Israel launches Gaza offensive

From the BBC:

The Israeli army has begun a ground offensive in southern Gaza to try to gain the release of an Israeli soldier.

The incursion comes hours after Israeli aircraft struck at bridges and a power plant in the Gaza Strip.

Cpl Gilad Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants during a raid on an Israeli post near Gaza on Sunday.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calls this a "limited offensive" that targets the "terrorist infrastructure". Nonetheless, one wonders how this situation could escalate over the coming days.

My sentiments are with the Israelis, although the scope of the offensive concerns me. I hope they know what they're doing.

For more, see Counterterrorism Blog, which suggests that "[t]his operation will be extensive and could mean the complete end of the Hamas government". My friend Sister Toldjah agrees that Israel will likely "[step] it up". Captain Ed suggests that "the Israelis have a very good idea where most of the terrorist assets in Gaza are located, and they may try to wipe out as much of Hamas and Islamic Jihad as possible during this exercise".

Haaretz has more. At The Jerusalem Post, Caroline Glick says that the Israeli leadership has "nothing useful to say" and won't "[make] Israel safer".