Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

After saying he could not comment, he contradicted himself and did comment, declaring, "If my two daughters were being attacked by rockets, I would do something."

But world-wide something was being done loud and clear in anti-war protest marches in major capitals of the world including London and New York City.

The U.S. refused to intervene concerning stopping the killing.  This was self-evident at the UN.  Other nations demanded a cease fire, but not the U.S.

Tim McGirk observed:

"The deaths of 40 civilians taking shelter at a United Nations run school north of Gaza City are more likely to become the dominant image of the war.  Israeli politicians and generals know that the total elimination of Hamas' entrenched military command could take weeks.  It might be altogether impossible.  The more realistic outcome is an unsatisfactory brokered truce that leaves Hamas wounded but alive and able to regenerate -- and Israel only temporarily safe from attack."

Tim McGirk explained logically that even though the Gaza offensive will reduce or eliminate the rocket menace, but like the 2006 war against Hizballah, failed to extinguish the fervor of the militants.  

Now the anti-Israel anger growing in the region has been challenging before now, but could be impossible now to control.  With over 1,000 dead and 6,000 injured, there is rage and anti-Israel protests over what protestors insist was Israel's overreaction.

Above all, McGirk warned, "Just as ominous for many Israelis is a ticking demographic time bomb, the likelihood that Arabs will vastly outnumber Jews in the land stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean is a catastrophe for a nation that defines itself by its faith."

What an interesting observation!  Are Israelis referring to ancient Old Testament writings where their faith involved special protection from Jehovah, the faith McGirk is referring to?

Or is it faith in military might, namely Israel's nuclear arsenal?

If it is nuclear faith, Israel must acknowledge that others have nuclear power, including India, Pakistan, Russia as well as others working to achieve nuclear might.

McGirk continues:

"Hamas says it will agree to a truce if Israel retreats from Gaza and loosens the economic choke hold that has strangled 1.5 million Palestinians who live on the sliver of land along the Mediterranean.

"After weeks of global outrage over the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza, any mediator -- France, the European Union, Turkey and Egypt are all auditioning for the role -- will insist that Israel end its 18 month blockade.

"What then?  Like Hizballah, Hamas will declare itself victorious, not only will it have survived a direct assault by a far superior military force, but it will also have freed Gazans from Israeli tyranny.  As an added bonus, any economic revival of Gaza would put money into Hamas.  But Israel would gain some breathing space and force Hamas to prove it can actually govern and maintain stability in Gaza rather than heap blame on Israel."

The January 18 Financial Times headlined their article by Andrew England and Tobias Buck in Jerusalem with this:  ASSAULT NEARS END AS ISRAEL CLAIMS VICTORY.

However, the Gaza spillover stated:

"A synagogue in a Paris suburb was attacked on Sunday ... Israel's assault on Gaza on the Gaza Strip has triggered French government fears of a spillover of tension to Muslim and Jewish communities, which at 6m and 600,000 are the largest in the European Union divided Arab world.

"Also, Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister, said yesterday Israel should be barred from United Nations headquarters for ignoring a UN ceasefire resolution."