[Jim Noble]

...and I don't blame the IDF one bit if it does. Hamas started it and deserves whatever Israel gives them to finish it.

Here, I have to disagree.

The Paris Peace Conference of 1919 "started it", and Israel's unwillingness or inability to gain victory makes them constantly vulnerable to defeat.

Of course, Vardakar's objections violate the FAFO rule which governs all martial activity - in this case. Hamas staged a HUGE provocation and has yet to roll out Act II or even a credible warplan. As others have pointed out, they deserve what they get.

But, by failing to win the war which has been going on for at least 75 years, Israel also "deserves" the fate of the weak who play at war. Israel's inability to win their war has cost, and continues to cost, America a price we will not pay willingly forever.

[dfwgator]

The objective of war is to kill people and break their things, so they can no longer kill your people and break your things.

[econjack]

I would argue that IDF does have the ability to win the war. Rather, it is political interference by the US and others who prevent a once-and-for-all end to the war. I've recently stated elsewhere that since we let politicians set the ROE, we have ham-strung the military from winning a war. Indeed, since politicians entered the war management arena, the US has not won a war. We pay generals for the expertise and we should let them exercise it. They know that a quick war saves lives on both sides versus a protracted war. We might still be fighting door-to-door in Japan is Truman didn't have the stones to see the benefit of a quick end to the war.

Let the Israels' figure out how they want to end the war, not the main stream media.