Perino: Ground Invasion Will Help ‘Create A More Stable And Secure Area’ For People Of Gaza
Perino: Ground Invasion Will Help ‘Create A More Stable And Secure Area’ For People Of Gaza
In a video statement today, President Bush seemingly condoned Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza, saying, “Israel has obviously decided to protect herself and her people.” Minutes later, in the White House press briefing, Press Secretary Dana Perino suggested that the war would help create “a more stable and secure” life for the people of Gaza:
PERINO: We understand the need to try to create a more stable and secure area for themselves and also for the Palestinian people, who have been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since the summer of 2007. And we urge them to be very cautious when it comes to civilian casualties. We want to keep them to an absolute minimum.
Watch it:
Seconds after claiming Hamas has held Gaza citizens hostage, however, Perino seemed to acknowledge that Hamas had in fact been elected: “They won because the Palestinians, the people of Gaza, were frustrated with the services they were getting from the Fatah party, which was a wake-up call for the Fatah party as well,” Perino said.
The idea that the current war — which has so far resulted in the deaths of over 500 Palestinians — is somehow good for the people of Gaza is being echoed around the White House and the right wing. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack explained today that the Bush administration opposed an immediate cease fire because stopping the killing now would somehow not be to the “best benefit” of the Palestinian people:
MCCORMACK: You’re trading off against lives in the future that would be lost if you don’t go for a durable, sustainable cease-fire. We’re not willing to do that. … You have to take the set of decisions that you believe will ultimately best benefit the people of the region, whether it’s the Palestinians or the Israelis.
On Fox News Sunday yesterday, Bill Kristol claimed that war was the best way toward peace: “If you care about ultimately peace in the Middle East, this is the best thing that could happen.”
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87 Responses to “Perino: Ground Invasion Will Help ‘Create A More Stable And Secure Area’ For People Of Gaza”
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Killing a people is always for their own good, right Dana??
January 5th, 2009 at 1:51 pmYeah, look how well it worked in Iraq.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:52 pmSeriously, the Bush administration would look better if she'd just shut up. Silence would be better PR than the insane and murderous crap she's spewing.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:53 pmSure, hand-to-hand combat always accompanies stability.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:56 pmPeople invading your home, tanks on your street -- that makes you real comfortable.
Purina is just another airheaded dumb-fu(k with a perky face.
I expect her to show up as a Fox News host in 2009.
Huh. I heard it was Israel who had kept the Gaza strip blockaded, barricaded and without food, medical supplies, water and electricity.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:56 pmI guess that doesn't fit Dana's description of a hostage situation.
The Gaza pummeling "will help create" civilian deaths, life threatening injuries, loss of limbs, disfiguring burns, broken families, and most of all, hatred and division.
Israel is no "herself". It's a violence machine. Israel had a viable peace plan since 2002. What has it done with the Arab League proposal? Nothing. Instead, Israel attacked Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2008.
Dana Perino is as accurate as Gordon JohnDroe. America's spokespeople look small and ignorant.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:57 pmPractice what we preach--Cheney said it was ok to kill a few civilians like we did in Iraq...
January 5th, 2009 at 1:57 pmMore invading another country for regime change. Did you know that just as the US helped put Saddam in power, we also aided HAMAS's rise?
It looks like Israel is going all-out to effect regime change before Obama takes office.
For an excellent round-up of up-to-date articles on Gaza, go here:
http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/updates-on-gaza/
January 5th, 2009 at 1:57 pmSomeone once said that someone who supports Zionism is the enemy of civilized people everywhere.
Looks like Dana, Dumbya, the Mainstream media, Neocons of either left or right persuasion, and the Israel Firsters that post and blog, would come under that category.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:58 pmYeah, Perino should know about a nation electing a government that HOLDS THAT NATION HOSTAGE...
...since December of 2000, WE'VE been held hostage.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:58 pmStable and secure area? For Israeli's sure, for Palestinians, not so much.
