For the first time, there is serious talk of sending U.S. forces to fight against Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) very cautiously told FoxNews yesterday that it "may be the conclusion" that an international force is needed to stop the violence and in such a case, "it is possible that there will be an American participation."
"But having said that, I would just say this is down the trail," he said. "We have to be very, very careful about the use of American forces." Sen. Pat Roberts (R.-Kan.) told another American television station yesterday that "most of us have thought about a peacekeeping force [but fighting Hamas would be] a far different role than peacekeeping." CNN reports that Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan also said that Congress "would be very cautious" on this issue.
Hamas has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. The organization has acknowledged terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel - and has also been behind the murder of 29 American citizens since the signing of the Oslo Agreement almost ten years ago.
Lugar said that Abbas is "incapable" of fighting Hamas, and that the Israelis are "fully up to the task of dealing with Hamas, and they should" - though he then said that he does not support Israel's policy of "targeted killings" of terrorist leaders.
"But having said that, I would just say this is down the trail," he said. "We have to be very, very careful about the use of American forces." Sen. Pat Roberts (R.-Kan.) told another American television station yesterday that "most of us have thought about a peacekeeping force [but fighting Hamas would be] a far different role than peacekeeping." CNN reports that Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan also said that Congress "would be very cautious" on this issue.
Hamas has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department. The organization has acknowledged terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel - and has also been behind the murder of 29 American citizens since the signing of the Oslo Agreement almost ten years ago.
Lugar said that Abbas is "incapable" of fighting Hamas, and that the Israelis are "fully up to the task of dealing with Hamas, and they should" - though he then said that he does not support Israel's policy of "targeted killings" of terrorist leaders.