[reuven]

As a programmer and person in high tech, I'm in awe of the Iron Dome. The speed with which it has to make decisions, and with which it does so, and the number of rockets that it has knocked out the sky, demonstrate what an amazing piece of technology this is. I've been programming for a long time, but still can't begin to imagine the complexity of the calculations that these systems are doing, and how well they've managed to pull it off.

As an Israeli citizen whose home is in the range of the Hamas rockets, it's hugely comforting to know that this technology has been deployed. I'll be teaching a Python class in Tel Aviv tomorrow, and while I can basically expect that Hamas will be sending a bunch of rockets aiming to kill me (or anyone else they can), I'm happy to know that our interruptions will likely be annoying and frustrating, rather than lethal.

As an Israeli citizen who doesn't want to see our foot soldiers in Gaza (for a very large number of reasons), I'm also happy that Iron Dome gives our government time before sending them in.

The situation with Gaza, and with the Palestinians, is a pretty bad one, although I remain optimistic over the long term. For now, though, anything that reduces the threat of rockets that Hamas is sending at us strikes me as a good thing.

[jpeavy1]

Perhaps you should re-watch the Star Trek episode A Taste of Armageddon wherein a country engages in a sanitized war and the effect that has on their ability to find real, sustainable, long-term solutions.

[reuven]

An interesting point, even if that episode depicts something quite different from our current situation. I don't think that HN is quite the place for such a discussion; I'd be happy to take it offline, and explain my viewpoint as well as hear yours.

Believe me, I have a huge amount of criticism for the current Israeli government. I voted for opposition parties. I disagree with a large number of their policies, most of which have nothing to do with the Palestinians.

But I have nothing but praise for a government policy that results in fewer civilian deaths. Those might have long-range, unexpected effects, but less death is a good thing, I'd like to think.

Indeed, I would encourage all governments -- including that of Hamas in Gaza, which isn't exactly an enlightened democracy -- to spend time and money on ways to protect their people, and avoid death, injury, and destruction.

Given that Hamas has a stated policy of killing as many Israeli civilians as they possibly can, and that they have worked to achieve that goal to the greatest possible degree, I can only express delight and gratitude that Iron Dome exists, and that it is effective.