In war, a “proportional response” would seem generally to be exactly what one does NOT want to make.
Conflicts end when one side “wins,” by crushing the other, by degrading the enemy’s ability and/or will to fight.
From a friend in Israel on this very topic(notice the disdain for Sarkozy):
There have been numerous articles, learned and not so learned, decrying the use of the term ‘disproportionate’ in describing Israel’s response to eight years of missile attacks from Gaza. My own feeling is that ‘inadequate’ would be a better word, especially in light of today’s news about a three-hour cease fire which is clearly the precursor to leaving before the job is done.
Proper use of the term would be, say, “French President Sarcasti’s marriage to a super-model after dumping a plain wife is clearly a disproportionate act.”
Keeping in mind that the killers of Jews in Mumbai were Pakistanis and not Palestinians, and those who blew up the Buenos Aires Jewish Center were Iranians and not Palestinians, it is clear the war is not between Israelis and Palestinians but between Jews and Muslims. Given that there are some ten million Jews and one billion Muslims, proportionality would call for one thousand Muslim deaths for every Jew killed.
Snore. As does any statement on any subject whatsoever coming from any "Palistinian" or mouthpiece.
The only thing that keeps me from muting the TV when a "Palisinian" comes on the screen is to wonder how long it will take him to work "aggression" or "occupation" into his answer or statement. It's never more than 20 seconds.
Ping.