Meanwhile, In Gaza . . .

NY Times reports today that while the death toll has passed 500, the civilian total is around 100. I don't know if a civilian death toll of 100 is ever good news, but at least it's less than what popular wisdom has seemed to suggest.

Though resisting pleas for a cease-fire, Israel did seize rocket launching sites in the strip, which presumably may signal some end in sight.

But then again, maybe not. Israeli defense minister Ehud Barack defined Israel's objective to Israeli Radio as “(changing) the reality of security for the south” of the country, which he said has not yet been accomplished. With objectives as abstract as that, Israel may allow itself to do whatever it wants.

Israel needs to define clearer objectives to put forth for the international community, and then pursue those objectives narrowly defined (secure all rocket launching sites, apprehend specific Hamas officials, perhaps?), if they want to save any face they may or may not still have to save.