Let me also remind you that every front windshield is much larger than our rear view mirror! Focus.

I don’t see a valid distinction in the army = war equation. Now country w/army + country w/army = war is a valid statement but what we see in Israel is country w/army + terrorists = police action.

Hamas, despite their political success in Palestine isn’t acting as Palestine in attacking Israel. Hamas was acting as Palestine then it would be war. Since they have not isn’t it is a police action.

I am not one who subscribes to this war on terror idea, I believe terrorists are nothing more than criminals, gangsters, thugs, and petty criminals.

To ask what role Obama should play in negotiations between Hamas and Israel pre-supposes that Hamas is willing to be in negotiations with anyone. The Palestinian commentators that I’ve seen on TV seem to distance themselves from Hamas, and claim that Israel has gone too far, but do not really justify the continuing pot-shot rocket launches.

Obama, or any other human on the planet, who was acceptable to both Hamas and to Israel should make themselves available to mediate. But without Hamas at the table in a realistic way it would be a waste of time.

We don’t have enough of a national security interest to inject ourselves into this controversy without being wanted as intermediary by both sides, imho.

Well link us to the posts you’ve written which have expressed your displeasure with W’s leadership.

Perhaps your silence on that issue speaks volumes.

While many on this blog have attacked the current president you cannot find an example of me bashing Democrats.
As to my reference to “multi-tasking” I added that comment because president elect Obama said he could work on more than a single item at a time in a recent interview. In addition, part of leadership entails delgating so in effect he should assign any oversight of this Middle East conflict to the incoming Sec of State.

And Mr.or Mrs “anon” what makes you think I have been happy with George W Bush’s leadership?

You didn’t merely state that protecting the country was an obligation. You characterized it as “job one”. In other words, you appear to feel it has greater importance. I simply disagree that it’s a more important obligation or duty than the others a President faces.

In addition, the section I quoted is quite accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_office_of_the_President_of_the_United_States

The oath of office also states “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States…”. That entails many other things BESIDES protecting the country from “enemies”. I see no reason to emphasize one part of that oath over the other.

I won’t quibble over words with you other than to report that when one party continues to shell your country from another region, without any provocation, I would not be happy if our leaders turned the other cheek and took no corrective measures. I would agree that this is not a police action.
I find it strange that everyone I speak too says that the first duty of our commander-in-chief is to protect the country. Do you disagree with job one?
In the Oath of Office of elected officals, which I have administered to two city council members, it reads in part that “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic..etc”
I am cetain that the Constitution of the democratic nation of Israel has similar if not identical text.

The numbers of Hamas involved in lobbing missiles into Israel has nothing to do with anon #1′s example. They described what Israel is doing as a “police action against murderers”. This is not a “police” action. This is an action by the Israeli military. In other words, this is war.

Anon #1 also claimed that “we would do the same thing here”. We have never done the same thing here.

Additionally, who is reporting that “hundreds” of Hamas terrorists have been killed? It’s not Western journalists, because they aren’t allowed in to Gaza to verify Israeli and Palestinian numbers and reporting. Those numbers MUST be viewed suspiciously, at best.

And the question you want a reply to will be forthcoming…AFTER January 20.