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Gaza death toll mounts amid Israeli strikes
7/12/2014 4:07:39 AM
- Israeli military says it hit more than 60 targets in Gaza overnight
- "We are considering all options and getting ready for every possible scenario," Israeli PM says
- Gaza says Israeli strikes have killed more than 120 people
- Medical sources describe overcrowded emergency rooms in Gaza
Jerusalem (CNN) -- The latest wave of attacks between Hamas and Israel showed no signs of abating Saturday, as the two sides battled it out with rockets and airstrikes.
Israeli strikes killed 121 people -- including children and women -- in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry. It said 924 others have been injured.
Though some Israelis have been wounded, none have been killed by the hundreds of rockets fired by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza. Israel's Iron Dome defense system has intercepted dozens of rockets, helping keep fatalities at bay.
Hostilities between the two sides escalated this month after the killing of three Israeli teenagers and a Palestinian teen. Neither Hamas nor Israel appear to be backing down, prompting fears of a ground invasion by the latter.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left all possibilities open, saying the international community will not influence his actions against Hamas. He reiterated that there is one path to a cease-fire: the cessation of attacks from Gaza.
"We are considering all options and getting ready for every possible scenario," he said. "All the citizens of Israel are aware of my major goal, and this is to bring back the quiet to all Israeli territories. Hamas keeps attacking us, and therefore we are fighting them back."
Medical sources described overcrowded emergency rooms in Gaza and dwindling stocks of medicine, a situation that mirrored Syrian hospitals as its civil war has dragged on.
Hospitals not directly affected by airstrikes face significant challenges.
In Gaza, there are rolling blackouts and water shortages in some areas because airstrikes have damaged pumping stations.
Israel faced attack from a second front Friday when a rocket launched from Lebanon landed near the northern Israeli town of Metula, which sits right by the border. No damage or injuries have been reported. It was not immediately clear who fired the rocket.
Hezbollah operates in Lebanon and is caught up in other conflicts in the region, which makes starting a war with Israel less likely for the group.
Thousands of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel during a war in 2006, but rocket attacks since then have been sporadic.
Nonetheless, Israel responded with artillery that landed in the vicinity of the Lebanese town of Kfar Shouba. No casualties were reported, the Lebanese army said.
Israel calls up reservists
As fears of an Israeli ground assault grew among Gaza residents, Israel revealed it has beefed up its forces by calling about 30,000 reservists to their units.
"We are utilizing that force to enable us to create a substantial force around Gaza, that if it is required, we'll be able to mobilize as soon as possible," Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner said.
The Israeli Cabinet has authorized the military to call up 40,000 troops if needed. That is 10,000 more than were called up during Israel's offensive into Gaza in November 2012.
The Israeli military said it hit more than 60 targets in Gaza on Friday night, bringing the total to 1,160 strikes since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge.
It said that since the beginning of the operation, Gaza militants fired about 690 rockets and mortars toward Israel, 138 of which were intercepted.
Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are believed to have about 10,000 rockets of varying ranges, according to the Israeli military. Israel has said some 3.5 million residents live in areas within reach of the rockets.
U.S. willing to help broker cease-fire
Hopes for a cease-fire appeared dim even as world leaders called for the two sides to stop the violence.
U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Netanyahu by phone.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 cease-fire agreement," the White House said in a written statement, referring to the Egyptian-brokered deal that halted the previous Israel-Hamas conflict.
The President also condemned rocket attacks from Gaza and said the United States reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself.
CNN's Kareem Khadder reported from Jerusalem, and Faith Karimi wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Yousuf Basil contributed to this report.
Both sides fight with social media
7/12/2014 4:25:30 AM
CNN's Barbara Starr reports that Israel and Hamas are using social media to fire cyber-salvos at each other.
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Rocket fired from Lebanon: IDF
7/11/2014 8:30:24 AM
Israeli Defense Forces say a rocket fired into northern Israel came from Lebanon. CNN's Diana Magnay reports.
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Can conflict be solved?
7/12/2014 4:24:52 AM
On GPS, Bret Stephens says big ideas for solutions to the conflict have been "well-explored" with no success.
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No escape from Gaza violence
7/11/2014 8:32:12 PM
As the bombs continue to fall, residents of Gaza have nowhere to escape to. CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from inside Gaza.
