Hamas Leader Says Americans Not a Target

yahoo.com ^ | reuters

[rintense]

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The militant Islamic group Hamas denied on Thursday it had deliberately targeted U.S. citizens in a deadly bomb blast at a cafeteria frequented by foreign students at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

Four Americans and a French-American student were among seven killed when a bomb planted by Hamas blew up in the university cafeteria during the lunch hour rush on Wednesday.

More than 80 people were wounded in the attack.

"The fighter of Hamas did not ask the students about their identity cards and he can't do so. He does not know if they are Arab or Israelis. But we are not targeting at all American targets," Abdel Azziz al-Rantissi, a senior leader of the Palestinian group, told Reuters.

President Bush ( news - web sites) said on Thursday he was "furious" about the attack.

Rantissi said the attack was in revenge for Israel's assassination of a top Hamas commander in a missile strike at his Gaza City home last week in which 14 other Palestinians, including nine children, were also killed.

[funkywbr]

As an American 1st and a Jew 2nd I must say to all of YOU HERE: yadayadayada! I have been watching this story for all of my adult life. Each and everytime Israel is finally ready to get rid of Ararat and the PLO we Americans save his life. This cycle will never end as there must be much $ involved in this war to keep it going so long to the benefit of the PALESTINIANS!

[Bikers4Bush]

Too little, too late. Make your peace.

[ellery]

Yeah, but are we going to do anything about it? If we don't, then what's to stop them from targeting Americans? We can talk-talk-talk and talk some more, but until we actually do something to organizations who kill Americans, we're just encouraging more assaults against us.

[cmak9]

"Let Israel lose"

I know it's just a typo, but you might want to correct this. "loose"

[wildbill]

I'm not clear on something. Shouldn't "fighters" be fighting against other "fighters?" In other words, shouldn't the Hamas guys be duking it out with Israeli soldiers? Where's the vaunted Muslim bravery in deliberately targeting civilians, much less students?

[SkunkPunk]

I'm sure Hamas made the above statement in English and then turned around and, in their native tongue, praised the fact that they killed Americans. It's the same old stuff. They learned it from Arafat. Damn scum. They'll rot in hell.

It is interesting though, how we act as if American life is more important then the lives of anyone else.

[isthisnickcool]

I know it's just a typo, but you might want to correct this. "loose"

Corrected to: "Let Israel lose their minds. Go psycho. And kick the crap out of the heathen murderous thugs".

Better? :)

[Congressman Billybob]

Four or five Americans are dead because of Hamas, depending on how you count the "French-American" (probably dual citizenship, which France encourages). We ARE going to turn the Israelis loose on the Palestinians eventually, with a blank check to kill every terrorist they can find and every person who gets in the way.

We will write the Isrealis that blank check after the following events: 1) We attack Saddam. 2) He attacks Israel.

Since we are going to do it anyway, why not write that blank check today? The logic is quite simple. Dead men don't recruit new suicide bombers. Dead men don't hold horsesh*t press conferences like this one.

Whatever is the Hebrew equivalent of "Let's roll" is the only appropriate response to all the Hamas scum.

Congressman Billybob

Click for: "Memo to Li'l Tommy Daschle: 'You're Busted.'"

[cmak9]

"Corrected to: "Let Israel lose their minds. Go psycho. And kick the crap out of the heathen murderous thugs"."

I like that! ;-)

[1Old Pro]

I think this is why we are turning our heads when Israel targets Hamas

[VaBthang4]

Hamas Leader Says Americans Not a Target

What then....bonus points?

You're going down coward.

[rintense]

That's why these people need to be destroyed. For all their whining, they claim they are fighting the only way they can. Uh huh. With all the Israeli soldiers roaming around, you'd think these FIGHTERS would go after them. Nope. They want to go after defenseless, unsuspecting people because don't have the spines to ACTUALLY fight.

I say blow each and every single one of them to hell.

[johnb838]

Arafat will not live forever. When we have 'done' Saddam, things are suddenly going to be very quiet, very still in the middle east.

Then, my friends, we must look very carefully at China's reaction.

[uncbob]

Where the hell is the Slickster when we need him ?
He said he was going to take up arms to defend Israel. Well now is his chance to defend Israel and the USA

[JohnathanRGalt]

Americans are not the target? - No one told this guy:

[jwalsh07]

"The fighter of Hamas did not ask the students about their identity cards and he can't do so. He does not know if they are Arab or Israelis. But we are not targeting at all American targets," Abdel Azziz al-Rantissi, a senior leader of the Palestinian group, told Reuters.

Iraq is paying the Hamas bombers bounty. I wonder how much they will be paid for the death of 5 Americans.

As far as I'm concerned the Congressional Resolution authorizing President Bush to wage war on the terrorists and their harborers covers both Iraq and this Abdel asswipe.

[weegee]

Hamas has lost the ability to criticize the Israelis for "colateral damage" to civilians when they strike their intended targets. Of course the press won't report it this way...

[rmlew]

That's right. Hamas and Hezbollah have always avoided targeting U.S. citizens -- they raise a ton of cash in the United States, and the last thing they want to do is put that cash flow in jeopardy.

Hizbullag was responsible for the two suicide bombings in Lebanon in the 1980s. (Remember the Embassy and Marine Barracks?)
As for not hitting Americas, Hamas released a letter last week calling for attacks on US interests in Israel and the region. Both Hamas adn Hizbullah are affiliated with AL-Qaada.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Sooner or later Hamas will do some collateral damage and wish they were never born. Maybe this is that time.

God, I wish I was in charge!

A good old fashioned B52 carpet bombing of the Gaza Strip would stop this crap once and for all.

Nixon got the North Vietnamese back to the bargaining table by an all-out Christmas bombing campaign of Hanoi in 1972. The POWs were home in a few months.

What's the problem ? Are we afraid of bad press? Bull........this is war. In a war you fight to win and the enemy's death toll pressures them to capitulate!!!

[monday]

"It is interesting though, how we act as if American life is more important then the lives of anyone else."

Not surprising though. Most of us are Americans. Its very natural to be more concerned when one of your own group is killed.

It makes the danger much more immediate and real. It makes you think "This could happen to me." True, most of us aren't in Israel, so this will likely be forgotten quickly.