U.S calls Israeli air strike 'heavy handed'

[Barnacle Battlefront]

U.S. calls air strike `heavy-handed'

By News Agencies

Rest of world even more critical of Israel's `extra-judicial' killing, death of civilians

World leaders roundly condemned Israel's missile strike yesterday, calling the attack unjustified, criminal and counterproductive.

The attack even prompted rare criticism of Israel by the White House. "This heavy-handed action does not contribute to peace," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said, pointing to "the loss of innocent life. This message will be conveyed to Israeli authorities."

While other countries stressed there was no sympathy for Palestinian terrorists, officials criticized the "extra-judicial" killing of Salah Shehadeh, the head of the Hamas military wing, but saved their harshest words over the accompanying deaths of civilians, including nine children.

The European Union's foreign policy representative, Javier Solana, said there was understanding for Israel's right "to ensure security and to stop acts of terrorism against its citizens.

"But, this kind of operation is not conducive toward peace and reconciliation."

Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was more blunt, calling the missile strike "a crime against international law and morally unworthy of a democracy like Israel."

In a statement on behalf of all 15 EU governments, Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller noted that "the EU and the international community at large have consistently rejected the Israeli method of extra-judicial killings.

"Neither this nor any other actions causing indiscriminate civilian casualties will bring security to the Israeli public."

France also strongly condemned the strike. "We decisively condemn the Israeli military action in Gaza, which has cost the lives of numerous people, especially children," a spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he understood Israel's "need to take action against suspected suicide bombers and their accomplices."

He called the civilian deaths "unacceptable and counterproductive," and extended his sympathies to the families of the victims.

His Norwegian counterpart, Jan Petersen, said the "violent actions" of Palestinian terrorists "are one of the most serious hindrances to peace and must be stopped.

"But we also cannot accept Israeli actions that go beyond accepted international law and contribute to worsening the conflict," he said.

UN officials also raised questions about the legality of the Israeli attack.

"Israel has the legal and moral responsibility to take all measures to avoid the loss of innocent life," said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "It clearly failed to do so in using a missile against an apartment building."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the strike had come "precisely at a time when the official representatives of Israel and the Palestinian Authority had renewed their dialogue on security issues".

Moscow called on both sides to show restraint and avoid the use of force, which the statement said only handed the initiative to extremists and increased mutual suspicions.

China said it was shocked by the Israeli strike. Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan called on Israel and the Palestinians to stop all forms of violence immediately, and avoid a further deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Arab reaction was even stronger, including from relatively moderate countries.

The Saudi foreign minister called the strike a "horrible act" with "no ethical, moral or even military justification.

"We call for severe punishment for these crimes committed against Palestinian people," said Prince Saud al-Faisal after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo.

The two also demanded swift U.S. action to stop such actions from happening again.

In Jordan, Information Minister Mohammed Affash Adwan said the timing of "the savage Israeli assault... raises doubts" about Israeli intentions, especially with new efforts under way to curb violence in the region.

Europeans raised similar concerns.

"There were indications as well that a possible end to suicide bombings could be reached," Solana said.

The EU said it "strongly urges" militant Palestinian groups to refrain from retaliating.

so the U.S can go into Iraq and look for non existant weapons of mass destruction, but Israel isn't allowed to defend itself from the threat of Hamas?

[Blood Angel]

Its pot calling the kettle black. The other day i saw a video, of a iraqi reporter reporting on a destroyed M2 Bradley IFV. A group of innocent iraqi civilians were milling about around the tank, whilst the iraqi reporter was talking into the camera. A sound of a helicopter apporoaching is heard, the civilians look up, and *try* to run as a missile slams into the burned out light tank, you don't see the explosion, as the camera is flung out the hands of the cameraman from the blast. The loss of innocent life can never be justified, and this happens on a daily basis, when it comes down to innocent life, acceptable losses should never enter into a decision on retalitory strikes, ten civilians killed for one terrorist is just ridiculous.

The reporter, died instantly at the scene.

[Talon]

Its pot calling the kettle black. The other day i saw a video, of a iraqi reporter reporting on a destroyed M2 Bradley IFV. A group of innocent iraqi civilians were milling about around the tank, whilst the iraqi reporter was talking into the camera. A sound of a helicopter apporoaching is heard, the civilians look up, and *try* to run as a missile slams into the burned out light tank, you don't see the explosion, as the camera is flung out the hands of the cameraman from the blast. The loss of innocent life can never be justified, and this happens on a daily basis, when it comes down to innocent life, acceptable losses should never enter into a decision on retalitory strikes, ten civilians killed for one terrorist is just ridiculous.