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Sparks fly when giants collide
7/11/2014 10:22:40 PM
- Germany faces Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final
- Argentina has not won tournament since 1986
- Germany's most recent victory came in 1990
- Third time teams have met in World Cup final
How are you celebrating the World Cup? Join the global conversation on CNN Facebook Pulse
(CNN) -- It is the scenario Brazil had always feared -- the $11 billion party where the neighbors come round and trash your newly spruced up home.
Anybody but Argentina, that is the message which is heard loudest in Brazil ahead of Sunday's final against Germany in Rio de Janeiro at the Maracana stadium.
Not since 1986 has Argentina triumphed in the World Cup, but that wait could be over should Lionel Messi and co. see off the Germans.
Brazil was humiliated by Germany 7-1 in the semifinal -- but an Argentine World Cup final victory might just trump that as an exercise in despair.
#ARG VS #NED --Semifinales de la Copa del Mundo. #Messi, ahora te toca a ti. #allin or nothing #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/PD72AbLGAu
— Team Messi (@TeamMessi) July 9, 2014 After defeating the Netherlands on penalties, Argentina is targeting its a third World Cup win after reaching its fourth final.
In 1978, Argentina, which hosted the tournament, defeated the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final in Buenos Aires to spark spectacular scenes of celebration.
Mario Kempes was the hero, scoring twice against a Dutch side which had lost at the same stage four years earlier against the Germans.
Eight years later, Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, reached the final once again where West Gemany was the opposition.
In a tight game, Maradona's wonderful pass released Jorge Burruchaga to fire home a dramatic 84th minute winner as Argentina prevailed 3-2.
Did you miss the first half? Here's what it looked like on our live blog:http://t.co/d35ugmUKsG #CNNWorldCup pic.twitter.com/E3Ft0tQFJj
— CNN Football Club (@CNNFC) July 8, 2014 The Germans side, coached by Franz Beckenbauer, got its revenge four years late when it won 1-0 in the final at Italy 1990.
Andreas Brehme's late penalty won a game marred by Argentina's ill-discipline and the sending off of two of its players.
Maradona, who was then playing at Italian club side Napoli, was left in tears as the Germans danced on the field of Rome's Olympic Stadium with the trophy it had so badly coveted for a third time.
It would be 20 years until the two teams met again in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Maradona, in his role as coach, watched on in horror as his side was thrashed 4-0 and star player Lionel Messi failed to sparkle.
Thomas Muller opened the scoring with Miroslav Klose, now the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer, adding two and Arne Friedrich the fourth.
It is Muller which Argentina will have to watch at the Maracana on Sunday with the Bayern Munich star enjoying another impressive tournament.
The 24-year-old has already scored five goals in Brazil and is one away from joining Colombia's James Rodriguez as the top scorer on six.
Germany, which was beaten in the semifinals in 2006 and 2010, last reached the final in 2002 where it was beaten by Brazil.
"We've got to give our all on Sunday," Klose told reporters. "I know how it feels to lose a final. I want to lift that trophy into the air."
Many of this current crop have grown up together with the likes of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielders Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil all progressing from the youth setup.
This is now a record scoreline in a #WorldCup semi-final. Maybe we can make it an unbreakable record? #BRAGER 0-6 pic.twitter.com/8P35RatFll
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) July 8, 2014 Six of the team which won the European Under-21 Championships in 2009 are set to start against Argentina with Benedikt Howedes, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels all in the defense.
While Joachim Low's side produced a spectacular performance to dismantle Brazil, it has not had a particularly easy ride to the final.
After thrashing Portugal 4-0 in the opening fixture, it was forced to come from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Ghana.
A nervy 1-0 win over the USA ensured it finished top of Group G and booked a last-16 tie against Algeria.
While Germany was widely expected to win, it was only after extra time that it managed to find a breakthrough.
Substitute Andre Schurrle and Ozil scored the goals and although Algeria got one back late on, the Germans held out for a tense victory.
The quarterfinal against France, played in the heat of Rio, was a rather turgid affair with Hummels' early header enough to secure a 1-0 win.
The 7-1 win over Brazil was achieved after Germany raced into a 5-0 lead by the interval following a mediocre defensive display from the host nation.
So poor was Brazil's performance that Muller revealed how the German players made a decision to ease off in the second half so not to embarrass its opponent.
