"Bloodiest Day in Palestinian History" as Israel Attacks Hamas. What Will Obama Do?

[K Gardner]

Such is the current discussion on MSNBC right now. Will Hillary engage both sides? How will Obama handle the major "fires" all over the world, including the devastating economic crisis at home? "Is it too much for one man to handle?"

The world is aflame. Our own country aflame with joblessness, unemployment, hunger, a health care crisis. As Obama gets his daily briefing, what in the world must he be thinking?


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123037708343337245.html?mod=googlenews_wsj



I, for one, am thankful and still hopeful that January 20th marks a new beginning for us all and for the world.

[Danger Mouse]

1. He's got a lot of work to do.

[K Gardner]

2. Understatement of the year :-) He most certainly does - and so do we.

[Danger Mouse]

3. Yeah...we have to lend him our support but at the same time keep him honest.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

4. Just what is needed, another ongoing war.

I need to get current with this. Who's leading this killing spree?

[K Gardner]

5. I'm trying to catch up. I used to be able to cheat and get my news synopses here, now I have to

actually do all the research myself :-)

:hi: :hug:

[babylonsister]

6. Thems were the days, weren't they.

:hug: :fistbump:

[DevonRex]

11. Yep. Thems were. Plus, that was my reason for being here.

I could chat with other dems and stay informed. Now, not so much.

[DevonRex]

10. If it weren't for your OP, I wouldn't have known this. Thanks. nt

[IndianaGreen]

12. Coming attractions: Indo-Pakistani war, with nukes!

Never underestimate the human race capacity for bloodshed.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Obama is in the dark!

I mean it, literally! Oahu is in total blackout after a storm knocked out all power. Obama is using candle light.

[K Gardner]

8. Oops? ! lol..

[Karenina]

18. The house they're staying in has a generator.

[DevonRex]

9. This is really scary. Sometimes I think the hawks are trying to start

WW3 before Obama takes office. I am SO glad I'm not him. Can you imaging feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders? GWB never did because he really didn't care.

I really, really want the economy to be kick started this time by building infrastructure, NOT munitions.

[firedupdem]

13. He's probably thinking he needs a damn cigarette and I wouldn't

blame him! Jeez...what the hell is going on? If they break out the nukes we won't have to worry about anything anymore.

:scared:

[K Gardner]

14. LOL ! No doubt :-)

[firedupdem]

15. LOL! That was a bad thing to say....I'm ashamed! LOL! n/t

[K Gardner]

16. Here's a good Eyewitness Account from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7801292.stm




Eyewitness: Chaos in Gaza

The BBC's Rushdi Aboualouf in the Gaza Strip described the chaos as Israeli warplanes fired missiles at Hamas targets, killing at least 155 Palestinians. Israeli planes are still flying over Gaza and they have just targeted another Hamas compound in the middle of the Gaza Strip, in a place called Khan Younis.

We can see from our office here in Gaza, in the middle of Gaza City, ambulances are still evacuating the injured from buildings and school kids are trying to find secure places.

People who were going to their work were turned back and went home, and most of the residents in Gaza have been ordered by the Ministry of Health to stay indoors. The mosques in Gaza are calling the people here to go to the hospitals and to donate blood. There is no room in the hospitals as far as we've heard from Hamas sources to treat the people.

No safe places

It's a very bad situation... There were Israeli aeroplanes everywhere, hitting everywhere. You could see smoke from north to south, from west to east. The people are really in a panic. The main object for the people now is to find a secure place to secure their family.

It's hard to find a secure place in Gaza. Gaza has no shelters, it has no safe places. The Hamas security compounds are in the middle of the city - it's not the kind of place where you see compounds outside the cities.

I have witnessed one of the compounds - which is 20m away from my house - I was standing on the balcony and I have seen the Israeli airplanes hitting the place.

Some of my balcony was damaged and my kid was injured and it's a very, very serious situation here in Gaza, the people can't do anything except stay indoors.

[gulliver]

17. Now if we can just make it to January 20th

Bush is still in office with his magic touch.

[The Magistrate]

19. It is Certainly the Bloodiest in Recent Years, Ma'am

But hardly the bloodiest in the history of this conflict, which stretches back nigh on ninety years at least....

[K Gardner]

20. You're most likely correct.. I was quoting Pat Buchanan :-)

[The Magistrate]

21. The History Of This Is One Of My Minor Specialities, ma'am

I was moderator down in I/P some years ago, and spent some time as a regular disputant there as well.

[wyldwolf]

22. That's why he assembled the A-Team!

[Frank Booth]

23. Who cares?!?!?!?! Rick Warren!!!!

Rick Warren, Rick Warren Rick Warren.

Rick Warren, Rick Warren, Rick Warren, Rick Warren.

Rick Warren.


Rick Rick Rick Warren Warren Warren.

[Bluebear]

28. Ass. Ass ass ass.

[WinkyDink]

24. Who is President?

[Kdillard]

25. That's my question too. As far as I know Bush is unfortunately still President.

Where is he and what is he doing? At least Obama seems to be monitoring the situation and has spoken to SOS Rice.

[Top Cat]

26. I have faith in Obama but he is going to need alot of support from us

He will get this country back on track but he is not a miracle worker it will take time.

[27inCali]

27. I have heard it intimated from a few places

that Obama has picked Biden and Clinton more or less to take over foreign affairs to free him up to focus on the economy.

I imagine in some senses, Biden is planning to act as an auxillary SoS. Given the massive unraveling going on everywhere, no knock on Clinton, we'll need all the seasoned people we can get out there working on this shit.

[w4rma]

29. Last I checked, the Village Idiot still controls the power of the executive branch.

…
Positions on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute have grown polarized. The radical Palestinian group Hamas, which was targeted by Israel's attacks Saturday, controls Gaza, while on the Israeli side, the right-wing Likud party headed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads in most polls heading into February elections. Mr. Netanyahu has promised to take a much harder line against Palestinian and Lebanese militants.
…
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123042530665337441.html

But this is troubling. The Likud Party is on the cusp of regaining power in Israel.