January 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pmIsrael has a right to exist; I accept that - but Palestinians do not enjoy the same right??
January 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pmTheirs is the land that was parceled off to Israel.
Anyone interested in receiving unbiased news about the Jewish invasion on the Palestinian refugee camps, please check out Al Jazeera's website.
http://english.aljazeera.net/
January 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm"And we urge them to be very cautious when it comes to civilian casualties. We want to keep them to an absolute minimum."
Dana, how does one, so casually, state to keep killing to a minimum?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pmPlace your family in Gaza and now make that statement. Empathy isn't in your dictionary or makeup...what a pity that Perino is so shallow.
Who gives a Cheney what this myopic twit thinks?? In 15 days she'll be out of a job (FINALLY!) and no longer embarassing the American public with her Bush-developed drivel. Good riddance, Dana, you pathetic waste of flesh.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pmMatt Duss parses John Bolton's bizarre argument to simply give the Palestinian territories to Egypt and Jordan: "We often hear that Hamas and other extremist groups must 'recognize Israel’s right to exist,'...but apparently Bolton doesn’t believe that Palestine is entitled to this right."
___________
How in the hell did someone so clueless get to represent us to the UN.
Is he seriously suggesting that Egypt take back Ghaza and Jordan take back the West Bank?
If Israel had any intention of this outcome, they would've done it in 1967. Or at least in 1982 when they gave back the Sinai Peninsula.
Israel wants nothing more than control over these territories. They need the water resources and strategic high ground of the West Bank. They need the West Bank land and villages for their illegal settlements. They need the symbolic control over the territories to keep their right-wingers happy. And they need the constant threat of rocket attacks and whatnot to keep their $4 billion homeland security industry humming along.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pmSomeone ask Dana and her boss under oath if America helped plan the Gaza operation. We did so with Lebanon in 2006. It looks like a redux.
Unfortunately, juinor Senator Barack Obama toed the Zionist line on Israel's blitz of its democratic neighbor to the north.
His silence under the spotlight of cluster bombs and white phosphorous indicates no change.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:04 pmEchoes from the past: "We had to destroy the village to save it."
January 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pmPerino, Chimpy, Bolton, any way you cut it you still get LOSER!
What planet are these people living on?? Hopefully, calmer nerves will prevail in the Middle East (and other places) so CRAP like this bubbles up and then dissipates into the ether/sludge they deserve.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pmIt's unfortunate that America has become a land of Jewish controlled media. I miss the days of Walter Cronkite.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pmCreating peace and stability through death and mayhem.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:11 pmYEAH I COULD SEE WHERE DEAD PHOSPHOROUS BURNED WOMEN AND CHILDREN COULD HAVE A STABILIZING EFFECT
OOOOOOOOHHHHHH.....THAT'S SOOOOOOOOOOTHING
January 5th, 2009 at 2:14 pmHuh. I heard it was Israel who had kept the Gaza strip blockaded, barricaded and without food, medical supplies, water and electricity.
Israel wants nothing more than control over these territories. They need the water resources and strategic high ground of the West Bank. They need the West Bank land and villages for their illegal settlements. They need the symbolic control over the territories to keep their right-wingers happy but http://www.makkale.blogcu.com and they need the constant threat of rocket attacks and whatnot to keep their $4 billion homeland security industry humming along.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pmWhat can be more stable and more secure than a graveyard?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pmWell I can see Perino's point of view. I've been held hostage by an elected governemnt for 8 years.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:19 pmmakkale Says:
Israel wants nothing more than control over these territories. They need the water resources and strategic high ground of the West Bank. They need the West Bank land and villages for their illegal settlements. They need the symbolic control over the territories to keep their right-wingers happy but http://www.makkale.blogcu.com and they need the constant threat of rocket attacks and whatnot to keep their $4 billion homeland security industry humming along.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
That's what I've been saying!
