Al Jazeera English has published an “interview” with Alastair Crooke, founder of the “Conflicts Forum” think-tank. Wingless responds.

As time goes on, it will become more and more clear that Israel has not achieved the aims that it set for itself. The intended aim – that by an overwhelming show of force it would make people both docile and deterred – has not been achieved.

That is neither the intended, nor the stated aim. Crooke shows his contempt for Israel (or utter incompetence) by stating that it’s efforts were aimed at ‘people’. On the contrary, Israel’s efforts were aimed at Hamas combatants. Only building used by the terrorist organization were targetted & the majority of those killed were Hamas combatants. There is no evidence that Israel targetted anyone else. Why would it after all, it serves no purpose but to further villify it in the eyes of those that believe Israel can do no right.

The aim is, was and will always be to kill or otherwise nullify Hamas combatants. Hamas members are engaged in a holy war against Israel, they believe they are doing G*d’s work and embrace death as a form of victory. This is why fighting Jihadists is so difficult and why negotiations with such elements are ill advised. What does one say to such elements: “We know your Quran says it…and the Hadith teach it…and your Imam preaches it… and your parents have sang it to you from the point of conception…BUT…they are all wrong – the infidel’s aren’t your enemies!?“

In democratic societies, the argument can be made that a war of attrition, ala the carpet bombing of cities during WWII, can influence people to pressure their government into making concessions. But Gaza is not Europe and Hamas rules with an iron fist – disregarding the needs of the people it is supposed to govern. No amount of misery or pressure will cause them to bend. Thus, Israel has never waged war against Gazans, such an effort would be devoid of all reason & logic.

This is a group that forces itself into people’s homes, fires a few shots, then retreats before Israel retaliates. It is a group that uses it’s people as human shields, that has used ambulances to move weapons and combatants, and that fires rockets out of school windows.

And Israel has not defeated Hamas in a military sense, despite massive destruction of property and people’s lives.

The majority of deaths were Hamas gunmen. The buildings targetted & destroyed were part of the large Hamas organization. Guns, rockets & alot of ammunition was seized or destroyed. Hamas’ leadership still cowers in their private underground bunkers.

Furthermore, Hamas’ credibility is destroyed. Gazans don’t dare speak out for fear of retribution but one wonders what they think of their glorious ‘resistance’ (resistance to what?!) when they fire rockets from their windows, then retreat, leaving the homeowner to bear the legitimate and 100% legal Israeli response! One has to wonder how many of these Arabs knew that they were sitting on literal powder kegs – as the IDF dug up explosives under homes, near schools, EVERYWHERE!

The core of the conflict itself – the rockets and the issue of the opening of the crossings [into Gaza] – remains completely unsettled

Hundreds of rockets were destroyed, firing teams were killed, wounded or deserted and Hamas infrastructure is in shambles. We know that when terrorists are fighting for survival they usually do not have the time nor resources to plan and carry out major attacks (Since George Bush declared war on Al Qaeda there has not been a major attack launched against the USA; before that they launched regular and ever more deadly attacks). Thus, a core issue for Israel has been dealt with, Hamas ability to wage terror has been severly degraded.

As for the so-called “crossings” (they are BORDERS), how is that at the core of this conflict? Let’s look at this statement without the “Israel blinders“: If Mexico decided to close it’s border with the USA, would this give the USA a legitimate right to go to war with Mexico? Isn’t Mexico a sovereign nation? Does it not have choice and control over it’s own borders?

OK, BAD EXAMPLE – because Mexico and the USA are at peace! Hamas is at war with both Israel & Egypt – they are at war with anyone that does not practice their form of Islam (including Christian Gazans) – why then would Israel or Egypt open their borders? How does securing there sovereign borders lie at the ‘core’ of this conflict Mr. Crooke?! Wasn’t it about ‘occupation’ last week? Oh ya, not even Crooke would dare utter that rubbish – as we all know Gaza has been Jew free for SEVERAL YEARS.

