Gaza, some rambling...

[Ruy Horta]

...inspired by watching a BBC World News report at 13:00 GMT+1.

First, I "heard" that the Israeli army uses baloons for observation, which came as a surprise. Of course it makes sense as a cheap and effective observation platform. Just interesting how pre-WW1 technology is still used today.

Now a little more critical, there were reports of a couple of Israeli soldiers having been "kidnapped", surely as soldiers in combat they are captured.

Also there are daily reports (including today) of Hamas figureheads being killed, however such specific targeted killings are in practice equal to assassinations and should be identified as such.

IMHO this can be done without losing the objectivity of the report.

[Franek Grabowski]

Do you believe in free, independent media?!

[Ruy Horta]

News is seldom objective, but it is the level of subjectivity and the availability of balancing views that is at the center of your question.

Unfortunately I do believe that reporting is often unbalanced and the availability of balancing views relatively limited.

Although I don't see any possibility for a military or long term political success to come out of this action, at least not for the Israelis. More likely the outcome will be an Hezbolla-like victory for Hamas, which would equal a military and political failure on the side of Israel, I can't fail to think about the short term (political) goals and the upcoming Israeli elections.

Perhaps that's too cynical a view...

[Pilot]

Laste decades are much done in the spere of the testing and developing of the Light Then Air technology. Benefits are obvious- less fuel consuption, can stay much longer in air, small IR radiance, STEALTH capabilities.

In other way they are slow. Their use are goal as maritime patrol and observer but there is also excellent study to use them as stratosphere comunication center as well this could be much cheaper then the launching of satellite.

To be honnest I did not hear about the news you have mentioned. But in other hand- my uncle is Arab from Lebanon [he is Christian] and I am definitely sure that no media have to be thrusted there.