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[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
MAYBE Israel could devote a few years and the lives of some its best agents to killing individual Hamas members, in the sort of killings you see "Hit Man - Silent Assassin".

And maybe not.

And in any event, that is an enormous cost. If I am an Israeli general, I would prefer to have my best agents trying to figure out where the Iranian bomb facilities were, or where the Hezbollah Frog missiles are, or when the next big suicide attack is coming. And I'd rather use a rocket attack or bombing run to take out the Hamas leaders.

Because, let's face it -- the Palestinians have not exactly applauded Israel when it has killed its enemies in exactly the way that you propose. Instead, such killings have simply brought new recruits to the cause. And because they are painless for the people who might not personally volunteer for suicide attacks, they only increase support for the militants who do.

And yes -- civilians will die, including some who do not support the militants. That is very sad, and unfortunately inevitable when military men -- including Palestinian militants -- put their fighters, their bases, and their weapons in civilian areas.


As for the suggestion that, by advocating for Israel's right to defend itself, I treat Arabs as "less than human," I would only suggest that you go fuck yourself.

Personally, I think the problem is that Hamas and Hezbollah treat Arab civilians as less than human (perhaps that is not particularly, when one of their main backers is not an Arab state) by using them as shields.

Perhaps instead of suggesting I go fuck myself you might wish to inquire of yourself why it is that you are applauding the same conduct by Israel vis. a vis. not distinguishing between combatants and civilians that ou condemned when the US did the same in Iraq? If you can find a way to reconcile the two, I will withdraw my comment.