Sometimes War Is The Answer ................ from James P. Willis

One thing the current situation in Gaza has shown us is that sometimes, war is the answer. As tragic and unpleasant as it is, Hamas has created and perpetuated a situation that leaves Israel with no other option but to continue the operation until the danger presented by Hamas rockets and cross-border tunnels are destroyed. It is clear that Hamas is determined to persist in attacking Israel as long as they have the means to do so.

Critics of Israel’s actions have called for Israel to end its incursion into Gaza and stop their attacks on Hamas, apparently counting on the fanciful notion that everything would then be okay. Unfortunately, Israel has to face the reality of a terrorist organization firmly entrenched in Gaza, determined to annihilate the Jewish state, armed with weapons provided by Iran and other Islamic nations that share that determination, that is actively firing those weapons into Israeli cities and neighborhoods. This is a reality that answers the question, “Why can’t we all just get along?”

Despite Nancy Pelosi’s inane characterization of Hamas as a humanitarian organization, they are first and foremost a terrorist organization and as such cannot be a part of any legitimate political process. As long as they control the Gaza strip and have the means to attack Israel, there will be no possibility of a political or diplomatic solution, leaving war as the only viable solution to this problem. The only question then, is will Israel finish the job this time?

As we have seen from past conflicts, Hamas will eventually be beaten down until they are forced to halt their attacks. If Israel agrees to pull back at that point, Gaza will still be in the hands of Hamas, and Hamas will be resupplied with weapons. No doubt, they will continue to tunnel into Israel and at some point in the not too distant future, will once again resume their attacks. If that happens, everything Israel has accomplished with this war will have been wasted. The only way a lasting peace can be established is to eradicate Hamas entirely.

Here is the harsh reality – Hamas is a cancer that must be wiped out entirely or it will come back again and again. The only way to stop them is to destroy their weapons, their tunnels, and to hunt them down and kill them to the last man. This includes their soldiers, and their leadership; not a single member of the organization can be spared. It is also a harsh reality that the presence of Hamas in Gaza puts the civilian population of Gaza in harm’s way, but this is a situation of their own making. By harboring terrorists in their midst, and by electing them to run their government, the Palestinian residents of Gaza have put themselves in this position and will suffer because of it.