re: #214 researchok

If there is a ground invasion it would be to find and destroy the long range Fajr missiles and to decpitate the Hamas leadership.

That won’t stop the problem entirely but it will retard the program for aq couple of years as well.

It bears remembering the Fajr missiles could deliver chem/bio payloads.

Hamas has also made clear they would use those weapons.

Given the instability in Syria and the lunatic Hezbollah in Lebanon Israel has no choice but to take the threats very seriously.

I think it’s a bit different. Gaza’s rocket supply is probably already pretty much depleted. They can carry on maybe another week or so before they’re all out. I think the last incursion into Gaza was supposed to draw out fighters to be killed in combat and possibly capture leaders but that didn’t really happen. Fighters mostly stayed home, leaders fled or hid in UN facilities and hospitals. This article grabbed me for the perverse headline but it’s worth checking out: Analysis: Hamas finds cause to smile under Israeli assault

Basically, the public support of Hamas comes from the appearance that they’re fighting Israel. No matter that they’re taking explosives out of their rockets to increase range. They aren’t hitting any military targets and they’re very lucky if a tiny fraction of 1% of the launches even injures an Israeli civilian. During periods when Hamas lays low they look like douchebags to the palestinians when Islamic Jihad launches some useless rockets. Public support depends on the public appearance of fighting, no matter how ineffectually. So why would Israel invade Gaza? Maybe because they know Hamas pussies aren’t going to fight or resist. They’ll hide and cower in schools and hospitals until the Israelis leave. Maybe that’s the point.