Bugsy McGurk
President
Here’s what I wrote on October 28…
“A ground war in Gaza now seems pointless and counter-productive. They have already bombed the beejesus out of Gaza. Thousands of strikes. Retaliation in spades.
But, we hear, the IDF has to invade in a ground war to “kill the Hamas.” Well, we sure don’t know how many Hamas will be killed. Just like we don’t know how many Israeli soldiers and hostages will be killed in a ground war. Nor do we know how many new Hamas-like extremists will result from an Israeli ground war. And what happens “after,” whatever the “after” is? Perpetual occupation by IDF forces?
The ground war seems pointless. No one is able to identify the end game. So what to do instead (or soon, now that the ground incursions have begun)? How about this…
First, announce that the blockade will end, in whole or in part, when all hostages are released. Food, water, electricity, medicines etc. flow in when the hostages come out. Then, create a no-mans land surrounding the entire Gaza border at least a mile wide. Level everything within that zone, and heavily stage IDF forces there, making it impossible for Hamas or anyone else to invade Israel again.
Rockets? Announce that any rocket launches will result in immediate, severe bombardment of the point of launch. Incentivize the Gaza residents in those areas to expose the bad guys. The iron dome will serve as the backdrop.
The goals would be met. Hostages back. More attacks prevented. Humanitarian disaster in Gaza avoided. End game established.
Better than a ground war, no?”
We now see the results of the Israeli ground war (although there is more misery coming). Gaza has been bombed to rubble. Well over 10,000 Gaza civilians killed, including thousands of children. Hospitals rendered death zones. Israel drawing international criticism on a massive scale. Hostages still in captivity. Gazans starving by the score. Hamas fighters scattered and hidden. And still…no end game.
All rather pointless death and destruction, no? None of the supposed goals have been met, and it is likely to get worse rather than better. My October 28 proposals are looking better all the time, no?
“A ground war in Gaza now seems pointless and counter-productive. They have already bombed the beejesus out of Gaza. Thousands of strikes. Retaliation in spades.
But, we hear, the IDF has to invade in a ground war to “kill the Hamas.” Well, we sure don’t know how many Hamas will be killed. Just like we don’t know how many Israeli soldiers and hostages will be killed in a ground war. Nor do we know how many new Hamas-like extremists will result from an Israeli ground war. And what happens “after,” whatever the “after” is? Perpetual occupation by IDF forces?
The ground war seems pointless. No one is able to identify the end game. So what to do instead (or soon, now that the ground incursions have begun)? How about this…
First, announce that the blockade will end, in whole or in part, when all hostages are released. Food, water, electricity, medicines etc. flow in when the hostages come out. Then, create a no-mans land surrounding the entire Gaza border at least a mile wide. Level everything within that zone, and heavily stage IDF forces there, making it impossible for Hamas or anyone else to invade Israel again.
Rockets? Announce that any rocket launches will result in immediate, severe bombardment of the point of launch. Incentivize the Gaza residents in those areas to expose the bad guys. The iron dome will serve as the backdrop.
The goals would be met. Hostages back. More attacks prevented. Humanitarian disaster in Gaza avoided. End game established.
Better than a ground war, no?”
We now see the results of the Israeli ground war (although there is more misery coming). Gaza has been bombed to rubble. Well over 10,000 Gaza civilians killed, including thousands of children. Hospitals rendered death zones. Israel drawing international criticism on a massive scale. Hostages still in captivity. Gazans starving by the score. Hamas fighters scattered and hidden. And still…no end game.
All rather pointless death and destruction, no? None of the supposed goals have been met, and it is likely to get worse rather than better. My October 28 proposals are looking better all the time, no?
