Rocket Count Is Rubbery, And So Is The Goal

[tekisui]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

A VEXED issue in the Gaza conflict is what constitutes "victory".

At the outset Israel said it was determined to stop the Palestinians' rocket fire into Israel. Hamas's claims centre on ending the Israeli siege of Gaza by having the border crossings from Gaza into Israel and Egypt reopened.

With the Israeli leadership suspended between international demands for a ceasefire and the urge to go to the next phase of its combat plan, the rockets continue to fly, albeit at a lesser rate, and the borders remain closed, except for a three-hour "humanitarian" opening each afternoon when between 60 and 90 trucks make the crossing.

This is a war in which the counting of rockets landing in Israel appears to an inexact science.

On Sunday the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, told his cabinet that Israel was "closing in" on its goals.

But Israeli assessments of the impact of the first 16 days of the military assault on Gaza on the ability of Hamas and other militants to fire rockets vary widely.

Relying on unnamed sources in the Israel Defence Forces, the Israeli daily Ha'aretz reported yesterday that the number of rockets launched had been halved, compared with the first day of Operation Cast Lead, before going on to report a total of 22 rockets fired on Sunday.

But, according to the Los Angeles Times, Israel's domestic security chief, Yuval Diskin, told a government briefing on Sunday that Hamas rockets had fallen from 100 to 200 a day before the military offensive to about 20 a day.

Figures published by the non-government Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre, near Tel Aviv, and in news reports for the four days up to Sunday, show that after an initial decline, the rocket fire has remained at a stubborn average of about 30 a day since December 27.

more: http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/rocket-count-is-rubbery-and-so-is-the-goal/2009/01/12/1231608616950.html

[peacetalksforall]

1. Can someone explain - if it's true that the number of missiles named are

hitting Israeli land - where are they landing? We don't hear about infrastructure being destroyed. Deaths are minimal. I don't get it.

[cali]

2. Actually, all of that information is easlity accessible

The rockets chiefly hit in Ashkelon and S'derot. Yes, infrastructure is frequently damanged and sometimes destroyed. Loss of life is minimal. Both cities have extensive alarm and shelter systems.

[azurnoir]

3. So Ashkelon and Sderot are without water and power? n/t

[cali]

4. gee, did I say any fucking such thing?

Why no, of course not. I gave some factual information. It wasn't pro-Israel information or pro or anti anything. Simply neutral facts. Hate to break this to you, but schools are indeed infrastructure as are apartment buildings etc.

Grab a clue. And try not to dishonestly put words in other people's mouths.

[azurnoir]

6. I asked a question dear

but your over wrought answer said it all generally speaking in conflicts such as this "infrastructure" refers to water, electricity, sewers you know things like that

[cali]

7. No you didn't. You insinuated that I said something I didn't say- or even

come close to saying. Putting a question mark after a statement, hardly makes it a de facto legitimate question, dearie.

And no, I don't have much use for the kind of dishonesty exhibited in your post. And I call it how I see it. Sorry, you can't handle being called on your dishonest post.

[azurnoir]

9. I pointed out what is generally considered infrastructure

my post was not dishonest and I am not the one flaming as Shakespeare said.........

[cali]

10. really? a school isn't considered infrastructure?

Wow. No, you pointed out nothing. You said nothing about what is generally considered infrastructure. But feel free to make it up as you go along.

[azurnoir]

12. What ever cali

but in Lebanon I do not remember much about schools being mentioned as infrastructure, the sheer incivility and accusations contained in your replies is puzzling.

[cali]

13. lol. you put words in my mouth and then you complain about civility?

:rofl:

[azurnoir]

14. The only words in your mouth are the bile you are spewing

here and why are you keeping this up you could have answered my question civilly in your first reply instead you chose insults and accusations why I put no words in your mouth I asked if Ashkelon and Sderot had water and power why you have found it necessary to try to create a flame is beyond me but I will not be accused of what I am not sure and not reply however if you feel necessary to continue go ahead I a finished with this so accuse name call what ever the posts speak for themselves

[Hugabear]

5. Here's what a Qassam rocket can do

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Its not from lack of trying

Even Qassams, the so called bottle rockets carry 20lbs of HE in them.

[bemildred]

11. So much for well defined objectives. nt

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. to stop rocket fire you dismantle the rockets not the people

I'm sure Israelis could nip over the border and dismantle. I don't think it would be hard.
It's obvious that the gas fields are more pertinent. I have a feeling Bush is behind all this?