Except without the link to some Turkish blog in the middle of my sentence. What's going on here?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:21 pmDana Perino, dumbest press secretary ever.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:23 pmJesus H. Roosevelt Christ...these people are NUTS.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:24 pm'In proceeding with elections despite Hamas's strong showing in last year's municipal races, Abbas gambled that it would be easier to disarm the group and modulate its policies, which include adopting Islamic law in the territories, with its members inside the Palestinian Authority.'
This snippet is from a 1/27/06 WP article after Hamas did so well in the elections.
Hamas, of course, did much better in the elections than expected and never had an opportunity to "modulate" its policies because Israel and the U.S. immediately denounced them, said they would never deal with them and insisted that Abbas overturn the will of the Palestinian people.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:27 pmmakkale Says:
(Israel) "...control over these territories."
"...$4 billion homeland security industry ..."
Just like the US and the Iraqi oil fields, and the cluster bombs we sell to the Israeli's...
January 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pmStill waiting for a response from Obama. What is he waiting for????
Obama is talking about everything else except the massacre of women and children in the Gaza refugee camps. Where's the change, Mr. Obama?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pmebbAndflow Says:
Dana, how does one, so casually, state to keep killing to a minimum?
Place your family in Gaza and now make that statement. Empathy isn’t in your dictionary or makeup…what a pity that Perino is so shallow.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
_____________
I don't know why, but Perino's statement reminds me of this quote from one of my favorite movies:
January 5th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Perino: Ground Invasion Will Help ‘Create A More Stable And Secure Area’ For People Of Gaza
Sure, right after the Iraqi people welcome us as liberators.
Meaning, NEVER!
January 5th, 2009 at 2:30 pmNow that everyone has seen what is happening to Gaza, genocide supported by our tax money, let me remind you all what this administration did, is doing to Iraq..
Dana is but one more lieing whore for the pack of lieing whore's in this administration...Nothing has changed..The imperialistic create war's to cut down the population and create fear...Control is their aim, owning everything of value and then taking away the most precious, live's.....Future generation's of entire tribe's have been murdered. In our name and using our money...Cut off the money flow and the war's will end.....
War is never the answer..Peace and prosperety for all is..I grieve....P.B. & J
January 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pmHow about reporting about Israel using white phosphorous on the Gaza civilians?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5447590.ece
Or how about reporting Israel deliberately attacking journalists?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pmhttp://rawstory.com/news/2008/Group_Israel_deliberately_attacked_Palestinian_journalists_0105.html
PERINO: We understand the need to try to create more dead Palestinian people. And we urge them to be very audacious when it comes to civilian casualties. We want to keep them to an absolute maximum.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pmHow about some accurate, truthful reporting and admissions from Israel on exactly why they repeatedly attacked basically an unarmed USNaval vessel -- the USS Liberty, killing many onboard!
January 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pmThere was a very good article in The Nation called "To Live and Die in Gaza" by Laila Al-Arian. It is a story about this author's grandfather and beginning in Gaza, his life journey, going back home again to Gaza, and then being caught in this onslaught.
This is she writes about Hamas:
It just seems to me that a people who are extremely poor and suffering, who have been displaced and walled in, forgotten by the rest of the world, lacking in all basic needs and medicines, will look to and support whomever brings them any stability, helps their needs be met, offers them protection, etc.. I am just trying so hard to understand all this.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pmNothin' like the stability of a graveyard, huh Dana? Bush has been busy filling graveyards in Afghanistan for seven yaars now. bush has been busy filling Iraqi graveyards in Iraq for five years now. Heck of a worthless, lying war criminal, Mr. Bush.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:45 pmProud Says:
Stop supporting islamofacist terrorists.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Stop being an imbecile.
I know it's asking a lot...
January 5th, 2009 at 2:50 pmProud Says: Hamas will not stop shelling Israel until they have turned Gaza into a parking lot.
Huh?
January 5th, 2009 at 2:52 pmIs this some more of your brilliant advice?
