The reason why the Israeli's attack infrastructure is simple, basic military strategy that's been in practice for thousands of years.
For example: Sherman's drive through the south to Atlanta. Sherman's men destroyed everything in their path; homes, twisted railroad ties (bowties), burned cotton crops, freed any slave they ran into, killed as many people as they could.
Why? Because once you finally demoralize the people, the common ordinary people, the ones who ultimately put those leaders in power, you will create massive discontent against the the government THEY put in place.
So, by attacking the palestinian infrastructure, the IDF is essentially waging war against the Hamas government.
My opinion? If that 19 yr old kid isnt returned alive, every single Hamas leader, doesnt matter where they are, are going to die. and every single Hamas leader KNOWS THAT. Hamas knows and believes that threat. Plus they absolutely know that it's not an empty threat. Israel has targeted terrorist leaders before; they WILL do it again.
I guarantee that Hamas leadership are on their knees praying to Allah that whoever kidnapped that kid returns him alive.
Israel has held back at this point for only one reason: The White House told them not to do it.
Bush doesnt want an escalation in the middle east because greater unrest will result in higher gasoline prices here at home. With the mid-term elections coming up soon, higher gas prices would virtually gaurantee the loss of the Republican-controlled congress and senate.
Remember, without US support, there IS no Israel. Period. There is not one country on the face of the earth that likes or wants Israel to exist.
I'll end this diatribe with a joke i heard recently, courtesy of Jay Leno.
Q: Why was Moses dumb?
A: Because after wandering the desert for 40 years, Moses chose to settle on the only piece of land in all of the middle east that DOESNT have any oil.
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