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Sunday, August 28, 2005
Well that didn't take long!
[a rare post from the office]
A few minutes ago (8:30AM Israel time) what appears to have been a suicide(homicide) bomber blew him/herself up at the entrance to the Central Bus Station here in Beer Sheva. Initial reports are saying that 10 people are wounded... several seriously.
[update: They are now saying 20 wounded have been brought to Soroka Hospital]
I normally drop my regular trempistim (hitchhikers) off at the entrance to the Central Bus Station between 8:15 and 8:25AM, but today my wife needed the car so we all went with someone else. This other driver doesn't spoil the soldiers quite as much as I do and generally drops them off nearer to the University (where he works), and they then take a bus from there to the Central Bus Station.
When I called my next door neighbor's daughter (one of the soldiers who was with us this morning) to check if she was OK, the first words out of her mouth when she answered the phone (with sirens blasting in the background), were "It was lucky you didn't drive today!"
She had arrived at the bus station about 5 - 10 minutes after the blast.
This is a very small consolation because for every close call story this morning there are still those innocent victims who happened to be in the wrong place when the bomber pressed the button.
This attack is the much-anticipated opening salvo in the next phase of the 'war of phases'.
Allow me to save you a little time today and tell you what will be happening:
The US will condemn the attack in a perfunctory statement issued by the State Department. This will be followed mere sentences later in the prepared text by a call for Israel to show restraint and consider the long term goals of peace and stability in the region before responding. After a day or two without another attack, Israel will be called upon to provide some sort of 'confidence building gesture' to reward the PA's 'reigning in the extremists'.
Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary.
May we finally call this a war and conduct ourselves accordingly? Please???
Posted by David Bogner on August 28, 2005 | Permalink
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Comments
I believe the schedule calls for the US statement to be proceeded by a proforma statement from the PA decrying the cycle of violence: Oh look, here it is ...
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/617683.html
Posted by: Andy Levy-Stevenson | Aug 28, 2005 10:01:01 AM
Andy... Sorry about that, silly of me not to check the agenda... ah yes, I see it now: 'B+15 minutes' Saeb Erikat makes statement saying:
"We condemn this attack and call upon all to make a maximum efforts in order to maintain the truce and quiet," he said. "Violence will bring more violence, and what Israelis and Palestinians need today is more peace and not violence."
Thanks.
Posted by: David | Aug 28, 2005 10:43:19 AM
a first for me. you always seem to have just missed these things. im glad that you were ok today.
Posted by: Lisa | Aug 28, 2005 10:49:53 AM
Just heard about this on the news - glad you are okay. Though I hear you about every close call story being bad news for someone else.
Posted by: Kay | Aug 28, 2005 1:35:46 PM
David,
My heart sank when I just read what happened this morning and am glad to hear that you are fine. Thank you for early post letting us know you are ok. I will pray for those not as fortunate. Love to the family.
Gail
Posted by: Gail | Aug 28, 2005 2:34:45 PM
Thank you for posting. You were the first thing I thought about when I heard.
Posted by: Imshin | Aug 28, 2005 4:12:06 PM
My goodness, this is just horrible news. I am with you. Enough already. It's time to call a spade a spade.
Posted by: Stacey | Aug 28, 2005 4:37:42 PM
I have been taking a brief pre-Israel hiatus from the news. I've cheated a few times, but I'm not as aware of the goings on in Israel as I like to be. Thank you for keeping me posted.
Posted by: tmeishar | Aug 28, 2005 4:41:19 PM
I'm going to go out on a limb and disagree with you about your US Dept of State prediction, though I agree with everything else. Since 9/11 my impression is that Bush (and now Condi) has State fairly well muzzled. I haven't heard any calls for restraint or talk about "the cycle of violence" from them for a while.
Bet? Loser buys the winner a beer whenever we meet.
I've been thinking for about 4 years that what's needed isn't a peace process so much as a war process.
Posted by: Doctor Bean | Aug 28, 2005 5:03:50 PM
Gee, and the world still wonders why we don't trust the Palestinians. Funny, I could die laughing.
Posted by: Mirty | Aug 28, 2005 5:04:50 PM
Lisa... In a country this small everyone who listens to the news considers themselves as having had a close call. Today it was a young woman who rides with me every week who had the close call. She is an IDF spokesperson who is due to get out of the army in three days!