Maybe you can tell us when the tax cuts and deregulation that you guys said would usher in a new era of prosperity will kick in since you know so much.
Stop supporting murder and mayhem!!!
January 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pmflagged
January 5th, 2009 at 2:56 pmI wonder how Perino defines "the people of Gaza." The Israeli settlers who were previously evicted, maybe?
Proud Says:
Stop supporting islamofacist terrorists.
Stop supporting genocide.
And unless you mean "islamofacist" to refer to Muslim groups on FaceBook, you should know that radical violent Islamist groups have nothing whatsoever to do with fascism. If you want to learn a few things about the correct definition of fascism, try "unitary executive theory." It also might help to learn to spell what you hate.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:00 pmProud Says:
Stop supporting islamofacist terrorists.
January 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
__________
Um, how can we support something that doesn't exist?
January 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pmUSA/Israel/UK = Terrorism and War Crimes. Off course they have PRs justifying their crimes...
January 5th, 2009 at 3:07 pmWar = Peace
January 5th, 2009 at 3:09 pm1984/2009
Proud says:
Nothing meaningful or significant.
Dammit! When does your community college classes resume, Shroud?
January 5th, 2009 at 3:09 pmStop supporting reich-wing-GOPigfacist terrorists.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:09 pmFor those in the world who still think Obama's ME policies will be no different than Bush's, he just reminded reporters that when it comes to foreign policy, where delicate negotiations are taking place, we mustbe seen as speaking with one voice.
This makes it very clear to me that were he allowed to, we would be hearing two very different voices right now. He will not continue the failed policies of the Bush Administration when it comes to foreign policy.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pmOnly an anti-American reich-winger would "think" invading a country that didn't attack you is the "right thing". You subhuman filth are nothing but hateful murderous scum.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:13 pmShroudTrajan says:
Stop supporting islamofacist terrorists.
Can we support islamofacials?
January 5th, 2009 at 3:16 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
For those in the world who still think Obama’s ME policies will be no different than Bush’s, he just reminded reporters that when it comes to foreign policy, where delicate negotiations are taking place, we mustbe seen as speaking with one voice.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
____________
Maybe so, but what "delicate negotiations" are taking place, exactly?
January 5th, 2009 at 3:16 pmhussein toasterhead,
I think he was speaking generally, and to pick and choose which areas of foreign policy it would be okay to talk about would defeat the point of trying to tell the world that we have only one president at a time (even if we hate the things he does and want him out of there now, if possible).
I would not be surprised if his Inaugural Speech contains foreign policy statements directly in conflict with Bush's. I want to see the look on Bush's face when Obama mentions a change in direction, and then points out why the current policy sucks.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:24 pmI will be waiting anxiously to hear what Obama says about this on 1/20/09 and thereafter. If he spouts the party line (which we all know by heart) the collective groan will be heard around the world.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
I would not be surprised if his Inaugural Speech contains foreign policy statements directly in conflict with Bush’s. I want to see the look on Bush’s face when Obama mentions a change in direction, and then points out why the current policy sucks.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
____________
I so hope you're right. I will be pleasantly surprised if he does so, and it will put to rest the concerns I've had watching his team of rivals come together over the past two months.
Guess we'll find out in 15 days...
January 5th, 2009 at 3:30 pmSo the "legend in his own mind" Mr. P AKA Trajan lives. Too bad.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:34 pmHey, Zoo, Gummitch...nice reading you!
January 5th, 2009 at 3:45 pmGuess we’ll find out in 15 days…
Yes, legally, that's all we can do. (And it's only 14 days, 20 hours and 15 minutes, but who's counting? :) )
January 5th, 2009 at 3:45 pmImplicitly, her remarks sanction the killing of children. Its as simple as that. This horrible sl*t should be taken out and shot along with the rest of the bush regime's criminals.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:46 pmImplicitly, her remarks sanction the killing of children. Its as simple as that. This horrible sl*t should be taken out and shot along with the rest of the bush regime’s criminals.
