There's been a lot of discussion centering on whether or not Israel's response to Palestine has been disproportionate. I think it's really silly, because anyone who would even ASK the question misunderstands the very nature of war.

My response: Hell, yeah, it's disproportionate! And it better be, if Israel intends to survive.

You see, Israel is quickly proving what has been said by "extremists" of Islamic fundamentalists all along: they don't want their own nation, they want the extermination of Israel. And a disengagement of Israeli troops from Palestine facilitates that by giving terrorists greater freedom to move closer to the borders and launch rockets on the nation of Israel, who many of them mean to see decimated. Israel's disengagement policy was meant to bring about peace, but has, instead brought about greater conflict.

An "eye for an eye" approach doesn't work, especially when your enemy nation has an endless supply of willing militants who will migrate from other countries to fight for their cause. Israel's response must be one that shows military superiority and a willingness to react preemptively as hostilities escalate.

If a fly lands on me, I intend to swat it. This is a dispproportionate response. If an intruder breaks into my home, I intend to shoot him. This, too, is a disproportionate response. The fact is, a disproportionate response, and a knowledge that such will almost certainly occur, is perhaps the greatest deterrent to hostile actions that has ever been devised.