"With the score the way it was, we said we should avoid being arrogant and to refrain from humiliating the opponent," he told reporters.
"But that's something obvious. Yes, there was this agreement and it came from the players themselves."
FINAL!!!!! #ARG 3 - #NGA 2 Argentina se clasifica a octavos de final como 1° del grupo F y espera rival. pic.twitter.com/WfHN9zLHV0
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 25, 2014 There's little chance of Germany letting up against Argentina when the tournament's top two go head-to-head.
Alejandro Sabella, who will leave his role as coach after the final, has led his side through to the final following a hard-fought campaign.
In all of its three group games, only one goal separated Argentina from its rivals.
After beginning with a 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina was made to sweat until the very last minute against Iran before Messi curled home a stunning winner.
Against Nigeria, it was given a real fright before edging home 3-2 courtesy of Marcos Rojo's close-range effort.
Having topped Group F, Argentina progressed to face Switzerland which was defeated by a goal just two minutes before the end of extra-time.
Another 1-0 victory secured a semifinal place as Gonzalo Higuain's strike ensured Belgium was put to the sword.
The semifinal showdown against the Dutch was a dull affair with neither side managing to produce its best football.
Sergio Romero, the Argentine goalkeeper, became the hero after saving two penalties in the shootout before Maxi Rodriguez struck the winning kick.
It sparked wild scenes of jubilation, not just in Sao Paulo but across Argentina where 40 million people celebrated the nation's Independence Day with extra fervor.
Imagine if these TWO played together prime for prime! That would be illegal! #Messi #Maradona #ARG pic.twitter.com/tG59s1MUFh
— FIFAWorldCup (@ThaWorldCup) July 5, 2014 "Brasil, Decime Qué Se Siente" — translated to "Brazil, Tell Me How It Feels" -- is the song that has been sung throughout the tournament by Argentine fans confident of their team's success.
Much of Argentina's success will depend on Messi -- a man who has already scored four goals in the tournament and will captain the side in his 93rd international appearance.
Messi's achievements are well known -- 381 goals in 466 matches for Barcelona, three European Champions League titles and six Spanish La Liga triumphs only tell half the story.
Now he is aiming to add to his 42 international goals by inspiring Argentina to the biggest prize of all -- and the one which will surely make him one of the greatest players of all time.
No European country has ever won the World Cup in South America -- if Messi gets his own way, that statistic won't change any time soon.
As for millions of Brazilian football fans, who had so desperately sought a sixth world crown, Sunday is the party invitation they had could have done without.
Rizzoli to referee final
When it comes to famous football referees, Pierluigi Collina -- now retired -- might be the most famous of them all.
FIFA chose another Italian, Nicola Rizzoli, to take charge of Sunday's final.
The 42-year-old architect from Bologna refereed three games prior to the final, including two involving Argentina, as well as the 2013 Champions League final.
Read: Lionel Messi's moment of immortality?
Read: How do you catch Messi?
Blood tackles and calf biters
7/11/2014 10:22:49 PM
- Do you know your fly catcher from your banana pass?
- German success in the World Cup is matched by its creative language
- But to be German, winning must be tempered with pessimism, says CNN's Fred Pleitgen
Editor's note: CNN Correspondent Fred Pleitgen has been reporting on the World Cup while proudly wearing his Germany shirt.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (CNN) -- You may have watched in wonder as Germany dismantled Brazil on Tuesday. But to really appreciate the art of German football you need to understand the lingo.
The sport has its own vocabulary and, as is common in the German language, most new terms are created by simply lumping several words together to make a 15 or 20 character monster word that would be an entire sentence in many other languages.
So here is our guide to help you become an expert while watching Sunday's final.
1. First, start strong in defense. You need a great goalkeeper or a TEUFELSKERL (Devil's Man). He needs to command the penalty area, be the first to corner kicks and block shots and penalty kicks. German history is rich with great goalies from Sepp Maier to Bodo Illgner and Oliver Kahn all the way to today's man between the posts, Manuel Neuer.
2. If your goalkeeper does not perform he is laughed off as a FLIEGENFÄNGER (fly catcher).
3. Moving on to your defense, which is always the core of a German team. This is the ABWEHRRIEGEL (defensive barrier).
4. Great defenders have to excel at the BLUTGRAETSCHE (blood tackle) to take out attacking opponents. Prototypical German defenders have names like Guido Buchwald and Jürgen Kohler from the 1990 World Cup squad, who struck fear into most opponents.
