Israel’s Iron Dome Isn't Working: A Weapons Expert’s Warning

Re:Israel’s Iron Dome Isn't Working: A Weapons Expert’s Warning by leephillips on Tuesday July 22, 2014 @09:22PM (#8072448)

There is some truth to what you say. But:

'Israel of course uses the "terrorist" device to full effect by labeling any small amount of military resistance that comes from Palestinian territory with that word.'

When this "military resistance" takes the form of firing rockets at the civilian population, it's terrorism by definition. As is Israel's use of collective punishment against Palestinian civilian families.

EDIT: Some have responded that the Palestinians lack any kind of targeting technology. It seems to me that if you're firing rockets without the ability to select a military target, then the only purpose of your rockets is to create terror. Also, by Israel's imposition of "collective punishment" I did not have in mind measures such as checkpoints that might be necessary for security. I meant such things as bulldozing houses and the use of sonic booms to harass civilians.

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Re:Israel’s Iron Dome Isn't Working: A Weapons Expert’s Warning by Ygg2 on Tuesday July 22, 2014 @09:34PM (#8072484)

Once you use label terrorist to supress a majority of innocent people it losses all meaning. You might as well as call them crepe makers.

I just wonder what integrity US has when it lets its allies get away with murder.

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Re:Israel’s Iron Dome Isn't Working: A Weapons Expert’s Warning by YZF on Tuesday July 22, 2014 @09:39PM (#8072503)

The problem is that when Israel does not allow building materials into Gaza it is presented as collective punishment (or siege). But if Israel allows those in then they are used to build tunnels and bunkers. In Gaza it's Hamas that is responsible for the condition of the civilians. They also have a border with Egypt so it's impossible for Israel to impose a siege on them. Unfortunately, when you're a bad neighbour you can't expect other countries to keep an open border.

When Israel had more open borders with the West Bank and allowed for free movement of Palestinians there were suicide bombings, stabbings, shooting and bus explosions. When Israel puts road blocks and builds walls to prevent those (successfully) it is collective punishment (which, honestly, is true).

At any rate, this situation doesn't lend itself to simplistic interpretations or explanations. Whenever one is offered there is surely a political agenda behind it. Not every problem has a 140 character description or solution.

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Re:Israel’s Iron Dome Isn't Working: A Weapons Expert’s Warning by lotsofmangos on Tuesday July 22, 2014 @09:30PM (#8072471)

It is terrorism by definition, because they have no targeting, however the reason they have no targeting is obviously due to technological availability rather than an intent to have no targeting. It usually helps if you can aim.

On the other hand, the Israeli forces have state of the art targeting systems - http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/21/hospita...

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Re:Israel’s Iron Dome Isn't Working: A Weapons Expert’s Warning by ilaksh on Tuesday July 22, 2014 @09:25PM (#8072455)

Why do you believe that they are mainly firing at civilian population? That's just what the Israeli media says.

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