Some interesting notes from this AP article -
THESTAR
- The ships stopped off at Cyprus -"Before the ships set sail from waters off Cyprus on Sunday" - perhaps something happened between Turkey & Cyprus.
- Ample warning was given to come to a peaceful and equitable solution.
Stop off in Ashdod, we'll look around, confiscate bomb making material (yes, cement and nails are good for building homes, but they also make great shrapnel for bombs - nails dipped in rat poison have been recovered from bomb sites), we'll let you carry on with the foods and medicines.
- one side says they were not expecting violence - "In a sign the soldiers didn’t anticipate such fierce resistance, two commandos told The Associated Press that the primary weapons were guns that fired paintballs — a nonlethal weapon that can be used to subdue crowds."
(these will be chemical weapons by morning news time.)
- "Israel has allowed ships through" before the January offensive.
- it is well known that Israeli forces use excessive force at times, but it is just as true that Hamas and their allies (as unwitting as they may be) stop at nothing to try to smuggle weapons into Gaza.
- this is the only article I have seen that notes that Egypt is a willing and active partner in the blockade of Gaza.
To me it is clear - spend less time poking the bear and more time fixing your own tent. The less you poke the bear the more he is willing to let pass.