5. There are also smaller more shifty defensive players who cannot be shaken off by attackers that are called WADENBEISSER (calf-biters), like Berti Vogts from the 1974 squad or Philip Lahm from today's team. Vogts earned the nickname the Terrier, like a little dog who never stops snarling around its enemy.
6. Think of the German midfield and you think of names like Lothar Mathäus, Michael Ballack, Stefan Effenberg or today's squad which is laden with talent including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil, Toni Kroos, and Mario Götze. Great midfielders who lead teams are known as MITTELFELDREGISSEURE (midfield directors).
7. These midfielders must also be able to deliver perfect BANANENFLANKEN (banana passes), usually with the outside of their foot, setting the forwards free on goal.
8. And talking of the forwards, their main job is to score goals. You want a striker on your team who is a TORJÄGER (goal hunter).
9. But in order to be a great TORJÄGER he has to have a great TORRIECHER (goal nose), someone with the instinct to be in the right place at the right time. Germany is fortunate to have had two TORJÄGER with the same last name in Gerd Müller, who scored the decisive goal in the 1974 final against the Netherlands, and Thomas Müller of today's squad who was the top scorer in the 2010 World Cup and has five so far in Brazil. Then there was the current U.S. coach Jürgen Klinsmann who made his mark in the 1990 World Cup.
10. If your forwards and strikers have many chances but never seem to put the ball in the net, they will be dismissed as CHANCENTOD (death of chances). Believe it or not, Germany has had its share of these.
11. If you have your WADENBEISSER and TORRIECHER in your team, good for you. If not your team may be ridiculed as a GURKENTRUPPE (cucumber troop).
12. Or, even worse, a KARNEVALSVEREIN (carnival team). Brazil perhaps.
Ultimately, to be German you need to temper success with pessimism and criticism. After a 7-1 victory over Brazil you have to warn against complacency in the final and you must acknowledge the team still has weaknesses.
People from other countries often cannot understand this. It is why Americans were furious when Klinsmann said that the U.S. had no chance of winning the World Cup.
He was not trying to be mean. He was just being German and guess what, he took team America further than most fans predicted.
So here's to German football strategy, team lingo and pessimism, seeing themselves as the underdog against Argentina even after winning 7-1.
Viel Spass beim Fussball!
Gaza death toll mounts amid Israeli strikes
7/12/2014 1:49:09 AM
- Israeli military says it hit more than 60 targets in Gaza overnight
- "We are considering all options and getting ready for every possible scenario," Israeli PM says
- Gaza says Israeli strikes have killed more than 120 people
- Medical sources describe overcrowded emergency rooms in Gaza
Jerusalem (CNN) -- The latest wave of violence between Hamas and Israel showed no signs of abating Saturday, as the two sides battled it out with rockets and airstrikes.
At least 121 people -- including children and women -- have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza, according to the Gaza health ministry. It said 924 others have been injured.
Though some Israelis have been wounded, none have been killed by the hundreds of rockets fired by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza. Israel's Iron Dome defense system has intercepted dozens of rockets, helping keep fatalities at bay .
Hostilities between the two sides escalated this month, exacerbated by the killing of three Israeli teenagers and a Palestinian teen. Neither Hamas nor Israel appear to be backing down, prompting fears of a ground invasion by the latter.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left all possibilities open, saying the international community will not influence his actions against Hamas. He reiterated that there is one path to a cease-fire: the cessation of attacks from Gaza.
"We are considering all options and getting ready for every possible scenario," he said. "All the citizens of Israel are aware of my major goal, and this is to bring back the quiet to all Israeli territories. Hamas keeps attacking us, and therefore we are fighting them back."
Medical sources described overcrowded emergency rooms in Gaza and dwindling stocks of medicine, a situation that mirrored Syrian hospitals as its civil war has dragged on.
Hospitals not directly affected by airstrikes face significant challenges.
In Gaza, there are rolling blackouts and water shortages in some areas because airstrikes have damaged pumping stations.
