I disdain War. Always have; always will.
It tends to expose the depths of our inhumanity to nameless others ... instead of the contrary, causing us to reach out for the pinnacles of humanity's great potential.
But here is a one bright spot, in an otherwise senseless, latest pursuit of the "bad guys" ...
In Gaza lull, residents return to destroyed areas
blueridgenow.com -- July 26, 2014
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A 12-hour humanitarian cease-fire has begun to allow civilians in Gaza to receive aid and evacuate to safer areas.
The Israeli military says Saturday's 12-hour pause began at 8 a.m. (1:00 a.m. EST, 0500 GMT). It warned the military "shall respond if terrorists choose to exploit" the lull to attack Israeli troops or civilians. The military said "operational activities to locate and neutralize tunnels in the Gaza Strip will continue."
Previous humanitarian cease-fires have been cut short by fighting.
[...]
How 'civilized' of them.
To call a Time-out to let the war-ravaged tend to their battered and injured; and Dead.
Without the ceaseless fear of death raining down on them from above, as they do.
Nice.
This brief Time-Out to their normally scheduled events, can help us drawn a few wider lessons from this exercise in human futility:
1) The conflict could end, if the participants directing it, so willed it.
2) Safe Havens are hard to find, despite the inane rationale that the innocent "good people" should seek them.
3) Innocent Humans are the ultimate victims in most wars, thus the need for "Humanitarian Cease-Fires."
4) When you hate your 'enemies' so much you can't even talk to them (or their representatives) -- something is terribly wrong with the Conflict.
It indeed, has become like 'a Game' that no one can possibly 'Win' ... in the long run.
Recurring armed conflicts do tend to be about revenge, more than justice, do they not?
Just check the humanitarian fallout, when the bombs of war, briefly decide to cease their normally scheduled human chaos.