majumdar,

They did use heavy artillery in Swat, though not tanks. Now they're using tanks because Swat was nowhere as dangerous as Waziristan is, and heavy artillery requires exposed persons firing it. It's safer to sit in tanks and lob shells.

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Zee sahib,

(For shelling from a distance yaar ... )

Sorry for sounding like a ignoramus but I am really clueless about military technology and about W'stan terrain

Would tanks be the right vehicle for shelling, would they move well in mountainous areas with poor roads, I presume the militants wud be in inaccessible areas rather than right on highways.

Wouldnt a combo of airpower and light howitzers (which are better for near vertical shelling) have be a better option

Regards

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What good wud tanks do in a mountainous area in S W'stan

For shelling from a distance yaar ... not chasing after the Mehsuds

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majumdar

Anyone who wud be interested in sabotaging this?

I don't think so. This is the only win-win solution for viable statehood for Palestinians and the Gazans at no one's expense.

Gazans dont subscribe to two state soln (Israel + Palestine, I suppose you mean) but why?

They want a single state with Jews as cohabitants and abolishment of Israel. The nearest they will come to a two state is only if Jerusalem is given back to Palestinians.

Do I take this that this is just going thru the motions on Israel's part than any opposition to what is happening?

I tend to think so.

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Zee sahib,

I know this is not related to Gaza but hope u will be kind enuff to throw some light on this.

{{{http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/24/top1.htm

The army sent reinforcements, for the first time with tanks, to the troubled South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday after clashes between security forces and militants intensified in the Mehsud area.}}}

What good wud tanks do in a mountainous area in S W'stan


Regards

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Zee sahib,

Thanks. So it seems it is a win-win for everyone. Anyone who wud be interested in sabotaging this?

(I think this may be a step towards the two-state solution, to which Gazans do not subscribe.)

Gazans dont subscribe to two state soln (Israel + Palestine, I suppose you mean) but why?

(Israel's reaction has come today when they have cited the agreements and asked the Egyptians to shut the crossing down. )

Do I take this that this is just going thru the motions on Israel's part than any opposition to what is happening?

Regards

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... Gaza even further... should be Gaza even farther.

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majumdar,

Well .. Israel's reaction has come today when they have cited the agreements and asked the Egyptians to shut the crossing down. If the Egyptians do not, and I doubt they will because of internal sympathy for Palestinians, it would mean something major in the offing in the region which is opined below.

The Palestinians of West Bank are culturally different from Gazans so I guess it doesn't matter much for them. Even before, the West Bank people had to go through Israel to get to Gaza which is now shut down. Current development has made Gaza even further because Gaza is like a prison with the only window opening through the Egyptian side.

I think this may be a step towards the two-state solution, to which Gazans do not subscribe. By separating Gaza and aligning it with Egypt, establishment of a Palestinian state out of the West Bank on Israel's terms will become easier.

In that case, Israel gets peace, Gazans get economic normalcy, West Bank Palestinians get the Palestinian State, and Egypt gets Gaza as a client city-state with the best port in the region like China/Hong Kong. Everyone gets something. It would be fantastic if this were to come about.

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Zee sahib,

How wud the following react to these developments:

US-Israel Axis.
Palestinians of West Bank
Egyptians themselves.

Regards

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Gaza was always a part of Egypt, and this shows a clear split from the West Bank by the Gazans.

Amazing development!

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