Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Pathetic Armies Section correspondent, was playing with his toy soldiers screaming at them to stay in formation when Mufi asked him to read Israel Intercepts Drone Sent From Gaza. Also Monday, Israel prepared to file charges against three Jews for the killing of a Palestinian youth.So far Israel has killed 174 Palestinians with its air campaign. The Palestinians, however, have launched over 1,000 missiles and drones and have killed one. The Israelis contend that the Palestinians have killed three, but this is because of the Israeli method of tabulating losses which includes dolls damaged while in possession of a child.
This is not exactly what military analysts mean when they refer to asymmetric warfare, which usually refers to relatively lightly armed guerrillas against fully armed traditional forces. The Palestinians have all sorts of sophisticated arms, including long range rockets. But to launch over 1,000 with one death is unique in military history.
How is this possible? wondered Marquel.
He went to a Palestinian section of Brooklyn, on the Queens border and sat down with a group discussing the Gaza tragedy while drinking truly delicious Palestinian coffee.
“So, tell me,” I said, why can’t you guys hit anything? A thousand fucking rockets and only one fatality. What in the world are you guys aiming at?”
“You must understand that when we aim, the Israelis shoot at us.” One said.
“Of course I understand that,” I said, “that’s the nature of war.”
“Perhaps we are too peaceful and civilized,” he countered. “That’s the part we don’t like.”
“You mean getting shot at?” I wondered.
“Of course. Would you like it?” He asked.
“Of course not. That’s why I don’t shoot at others,” I said. “But what do you expect when you launch over a thousand rockets at a small country?”
“But we don’t hurt anybody.” He said.
“You just said that’s a lucky happenstance because you’re afraid to aim.” I observed. “Plus you apparently hit three dolls.”
“For that we are sincerely sorry. I assure you we don’t aim at dolls. It is,” he said, “as you say, collateral damage.”
“You don’t aim at anything!” I exclaimed. “You’ve got to stop that. What’s the point?”
“We are at war.” He said.
“It doesn’t sound like war to me. It seems like a guerre à folie. They shoot and you duck. In which case you should be making peace.” I suggested.
“We cannot do that. We are at war.” He said.
“I’m no expert,” I said, “but I think this is a war you’ll lose. And it’s all because you don’t aim.”
“If so,” he said, “it is Allah’s will.”
“I think that’s your problem. You don’t aim and then blame Allah. You can’t do that. You’re not ready for this.”
“If so,” he insisted, “that, too, is Allah’s will.”
I had found out what I set out to discover but no more than that. It is a sad story. In most ways these people are in the right. It is their territory and the Israelis are illegal occupiers under international law. But they lack so much, including it seems, common sense. I wouldn’t bet on justice being done this time around.
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BY MARQUEL:
Amazing.
Excellent writing.
What would Marquel think of next?
Perfect pitch.
Liked the dolls touch.