Kay... Thanks for stopping by to check up on me.
Gail...It was the middle of the night there when the bomb went off, and by the time you all would be awake I knew I would be in endless meetings. I figured the first thing most of you would do upon hearing the news would be to check treppenwitz. Glad I figured right.
Imshin... Thank you for thinking of me. Beer Sheva is a big place, but Israel is a tiny country. I hate that we keep having to go down our mental check-list of who we know around the country whenever the news comes on.
Stacey... As I've mentioned a few times here, none of the current conventions and little of International law are prepared for the kind of war that has to be fought. all of the current doctrine deals with an army that wears uniforms and insignias and accepts commands from a central authority. The war in which we find ourselves requires us to pursue an enemy whose soldiers look exactly like the non-combatents in the region... wears no uniform or insignia... respects no boundaries or quarter (hospitals, ambulances, civilian population centers, etc.)... and yet demands the full protection of the Geneva Convention and international law. At a certian point Israel will have to resign itself to waging this new kind of war and hoping that international law catches up before our leaders find themselves standing in the dock at the Hague. I don't see any other choice.
Tmeishar... Oy! I'm sorry this is how you had to get the news.
Doctor Bean... Even before the dust had settled on the evacuation of Gush Katif Condi was making public statements to Israel about "It can't stop with Gaza... there needs to be more, and more, and more and more..." (I may have paraphrased a bit). Let's see what they say on the news tonight. FYI, I enjoy Boddington's creamy bitter or ale. :-)
Mirty... Literally.
Posted by: David | Aug 28, 2005 5:18:46 PM
Not much to add other than to say I am glad to hear that you are safe.
Posted by: Jack | Aug 28, 2005 7:09:56 PM
Thank God you're safe.
Prayers for those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Posted by: Rahel | Aug 28, 2005 11:10:02 PM
Jack... That makes two of us. Thanks. :-)
Rahel... Ironically, the two most seriously wounded were exactly where they were supposed to be... and doing precisely what they were supposed to be doing. I wrote a post about these brave people we take largely for granted... I'm not sure if I will post it or not. We'll see.
Posted by: David | Aug 28, 2005 11:31:09 PM
My Aunt and cousins live in Beersheva. I haven't heard from them so I'm assuming that's a good thing.
Unfortunately, this is not exactly unexpected. Anyway, the "condemnations" coming out of the PA are still of the "this doesn't help us right now" variety and not "this is evil."
Posted by: psychotoddler | Aug 28, 2005 11:33:48 PM
Psychotoddler... I'm always amazed that the PA leaders can vary the text of the cookie-cutter condemnation just enough each time to make it sound fresh each and every time.
Posted by: David | Aug 28, 2005 11:38:32 PM
I'm glad you're all right... But this reminds of me of an old saying... When you talk of peace, prepare for war. : (
Posted by: Irina | Aug 29, 2005 12:51:57 AM
David,
Americans are fighting in Iraq; and dopes are exploding among the population, aiming to kill not just our soldiers, but civilians as well. While President Bush is fighting to bring democracy to some arabs. God willing, he is doing the right thing. And, getting out of gaza was also the right thing to do.
Do you stop accidents by forbidding cars? Will the arabs in gaza benefit by Israel's withdrawal? You know, the answer is that they "should" benefit, since they now can have their state. And, Egypt is going to be tasked with keeping those radicalized arabs from running amok.
Winston Churchill once said that huns cause wars. He was right, then, when he said it. But Germany didn't benefit from Hitler. To the contrary. All of the anti-Semites lost much; and teeter on past powers.
I'm glad Israel isn't girdling for war now. And, I'm glad the bus driver knew enough NOT to allow the bomber onto the bus. In England, the police would have shot and killed the perp before he exploded. But in doing so, it seems they just killed an innocent Brazilian illegal. Hard to sort out the facts, huh? Good to finish building the fence up around Hebron.
It puzzles me more that Israelis don't see the gift that Arik Sharon has just brought to the table. And, don't cry me a river about gaza. Poor decisions, with messy-messianic overtones, making it seem that ALL religions, when carried to extremes, provoke disasters.
