Here in America, we have people who insist that we don't win wars that we've won, whether the Persian Gulf War or the Iraq War. Apparently, these people are worried that Israel would lose if they beat the crap out of Hamas rather than just let them go to regroup and prepare to bombard Israeli civilians again:
The Obama administration is increasingly concerned about the escalating violence in Gaza, believing that a ground incursion by Israel there could lead to increased civilian casualties, play into the hands of the militant Palestinian group Hamas and inflict further damage to Israel’s standing in the region at an already tumultuous time.
"Further damage Israel's standing in the region?" What's below "illegitimate"?
Is the administration under the delusion that people in the region--or in Western Europe or our college faculty lounges--believe Israel's current actions are acceptable?
Even Israel's very imperfect war against Hezbollah in 2006 is still making Hezbollah cautious about fighting Israel. The 2008-2009 winter war against Hamas kept them fairly quiet for four years despite heavy Iranian backing.
I'm thinking that it is playing into Hamas' hands to keep them from getting their ass kicked. Israel needs to move fast, but that's not to say speed rules out any particular measure of kicking ass.
Let's get that Secretary of Explaining Stuff confirmed soon, Okay?
UPDATE: Very related thoughts about this attitude (tip to Mad Minerva), examining an educated commenter's all-too-common views on the crisis:
The subhead — adapted from Zacharia’s text — is “Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to bomb Hamas militants will leave Israel more isolated, insecure, and alone.” Not the decision of Israel’s unanimous leadership including first and foremost its military and defense experts but that of a prime minister who now plays a role for the American media most closely approximated to that held by former President George W. Bush.
And by defending itself against an onslaught of rockets — 120 in one week — Israel will be worse off even though, by the way, every Western country I’m aware of has supported Israel. Why will Israel be more isolated, insecure, and alone? Because the unspoken assumption of the Western media elite is that anyone who uses force, even in self-defense, ends up worse off.
It is quite reasonable to state that the campaign will not end the problem. Everyone in Israel and in Israel’s leadership and all the generals and Netanyahu know this very well. They also know that a country that does not defend itself will end up doomed, isolated, insecure, and alone.
To be fair, it isn't that Zacharia is saying force doesn't work--she's just saying it doesn't work for our side. People like her always understand why enemies use force and want to give them something to appease them and end those awful but understandable reasons for resorting to force.
Military force is a blunt instrument and not a silver bullet that surgically solves all problems. But it does deal with problems that cannot be solved by reason and good will.
There are some people who simply need to be killed for the general good.