There was a desire to see Hamas emerge defeated and humbled, and there is some sense among the public that this is what has been achieved, but, I think, as they observe the anger and they see how much the recent Israeli successes in the Arab world – handshakes and meetings and attempts to widen their support base and their legitimacy within the region – have been swept away, I think they will re-assess it in a very different light.

Crooke calls empty handshakes and pointless meetings ‘Israeli successes’ while calling the destruction of much of the Hamas infrastructure a victory for the ‘Islamic Resistance’… Did the definition for ‘victory’ change? Why didn’t I get the memo? Has this man followed the conflict since Oslo? Israeli handshakes with Arab leaders have turned rock throwing teens (Intifadah #1) into gunmen, suicide bombers & rocket-teams! What ‘flavour’ of Kool Aid are they serving at the ”Conflicts Forum” ‘think-tank’?

For all of Hamas’ bravado, this most recent incursion showed them for the cowards they are. They wore civilian clothing throughout the conflict, used mosques & civilian building as shelter, therby endangering every civilian in the vicinity. Various reports have come out that detail Hamas’ deplorable conduct & lack of professionalism throughout the conflict - from desertions, to the use of human shields, failures to carry out orders and even refusing to release bodies of fighters for burial (so they can continue to claim ‘minimal casualties’).

Mr Cremonesi later told the BBC the [Palestinian] doctor had told him the dead also included youngsters aged 17 to 23, described by the doctor as “Hamas recruits who were literally sent to be massacred”. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7855070.stm

A senior commander involved in Operation Cast Lead said on Saturday that Hamas militants are suffering from exhaustion and are deserting battle. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054245.html

The commander told reporters that Amir Mansi, the commander of Hamas’ rocket-launching program in the Gaza City area who was killed by the Israel Defense Forces on Saturday, fired mortars himself after junior Hamas operatives refused to go outside, fearing an Israeli strike.

Israel television just reported that Hamas is preventing the burial of some 200 of its terrorists whose bodies are lying in Shifa Hospital in Gaza out of fear of demoralizing its forces. http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2009/01/couple-of-tips-from-israeli.html

Despite undergoing extensive training in Iran, with millions of dollars worth of equipment, Hamas fighters greatest “victory” is the amount of Shahids it sent up to Allah! (hope there’s enough virgins to go ’round)

I think relations have become extremely polarised by this conflict.

So before the Gaza incursion everybody was singing koombaya?!

At least two Arab states have been seen, whether fairly or unfairly, as taking a contrary view [to Egypt]. We’ve also seen many states and countries supporting the resistance – not just Hamas. If you like, it has reignited the Palestinian issue as an Arab cause across the region – which it hasn’t been for some time.

Somebody enlighten me on which countries came out in support of Hamas – I REALLY WANT TO KNOW. As for reigniting this as an ‘Arab cause’ (I think he wants to say “Muslim cause” but is afraid of the M word) - Jew hatred has always been an Arab (& especially a Muslim) cause! It needs no ‘reignition’ for it has never been quelled.

This hatred preceeds the refounding of Israel – it is evident in Muhammed’s betrayal of the Jews at Khyber; in the Quran-ordered extortion Jews had to pay to Islamic overlords; in the Hebron massacre of 1929; in the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem’s affinity for and meeting with Nazi leadership; and in the expulsion of nearly 1,000,000 Jews from newly created ‘Arab nations’!

It was like this before the founding of Israel, continued this way after the founding of Israel and should Israel ever fall (G*d forbid) it will continue beyond there as well! This conflict has nothing to do with land and everything to do with Arab/Islamic superiority complex.

This has always been a kind of ‘open secret’ – I say “open” because if you tune into Arab TV, radio, or culture you will find the evidence staring right back at you. You will find children’s television shows with songs about killing the Jews, you will hear news reports of Israeli F16s dropping poison candies on Arab schools, witness leaders giving speeches that are completely opposite of the English versions!

