Opuscula London bombed; Dresden bombed Lesson for Hamas?

 

HAMAS AND Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) send missiles, fire balloons, and other weapons into Israel, mostly southern Israel where few Knesset members live.

Israel wastes thousands of shekels in jet fuel and more thousands in munitions to surgically target places where Hamas and PIJ were but are not now, having run away leaving the target populated by civilians.

Hamas and PIJ tell Israel and the world they want a cease fire which Israel gives and then Hamas and PIJ almost immediately violate the cease fire, proving, once again, that Israel’s politicians are either stupid or two faced — or both.

 

DURING WORLD WAR 2, the nazi air force bombed London, the Luftwaffe attacked ports in Liverpool and Hull as well the cities of Bristol, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Southampton, Cardiff, and Swansea. The industrial powerhouses of Birmingham, Belfast, Coventry, Glasgow, Manchester and Sheffield were also heavily bombed. (https://tinyurl.com/tlpxtqc)

While these bomber attacks should have been expected — the nazis had bombed and shelled cities on the continent, killing hundreds, the Brits apparently thought their cities were safe.

After the bombers came the V-1 flying bombs, the predecessors of today’s missiles.

The raids caused enormous destruction and heavy civilian casualties—some 43,000 British civilians were killed and another 139,000 were wounded. (https://tinyurl.com/y4ncbqhc)

When the nazis focused their attention on Russia in 1941, the bombing ceased (too few aircraft for a two-front war) and bomber attacks were replaced with rocket attacks from June 1944 through March 1945. During that time, 6,725 rockets were launched at Britain. Of these, 2,340 hit London, causing 5,475 deaths, with 16,000 injured. (https://tinyurl.com/ws7pb7x)

 

Revenge

The most extreme examples of Allied bombing of German cities included Hamburg in Operation Gomorrah (45,000 dead), and the bombings of Kassel (10,000 dead), Darmstadt (12,500 dead), Pforzheim (21,200 dead), Swinemuende (23,000 dead), and Dresden (25,000 dead). (https://tinyurl.com/btzvqng)

It can be argued that the first civilians killed by bombing — by either side — were in areas with military objectives; initially civilians in areas of no military value were relatively safe.

While Hamburg had the highest number of fatalities, Dresden is famous for the cruelty of the attack.

Unlike other targets, e.g., Hamburg, Dresden was, according to some, of little military significance. (https://tinyurl.com/y6pukj8d) Others however, contend that the city did have military value to the nazis, but admit the bombing of Dresden also was “for effect.” (https://tinyurl.com/redc8w4)

The bottom line was that Dresden was fire bombed day and night by U.S. and English bombers at least in part to make civilians suffer for the nazis’ war.

 

Israeli option

There are, from time to time, reports of dissatisfaction with Hamas and PIJ by the residents of Gaza.

Reports also claim that voices pressing for change are suppressed violently.

The left-leaning New York Times’ writer,  David M. Halbfinger, posits that Hamas, the militant group that runs the Gaza Strip, has been trying for over a year to keep a lid on its conflict with Israel, to improve the abysmal quality of life for the two million Palestinians under its control, and to keep millions of dollars in cash coming in each month from its generous allies in Qatar.

But a nettlesome, unruly and heavily armed little group called Palestinian Islamic Jihad has repeatedly sabotaged those plans by firing rockets at Israel, which more often than not has responded by raining down destruction on Hamas’s own installations and men. (Never mind the Times’ {Times’s?} use of “’s”. [https://tinyurl.com/yxbmoees, https://tinyurl.com/y36vj9zr])

Admittedly, if Israel did to Gaza what the allies did to Dresden — or any other mixed value target — the world would loudly object. Israel’s responses always must be “proportional.”

Some fool fails to understand that Hamas et al have sworn to drive the Jews — and presumably all non Muslims — into the sea; Hamas has declared war on Israel.

 

Government in exile?

The primary problem with Israel indiscriminately bombing Gaza, is that, as the nazis in Germany, Hamas et al won’t get the message and the people will remain under Hamas’ (or Hamas’s if you are a NY Times’s reader) thumb.

Someone — Egypt is probably the best option — should help Gazans who are tired of fighting Hamas, PIJ and Israel set up a government in exile. Even Israel could — and should — support this government in exile so that when — and this is a certainty — the war mongers of Hamas., PIJ, and any other interlopers are dispatched to their 70 virgins, Gaza will not be left in a vacuum.

