Left I on the News

Three more Palestinian children were slaughtered by Israelis this week. The mis-named IDF, like the U.S. military, blamed the victims (referring to "use of children in terror attacks") in the immediate aftermath of the attack, but has now admitted that the three (ages 10, 10, and 12) were just playing tag.

I make note of this latest in a long line of such incidents because of what this particular one says about Israeli "rules of engagement" -- an Israeli missile was fired, we're told, after troops detected "unidentified movement and opened fire." Unidentified movement. Movement in Gaza, not in Israel (not that firing on "unidentified" targets in Israel would be any better).

In the IDF's defense, the word "unidentified" is really inaccurate. They did know their targets were Palestinians, and really, that's all they require. After all, this is right in line with the "Bush doctrine" of attacking threats "before they are fully formed." Like, you know, a 10-year-old Palestinian child.