Well I don’t think there is a conference room in Washington with a chair ‘Hamas’ written on it. I think it will be a slow process. Clearly all of the Europeans are operating on the old mode – they haven’t pressed the re-set button on their policies. They are perhaps waiting to see which way the [new] US administration will go.

Whenever people talk of negotiating with a group like Hamas I get confused – WHAT EXACTLY WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?! They are engaged in a holy war! Their conflict is not against Israelis, but Jews (Read their charter! It quite clearly identifies Jews, Christians and ‘infidels’)… What could you possibly say to undo a lifetime of religious brainwashing? How would you convince them that the process of negotiating is not ‘unIslamic’ (they’re Charter is clear on this as well!)

They’re trying to re-launch Abu Mazen, almost holding reconstruction and humanitarian assistance as hostage, almost trying to force Hamas to re-mandate Abu Mazen [whose term of office expired on January 9]. Not surprisingly, Hamas has expressed great anger at that. If the Europeans try to hold the opening of the crossings hostage to Hamas re-legitimising Abu Mazen, I fear we might end up with another round of conflict in Gaza.

Yet another tired argument that insults the intelligence of the reader! Nobody is holding humanitarian assistance HOSTAGE! They simply want humanitarian aid to reach those that need it! If it is given to Hamas, evidence has shown they will use it as a form of control. Hamas will sell it to those that can purchase it at a high price and use it as a form of extortion to those that cannot. This is how Hamas treats it’s Muslim brethren, it goes without saying that those not in favor with Hamas will not see a drop of aid.

Europe, and all responsible nations, have a duty to ensure that aid gets to its intended recipients & is not used to further the goals of anyone. It also has a duty to ensure it is working with credible, legitimate forces in the region. Hamas has called for & carried out the indiscriminate targetting & murder of Jews, Christians (and increasingly) Muslims in the region. It is a political pariah that seized power in a bloody coup d’etat and evicted the government from the region (so no, not a ‘democratically elected’ party at all!). To provide them with aid is tantamount to providing funding to a dictatorial terrorist group.

What is being revealed by Gaza is the skeleton of the internal struggle over the future of this region – of those who are committed to the status quo and those who are committed to change. And it is a struggle that may become more bitter and more uncompromising as time goes on.

To whom are you referring? AND WHAT REALISTIC COMPROMISE HAS ISRAEL NOT OFFERED?

Israel has left all of Gaza – again: there is not one Jew in Gaza. The result? 5000 rockets launched at Israel.

Israel has offered the “Palestinian” leadership 100% of Gaza (Which they have now anyways), 97% of Judea/Samaria, 3-5% of Israel proper and control over East Jerusalem. Since this offer was tabled by Ehud Barak and immediately rejected by Arafat, the Arabs have essentially stopped negotiating - they saw this offer as a sign of ‘weakness’. Beyond this offer, what is Israel to do?! What more can it offer?! What can it possibly “change”?!

Even this offer is way too generous considering the Arabs have already been given over 99% of the Middle East (& today control 80% of “Palestine”!)! After the Ottomans fell, the Arabs were given the entire oil-rich region! Countries without any historical precedent were drawn all over the MidEast. Do you really believe they will stop their hatred of all that is different if we create yet another artificial state?!

Yes it is. [Hamas] stronger because of this…If you look at it in terms of a narrative of images and symbols – particularly coming against the backdrop of Ashura [the Islamic festival commemorating the battle of Karbala] – it is the image of a small Muslim stand against overwhelming odds pursued in the interests of justice… That’s an image which will bring out huge emotional and religious sentiment – a sense of re-establishing dignity… They have achieved enormous depth in terms of public opinion. Millions have mobilised – in Europe too – in support of the concept of resistance against occupation.

But Gaza isn’t occupied!

And the only reason Israel re-entered Gaza after years of leaving it to Hamas is because Hamas targetted Israeli civilians on a daily basis. Again – Gaza is 100% JEW FREE! Even so – Hamas has launched thousands of rockets into Israel! What “stand” are they “pursuing in the interests of justice”?

