Hamas "showcases military readiness" (or so "they" say)
Special forces train for first time since Gaza takeover in June, in preparation for possible Israeli incursion
YnetNews (source: Associated Press)
Hundreds of Hamas security forces trained for a possible Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip, firing automatic rifles and shoulder-held grenade launchers in their first extensive exercise since their takeover of the territory in June.
Hamas has said it is preparing for the possibility that Israel will launch a large military operation in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government is under public pressure to respond to recent Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel.
In the drill Friday in the northern Gazan town of Beit Lahiya, Hamas forces in black ski masks and camouflage ran between fig trees and corn stalks, shooting toward a purported target. They took cover behind mounds of sand, hid in half-destroyed houses and in trenches.
At one point they fired at an empty house, causing a large explosion. They then kneeled to the ground, shouting "Allah Akbar," Or "Allah is great."
The military exercise was the first in which Hamas invited the media since the Islamic group took over the Gaza Strip in five days of bloody fighting.
Hamas forces are better equipped than at the time of previous Israeli incursions since they confiscated weapons from Fatah during the fighting in June, senior Hamas official Nizar Rayyan said.
"Your brothers, the sons of Hamas ... Have the weapons that they claimed as booty from the war of cleansing (against Fatah) and will now fight the state of Israel with them," Rayyan said. During any such Israeli operation, Hamas would kidnap Israeli soldiers, he said.
On Saturday, the Popular Resistance Committees, held a military drill in an open field in Gaza City. About 60 militants laid explosives in the ground, and fired at imaginary targets. "We will surprise the enemy with our ferocious fighting," said Abu Youssef, the group's spokesman.
Who is the target audience of this article? I suspect it is western non-midle easterners.
Quote:
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They then kneeled to the ground, shouting "Allah Akbar," Or "Allah is great."
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I doubt that any middle easterner would have to have the above slogan translated. Another observation is would special forces really stop their training exercises to kneel to ground and praise Allah? The above description surely does conform with western expectations of "Islamic terrorist."
Next observation: Why would Hamas leaders expose the training methods of special forces and the types of equipment they employ?
quote:
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Hundreds of Hamas security forces trained for a possible Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip, firing automatic rifles and shoulder-held grenade launchers in their first extensive exercise since their takeover of the territory in June.
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The purpose of the above paragraph is to create strong straw man. It is intended to give the impression that Hamas is a formidable enemy. Reclamation of territory is described as "takeover". Lastly, it subtly links Hamas with recent Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel.
quote:
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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government is under public pressure to respond to recent Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel.
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This has the effect of creating a mythology or intellectual rationale for attacks by Israel in the name of self defense. The article also slyly positions Israel as the victims of Muslim aggression. If I recall correctly, the official rationale for the previous Israeli attack was the Kidnapping of Israeli soliders. Embedded in the article is another gem.
quote:
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During any such Israeli operation, Hamas would kidnap Israeli soldiers, he said.
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Anyway these were just a few causal observations.
I think most people I know would not need the phrase translated. Perhaps this article was written for the sort of people who need to have everything spelled out for them, the sort of people whose newscasters always qualify "London" with "England" when reporting news from the British capital.
Were "journalist present during the exercises and if so then what type of military leader would expose his special forces to this type of scrutiny? The article is full of implausibilities.
:)
Agreed!
every time there's an article like this, hold onto your wallet