I remember the all classy lady Madeleine Albright having the same contempt against Iraqi children.
January 5th, 2009 at 3:47 pminstead of calling her stupid we could ask if she gets the irony of her statement. it is almost not ironic in the sense i wonder what the bush people really think about their opinion at this point. it is deeply unfortunate bush will be allowed to finish his reign as he shows complete disregard for the concerns of the greater america. gutting regulations and planting ideologues shows clear devious intent, at least in my observation. what is it like to be ms. perino? how can they suddenly care about civilian casualty? just how many iraqi civilians have paid for their liberation?
January 5th, 2009 at 4:09 pmpaid with their lives?
January 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pmJuan C. Says:
I remember the all classy lady Madeleine Albright having the same contempt against Iraqi children.
Really? I don't. Got a link?
January 5th, 2009 at 4:27 pmElBruce,
I believe Juan C was being sarcastic. He just forgot to add the little "/sarcasm off" tag at the end.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:34 pmElBruce Says:
Really? I don’t. Got a link?
Yes.
No, Wayne, I wasn't being sarcastic. Sorry.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pmJust because that woman represented a Democratic government, doesn't mean she shouldn't be exposed as the... well, person she is.
Thank you, Juan C. I stand corrected. I appreciate that. :)
January 5th, 2009 at 4:57 pmYou mean I corrected you, Wayne?
Yeah, right...
:)
January 5th, 2009 at 5:00 pmYes, Juan. I was unaware of that interview and the remarks she made in defense of that policy. I guess it was just another example of our so-called "Christian Nation" failing to live up to the Golden Rule and acting very un-Christian-like.
And you are free to correct me any time I am wrong, my friend. Unlike our conservative friends, I do not enjoy living in ignorance. :)
January 5th, 2009 at 5:09 pm"Bolton doesn’t believe that Palestine is entitled to this right." Why are we discussing this raving luntatic clown's bizarre comment? I can't wait for Susan Rice to replace the idiot Bolton as U.N. Ambassador soon. In 15 days, when Obama is sworn in, Bolton will be yesterday's laundry.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:13 pmThis did not work in Lebanon then and now, Iraq from 03-07, Vietnam in the 70s and the 1000 years before that, Chechnya, Afghanistan then and now, so on and so forth.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:14 pmwell the Nazi's in the artificial state of Israel sure like killing Americans and anyone else who gets in their rampaging way. How about Rachel Corrie, Ms. Perrino ?
http://www.rachelcorrie.org/
January 5th, 2009 at 5:15 pmSP Biloxi,
Actually, Zalmay Khalilzad is our current UN Ambassador. But frankly, the world will be much better off if John Bolton and his ilk (and isn't "ilk" such a perfect word for them) are never heard from again.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pmTwo more weeks, sock puppet.
Then you can go to re-hab as they must have you on some kind of sedation to help you lie straight faced for so long.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
But frankly, the world will be much better off if John Bolton and his ilk (and isn’t “ilk” such a perfect word for them) are never heard from again.
I concur with you. The world would be better off without Bolton. One would think that Bolton is still the U.N. Ambassador since he is constantly on the T.V. circuit and not the current UN Ambassador. I couldn't remember the name of the current UN Ambassador. Thanks for the reminder.
On a side note. Kudos to Susan Rice for refusing to talk to Bolton.
January 5th, 2009 at 5:35 pmTypical neocon arrogance. Invading them and killing their families is in their best interest. Sadly, these people expect the rest of us to believe this claptrap.
Nonetheless, Hamas bear a great responsibility in this carnage.
A pox on the house of Hamas and the house of Neo-Cons.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:02 pmThe fact that Perino can make statements like this shows she is a horrible woman lacking any compassion. Does she really believe the 500+ dead, including many children, felt they were in a stable and secure area as the bombs landed? Do the 100s of injured & homeless feel stable or secure?
