Tired, but had a good morning at PT. Pain is weakness leaving the body, or an emotion to be controlled (per Spock). Either works for me right now, as what I want more is a good night’s sleep.
Like many, I was surprised at what happened on Oct. 7. That our intelligence services missed what was coming is hardly surprising, but for Israel’s services to miss it is something else. Perhaps if Mossad and others were more focused on their job instead of illegal (per their laws) politics… Some things, sadly, appear universal these days.
I think the DiploMad is on the right track with his take on things. Read through his other posts while you are at it. He states a number of uncomfortable truths that many here, not just in media, would prefer to avoid. This was a huge roll of the dice, with the aim of fomenting a larger war. How they got talked into it is a good question, but what matters is they did it.
For all that I agree that the goal was a larger war, I also agree that one of the thoughts behind it was to create a ghost zone, a place where people would no longer live because of what happened there. An effort to instill fear so that the land would be abandoned so that Hamas could move in.
And horror it was. I’ve watched more video of what happened that day — most shot by HamAss members — than is truly healthy. In addition to noting things like the young lady bleeding rectally who also had her tendon cut to keep her from running, other things stood out. A page was clearly taken from Rwanda as cutting off arms was a big thing. It is an effective way to take people out of action, and barring outside assistance, they tend to bleed out. When you do it to children and young adults, it tends to pull out those hiding who seek to go provide aid so you can kill them too. Heartbreaking doesn’t describe a child who was still alive when help arrived hours later, but was too far gone to save. Rage doesn’t begin to describe the rape and mutilation that took place (and not just to females). Or of those who would gang rape a girl, with the last person pulling her head up and shooting her in the back of the head as he raped her, then finishing the rape. The videos and more are being collected on a couple of sites, hope to link to them soon.
There’s a reason I suggested running an arclight the length and breadth of Gaza, then repeating so as to bounce the rubble. For, it was not just HamAss that came out to play, but quite a few citizens of Gaza who joined in to loot, mutilate, and otherwise add to the horror. Perhaps even some of the same people who danced in joy at what happened to us on 9/11. Given that HamAss has been the legitimate elected government of Gaza for almost all the time since Israel pulled out in 2005, I don’t see a lot of truly “innocent” people in Gaza.
What was done is, sadly, normal for most of the world outside the West. It is tribalism at its finest, and a reminder of the true nature of war and mankind. I strongly suspect they hoped to do more, and hold more territory, even as they tried to strike fear into the hearts of those who might consider living nearby. But, as I noted a while back, something has changed. Still trying to put my finger on it, but the tune has changed and what was expected isn’t happening.
In this case, I think Iran and HamAss both miscalculated. What they tried might well have worked before, but isn’t now. For all the normal useful idiots are trying, Israel isn’t buying it. The demented meat puppet and the Biden Regency have been told to pound sand, as as PM Castreaux and a host of others. This isn’t the time for the usual responses and Israel agreeing to be restrained. This is the time to eliminate HamAss and all who participated in the horrors of the 7th. This is what Israel is doing, and I pray nothing stops them from so doing.
It’s also clear that the Israeli military has been thinking about the 70+kilometers of tunnels under Gaza. To try to fight in them would be a nightmare, and play right into HamAss’s hands. So, that’s not what they are doing. I’ve read some apparently well informed discussions of sealing and dealing, along with some less informed discussions of super foam bombs (and I would be tempted to smoke/take what those people are on to be honest). Israel is blocking entrances, cutting off ventilation, and in some cases collapsing tunnels. Personally, I hope they are leaving some toxic presents in the tunnels before sealing, but after watching all I have seen I’m not inclined to play nice or even by the so-called rules. Israel is showing amazing restraint and still doing so.
Those calling for ceasefires and the like are on the side of HamAss, Hezbollah, and other terrorist groups. Period. They also missed the change in the world, and it shows. Despite the well-funded and centrally organized pro-HamAss/anti-Israel protests, there is no traction for them. Make no mistake, these are indeed well-funded events where people have spent a lot of money and are spending a lot of time coordinating and organizing. If you think these are just random or spontaneous events, I have a bridge for sale…
Had the world not changed, this might have worked. The usual suspects might well have gotten various governments and such to actively work to restrain Israel in its response. Not happening now, though idiots are trying. Israel is not interested, not listening, and is focused on the righteous and long-needed elimination of HamAss and key supporters. I get the feeling that even some of the normal funders are pulling back, realizing that they too may have targets on their backs. Israel does have a bit of history for dealing directly with those who go after their people. I hope they do, as after all Americans were killed and taken hostage on the 7th. That is something that needs to be avenged.
I fear that most of those taken hostage are already dead — and if they are it may be a mercy given what HamAss and others like to do to hostages (think what they did on the 7th). That said, if any are still alive, I hope Israel gets them out and that we help with that. We need to go back to making clear that killing Americans and taking them hostage is a very bad idea. We need to quit encouraging countries (Iran, Russia, cough) to do so by making bad deals and paying ransoms in any form. Don’t care if the Big Guy doesn’t get his ten percent of such things, those killing and kidnapping need to start dying. Perhaps we should take a page out of the KGB manual as used in Lebanon, which would be both ironic and appropriate. In this case, we have the leaders of HamAss living in other countries, and I think that sending back bits and pieces of them until those hostages being held in Gaza are released is a good idea. Even if it officially never happened, might not be the first time on that (cough).
Personally, I hope to see Israel eliminate HamAss, it’s supporters, and any and all who took part on the 7th in Gaza. I hope to see them go after leadership and supporters who made the 7th possible. I also hope that those behind the funding and organization of the so-called anti-genocide (but really pro-HamAss/anti-Israel) protests find the same targets on their backs.
Just a bit of food for thought, for those paying attention. We already know that all sorts of interesting people have crossed the southern border. Expect to see things like this tried here. As I noted in a previous post, I would be unsurprised at much more being tried. Maybe more on that later. Meantime, be prepared and be as safe as you can be. Keep your things where you can find them in the dark.
More soon.
Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.