For a short checklist, notice the Hebrew language is alive and well. (Latin is dead, by comparison.) And, secular Jews are a vibrant and sustaining current. This will probably be true long after people divest themselves of centuries-old beliefs. And, grow themselves into the middle classes. There really is hope, ahead.
What do you want from Americans that you don't get in Israel, itself? A big debate. And, world leaders (Arik and Bush), who are willing to hold the course. BE BRAVE. WE are not the appeasers Winston Churchill had to contend with for more than a decade; while during the 1930's Hitler's war machine and menace grew so large.
Posted by: Carol Herman | Aug 29, 2005 4:04:15 AM
Oh, and I wanted to add: BOLTON IS AT THE UN!
Keep the faith. The best poker player wins by NOT showing his ace, but letting the fools mount their bets at the table.
Why is the Likud doing so much harm to Arik, now? I was so sure Bibi was finished. What a nasty man. Well? You do have political choices ahead, huh?
Posted by: Carol Herman | Aug 29, 2005 4:08:43 AM
Irena... It reminds me of another old saying: "Walk softly but carry a big stick". President Theodore Roosevelt spoke these words somewhere around 1904 or 1905 (I think)... with the Monroe Doctrine in mind. He understood that in the face of other nation's unwillingness /inability to police themselves and head off regional unrest, it would be up to those who were able /willing to accomplish the task to do so. Another Roosevelt came along in 1934 and renounced the policy of interventionism, preferring to pursue a 'good neighbor policy'. Somewhere between the policies of these two Roosevelts lies the correct solution. Don't get me wrong, if at all possible, no country should interfere in the internal goings on of another country. But by the same token, it becomes intolerable when a country... or a group of countries... allows/encourages chaos to reign in their midst and then exports that chaos to the rest of the world. There comes a point where a nation has the right to go set someone else's house in order, and that point is when people start blowing up innocent civilians on the street. This will be an ongoing theme for the foreseeable future... Israel needs a new doctrine... and not just towards the Palestinians. There is a nuclear showdown looming and Israel doesn't have the luxury of taking a 'wait and see' approach to Iran.
Carol... Some of your points are flawed, and you seem to want me to take the other side of the Gaza argument (something that if you've read anything here you will realize I am not going to do). The withdrawal from Gaza does not now suddenly make a Palestinian State possible. That has been possible for many years. The only thing standing in the way of a Palestinian State is their desire to join the family of nations and stop being simply an armed insurgency. So far they have shown no signs of wanting to take this necessary step. When I hear one Palestinian politcian make a statement about what kind of economy they want... how their health care system will operate... how they plan to build and maintain a physical infrastructure... THEN I will know they are starting to get serious about having a state. Up to this point all of their energy has been expended on trying to uproot Israel (not just in the territories, but ALL of Israel). Also, you are wrong; Israel IS girding for war. I'm sorry to hear that you would be happier if it were not. This tells me that you would prefer Israel to remain a victim to the ongoing regional mugging rather than create a way to effectively defend herself. You are correct in saying that Sharon my have given Israel a gift... but I don't think you realize what that gift might be. The gift was slightly more defensible battle lines. The gift was removing Israeli civilians from an area that will soon become an aerial bombing range (you think it was an accident that he chose an IAF Pilot as his IDF Chief of Staff?). The small gift he gave the nation is that when the time comes to retaliate against the terror network in Gaza, we will not have to send our brothers and sons into Gaza on foot. We will now be able to apply our own version of the Monroe Doctrine from high above the battlefield. I wish you were correct in saying that if we only wait long enough the rest of the world will divest itself of centuries old beliefs. But they wont... and we no longer have the luxury of time. We alone are responsible for our survival and shame on anyone who looks elsewhere (except perhaps to Divine protection/guidance) for solutions. Oh, I think if you spoke with the families of the two security guards who bravely approached the bomber yesterday, they would tell you that they wish Israel had the same approach to such people as the UK.
Posted by: David | Aug 29, 2005 9:06:30 AM
David,
The People in Iraq are being mugged and murdered every single day. And, the hope is still on the table that they'll have democracy. And, at least their Hitler, Saddam, is gone from power. The future has hope, so why do you dispair?
