Chamblee54

In Gaza, Israel continues to extract an eye for an eyelash.
PG is not a purist. If this sort of overwhelming reaction is needed for Israel to survive, then so be it. The question does arise, is this war in the best interest of Israel?
There is a feature about civilian casualties by Michael Totten. He is a supporter of Israel. He says about the current fuss ” Innocents as well as combatants die in every war. If you have nothing to object to besides that, then you should oppose the war against Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan for the same reason.”
Not everyone thinks the war in Afghanistan is a great idea. It was launched as revenge for 911. Seven years later, there is no easy way out. The people of Afghanistan have been invaded many times, and do not greet invading armies as liberators. They whipped the Soviet Union. This defeat was a factor in the collapse of that “evil empire”.
There is another thing being said about Gaza that applies to Afghanistan. James Fallows writes about “a situation in which short-term tactical victories may lead to long-term strategic defeat”.
Yes, the I.D.F. is winning, militarily. They are also losing the strategic war ( Despite the best efforts of Joe the Plumber). In Afghanistan, the Taliban was quickly driven from power, but much of the countryside remains in hostile hands. Al Queda was not destroyed. And Afghanistan is next to Pakistan. If the war in Afghanistan spills over into Pakistan, and destabilizes this poor Muslim country, the result could make Gaza look like a Sunday School Picnic.
HT to Andrew Sullivan for the features by Totten and Fallows.