The reporter, died instantly at the scene.

Yeah, I heard about that (didn't see it ). Aparently the civilians were jumping up and down on the wreckage and the US claims it though they were the attackers... but they were unarmed and the US should be taking more care. All its done is make a terrorist out of every single one of those people's families, as has Isreal's actions.

Anyone played this game yet? http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum...showtopic=22394

I think it should be emailed to the US and Isreali governments as quick as can be

Edited September 17, 2004 by Talon S.

[bathory]

weren't they looting the tank?

[Fluffybunny]

weren't they looting the tank?

270223[/snapback]

Not anymore, they were too busy being blown up.

[Stellar]

Its pot calling the kettle black. The other day i saw a video, of a iraqi reporter reporting on a destroyed M2 Bradley IFV. A group of innocent iraqi civilians were milling about around the tank, whilst the iraqi reporter was talking into the camera. A sound of a helicopter apporoaching is heard, the civilians look up, and *try* to run as a missile slams into the burned out light tank, you don't see the explosion, as the camera is flung out the hands of the cameraman from the blast. The loss of innocent life can never be justified, and this happens on a daily basis, when it comes down to innocent life, acceptable losses should never enter into a decision on retalitory strikes, ten civilians killed for one terrorist is just ridiculous.

The reporter, died instantly at the scene.

270169[/snapback]

I just read an article on another forum that says that the group wasnt innocent nor were they civilians... they were insurgents trying to strip the vehicle for parts.

[gaz]

yeah well the point is they were jumping all over a damaged american tank.....its their own fault that they got blew up then

[Stellar]

Why would they be jumping all over the wreckage anyway?

[Celumnaz]

"There were indications as well that a possible end to suicide bombings could be reached," Solana said.

270160[/snapback]

Indications? Possible end? Could be reached? This isn't horseshoes, people are dying.

My opinion is we shouldn't have been telling Isreal to hold back ever. Let them protect themselves. Don't believe the liars in the UN, Arafat, none of em. They simply want all Jews dead, that's all they want, is that so much to ask? Genocide? Will they be happy when all Jews are dead and leave America in peace? HA!

You won't see me jumping up and down on a damaged American tank. Geez, what kind of schools have these kids been going to for the past 10 years that they think it's a smart move?

[wunarmdscissor]

if you were 13 and a tank was sitting outside your house wouldnt you go and have a look?

[Blood Angel]

I just read an article on another forum that says that the group wasnt innocent nor were they civilians... they were insurgents trying to strip the vehicle for parts.

270416[/snapback]

Then the person who wrote the article never watched the video. Not ONE of them was carrying a weapon, neither were they climbing all over a burning vehicle, neither were they stripping parts from a burning vehicle.

yeah well the point is they were jumping all over a damaged american tank.....its their own fault that they got blew up then

Inaccurate you didn't see the video either i assume.

[Stellar]

Where can I see the video?

[Mekorig]

i see parts of the video in the local news program....no one was carring guns. They cut the "sensible" parts like the one where the reporter claims help and die.

[AztecInca]

If there was a tank outside my place I`d be all over it in seconds, my plans could come to fruitation!!!! MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......er um never mind!

It sad so many civilainas die all the time!

[Seraphina]

I heard about that tank thing too...and yes, it's another sad example of the extremely unthinking and poorly thought out way this war's been carried out. I guess we can chalk it up with such incidents as...

"Is that a tank column over there?"

"Is it American?"

"No...let's shoot it!"

BOOM!

"Hey, does Saddam even have tanks?"

"Uh...no...I think the British do though."

"Oh....well...are they American?"

"No."

"That's okay then."

[bathory]

oh comeon, sh** like that happens in every war sera

i would imagine the rate of friendly fire has been a hell of allot higher in past wars, i shudder to think of the number of soldiers wasted by their own side during ww2:(

[Velikovsky]

it's a good thing the US is calling Israel on this one. If we didn't keep them in check next thing you know they'd be invading foreign countries on false pretenses

[Homer]

it's a good thing the US is calling Israel on this one. If we didn't keep them in check next thing you know they'd be invading foreign countries on false pretenses

273409[/snapback]

Personally, I think the Israelis have been far too lenient, and so has the U.S. in dealing with the insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Seraphina]

i would imagine the rate of friendly fire has been a hell of allot higher in past wars

True...your troops had a reputation for being gunho, and shooting first and asking questions later, long before Iraq

[bathory]

True...your troops had a reputation for being gunho, and shooting first and asking questions later, long before Iraq

nah, the aussie's have a much nicer reputation:)

that said reputation doesn't neccessarily mean fact:)