Gazans already are escaping the strip. They are heading to Europe. Will they support a Hamas-free government?

The overthrow MUST only be with the assistance of fellow Muslims. The U.S. should not provide any direct military aid — none. Israeli Muslims, even if they want to help overthrow the despots, need to “sit on their hands” so “The World” won’t have grounds to blame Israel. (It WILL, in the end, blame Israel; that’s the knee-jerk reaction to everything.)

What Gaza does not need are Blue Bonnets patrolling the streets. UN “forces” have generally proven of little or no value.

 

Avoiding Dresden in Gaza

The people of Gaza, with help from their Muslim kin, need to overthrow the despots of Hamas, PIJ, and any other organization that puts itself before the people.

Hamas et al will not go quietly into the night and there will be casualties.

That, sadly, usually is the price of freedom from tyranny. Americans learned that lesson in 1775.

Still, Gazans who want a democratic-style government must act to prevent an Israeli politician such as the late Ariel Sharon, from invading Gaza and laying waste to the strip as Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman laid waste to Atlanta GA. (https://tinyurl.com/y8c3v4jq ) Atlanta recovered after the war and now is one of America’s major cities.

Continued attacks from Gaza on Israeli communities eventually will force Israel’s government to act, even if belatedly. Israel will not allow another “Lebanon” defeat.

The preventative is to establish a government in exile and to cast out Hamas, et al.

It won’t be easy. It will cost lives.

In the end, fewer lives will be lost than if an Israel, tired of attacks on its citizens, decides to depose the despots and invades Gaza.

 

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

 

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Gaza & Dresden

Opuscula What should Israel Do about ongoing Attacks from Gaza?

 

HAMAS AND ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD attack Israeli civilians day after day with fire bombs, balloons, rockets, and whatever else is handy.

Most of the attacks land in the lightly populated agricultural south.

Netanyahu and the Knesset’s members live in or near Jerusalem or Tel Aviv and have little interest in ending the endless attacks.

Why?

JEWS ACQUIRED AZA as a war trophy. Jews were forced out of Aza at gunpoint by Likud’s Ariel Sharon.

Aza’s new government allowed the infrastructure and houses to be destroyed. Some of the materials acquired by the new “owners” of the Jewish businesses were turned into weapons against the expelled Jews.

At one time the PLO controlled Aza. Now Hamas, which toes a hard line compared to Abu Mazen and the PLO’s petulance of ignoring Israel. While the PLO pouts, Hamas and, now threatened for control of Aza by Islamic Brotherhood, sends sundry weapons sailing into Israel and sends children to the border fence as shields for its “brave” fighters.

Although the IDF makes noises and claims it attacked Hamas/Brotherhood sites, nothing really is accomplished.

Try the American’s approach to Japan

When Japan finally surrendered to end World War 2, the Americans could have installed a harsh military government.

Instead, after removing the real government, it “guided” the emperor and respected Japanese to form a western style government under the protection of the U.S. military.

There was a political vacuum, but the U.S. filled it until the Japanese could fill the gap.

Eventually, the U.S. presence was reduced and while the U.S. has military bases in Japan, they are there as guests, not conquerors.

Japan, as a nation, prospers.

Could the same work for Israel and Aza?

According to some — perhaps Pollyannas — there are in Aza citizens who would prefer a government other than Hamas, Islamic Brotherhood, or even the PLO.

There have been some signs of discontent and apparently Hamas, et al, dealt harshly with dissenters.

Hamas and the Brotherhood control the weapons, so a revolt by unarmed civilians is unlikely.

During World War 2, the allies supported several “governments-in-exile.”

Israel, with Egyptian support, could encourage a government-in-exile for Aza. The headquarters of such an organization could be, preferably, in Egypt as most of Aza’s population has roots in Egypt, but also could be in Israel.

Upsetting Trump’s plan?

The government-in-exile could help Azans who are willing to work to help overthrow Hamas, Brotherhood, and PLO governments. The “help” could come in many fashions: propaganda (a/k/a PR), communications gear, weapons, intelligence.

Meanwhile, the government-in-exile would prepare itself to assume control of Aza, perhaps with initial military and police support from its sponsors.

This government-in-exile could provide Israel and Egypt with necessary military intelligence so that either Israel or Egypt — preferably both simultaneously — can overthrow the current despotic governments.

