Press gloom over missile attacks

[Lithos]

One Israeli newspaper despairs of finding a solution to Palestinian attacks with Qassam missiles in the wake of a strike on Wednesday on the Israeli town of Sderot that left one woman dead.

As Israeli planes hit back, another daily believes carrying out an operation "deep in the Gaza Strip" may be the only answer, although it warns that the Israeli army would have to be well prepared.

A Palestinian paper says its people need a strong unity government quickly to break the deadlock.
-- More --

[leveymg]

1. These are missiles: (pic); the Qassam is a rocket

This is a Qassam rocket:
These are missiles:

Can You Spot the Difference?

DU should ban headline references to Palestinian "missile" attacks. They don't have any, and it's misleading.

Here's the technical difference:

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/weapons/q0211.shtml

Bombs, Rockets & Missiles


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What is the difference between a missile and a rocket or a bomb, a cluster bomb, and a guided bomb?
- S. Kahn
We have received a number of questions from those who find the distinction between a rocket and a missile confusing, and there are many different types of bombs. The three key elements that distinguish one type of weapon from another are the warhead, the means of propulsion, and the presence of a guidance system. In this explanation, we will generally follow the conventions used by the US military in its missile and munitions designation systems. . . If an unguided warhead is attached to some type of propulsion system, most often a solid rocket motor, the result is a rocket. A rocket has no form of guidance and remains a "dumb" weapon.

[IntiRaymi]

11. Ah, but the purpose is to mislead!

[barb162]

12. That's misleading; there are various sizes of qassams (photos)

http://www.weaponsurvey.com/missilesrockets.htm
snip
"The Qassam-1, first launched against an Israeli target in October 2001, is capable of an approximate range of 4.5 kilometers (2.796 miles). The Qaasam-2, which incorporates components smuggled from Egypt, is approximately 2.2 meters (7.22 feet) in length, has a range of up to 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles), and can carry a payload of 5-9 kilograms of explosives. The more advanced Qassam-3 is capable of achieving a range of approximately 10-12 kilometers, and carries a payload of 10-20 kilograms of explosives. The Qassam-4 is expected to have a range of 17 kilometers" snip

In any case, these rockets kill and injure people and destroy property.

[Englander]

13. Oh, the irony.

In any case, these rockets kill and injure people and destroy property.

[barb162]

14. There's no irony there

Innocent Israelis are being killed and injured by these rockets

[Englander]

15. That's not irony.

The irony is, the reason given why the home-made rockets are an eg of evil-doing, is because they
'kill & injure people & destroy property', whilst other rockets, artillery, & tank shells that kill far
more, injure far more people, & destroy & damage much greater amounts of homes, & other property, are
given fulsome support. Now, *that's* irony.

[bemildred]

2. I think it's fair to say there is no military solution.

It is debatable whether all the military operations have had any effect at all on the number of Kassams fired, or if there was an effect, whether it was to increase or decrease the numbers. I notice in the last few days that Peretz is making statements about exercising restraint, although he doesn't put it exactly that way.

[Lithos]

3. I would say

A pure military solution is not going to work. But then again, that is true for Iraq and was true for Vietnam - the closest we came to victory was when we downplayed the military aspects and were promoting the civilian aspects. And as I've stated before, Israel's military is the shiny toy that politicians see and somehow can't get beyond when examining their policy options - it is too easy to misapply it which is what has happened many times in the past.

[bemildred]

4. Yeah, if you have a big shiny hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

And people will say: "You got that big shiny hammer, why didn't you pound that nail?"

But sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. And sometimes the hammer is the wrong tool.

And it is worse to do something stupid because you are afraid or ashamed to do nothing, than to do nothing when there is nothing good to do.

Which is not to say that military and police forces have no use at all.

[msmcghee]

5. Arcane discussions of military hardware are hardly . .

. . a path down which any "answers" will be found.

If you are interested in finding a peaceful solution to the problems in the ME - there is only one simple thing that must be done. Arab / Muslims must stop killing Israelis.

When you talk about these other things you are avoiding reality. The reality is that short of killing vast numbers of Palestinian civilians Israel can not stop the jihadists from killing Israeli civilians. Creating that reality has been the goal of the jihadists and they have largely succeeded. So far Israel has resisted that option.

As long as Arab / Muslims continue to kill Israelis and as long as they consider it their right to do so - then there will be no peace.

Do you want to talk about peace - or who's gun is bigger?

[breakaleg]

6. I've read in 3 posts in a row your assertion that Arab/Muslims stop killing

Israelis being the solution to this problem. Funny, because Israel has killed far far more Palestinians in the last few years yet they aren't to blame for any of this, according to you.

Save it.

[msmcghee]

7. As I recall, the discussion was about . .

. . how to achieve peace - not who was to blame.

Claims that one side or the other is to blame are simply justifications for further killing - which seems to be the focus of all your posts, not just the last three.

[breakaleg]

8. By saying that the solution is for one side to stop killing the other

you are placing blame on that side. It's inherent in your solution. So it's you who is assigning blame in this thing, and that doesn't get anyone any closer to peace.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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