Israel is not "girdling for war." While, yes, it has to combat terror. The IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad, all have roles to play. And, just as economic growth for Israel needs Europe for trade. And, acceptance among nations, why would Israel slam that door shut? Arik Sharon worked miracles for the past two years. The anti-Semitic time bomb that was ticking has been switched off. And, President Bush sent John Bolton to the UN. So at least your prime minister knows he's got an honest broker in the White House! The UN, itself, maybe facing some house cleaning. And, more than just gaza has changed for the better. Hopefully, God helps those who help themselves.
As to that insensitive remark of Condi Rice's? It was a misquote. The NY Times LIED. She never said she expected Israel to disengage further. It's just that the media is trying to spin away a victory for Israel into defeat; With a little bit of assistance from Bibi thrown in for good measure.
Anyway, Jordan is not going to go to war with Israel. Nor will Egypt do so. Syria? Doesn't it have its plate full with both Iraqis and American troops on its border? Iran? Hitler began with bluster. Why not think the same, here? I'm not so sure Iran is in better shape than the old USSR. (Or Germany, when Hitler was all bully; and could have been defeated, except for the appeasers elected to parliament. While Winston Churchill lost elections.
Russia caved from within. Germany is in much worse shape than ever, following its loss of WW2. Everything Hitler gobbled up was lost. You didn't know that? Sure, organized despots are working terrible mischief right now. And, it's not just one country; or two. But why misplay your hand because of them?
As to gaza, where's the argument? Arik Sharon pulled it off. And, it was a wise thing to do, because it took civilians out of harm's way. Planned brilliantly, it was done very quickly. Plus, in full view of the cameras. What surprises me is that Bibi thinks he can own the Likud party; and he and his cohorts can destroy an elected government. Aren't those the same idiots that claim Arik Sharon wasn't working with a democratic process? Huh? A few people thought they could force their wills on an entire country? Duly elected ministers, voting through these issues through the Knesset, a few right-wingers thought they could rig the outcomes to destroy the prime-minister? Terrorists, it seems, come in many shapes. But this is not even new to Israeli politics. Is there one arm of government not tainted by personal vendettas? Stop worrying so much about the arabs. You're getting home-grown problems of enormous proportions. Do you think there are people praying for the government's demise? Really?
Also, since Israel's had suicide bombers before, why assume that today's explode-a-dope came because of anything rational? Since when has this tactic been rational? The fence needs to be finished. And, I'd like to see Arik Sharon win this battle with Bibi,and all the other "schmata politicians.
Posted by: Carol Herman | Aug 29, 2005 9:51:56 AM
Carol... Iraq is neither my concern nor part of this discussion... and I have not begun to despair. I'm glad you feel that Israel is not girding for war. I assume that from your vantage point there in Southern California you have some proof of this since from where I sit I see a nation preparing for the war to come. I also don't think it would be wise to take a 'what me worry' approach to Syria, Iran or Saudi Arabia since they have all proven quite willing to wage war against Israel. Don't let their use of proxies fool you... the moment an opportunity presents itself (such as a nuclear warhead being fitted to a Shahab 4 or 5 missile), Israel will be attacked directly. As to your dismissal of suicide bombers as an ongoing strategy of war by referring to yesterday's bomber as an "explode-a-dope"... I think you don't have a clear idea of what asymmetrical warfare is all about. This is the war... that is the current weapon of choice. Sharon has inadvertently given them the idea that their weapon is working... so why would they ever stop? I can appreciate that you seem to have a strong preference for Sharon over Bibi... but that also has little to do with what we are discussing.
Posted by: David | Aug 29, 2005 10:36:56 AM
David ... *heavy sigh* ... you're right.
Posted by: Rahel | Aug 29, 2005 4:11:05 PM
And you brought your children to live here why? And please don't tell me it's safer there than Conn. or NY.
Posted by: Sima | Feb 23, 2009 7:31:04 PM
And you brought your children to live here why? And please don't tell me it's safer there than Conn. or NY.
Posted by: Sima | Feb 23, 2009 7:31:11 PM
And you brought your children to live here why? And please don't tell me it's safer there than Conn. or NY.
Posted by: Sima | Feb 23, 2009 7:31:17 PM
And you brought your children to live here why? And please don't tell me it's safer there than Conn. or NY.
Posted by: Sima | Feb 23, 2009 7:31:36 PM
