Israeli troops entered Gaza yesterday (Jan.3) as Israel begins a ground invasion of Gaza and continues it’s attacks directed at Hamas. Israel’s military says Israeli ground troops are crossing the Gaza border in an escalation of Israel’s week-old offensive against Hamas.

Watch the Associated Press (AP) Video (Jan. 3):

People have been protesting Israel’s attacks and the killing of Palestinians, while President Bush called Hamas’ attacks on Israel an “Act of Terror” in his Presidential Address. That’s nothing new coming from the Bush administration though. It doesn’t matter what Israel does as Bush will always say Israel is defending themselves. What can he say though after what he did in Iraq?

Israel continued their assault on Gaza for the 5th day of the current conflict as Israeli officials say they rejected a 48-hour cease-fire and will continue the devastating air offensive against Hamas. Israel continued to send jets and assault helicopters to pound targets in the Gaza Strip.

There have been 374 Palestinians killed so far during the 5 days, of which 64 of those are civilians. Those numbers are sure to rise as the conflict continues.

Watch the Associated Press (AP) Video (Dec. 31):

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon stated today that, “Both Israel and Hamas must halt the acts of violence and take all necessary measures to avoid civilian casualties.” The United Nations Secretary General also called for Israel to address the humanitarian crisis and allow aid into the Gaza strip.

Watch the Associated Press (AP) Video (Dec.29, 2008):

I don’t think Israel will take Ban Ki Moon’s words to heart as Israel obliterated symbols of Hamas power on the third day of what Israeli defense minister described Monday as a “war to the bitter end,” striking next to the Hamas premier’s home, and devastating a security compound and a university building.

Watch the Associated Press (AP) Video (Dec.29, 2008):

What does the Bush Administration have to say?

White House Spokeman Gordan Johndroe speaks on behalf of the Bush administration which has once again called for a “sustainable cease-fire” between Isreal and Hamas and demands that Hamas stop its attacks on Israel. It’s no surprise that the White House has taken a Pro-Israel stance on this current Israel/Palestinian conflict.

Watch the Associated Press (AP) Video (Dec.29, 2008):

We’ll see how long it takes for this current conflict to stop as I watch live video right now as I type this of more strikes going on in Gaza, and then how long before it starts up again.

Israeli warplanes, apparently retaliating for rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, pounded dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of air strikes that started just after noon today (Saturday, Dec.27, 2008). Hamas reports dozens of Palestinians were killed.

Watch the Associated Press Video (Dec. 27):

Watch the AP Raw Video (Dec. 27):

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow shows us that the just signed plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq cities in June 2009 may not really happen and they will just “change” the names of the “roles” the troops will play to get around it.

“Military planners are now quietly acknowledging that many [troops] will stay behind as renamed “trainers” and “advisers” in what are effectively combat roles. In other words, they will still be engaged in combat, just called something else.”

The Iraq withdrawal is not happening and the plans for Afghanistan are a “Surge” in troops. How is this different than George W. Bush? Where is the “Change” Barack Obama said is coming?

Rachel then talks to Lawrence Wright, author of “The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11”

Watch The Rachel Maddow Show Video (Dec.22, 2008):