Hamas, Obama - and an opportunity to make a point

Even the most strident supporter of President Obama has to admit that we continue to send a steady signal of weakness over the last few years, especially the last two years.

In a world when many cultures, especially those who wish us harm, are emboldened by weakness and only understand strength - there are times one has to act.

If you truly desire to protect the citizens of your nation, you have to make sure everyone knows that there is a price for harming them. 

Accidents happen and in any nation there can be criminal elements, but this isn't the case here. When there is a knowing and intentional act of violence or murder against American citizens - there needs to be action.

...three teens kidnapped June 12 in the West Bank — including one with U.S. citizenship — were found dead Monday, just north of Hebron.

"They were kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by animals," Haaretz quoted Netanyahu saying at a hastily arranged security cabinet meeting. "In the name of the whole of Israel, I ask to tell the dear families - to the mothers, the fathers, the grandmothers and the grandfathers, the brothers and sisters - our hearts are bleeding, the whole nation is crying with them."

The leader's angry words came hours after the search for Eyal Yifrach, 19; Gilad Shaar, 16; and Naftali Frenkel, also 16, who were snatched while hitchhiking, ended in the West Bank, where Hamas operates. Sources said the bodies were found in a shallow grave in an open field in the West Bank village of Halhul, just north of Hebron.

"Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay," Netanyahu vowed.

Naftali Frenkel, 16 holds USA citizenship. Full stop. That is all we need to know. The rest is rather simple.

Hamas. They had a chance to return him. They had a chance to settle this in a civilized manner. They decided not to.

Hamas was listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997.

This is not a legal operation. There is no need for a snatch and grab (let the Israelis do that if they want). No, this is the time to make a point.

No need to put more American lives in danger. There are plenty of Hamas targets in easy range of the guns of the 6th Fleet and stand off weapons from a variety of aircraft and ship/submarine based TLAM. We can start with Gaza and when we run out of easy targets, ask Israel if they have a sector of the West Bank for us to work for them.

No reason to negotiate. No reason to ponder. A terrorist group kindnapped a known minor with USA citizenship and murdered him - and probably slowly and in not a clean manner.

Is there any more that needs to be discussed?

20:42: US President Barack Obama also offers his condolences, saying: "The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms this senseless act of terror against innocent youth." Reuters reports that Mr Obama has offered US help to Israel and the Palestinians to find those responsible for the deaths of the abducted students. "I also urge all parties to refrain from steps that could further destabilise the situation," he adds.

President Obama added that as a father himself, he could not imagine the "indescribable pain that the parents of these teenage boys are experiencing" Reuters reports.

Nice words, but that will not do. We cannot outsource what needs to be done to Israel either. The conditions need to be met that when a terrorist organization finds that they have a US citizen in their custody - they do not react with joy, but with horror.

An American citizen should have the same feeling a Russian citizen has; "Do you have any idea what will happen to you if I am not released?"

21:25: Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri tells Palestinian Al-Aqsa TV that Israel is using the deaths of the teenagers to "escalate the situation against our people and our resistance, and Hamas in particular", BBC Monitoring reports.
21:26: Sami Abu-Zuhri adds that "the threats do not frighten Hamas, its leaders, or the other leaders of our Palestinian people. For our part, we are not interested in any confrontation. However, if this confrontation is imposed on us, the occupation should know that this time will not be like the previous ones. It should be willing pay a price that will be higher than any price paid in the past."

Hamas and its leaders need to know that they are living on borrowed time. Every person, building, car, toilet, or goat that belongs to that organization will be destroyed. Perhaps not now, or over a few weeks if they hide well enough. No, at every chance we will kill them. If you are a civilian and live near Hamas members or their buildings - then if you are injured, that is your and Hamas' fault. Remind everyone our history. We will be your best friend, or your worst enemy.

One moment and time we are supine pacifists and selfish little mercantilists. The next moment we are crossing a river on Christmas Eve to kill you before breakfast Christmas day, or dropping nuclear weapons on your cities.

No speeches. No marches. No protests. Just have the J2 work their magic, and in conjunction with Israel - let the bodies hit the floor. We cannot save Naftali - but maybe we can help prevent some other in the future. 

Sometimes in a brutal world run by the use of force - even the most civilized people must on occasion act uncivilized to preserve the liberty of their fellow citizens.

Sadly though, we don't live in that republic.

”From the outset, I have offered our full support to Israel and the Palestinian Authority to find the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice, and I encourage Israel and the Palestinian Authority to continue working together in that effort. I also urge all parties to refrain from steps that could further destabilize the situation. As the Israeli people deal with this tragedy, they have the full support and friendship of the United States.”

You'd never know that there is an American family right now with a murdered 16-yr old son.