Hamas Declares War on US

It seems that the mainstream media,MSM, missed this little piece of news while covering the Democrats victory in the recent elections.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas' military wing called Wednesday on Muslims around the world to attack American targets following reports that an Israeli tank strike killed 18 people in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. The Hamas-led Palestinian government distanced itself from the call, saying its fight was with Israel. Hamas terrorists have historically directed their suicide bombings and rocket attacks only against Israeli targets.

"America is offering political, financial and logistic cover for the Zionist occupation crimes, and it is responsible for the Beit Hanoun massacre. Therefore, the people and the nation all over the globe are required to teach the American enemy tough lessons," Hamas' military wing said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.

But Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, said the group had no intention of attacking American targets. - NY Sun

Notice how they are trying to differentiate between the Hamas Government and the Hamas Military wing. This is like the Pentagon declaring war on North Korea and the White House 'distancing itself' from the statement. It might work that way when you are a terrorist group, but it does not work that way when your also the Government.

But who is really in charge here?

Hamas' political wing, led by Prime Minister Haniyeh, tries to distinguish itself from the military wing. But the two entities both report to the group's exiled leadership, based in Syria, and frequently coordinate with each other. - NY Sun

In other words the call to attack American targets around the world was approved by the Hamas leadership in Syria and both the Hamas Government and the Hamas military wing have the same bosses.

The whole point of having any distinction at all is to provide some sort of plausible deniability to their terrorist actions as well as permit some of the group to operate in the open, in support of the terrorist wing, of course.

At the end of the day, I read the statement by Hamas above as a declaration of war. I am not sure why they would do that as they have things 'relatively good' at the moment with the US limiting action against them to finantial sanctions. I am not sure they want to really get the US's attention. After all, there is available cell space in Gitmo and the US can target them with air strikes as well.

Previouse posts about Hamas:
Be Careful What You Ask For: HAMAS - 28 January 06
Be Careful What You Ask For: HAMAS UPDATE - 11 July 06
HAMAS: Child Abuse - 19 July 06
Hamas: Child Abuse - Staged? - 26 July 06
Signs that Allah (God) is not on Your Side: - 28 July 05

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