January 5th, 2009 at 6:06 pmIsrael is robocalling and dropping leaflets suggesting Palestinians evacuate their neighborhoods. Evacuate to where?
Gaza is under seige. Who wants to move around and be a shooting duck? This smacks of psy ops and justification for coming bad deeds.
"But we warned them."
Providing no means for evacuation makes any warning sadistically cruel.
January 5th, 2009 at 6:55 pmWho listens to this complicit fool!
January 5th, 2009 at 7:25 pmWill Dana Perino write a tell-all describing her anguish?
January 5th, 2009 at 8:20 pmTo make the people of Gaza safer ?
Come on now. This one is so bad it isn't even funny Peroxide.
Even if I take what Israel says and adopt it hook, line and sinker (and I don't): Israel's interests are in keeping the people of Israel safe. They have absolutely no inherrent interest in keeping the people of Gaza safe other than the potential tangent that people being safe in Gaza makes Israel safer.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:01 pmThe population density in Gaza is equivalent to packing the entire population of the United States into South Carolina. Hitting civilians at that density is not much more difficult than hitting one or more of 16 three quarter pound fish in a gallon bucket with a scatter shotgun at a range of three feet.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:46 pmBasically the Hamas leaders were elected in democratic elections Dana, sorry your jive story doesnt pass. The US does have say did you happen to notice the recent security council veto Dana?
Tear down that wall Dana!
January 6th, 2009 at 1:50 amif there is a hell below she is definitely qualified to go.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:51 amhttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1579424/Israeli-earthquakes-are-gays%27-fault,-says-MP.html
January 6th, 2009 at 3:04 amWHY NOT WE THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION/WORLD TAKE OVER CONTROL OF THE GOVERMENT.INSTEAD OF LETTING A FEW MORONS RUNNING AND DECIDING THE FATE OF THE WORLD!
January 6th, 2009 at 7:06 amOR ARE WE MORE THEN MORON LETTING THEM DECIDE!
ITS TIME FOR A NEW WORLD ORDER!
SO WAKE UP MORONS!
Two statements that should make it clear I am no "troll" or "neocon".
January 6th, 2009 at 7:32 am1. Perino is an idiot and the entire Bush regime should shut up and get the hell out; the damage they have done to the world over the last 8 years will take decades to repair.
2. The loss of lives on both sides is needless and tragic. I don't care if it is a Palestinian family or Israeli baby, the stories are horrible and any person with a heart and soul, regardless of their politics, should be horrified by these stories.
That having been said, it would be nice if the comments here reflected a broader understanding of recent events. Israel and Hammas had reached an agreement over a temporary cease fire (the "tahadiya") which lasted for 60 days. During this period rockets were still fired into Israeli cities and Hammas took advantage and armed itself even further, using the tunnels under Rafah. Israel did not retaliate ONCE during this period (nor the months before for that matter) despite the obvious breaches of the cease fire.
The day after the cease fire was over, Hammas launched 60 rockets into Israeli cities, knowing full well Israel would have to respond this time. They were hoping to lure Israel into Gaza on the ground so that they could use the same tactics used by Hizbollah in Lebanon to inflict major casualties on Israeli forces, knowing full well the result would be many civilian casualties on their side as well- not that they care. They are using cowardly tactics, hiding behind women and children while targeting Israeli civilians; something the IDF never does despite what some of you may think or are lead to believe by the MSM. And yes, Israel does issue warnings before they attack specific areas and Hammas operatives in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties- it is Hammas that chooses to ignore these warnings so that they can further portray themselves as victims and show additional horror footage (and no, I am not being cynical).
Hammas has been the sovereign ruler of Gaza for well over two years now. Their fanatic leadership has made choices and the people of Gaza are now unfortunately dealing with the results of those choices. They could have maintained the cease fire and ended hostilities which would have allowed Israel to lift the blockade and open the border passages- but as they have proven time and time again, they would rather use force regardless of the cost.