Aaron David Miller: A Reality Check

Here's another reality check. Since declaring its 'truce', HAMAS has exploded an IED at an Israeli patrol, killing one and wounding two. It has launched rockets today into Israel. Meanwhile, Iranian ships are trying to figure out a way to ship more arms into the strip.
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Meanwhile, word is coming out of thwarted attack planned by Hizballah on Israeli civilians in Europe.

What was that you were saying Scott, about substance over process?

What would you do jacob? Just as Hamas "improvised" an "explosive device" (IED), world leaders must assemble teams with the wit and strategy to "improvise" as well. But improvise by example 1st -> force, last. I believe this is the essence of what scotty boy was trying to convey- Possibly start with a powerful media campaign. Maybe next provide suitable aid. perhaps if that happens, there will be adequate time to gather enough intel to subtly shift the regional factions of power in a direction that will ALLOW for peaceful negotiations. I strongly believe that what we are being told is nowhere near the truth but I also believe (but can only assume) that what information is available to those in positions of power is inaccurate, inadequate, and insufficient to the creation of a platform for real negotiation towards peace. Furthermore, all agendas aside, war crimes can no longer be tolerated. Anyone who wields influence must do so in the manner that they wish to govern themselves by. Substance must in be put back in the place of process.

Nice try but Hamas denies involvement in the explosion. You can try one of Israel's other 2302309214094093520382398239082305 enemies.
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What would Israel do if Hamas invaded by air using weapons the ENTIRE CIVILIZED WORLD considers illegal on WOMEN and CHILDREN? What if Hamas killed 1400 Israelis in 3 weeks, about 500 of them children? What would the US do if 400,000 Israelis became homeless because Hamas was defending itself from Israel's 18 month military blockade of their food, water, and medical supplies?
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That's what Israel did to Hamas, and for little reason more than 6 deaths from 8,000 rockets. I'd say that makes one sheisty weapon, wouldn't you? Not justification enough to kill 1400+ people, that's for sure.

Of course HAMAS denies it Nick, what else would you expect from them.
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Of course given that HAMAS is the organization that declared a truce, and is of course, out shooting Fatah supporters in the streets, do you really imagine that any of the other Palestinian militias would actually test them?
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Of course, as you so readily point out, any violence by HAMAS is automatically legitimized. Regardless of whether or not the attack in Israel was dirty pool, two points to note on it. First, it again shoots HAMAS own credibility in the foot for securing a longer-term cease-fire agreement with Israel. Second, it opens Gaza to another round of fighting with what is obviously a stronger military opponent.
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If that is the case then, are Tim, Scott, and their amen corner, ready to stand up and say, whoops, sorry Gazans, you continue to look for a fight that will result in more bloodshed? Try and be more careful to stockpile and fire your weapons away from civilians this time?
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I'm not going to hold my breath on that one.
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As for a sheisty weapon Nick, why not try on HAMAS tactical plans, which included firing weapons in and around civilian structures, indeed, boobytrapping blocks of residential buildings and trying to turn densely populated urban centers into a kill zone, while putting civilians on the roofs of military targets.
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Indeed Nadvab, war-crimes should not be tolerated. Unfortunately for eight years, they were. Indeed, TIME's bloggers remain quite silent to the idea that HAMAS rocket attacks were just that. And while Nick will quibble about the outright success of these attacks, he disregards both the intent of HAMAS in its decision to launch the rockets deliberately at civilian targets, but also its wider goal of genocide.
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Meanwhile, for the record, while Scott and Nick continue to beat their breasts about the violence in Gaza, its interesting to note how similar combat took place in January between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger militia, which appears to have not only been kept off the front pages, but apparently has ended with the dissolution of the Tiger militia. Interesting outcome, and even more interesting response, or lack therof, of the method of combat given the similar asymmetric style of warfare in that battle zone.
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RE: Much needed Reality Checking!

http://ifamericansknew.org/
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/
http://www.wearewideawake.org/

It is time for the U.S. to get its head out of the sand. Until it is willing to talk to Hamas, it makes no sense to talk about peace. I do have one question for Jacob, if he comes back. Why has Israel chosen to make Abbas so irrelevant after so many years? You would think, having someone other than Arafat to represent the Palestinians would be a godsend. However, Israel has spent the past few years making Abbas irrevelant to any discussion, other than windowdressing. Granted the Israeli government believes he is a weak leader, but they have contributed to his weakness. From unilaterally withdrawing from Gaza to its resistance (until very recently) in releasing Palestinians prisoners, they have made Abbas look to the Palestinians as nothing more than an Israeli stooge.

The first thing Mitchell needs to ask the Isrselis are they really interested in peace and a two state solution, or, just like Hamas, they are just biding their time to quietly cobble up more of the West Bank? If the Israelis are not interested in peace, then Mitchell should say he is not going to waste his time and come home. We can see if it causes the Israeli government to come to its senses.

As far as Hamas, Jacob, Israel has what it wants. Even Europe has branded it a terrorist organization and will not talk to it. However, what Israel needs is someone to talk to Hamas, which is now the Egyptians. Keep in mind, Egypt does not like Hamas either, as they are an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.

Just remember, you don't make peace with your friends, you make peace with your enemies.

FHM, Yes, Arafat leaving the scene was definately an improvement. However, that doesn't guarantee that whoever came along after him would be better. And we've seen, in the form of Abu Mazn and HAMAS, that the Palestinians can indeed, receive a leadership that is equally bad, if not worse.
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Israel thought Abu Mazen was irrelevant even before he stepped into the PA presidency. He was labeled as a weak leader who would never stand up to the either the extreme wings of the Palestinian 'resistance groups', or Fatah's own corrupt heads. And if you look at his commentary and actions both during his original electoral campaign, and since then, he's never done more than talk.
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Even then, when it came to working with Israel, his insistence on actually doing something was always predicated on the idea that Israel needed to provide him with a 'big gesture' first.
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Well, since his election, Israel left Gaza and took all the Jews with them.
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What was done? Nada. Which was the same as before.
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It's one thing to stand up and say he's going to represent the Palestinians interests (which is what he's being paid to do), to not doing anything against the violence or corruption.
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As for making peace with one's enemies FHM, you need to have an enemy that is actually interested in making peace. HAMAS does not appear to be that group.

September 1970 is known as the Black September (Arabic: أيلول الأسود) in Arab history and sometimes is referred to as the "era of regrettable events." It was a month when Hashemite King Hussein of Jordan moved to quash the autonomy of Palestinian organizations and restore his monarchy's rule over the country.[2] The violence resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, the vast majority Palestinian.[1] Armed conflict lasted until July 1971 with the expulsion of the PLO and thousands of Palestinian fighters to Lebanon.