If Israel acted alone, “The World” would take umbrage, but if Egypt joined in the overthrow, there would be less objection from the world’s leftists.

The key to replacing the current Aza leadership is establishing a government-in-exile of people most Azans can accept; people known for honesty; people known to be concerned for their fellow citizens’ welfare, and, hopefully, people who want peace with Aza’s neighbors: Egypt and Israel.

It might take Aza electing to separate from the PLFP/PLO. How that would effect President Trumps proposal for a two-part “Palestinian” state is not this scrivener’s concern. My personal preference would be for Egypt to annex Aza and make it an integral part of that country. Anwar Sadat, in his wisdom, refused Menachem Begin’s offer to give back Aza, even though most residents of the “Strip” have Egyptian roots.

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Aza attacks

Opuscula QUESTION What will happen To Israeli Arabs If PLO gets towns?

ACCORDING TO SOME POLLS/SURVEYS, the “majority” of Israeli Arabs living the area the misnamed “Trump Peace Plan” proposes to be absorbed by the PLO don’t want to go to “Palestine”.

THE “PLAN” WOULD BE — and should be — better nameed “peace proposal.”

Actually, the full name is almost guaranteed to be “Another failed proposal.”

The choice of words — “plan” versus “proposal” — is a thorn in the side for many in Israel.

Not so much for Abu Mazen and the PLO or the despot du jour in Gaza. Neither of these, as the New York Times would identify them, “gentlemen” will come to a negotiation. Abu Mazen won’t even answer a call from President Trump.

Is he afraid Trump reversed the charges?

WHEN ABU MAZEN TALKED TO A U.S. PRESIDENT
PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas welcomed President Barack Obama’s speech in Jerusalem on Thursday, while Hamas condemned Obama for “adopting Israel’s position”

The PLO and Hamas may be hoping that Israel’s leftists will again control the Knesset so they can wheedle more concessions from Israel , but even though Netanyahu has his right-wing political enemies and general criminal charges, it is not likely he will be deposed.

Likewise, President Trump weathered a leftist coup attempt in the U.S. and is likely to win a second four-year term as the Democrats can’t decide who they are: socialists a la Sen. Bernie Sanders, anarchists such as are Rep. Tlaib and her “Squad,” or a billionaire businessman in the case of Michael Bloomberg. (It he is so liberal, how can he have such a huge personal fortune? What happened to “share the wealth” socialism, the hallmark of Democrats since FDR?)

Bottom line: If the PLO and Hamas are expecting a major change in U.S. politics, they may be in for another four-year wait.

The Trump plan/proposal cannot ever be considered a “fait accompli” since it failed to find out what the people want.

Netanyahu obviously does NOT represent all the people.

If polls are accurate, many Arabs living in Arab-dominated villages in Israel want to keep living in Israel.

How about Egypt?

Did anyone ask the Egyptians if they wanted more Hamas-controlled lands along their border?

How about the Israeli settlements along the Egyptian-Israeli border? Are Jews to be “evacuated” from Israeli land as Sharon evicted Israelis in Gaza — at gunpoint? (Look what the Muslims did to the infrastructure left behind by the Israelis.)

Trump’s plan is, at best, a proposal and any Knesset member who pushes to implement it “as is” is acting foolishly.

On the other hand, how many times has the PLO refused peace agreements with Israel. Hamas agrees to cease fires, and then immediately violates the truce.

While Israel’s Muslim neighbors (save for Egypt and Jordan) are not rushing to sign peace agreements with Israel, they seem to be abandoning Abu Mazen and Hamas. Iran is the only Muslim country in the region that continues support for the PLO and Hamas, but Iran is now starting to feel both a financial pinch and the wrath of its citizens. Still, Iran’s threat to its neighboring Muslim states is making strange bedfellows for Israel.

BOTTOM LINE: Trump’s “plan” is little more than a skeleton. It is a proposal that was designed to bring the PLO, Hamas, and Israel to the negotiating table.

When face-to-face, progress can be made.

It worked for Anwar Sadat
and
Menachem
Begin (right).

It worked for King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin.

There have been some “rough spots” along the way, but so far, face-to-face contact has preserved the agreements.

Abu Mazen isolates himself and the PLO-controlled Muslims from contact with Israelis (except when it suits him, e.g., medical care, electricity).

עינים להם ולא יראו * אזנים להם ולא יאזנו

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

Comment on Citizen’s choice