Civilian Casualties: No Apology Needed

Wall St Journal ^ | July 25, 2002 | RALPH PETERS

[SJackson]

Earlier this week, Israel succeeded in killing Salah Shehada, a savage Hamas mastermind, and one of his top aides. A dozen Palestinian civilians died in the attack, including members of Shehada's family. The civilian deaths may be lamentable, but they also were justifiable. A terrorist leader used his relatives and neighbors as shields, and they died with him. Their deaths were Shehada's fault, not Israel's.

[Scribe35]

Does anyone else here remember when the United States bombed Moammar Ghaday's home in Libya while his family was there? At least one of his children was killed by the surprise bombing attack, as I recall. We also bombed some of Saddam Hussein's palaces, although I don't recall if any of his family or friends were killed in those attacks.

Israel could just say, as our military has in Afghanistan, that the killing of innocent civilians is regrettable but "these things happen" when you're launching missiles or bombs from the air to kill terrorist leaders.

The only difference is -- Israel got its man.

[SJackson]

His infant daughter and another 30 or 40 civilian casualties. The evil here is using civilians as shields.

[goldstategop]

The plans of terrorists for Western civilization make Attila the Hun's sacking of Rome look like a Sunday stroll in the park. This is a no holds barred fight to the death. Its time to get on with the program.

[archy]

Thank God this crank is retired from the military.

If he were not so retired, he would be unable to offer public opinion on matters relating to his chosen profession.

-archy-/-

[Stavka2]

Just like Chechin elders in Gudermus kicked out the gunmen to avoid a battle in their city and have it come down around their ears.