Their kids won't be the ones doing the dying.
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...which is incredibly frustrating, because it's a victory that leads to more deaths, except it looks like they don't care. As long as it's for the cause, and it makes Israel look bad.
You're probably right about the poll. I've been trying to figure out through the internet, Palestinian blogs, speculations with friends, how the Palestinians really feel right now about Hamas's tactics. But truthfully, it looks like the more Israel strikes back, the more they support Hamas. Which is frustrating to no end, because whatever happens, eventually, with Hamas, at the bottom of it all there's a fundamental disagreement between us that cannot be solved unless they ackowledge that Israel's there to stay, unless they change their position and make Israel trust them. And it doesn't look like that's gonna happen anytime soon.
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Not much help, am I?
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...about as much as everyone else I know, from myself to the Prime Minister. You're right, there isn't a right answer here.
That photo was probably the photo of 2004. The incident, the pictures of those soldiers, are horrifying.
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"Ineffective, unfocused violence leads to more violence.
Limp, panicky, half-measures lead to more violence. However, complete,
fully-thought-through, professional, well- executed violence never leads to
more violence because, you see, afterwards, the other guys are all dead."
I just wish the Hammas guys would take up gardening and leave everyone else alone.
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Where's that quote from? It's... well, I can't say it's very uplifting. (I also can't say I trust my country to execute complete, fully-thought-through, professional violence. Because with all due respect, Gabi Ashkenazi is now Scott Summers, tactician extraordinaire...)
Also - dude! The beard totally suits you :-)
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