conflict in gaza

Okay, so usually I don't like to comment about things like this. But I feel the need to make a quick comment about what's currently going on in Gaza.

Do the Palestinians really think that Hamas is looking out for them?
1) Hamas refused to renew a 6 month cease-fire, even after Israel specifically asked for it.
2) Hamas currently refuses to consider another cease-fire.
3) Hamas is still launching rockets into Israel.
4) Hamas is using civilians as shields, booby trapping the doorways of civilian homes (which sometimes inadvertently kill the residents living inside), and firing from schools and mosques (drawing fire from Israeli soldiers). They also put civilians on the rooftops of the buildings in which they operate in, in order to deter airstrikes.

The way I see it, the Palestinians should be protesting against Hamas, trying to stop them from launching additional rockets. Instead, they're protesting against Israel, which has every right to defend themselves.

Contrast Hamas' refusal to stop launching rockets with a statement made by the leader of Hezbollah (Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah), after Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 2006:
"If we had known that capturing the soldiers would have led to all of this, we wouldn't have done it."

I'm not sure how true that is, since the statement was probably made to win the sympathy of the Lebanese. But the fact is, if Hamas wants the Israeli invasion to end, all they have to do is stop launching rockets. On the other hand, Israel does want Hamas to stop launching rockets, but there's little they can do about it (Hamas was launching rockets even before the invasion).

Hamas has openly stated that it doesn't recognize Israel's right to exist. It's main concern is the destruction of Israel, not the welfare of the Palestinians. Sure, you can argue that Israel is using disproportionate amounts of force (although I don't see how they could use any less force and still be effective at stopping Hamas rockets).

Israel is looking after its citizens. Hamas should be doing the same.

And isn't this disgusting:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/world/09fighter.html

t-shirts

You know how before the conclusion of major sports events, they print two sets of t-shirts, each claiming victory for one side? And after one side wins, they send the wrong set of t-shirts to third world countries (so people in Africa think that the Patriots won the Superbowl last year)?

Well, I just saw Slumdog Millionaire, which was a pretty good movie. But wouldn't it be hilarious if he answered a question wrong because he saw some t-shirt with the wrong information on it? Okay, it might have been sad. Sorry, random thought.