Olmert afraid retaliation will bring More Violence:Defense officials say strike back

This isn't one of my satires---I wish it was. Some of Olmert's comments today are just so out there that you will think, " Well there goes Sammy again, being sarcastic trying to make us laugh." All I can say is I just wish I was being sarcastic.

In Sedrot today, two ninth grade boys,Matan Cohen and Adir Bassad, were injured by a Palestinian Rocket attack. Cohen's received leg wounds and should be fine, Adir Bassad was hit by shrapnel in his chest and is very critically wounded. At total of 7 Qassams fell today bringing the total to 62. As pointed out on Israel Forum yesterday, there have been more Qassams fired since the cease fire was declared than before.

Defense Minister Peretz and the Defense Officials responded to the attacks by calling for an end to the policy of restraint:

JPOST-Senior defense officials called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday to give the IDF a green light to strike back at the Palestinian terrorists behind the firing of seven Kassam rockets at the western Negev. One of Tuesday's Kassams, fired at Sderot after nightfall, left a 13-year-old critically wounded from shrapnel. Doctors were battling to save his life at press time. Another rocket, fired earlier in the day, landed next to a strategic installation in the Ashkelon Industrial Zone.

"It is time to strike back," a high-ranking defense official told The Jerusalem Post. "The government is holding us back from responding and makes us look weak and vulnerable, as if there is nothing we can do."

YNETNEWS.com 12/26 Defense minister sick of restraint: Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Tuesday evening briefed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the Qassam attack in Sderot, saying that "we can no longer hold back against the Qassam fire." The prime minister will have an urgent defense consultation meeting even before his anticipated meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abdel Gheit. Olmert will hear what defense sources have to say, but seems focused on maintaining continued restraint.

In the meantime, Peretz made it clear to the prime minister that he opposes a continuing policy of restraint. Following the Qassam attack, he told Olmert "we must act against the rocket fire, we mustn't let Jihad run rampant." Peretz intends to hold a number of meetings with defense officials in preparation for his defense consultation meeting with Olmert.

In addition to Peretz, IDF Chief of General Staff Dan Halutz , Shin Bet officials and additional members of the defense establishment are anticipated to take part in the meeting.

In the latest government meeting, Sunday night, Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin gave a briefing about the new security situation created in Gaza and the ongoing rocket fire.

In recent days, government ministers appealed for an end of the policy of restraint, among them Internal Security Minister and former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Leiberman called for an organized and well-planned response. "We must operate to bring about a cessation of rocket fire, not merely in order to calm public opinion," he emphasized.

[Here's the part that you are going to think I made up...but I promise I didn't make this up]

Olmert prefers to maintain the restraint policy primarily because of the subsequent kudos such a policy receives from the international community. The prime minister believes that a harsh response could lead to deterioration and warned the government that renewed operations could unite the Fatah and Hamas factions, who are currently still fighting, in a joint attack on Israel.

He is worried that Hamas and Fatah will attack Israel? What the hell have they been lobbing at Sedrot, Cotton Candy? These missiles that he wont let the IDF take out have been fired by Hamas and the "moderate" Abbas' party-Fatah. When you read the reason the PM doesn't want to retaliate, it makes you wonder if Olmert mentally incompetent? This is all too scary.

Yesterday I posted something tongue-in-cheek called Olmert's Jerry Lewis Strategy. The famous Bagel Blogger left a comment on the post saying the only question left is what planet is Olmert from? Well my Bagelblogging friend, I must disagree with you. The only question left is How do we send Olmert BACK to that mysterious planet from whence he came?