[dsdrane]

...but I am 100% anti-Hamas.

Israel is no doubt inflicting tremendous pain on the people of Gaza right now. It's incredibly frustrating and gut-wrenching to watch.

I imagine it's no picnic for those doing the inflicting, either.

But the fault -- at least in the short term -- lies squarely with Hamas.

Hamas doesn't acknowledge Israel's right to exist...in fact, they go a step further by being dedicated to Israel's destruction. These are the people with whom Israel is supposed to "negotiate".

The fact that Gaza was then blockaded should surprise no one. Was Israel supposed to sit idly by while Hamas imported any numbers of weapons?

I find it curious that Hamas, despite the blockade, was still able to obtain these rockets that they keep flinging over the border, but somehow couldn't figure out how to smuggle in baby formula or medicine. And I particularly like how they use schools, mosques, and hospitals as shields for their weapons and fighters.

Egypt, Jordan, and even the Fatah government in the West Bank have figured out that Israel isn't going away. Hamas -- and the people of Gaza who democratically elected them -- need to grow up and do likewise.

Hamas has the power to stop this crisis right now.

Perhaps they should bone up on their Gandhi....