“If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.” –Pyrrhus of Epirus
As you’re aware, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire that was followed by a Hamas ceasefire. Hamas declared that Israel had a week to remove its troops from Gaza. And as Gazans returned to what was left of their homes, Hamas declared victory against the Israeli aggressors, stating that they knew how to get weapons and would rearm.
The people of Gaza–who voted the Hamas Islamists into power–now are left to cope with the destruction that the rocket hobbyists who represent them provoked. Saudi Arabia has promised a billion of the estimated two billion dollars that will be required to rebuild, and Kuwait has promised aid monies through the UN (ugh). There is anger against Israel, of course, and against the Arab nations that didn’t come to their military aid, and the usual anger against the US, but there is also deep-seated resentment against the elected thugocracy, who, for the most part, went into hiding in the face of the Israeli invasion, and who now beat their chests and proclaim victory. Hamas was quick to crack down on Fatah after the ceasefire went into effect, and there are reports of torture and executions against their political rivals. In short, they have gone about behaving exactly as Islamists do.
I link to the Wiki definition of a Pyrrhic victory, but I do so in order to demonstrate how absurd it is for Hamas to claim any sort of victory at all. Israel has demonstrated that it can occupy Gaza militarily at little cost in lives at any time it wishes, much to the embarrassment of the Iranians, who armed the Hamasniks and provided them with logistical and strategic advice, and, it is to be hoped, to the embarrassment as well of the “international community,” which stood idly by as Hamas launched its rockets into Israel in stark violation of the existing ceasefire resolutions.
So, I wish to congratulate Hamas on their great victory and I wish them many happy returns.
JG Thayer has a similar take (in greater historical context) at Commentary
And when the next rocket gets launched… hmmm.
“The Black Knight always triumphs!”
Yea, Techie, you hit the nail on the head. Let’s face it: the jihadists are going to declare victory if one is left with one limb holding up a quran. I suspect (or maybe hope) that the vision of those thugs scrambling for their underground bunkers while civilians were left to defend the weapons cashes left in schools and mosques will resonate with the population.
I’m not holding my breath though.
On a personal note I’ve been out of pocket attending to family matters upon the death of my Mom. She was 88 years old and in poor health, both physically and mentally, for the past several years. It really was a blessing. Now comes the arrangements abd trying to figure out how to take care of Dad.
My condolences, BJT.
BJ, still sorry to hear it. I’ll pray for your family.
I’m very sorry, BJ.
Thanks, guys. Sorry to threadjack.
I am willing to give you a pass this time.
Condolences to you BJTexs on your Mom passing. No apologies for your declaration are necessary at all. Best wishes to your Dad as well.
My condolences on the passing of your Mom, BJT.
May God bless your family, speed your Mom’s soul to heaven, and grace you all with the strength to weather this time of trial and grief.
Perhaps your Dad should come to live with you. My wife’s 83 year old mother lives with us; although trying at times, it is the natural order of things for parents to live with their children. Unless there are medical necessities, they warrant our care, in their old age, just as we enjoyed their care in our youths.
Sorry for your loss
Best Wishes for you and yours
Who didn’t know that Hamas would pull this. It is almost satirical in it’s absurdity; like the Monty Python skit Yechie alluded to…
I’d forget the whole autonomous Gaza deal, if I were the Israelis. As long as Hamas stays in power, it’s not a question of if, but when, the next rocket barrage will come…
It is a face slap to the Iranians though; but not as good as a destroying the Nuke faciities…
BJ, my condolences to you and your family. Prayers are headed your way.
Shouldn’t all this animosity end shorly after noon today, est?
I mean, the lightworker will be in da hizzy then, won’t he..?
I personally am looking forward to the oceans receding, poverty ending, and unicorn gas fuel…
After all, the lightworker has already seemed to solve global warming by merely being there…
Hamas finds itself unsatisfied with the cessation of killing, since they didn’t get to do much of it themselves, except by indirection, bringing ordinance down on the heads of the women and children they were hiding behind during the fight, so they’ve set out to get their gun on against Fatah people in Gaza, rounding them up for torture and summary executions.
Bob,
World peace is scheduled after the planet healing and the oceans calmly ebbing back to whatever tidewater mark is deemed acceptable. So when the world looks like one of those abysmal IBM ads, you’ll know that whirled peas is next up!
Thanks for sraightening me out on the schedule of upcoming miracles Major…
I wonder if the lightworker can fit me in, you know, to restore my youth and all..?
Sdferr,
Is that some kind of unique Arab thing or what? Remember when Saddam got his butt whipped by big Bush. Right after he signed the surrender, he commenced in doin’ the beat-down on the Kurds…
All while Billy Jeff was screamin’, “cut that out Saddam, I might need to change the headlines here at home by whuppin’ up on you a bit”…
I don’t know whether it’s unique or no Bob. I kinda doubt it (but it seems like it would be hard to test, since most wars have been fought to the sort of conclusion that wouldn’t leave a monstrosity like Hamas or Saddam’s Baathists standing in place). As they’ve been shown to be incapable of actually defending their presumed territory and hence as weak, I think they want to remind the locals that weak though they may be vis a vis their external enemies, they can still kill anyone else at home that they choose. Totalitarians. Annihilation is the only way to be done with them, it seems.
Hamas has won just like Hezbollah did two years ago. They will get millions (ref articles about Saudi promising 1 billion to Gaza) or aid, a lot of it from your tax money, they will get even better weapons and they will get either better access to Israel or better access via Egypt or even a “Port Gaza City” built for them. And they have Obama and Jimmy Carter. They put Jesse Jackson’s shakedowns to shame.
Don’t Arab military victories rank right up there with French military victories, at least since Napolean, sort of in oxymoron territory.
#20 – ironically, the Algerians managing to squeeze the French out of Algeria may be the last one they have had since… oh, a while now.
Why are Arabs so attracted to the sight of a cock crowing from the top of a midden?
#21 – I am watching the Battle for Algiers now. About to begin disc 2.
Totalitarians. Annihilation is the only way to be done with them, it seems.
Yeah, but just like Zombies, they keep coming back. I guess it’s just our lot, that’s all.
Anyone could have predicted that Hamas would declare victory when the shooting stopped (even I did). They still remind me of a team that says ‘We didn’t lose by that much, so that’s a win.’
The Japanese became Asia’s most committed pacifists, right after Hiro Shima and Nagasaki.
The Israelis really ought to take note.
Oh, and the movie ends on a bit of a down note.
(Note: I don’t say for who.)