Formulating an appropriate response

In the wee hours of this morning, a kassam rockets streaked out of the dark desert sky... crashing to earth amidst the clustered tents of sleeping soldiers on an IDF training base just north of the Gaza strip.

The shrapnel from the explosion ripped through the tent fabric and into the flesh of the male and female soldiers sleeping there, stunning scores with the force of its explosion.  At last count some 69 soldiers were wounded - one critically - and have been evacuated to various hospitals based on the severity of their wounds.

Almost immediately the cell phones of defense and government officials sprang to life as the calls went out to meet in the dark hours before dawn to formulate an appropriate response.

In the inner sanctum - the 'holy of holies' - of the government and defense offices, the most senior communication and public relations personnel huddled over hastily-procured coffee and danishes to hammer out the proper language for the Prime Minister's morning remarks. 

One might think that it is easy to craft just the right message... but the perfect balance has to be struck between sending too stern a warning to the 'bad' Palestinians and offering an overly-generous confidence building gesture to the 'good' Palestinians.

In the waiting rooms of hospitals throughout the country, parents of wounded soldiers clustered in small groups, nervously wondering out loud if the government spin doctors would be able to come up with language appropriate to the damage done to the tender flesh of their progeny. 

"Certainly this time they'll use the words 'deplore' or 'deeply regret' when they call the news conference" said one distraught mother.  "After all", she continued, "my daughter lost an eye and has shrapnel lodged in her neck.  That has to be worth a 'deplore', right?"

Another parent sitting nearby shook his head firmly.  "I'm not sure they should go quite that far.  Sure, my son may not regain use of his arm, and he'll have to eat through a tube for a few months... but Olmert has come so far in his relationship with Abu Abbas. Can he really afford to jeopardize all that by using such rash language?" 

"He's right", said another mother sitting in the corner with what seemed like a small army of weeping children gathered around her.  "Our soldiers will eventually recover enough to live relatively productive lives, but the peace process is on life support.  'Deplore' would set the peace process back years.  I'd be happy if Olmert would simple 'regret the unprovoked attack'.

"Unprovoked?", said the father who had spoken earlier.  He was now standing next to a vending machine trying to figure out through tears of frustration how to get it to dispense a candy bar.  "How can Olmert use the word 'unprovoked' without assigning blame.  If he doesn't assume at least some of the responsibility for the attack it will look like we're only blaming our peace partners.  No, I think he simply has to 'regret the attack' and leave it at that."

Similar discussions raged in other hospitals despite the fact that these parents would have no say in their government's official response.  I suppose talking about a response is preferable to complete inaction... but still, the hours before the dawn seemed endless for the distraught families.

With the rising of the sun, the Prime Minister emerged from his residence in a crisp dark suit and was whisked to the Knesset in his waiting car.  Without even pausing to acknowledge the press gathered outside, he immediately went in to consult with his communications team.

Less than a minute later the low murmur of the press corps was hushed as Prime Minister Olmert emerged to the podium to deliver his prepared remarks.  He had taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves - a clearly understood symbol of hard work and aggressive determination - and had furrowed his brow in a studied approximation of fatherly concern.

As he stepped up to the waiting microphone the flash of cameras gave his movement a strobe-like effect, and added extra gravity to the moment.

"Thank you all for coming out so early this morning.  It's been a long, difficult night and there is still much work to be done."

The flashes continued to pop from all directions and the press dutifully hung on his every word... politely ignoring the sealed envelope in the Prime Minister's hand that showed every sign of having just been handed to him.

While he paused in his off-the-cuff remarks for dramatic affect, Prime minister Olmert slowly broke the seal on his briefing package and scanned the single printed page contained therein.  The silence that stretched out for a full 30 seconds while he read and reread the page was electric as everyone waited to see what would come next.

After clearing his throat and nodding resolutely, the Prime Minister began speaking... the weight of his office's responsibility clearly showing on his lined face.

"Last night the State of Israel was attacked with rockets, resulting in the wounding of almost 70 soldiers.  We deplore and deeply regret this unprovoked attack and reserve the right to offer an appropriate response."

A gasp went through the room.  "Did he really use 'deplore', 'unprovoked' and 'deeply regret'?" whispered one reporter to his neighbor.  "My editor will kill me if I get this wrong.  He used the trifecta, right?"

His neighbor - a seasoned journalist from Haaretz who was openly weeping at the shock of this strongly worded governmental response - simply nodded. 

In the waiting room of Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva, several family members of wounded soldiers clapped their hands and uttered words of relief such as "finally!" and "what took them so long?". 

But the elation wasn't universal. 

The father who had voiced concern over the fragile peace process simply shook his head, wondering if perhaps he could have done more to encourage his son to ask for an army deferment.  After all, wasn't the very existence of so many soldiers an open provocation?

But before he could give voice to his thoughts, the Prime Minister continued from the snowy television perched on its wall bracket in the corner of the waiting room.

"Our response will be measured and just", he continued.  "The anticipated release of prisoners in honor of Ramadan may... I repeat, MAY be delayed by as much as a week. We also may consider providing only USED weapons to the PA's elite security forces instead of new M-16s... and half the usual amount of ammunition.  Lastly, I am heavily weighing the possibility of rescheduling this afternoon's meeting with the PA Chairman until sometime after the holidays.  I don't think the climate is right at present for a fruitful meeting."

Now even the parents who had advocated strong language looked shaken.

"Do you really think he'll follow through with such dire threats?" asked one mother who had been calling for exactly such action since 4 AM.  "I mean, there's no turning back from something like that!"

The father who had counseled restraint shook his head disgustedly, looked away and spat, "You wanted a harsh response?  Well now you've gotten one".