Thanks Pieter, these are two phenomenal wins against the evils of Islamic terror. And a serious humiliation for Tehran. Haniyeh needed to realize his dream of 72 child virgins after his gloating photos on 10/7 from the Four Seasons Hotel in Qatar. Evil incarnate.
Fuad Shukr had a US$5,000,000 bounty from the USA for the 1983 Marine barracks explosion in Beirut. That was only his start. Blood of thousands on his hands.
A remarkable day for Mossad's Humint and the IDF's ability for precision strikes. And a day for Israel to emphasize the value of being a strong ally to the USA. Reciprocation in support and not equivocation is in order. There is a serious trust issue now between Israel and the Democratic administration.
But as you said the story is developing and we await the response from the Islamic Death cult terrorist machine. It has been unrelenting. The USA as leader of the free world needs to re-think their strategy of appeasement to Iran. Before this 7 front conflict Iran has ringed around Israel explodes into something much bigger.
Was the assassination of Haniyeh an act of opportunity or is there more strategic significance to the timing? If it was strategic, what is the rationale do you think?
Haniyeh was a marked man, especially after October 7th. Israel has killed Hamas top leaders before (Yassin and al-Rantisi) but the long term impact was minimal, they were just replaced. The strategic piece comes in with the Iran angle and by doing it in Iran's capital on the day of the presidential inauguration the goal was to deliver a real warning with long term consequences: we can hit anyone in your capital and thus also anyone in the Iranian leadership. That will have an impact on decisionmaking in Iran and, hopefully, boost Iranian dissidents and resistance.
And unlike the Yassin and Rantisi assassinations, Haniyeh’s killing is done in conjunction with the wholesale dismantling of Hamas’ fighting capabilities and its infrastructure. That is the essential and critical difference between then (where Hamas survived by swapping in new heads) and now (when there is no cohesive, on the ground formations). And perhaps not unsurprisingly, this difference seems beyond the comprehension of U.S. policymakers who want a ceasefire but will “allow” Israel to go after the heads of Hamas … expecting a different result.
In the Middle East, only strength is respected. There should be no hesitation in supporting a campaign that ends with Hamas’ surrender or destruction. Only such a result has a chance of discrediting Hamas’ genocidal ideology.
Correct and agreed. The overall capabilities of Hamas have been degraded significantly. It is likely veteran Khaled Mashal (or Meshaal) who will now make a comeback as Hamas leader.
Continue to decimate Hamas until all hostages freed (so sickening the brutality forced on the innocent) in return for Sinwar's permanent exile or elimination. Sets next stage for Sunni moderates and Mohammed Dahlan. Is this a pipe dream?
I read that headline, and I guess there's truth to their intelligence being very good on many occasions and generally speaking.
But, they seem to have really 💩 the bed concerning 10/7.
Their lack of advance knowledge, inability to secure their border, lack of overwhelming military support nearby once the border had been breached by such a large invading force, and their very slow response were serious failures of intelligence and military/security preparedness, deployment and coordination.
Yes the disaster that was 10/7 remains one of the larger question marks. It was not technical ability, manpower, military acumen, but the failure was a result of complacency, poor communication, arrogance etc, all human factors.
FAFO.
Thanks Pieter, these are two phenomenal wins against the evils of Islamic terror. And a serious humiliation for Tehran. Haniyeh needed to realize his dream of 72 child virgins after his gloating photos on 10/7 from the Four Seasons Hotel in Qatar. Evil incarnate.
Fuad Shukr had a US$5,000,000 bounty from the USA for the 1983 Marine barracks explosion in Beirut. That was only his start. Blood of thousands on his hands.
A remarkable day for Mossad's Humint and the IDF's ability for precision strikes. And a day for Israel to emphasize the value of being a strong ally to the USA. Reciprocation in support and not equivocation is in order. There is a serious trust issue now between Israel and the Democratic administration.
But as you said the story is developing and we await the response from the Islamic Death cult terrorist machine. It has been unrelenting. The USA as leader of the free world needs to re-think their strategy of appeasement to Iran. Before this 7 front conflict Iran has ringed around Israel explodes into something much bigger.
Was the assassination of Haniyeh an act of opportunity or is there more strategic significance to the timing? If it was strategic, what is the rationale do you think?
Haniyeh was a marked man, especially after October 7th. Israel has killed Hamas top leaders before (Yassin and al-Rantisi) but the long term impact was minimal, they were just replaced. The strategic piece comes in with the Iran angle and by doing it in Iran's capital on the day of the presidential inauguration the goal was to deliver a real warning with long term consequences: we can hit anyone in your capital and thus also anyone in the Iranian leadership. That will have an impact on decisionmaking in Iran and, hopefully, boost Iranian dissidents and resistance.
I hope so.
And unlike the Yassin and Rantisi assassinations, Haniyeh’s killing is done in conjunction with the wholesale dismantling of Hamas’ fighting capabilities and its infrastructure. That is the essential and critical difference between then (where Hamas survived by swapping in new heads) and now (when there is no cohesive, on the ground formations). And perhaps not unsurprisingly, this difference seems beyond the comprehension of U.S. policymakers who want a ceasefire but will “allow” Israel to go after the heads of Hamas … expecting a different result.
In the Middle East, only strength is respected. There should be no hesitation in supporting a campaign that ends with Hamas’ surrender or destruction. Only such a result has a chance of discrediting Hamas’ genocidal ideology.
Correct and agreed. The overall capabilities of Hamas have been degraded significantly. It is likely veteran Khaled Mashal (or Meshaal) who will now make a comeback as Hamas leader.
Continue to decimate Hamas until all hostages freed (so sickening the brutality forced on the innocent) in return for Sinwar's permanent exile or elimination. Sets next stage for Sunni moderates and Mohammed Dahlan. Is this a pipe dream?
I support Israel
I read that headline, and I guess there's truth to their intelligence being very good on many occasions and generally speaking.
But, they seem to have really 💩 the bed concerning 10/7.
Their lack of advance knowledge, inability to secure their border, lack of overwhelming military support nearby once the border had been breached by such a large invading force, and their very slow response were serious failures of intelligence and military/security preparedness, deployment and coordination.
Yes the disaster that was 10/7 remains one of the larger question marks. It was not technical ability, manpower, military acumen, but the failure was a result of complacency, poor communication, arrogance etc, all human factors.
It definitely was a failure on many levels, including intelligence
Or as the late, great Ken “Hawk” Harrelson would have said, “He gone!”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cCkxrhcOvuc