Hamas leader survives attack

[USSoldier11B]

Quote[/b] ] By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Reuters
GAZA (June 10) - Israel tried to kill the public face of Hamas on Tuesday, wounding Palestinian militant Abdel Aziz Rantisi in a helicopter strike that brought swift calls for revenge and may shatter a U.S.-backed peace plan.

Witnesses said two helicopter gunships fired seven missiles that set Rantisi's car ablaze in Gaza City, killing two people and wounding about 20. Rantisi leapt clear just in time and later vowed from his hospital bed to continue attacks on Israel.

Israeli security sources said he had been the target.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he described as ''the criminal and terrorist Israeli attack.'' Though Hamas had defied Abbas's plea for it to stop killing Israelis, Abbas said such Israeli actions ''sabotage'' the peace process.

Rantisi, 55, is a senior political aide to Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and has taken on the informal role of spokesman for the Islamic group, which has carried out dozens of suicide bombings in Israel and opposes the peace ''road map.''

He has claimed center stage over the past week in rejecting calls by Abbas to cease attacks on Israelis under the peace proposal that envisions creation of a Palestinian state by 2005.

''We will maintain our jihad (holy struggle) and resistance until we kick out every single criminal Zionist from our land,'' Rantisi told al-Jazeera television by telephone from Gaza's Shifa Hospital. ''Killing me will not give them security.''

Referring to Middle East summits with President Bush last week in Egypt and Jordan, Palestinian Information Minister Nabil AMr. said: ''Israel's assassination attempt aims to direct a deadly blow to international peace efforts.''

How can terrorists accuse other people of being terrorists?
I would like to visit Israel to really get a grasp on the issues there. I'm confounded by how people that hate each other so much can live in such proximity. One thing is for sure, I feel sorry for the average Israelis and Palestinians who are just trying to live normal lives. I'm really starting to doubt that a peaceful coexistance is possible in my lifetime.

[bn880]

What do you mean, you don't think shooting at civilian cars with missiles is terrorism? Who do you think died this time.

How can the Israeli Terrorist Forces accuse anyone of being terrorists when they terrorize all these Palestinians?

[USSoldier11B]

I would call it a direct action military operation, however reckless it was. The intent was not to inflict terror through violence to make a political or relgious statement. However dubious, it was an attempt to assassinate a known terrorist ringleader. An act of war, not terror. People are too quick to call things terror these days. Just as I do not consider the bombing of the USS Cole an act of terror, it was an act of war as well.

[Bernadotte]

Who do you think died this time.

Quote[/b] ]Two bystanders, a 50-year-old woman and a five-year-old girl, were killed while another Palestinian died of his wounds moments later.

-- Sydney Morning Herald

[bn880]

It depends, if the car is in a civilian area where missiles will kill whoever is near by then it's a pure terrorist act. If they target the car when it's out in the open with no one around only whoever is inside, it's assasination but also very wreckless as they do not know who is with him for the ride. Could be anyone.


Assasination is basically not wreckless nor terrorism when you snipe the leader. (or any other method that gets him only)

[Die Alive]

How dare they attack such a kind and helpful organization as Hamas.

I'm positive that car was on it's way to plant trees, or to read to blind orphans, or perhaps to clean the bedpans of the elderly.

-=Die Alive=-

[Bernadotte]

I would call it a direct action military operation, however reckless it was. The intent was not to inflict terror through violence to make a political or relgious statement. However dubious, it was an attempt to assassinate a known terrorist ringleader. An act of war, not terror. People are too quick to call things terror these days.

If it was not an act of terror then please explain to us why Israel does not apprehend or finish off the intended target at this very moment in the hospital where he is being treated.

And according to you, was the killing of 4 Israeli soldiers in Gaza yesterday a military operation too?

[bn880]

How dare they attack such a kind and helpful organization as Hamas.

I'm positive that car was on it's way to plant trees, or to read to blind orphans, or perhaps to clean the bedpans of the elderly.

-=Die Alive=-

Here comes the radical extremist Die Alive again.

How about the people that actually died, maybe they were going to plant trees or clean bedpans. Eh wait, there probably aren't too many elderly Palestinians left.

[USSoldier11B]

Quote[/b] ]And according to you, was the killing of 4 Israeli soldiers in Gaza yesterday a military operation too?

Yes, killing soldiers is not terrorism. As a soldier I accept this fact. Soldiers are not innocent. It's ugly yes, but that's the way I see it. Terrorism has victims, war has casualties. The longer we pretend that Israel and Palestine are not at war, the worse this is going to get. Labeling everything as terrorism is just that.

Quote[/b] ]Assasination is basically not wreckless nor terrorism when you snipe the leader. (or any other method that gets him only)

Like I said it was reckless, military operations get goatf&*ked, or it could be intentional, I don't know all the facts, so I just see it as a reckless assassination attempt at face value. I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong here, I'm just saying it's ugly. War is ugly, but unfortunately something that is part of human nature that we will probably never escape dispite what you utopian idealists might believe. This isn't about Israeli soveriegnty or a Palestinian homeland, it's a hatred that runs much deeper, and as long as factions continue to thrive off of it, it will continue. This state of being has existed for so long that some people do not know how to live without it. You really think establishing a Palestinian homeland will stop the fighting? I highly doubt it. my point is that the liberal media is quick to blame Israel as a whole for this incident, whereas when Israelis are killed specific militant factions are blamed, or even wear the responsibility like a badge of pride. Like I said in my first post, the situation completely confounds me. So many outsiders are so busy trying to label and place blame, who's right, who's wrong, that they fail to see that these people are dealing with something much more fundamental, survival.

[toadlife]

My questions is...why lob seven missiles when they could try and disable the car they were in somehow and use a few well placed snipers. This would prevent all of these tragic incidents of "collateral damage", which has to be a large factor in keeping the war going.

Both sides are wrong.