As for this claim that there is huge emotional and religious sentiment – we’ve heard that for over 50 years now yet no Arab country will grant citizenship to even 1 so-called “Palestinian refugee”. This is shameful considering there is no difference between a Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian, or Palestinian (the labels are all new, 50 years ago they were all Arab brothers). Four generations later, these people still live in so-called “refugee camps” throughout the MidEast! We hear grand speeches and grander promises from the leaders of the Muslim world yet there is a huge disconnect between what they say and what they do.

With all this emotional & religious sentiment you’d think there would be some action -  but after all is said and done, it isn’t Jordan or Syria or even Iran that is offering free medical care to the wounded of Gaza, it’s ISRAEL!

Of course, the media loves drama and they will surely show the crazed antics of protestors in the Muslim world burning and breaking – and on Ashura, so they’ll be burning, and breaking while stabbing their own heads and whipping their own backs (that’s the Ashura ‘celebration’) - talk about HOT vignette!

Happy Ashura Everyone...

Such behaviour has more to do with a lifetime of indoctrination & revised history than the “Dead Baby Show” on Al Jazeera (how many Arabs & Muslims believe an Arab/Muslim country called Palestine existed on planet Earth! How absurd in this day & age where historical maps & documents are but a click away).

You also have to ask if he is being appointed too late. One of the signals that can be seen in Gaza – where there was almost a suspension of certain moral considerations in terms of civilians – is the suggestion that we are not entering an era of politics and compromise. Gaza was a message of uncompromising military absolutism, not of openness.

Military Absolutism?! Hamas invited death upon the civilian population! Hamas wore civilian clothing and hid weapons in schools, mosques and civilian apartments. Not only are these actions war crimes, they needlessly lead to innocent deaths by distorting the lines seperating combatant & civilian, target & home!  The law (and basic morality) is very clear that when such tactics (human shields) are used, the party that blurred the combat lines are culpable.

View Hamas Use of Human Shields

Even with Hamas’ shameless tactics, and working in one of the most densly populated placed on Earth, the vast majority of those killed were still combatants! This level of precision is absolutely unheard of!

The 3 hour humanitarian window…Calling people before blowing up a base in their area…Bringing wounded enemy combatants into Israel for state-of-the-art medical care…Also, unheard of! Britain didn’t allow this during the Falklands war, and America isn’t offering such a thing in Afghanistan or Iraq!

Israel went above and beyond in seeking to minimize civilian deaths. They utilized state-of-the-art guided munitions (these can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per bomb), ground troops & surveillance/target monitoring via UAVs. If Israel was not interested in limiting civilian casualties one has to wonder why it would endanger it’s soldiers by putting them in harms way. It could have done far more destruction, for a fraction of the cost, without sustaining any wounds or casualties by using artillery & ‘dumb’-bombs.

Israeli deaths were lower than the Arabs because Israeli soldiers do not hide behind, nor bring women and children to war (thus not making them targets). Furthermore, the Israeli government provides bomb shelters & warnings to its people (btw: bomb shelters are not complex, Israel had them 50+ years ago, third world nations have them, if Hamas can dig tunnels, they can dig shelters). Hamas did not allow people to use the various tunnels throughout Gaza for shelter as they were using these tunnels to attempt the killing and/or kidnapping of IDF soldiers. Instead of looking out for its people, Hamas did everything in its power to ensure their demise.

Trackposted to The Virtuous Republic, Rosemary’s Thoughts, DragonLady’s World, Leaning Straight Up, Cao’s Blog, Democrat=Socialist, Conservative Cat, Political Byline, third world county, Allie is Wired, Woman Honor Thyself, Wingless – What Lead to Cast Lead, The World According to Carl, Wingless – Cuba: Beautiful Country, People…Not so Beautiful System…, Rosemary’s News and Ideas, The Pink Flamingo, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.