Posted on 07/23/2002 7:59:23 AM PDT by RCW2001
SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
©2002 Associated Press
URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/07/23/national1018EDT0556.DTL
(07-23) 07:41 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
President Bush denounced as "heavy-handed" an Israeli warplane's missile attack on a Gaza City apartment building, which killed a Hamas leader at the top of Israel's most-wanted list and at least 14 other Palestinians, including nine children.
"This heavy-handed action does not contribute to peace," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Tuesday, pointing to "the loss of innocent life."
"This message will be conveyed to Israeli authorities, and the United States regrets the loss of life," the spokesman said.
Fleischer rejected comparisons between the missile strike and American attacks in Afghanistan that have killed civilians.
"It is inaccurate to compare the two, because the United States, because of an errant bomb, a mistake in a mission, has occasionally engaged in military action that we very regrettably included losses of innocent lives," Fleischer said.
"This was a deliberate attack on the site, knowing that innocents would be lost in the consequences of the attack," he said, adding that Bush still remained a strong backer of Israel.
With his condemnation, the White House joined European and Arab nations who called the strike irresponsible and denounced the civilian deaths.
The Israeli Embassy responded to the White House criticism with a defense of the targeting of the leader of Hamas' military wing.
"Like the government of the United states, the government of Israel regrets the loss of innocent civilian lives," spokesman Mark Regev said. "However, out military action against one of the most dangerous Hamas terrorist leaders was a justified action of self-defense."
Palestinians vowed revenge as they dug through wreckage from the strike, which obliterated a three-story building and destroyed or badly damaged several adjacent ones.
The attack killed Salah Shehadeh, 48, a founder and the top commander of Hamas' military wing, known as Izzadine el-Qassam, the group said. The group has carried out scores of attacks, including more suicide bombings than any other Palestinian faction in the current Mideast conflict.
"This operation was in my view one of our biggest successes," Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Cabinet ministers. "We hit perhaps the most senior Hamas figure on the operational side," Sharon said of Shehadeh, who was jailed first by Israel, and then by the Palestinians, from 1988 to 1999.
But by firing a powerful missile into a densely packed neighborhood in the middle of the night, civilian casualties were a certainty, Palestinians said.
©2002 Associated Press
FReegards...MUD
Now Hambone, haven't you heard? It's not about peace over there, it's about killing as many from the "other" side as possible, the "other" side being whichever side you're not on.
For example, if you're a Pali, perfectly reasonable to support the killing of innocent Israelis.
If you're an Israeli, perfectly reasonable to support the killing of innocent Palis.
C'mon Hambone, get with the program, and choose a side to hate with impunity.
Expanding on your thought
The guy was a huge target. And when you live by/next/with/around targets, it behoove you to move or you may end up as colateral damage. The world is full of ignorant people oblivious to what's is going on in a war/terrorist zone, which could make them dead. Look at Afghanistan today: A Wedding celebration is taking place close to guns[targets] firing at U.S. fighter aircraft. Hello?
Sometimes smart weapons are not so smart and fail to guide correctly toward their targets and miss. And there are times of pilot failure... When the bombs in bullets fly, get outta of Dodge.
For example, if you're a Pali, perfectly reasonable to support the killing of innocent Israelis.
If you're an Israeli, perfectly reasonable to support the killing of innocent Palis.
C'mon Hambone Northpaw, get with the program, and choose a side to hate with impunity.
North, see my post #83 for the complete story here. Just thought you'd like to hear that you're not the only one that sees the insanity of both sides.
I do not think they are holding back one bit now. I think every time they can convince some moron to strap on a bomb they send him out that day. So far no increase at all. Same old, same old
Israel had the right tact in publicly regretting the loss of civilian life. They did it right.
Knowing you, you'd be all rolling on the ground with grief if a dog or worse, a puppy, were killed.
Someone made in God's image, even a demonic, intolerant, militant, imperialist sired child is worth a bit of "sorry about that."
That lowlife, Arekat, will claim rat poison was in the shrapnel,
and CNN won't even correct him, that such wickedness is Hamas' brutal scheme.
CNN will spin, "Yes, there has been rat poison in shrapnel in this conflict, that's right."
I believe you hit the nail on the head,there's no way George W. Bush couldn't be smiling when he heard about the 'taking out' of Salah Shehadeh,Creator of Hamas.Interestingly enough,a few weeks ago there was a close-up picture of him on Yahoo,as a passenger in what looked like a minivan or pick-up truck, so it isn't like he was hiding or anything,he probably just thought "I'll always be a free man". LOL He is completely free now,that's for sure.
Well that theory is only working in one direction. The Israelis have held up their military during cease-fires. However, when they stop bombing, the Pallies somehow forget to stop as well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.