f13.net

Hamas leader killed by Israeli missile (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/04/17/mideast.violence/index.html)

Several weeks after destroying the vehicle containing Wheelchair Guy, the previous leader of Hamas, the Israeli military did the same to Abdel Aziz Rantisi, his successor.

Instead of a profitless discussion along the lines of 'How does this benefit Israel, either domestically or internationally?'--as I can't see in any way which it does--I'm more concerned with the repurcussions this move might have in relation to the United States, specifically its position in Iraq. While it might not be getting alot of play in recent weeks with all the focus on the Fallujah siege and the activities of al-Sadr, pan-Islamic support for the Palestinians is particularly strong in Iraq. Given that this assassination comes several days after Bush met with Sharon, will it be inferred that Bush gave the go-ahead? The official response from the White House to Israel's action will likely clarify the situation to some extent.

If there is anything remotely positive I can say about this development, it's that it was apparently a 'clean' hit on the part of Israel: while the report notes that two associates who were in the car with Rantisi were killed in the blast, apparently there weren't any additional civilian deaths. I look forward to the day when the various Palestinian factions will get their act together, stop pointlessly killing civilians, and go after the tub of homicidal malevolence who is the genuine manifestation of their current ills.

Israel tried to get this guy last month with a missile attack on his car. That time he only received a leg wound. Since Israel had tried once before, what need would they have of Bush's approval this time?

Us?

The only time Israel has tried to kill Rantisi was in June of 2003 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/06/11/wmid11.xml), when he received the leg wound in question. It was an attack which Bush condemned (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/10/world/main557895.shtml).

I wouldn't have thought much of it except for the Israeli Foreign Minister's fuzzy memory in describing June 2003 as 'a few months ago,' which suggests that he was attempting to emphasize that killing Rantisi was a continuing plan, rather than influenced by recent developments. While I am not suggesting that American approval was necessary to go after Rantisi, or that it was given, the facts--that the previous attempt on his life led to a comparatively strong rebuke from Bush and that no further attacks were made on him until several days after a Bush-Sharon summit where the president came to support a more pro-Israel line than he did in the past--leave the issue open to question. Nor will Muslim firebrands in Iraq and elsewhere likely separate evidence that is circumstancial from that which is not.

I'm waiting on Scott McClellan to give us the word from the White House. If the response isn't the same as that which was given the last time Israel attacked Rantisi, then Something Has Changed.

Something Has Changed it seems (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20040417/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians).



If the US is so concerned about regional peace and stability, why do we help to destabilize things all the time?

I agree, Sharon should rott in hell

I'll guess this is an attempt to keep Hamas off balance, so that when Israel pulls out of the Gaza Strip, they will not be able to take control.  Of course I'm not sure who the hell would be taking control instead of Hamas, but it's a thought.

On a side note: If I were a Sunni rebel type in Iraq, I'd be gunning for al-Sadr.  Odds are if he were to die in any sort of explosion, it would be a piece of cake to get the masses to believe that the US did it.

Hamas has a new leader, but apparently they're not saying who it is this time

This should be very effective. Because Israel's spies really suck. I mean, what's the Mossad ever done right?

Well it is, in a way!

Mossad can find out who the leader is, Israel can kill him, Hamas can say "Fooled you" (regardless if Mossad was right or not), no more certified lynching of known Hamas leaders. Only suspected ones, which is a step up for morale.

Security through obscurity.  Mmmmm... stupid...

Guess you can't expect too much from people blowing themself up, can you?

Anyway, it sounds more like deniability through obscurity to me.

Well in theory the leaders are the smart ones.  After all, they aren't actually blowing themselves up.

I'm betting the Mossad already knows who their new leader is.

Yea, if they're doing their job at all, it won't be hard to figure out who the new guy is.  Because, all of their obfuscation aside, its got to be a short list.  'Course if it's short enough they could just kill 'em all and be done with it.

Boy, those Iraelis love them some missle strikes don't they? It seems a much more effective way of creating martyrs than just sending 'em to the Romans to be executed.

/rimshot

The above troll was made in complete jest for a law. No anti-semitism was meant in anyway. So if you take it that way, fuck you. No really, fuck you.

You know how slowly the Italian justice system works these days?

Building crosses takes too fucking long.

The worthless motherfuckers that are strapping bombs to children, with or without the parents' approval.  Who wants to put faith in that kind of leadership?