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Sunday, August 28, 2011

Of missed missiles and @asshat readers

No sooner had I pulled into my office parking lot this morning and taken off my helmet when my cell phone rang. It was Zahava calling to check on me... she'd just heard on the news that a Grad Ketyusha had fallen on Beer Sheva.

I hadn't heard anything, but reassured her that I was okay.

When I went into the office I found several colleagues chatting about the missile that had just landed. The news said the Iron Dome system had intercepted it but my workmates clearly heard it land somewhere not far off.

The news also said that the 'color red' sirens had been heard throughout Beer Sheva, but a quick poll of my colleagues showed that to be inaccurate as well.

Oh well.

Surprisingly, what really got my blood boiling was not the fact that some terrorists in Gaza tried to kill me (or anyone near me) this morning. It was the email waiting for me when I turned on my computer.

This reader took exception to the fact that I sometimes refer to the Grads and Kassams as 'missiles' instead of 'rockets' in my posts.

The 'rockets' the Palestinians were shooting at Israel, she pointed out, were "primitive projectiles with no guidance systems and very little explosives". She also took pains to point out how Israel had far superior weapons, and that the Palestinians were therefore justified in using whatever was at hand to fight the occupation.

Clearly this woman is a fan of Larry Derfner.

I responded by pointing out that the definition of 'missile is as follows:  'An object or weapon that is fired, thrown, dropped or otherwise projected at a target.'

I also offered to provide free day care for her children in any community of her choosing in Israel's south.  I even offered to personally watch them in a clean, well tended playground in the center of the city of her choosing.

The only caveat to my offer:  When the sirens go off indicating incoming 'rockets', I'd have to leave her children in the playground while I took cover in a nearby shelter.  Seeing as these 'rockets' are so 'primitive', have no guidance systems and 'have very little explosives', I assumed she'd be okay with that arrangement.

Strangely, I haven't heard back from her yet.

Posted by David Bogner on August 28, 2011 | Permalink

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Just super.

Posted by: Leora H | Aug 28, 2011 10:02:34 AM

Why not issue an open invitation to anyone who thinks that the Palestinian projectiles are relatively harmless to live in the south for a few months.

In 2008 I was close to the Erez crossing driving south and a rocket flew over our van - way too close for comfort. I would prefer NOT to be in that position again.

Posted by: Kiwi Noa | Aug 28, 2011 10:14:58 AM

So we may know something of the woman's cossetted circumstances, can you tell us where she was writing from? Also, is she aware that what struck that school bus with deadly effect recently was a Russian-made Kornet anti-tank missile?

And if she is aware of that, does she care? Maybe she would be happy to see Hamas and Hizbollah further upgrade their arsenals, so as to even the odds between the "good" guys and the "bad" ones, whoever she thinks those are.

Posted by: dcdoc | Aug 28, 2011 4:29:03 PM

That's exactly my thought whenever I hear self-acclaimed friends of Palestine fussing about how Palestinians have to tinker their weapons from trash.

Really, there's no point in debating this topic with these people. Their sense for reality is totally off. The only thing that would maybe get them back to planet earth was a day en plein air in the south.

Posted by: a. | Aug 28, 2011 10:48:10 PM

Toda rabah for continuing to post and for trying to educate people who would otherwise only get the distorted media view of Israel. I personally look forward to reading your blog. I also congratulate you on maintaining that wonderful sense of Israeli hospitality despite your stressful morning!

Posted by: Rachel | Aug 29, 2011 12:43:37 AM

From someone who launched missiles as a member of the US Army many years ago;this woman needs to learn first hand what rockets can do. One of Israel`s biggest mistakes is allowing the Arabs to think they can fire unlimited no. of rockets at Israeli civilian targets without expecting to receive many times that no. in return.

Posted by: ED | Aug 29, 2011 3:23:23 AM

perhaps she acquire one, give me permission to aim it where she is staying. It really should not be a big deal. Kind of watching firecrackers go off on the fourth of July. Maybe she can have her loved ones stand by and watch as well.

As my dad a'h used to say "mit yenem's hent is gring haiseh koylen tzu sharen"

Posted by: chaim j. | Aug 30, 2011 7:32:21 AM

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