Israel faced attack from a second front Friday when a rocket launched from Lebanon landed near the northern Israeli town of Metula, which sits right by the border. No damage or injuries have been reported. It was not immediately clear who fired the rocket.
The Israel Defense Forces said Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the attack, but concerns that Israel will face a two-front conflict are unlikely to be realized.
Hezbollah operates in Lebanon and is caught up in other conflicts in the region, which makes starting a war with Israel less likely for the group.
Thousands of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel during a war in 2006, but rocket attacks since then have been sporadic.
Nonetheless, Israel responded with artillery that landed in the vicinity of the Lebanese town of Kfar Shouba. No casualties were reported, the Lebanese army said.
Israel calls up reservists
As fears of an Israeli ground assault grew among Gaza residents, Israel revealed it has beefed up its forces by calling about 30,000 reservists to their units.
"We are utilizing that force to enable us to create a substantial force around Gaza, that if it is required, we'll be able to mobilize as soon as possible," Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner said.
The Israeli Cabinet has authorized the military to call up 40,000 troops if needed. That is 10,000 more than were called up during Israel's offensive into Gaza in November 2012.
The Israeli military said it hit more than 60 targets in Gaza on Friday night, bringing the total to 1,160 strikes since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge.
Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are believed to have about 10,000 rockets of varying ranges, according to the Israeli military. Israel has said some 3.5 million residents live in areas within reach of the rockets.
U.S. willing to help broker cease-fire
Hopes for a cease-fire appeared dim even as world leaders called for the two sides to stop the violence.
U.S. President Barack Obama spoke with Netanyahu by phone.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 cease-fire agreement," the White House said in a written statement, referring to the Egyptian-brokered deal that halted the previous Israel-Hamas conflict.
The President also condemned rocket attacks from Gaza and said the United States reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself.
CNN's Kareem Khadder reported from Jerusalem, and Faith Karimi wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Yousuf Basil contributed to this report.
Sparks fly when giants collide
7/11/2014 4:44:13 PM
- Germany faces Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final
- Argentina has not won tournament since 1986
- Germany's most recent victory came in 1990
- Third time teams have met in World Cup final
How are you celebrating the World Cup? Join the global conversation on CNN Facebook Pulse
(CNN) -- It is the scenario Brazil had always feared -- the $11 billion party where the neighbors come round and trash your newly spruced up home.
Anybody but Argentina, that is the message which is heard loudest in Brazil ahead of Sunday's final against Germany in Rio de Janeiro at the Maracana stadium.
Not since 1986 has Argentina triumphed in the World Cup, but that wait could be over should Lionel Messi and co. see off the Germans.
Brazil was humiliated by Germany 7-1 in the semifinal -- but an Argentine World Cup final victory might just trump that as an exercise in despair.
#ARG VS #NED --Semifinales de la Copa del Mundo. #Messi, ahora te toca a ti. #allin or nothing #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/PD72AbLGAu
— Team Messi (@TeamMessi) July 9, 2014 After defeating the Netherlands on penalties, Argentina is targeting its a third World Cup win after reaching its fourth final.
In 1978, Argentina, which hosted the tournament, defeated the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final in Buenos Aires to spark spectacular scenes of celebration.
Mario Kempes was the hero, scoring twice against a Dutch side which had lost at the same stage four years earlier against the Germans.
Eight years later, Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, reached the final once again where West Gemany was the opposition.
In a tight game, Maradona's wonderful pass released Jorge Burruchaga to fire home a dramatic 84th minute winner as Argentina prevailed 3-2.
Did you miss the first half? Here's what it looked like on our live blog:http://t.co/d35ugmUKsG #CNNWorldCup pic.twitter.com/E3Ft0tQFJj
— CNN Football Club (@CNNFC) July 8, 2014 The Germans side, coached by Franz Beckenbauer, got its revenge four years late when it won 1-0 in the final at Italy 1990.
Andreas Brehme's late penalty won a game marred by Argentina's ill-discipline and the sending off of two of its players.
Maradona, who was then playing at Italian club side Napoli, was left in tears as the Germans danced on the field of Rome's Olympic Stadium with the trophy it had so badly coveted for a third time.
It would be 20 years until the two teams met again in the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Maradona, in his role as coach, watched on in horror as his side was thrashed 4-0 and star player Lionel Messi failed to sparkle.
Thomas Muller opened the scoring with Miroslav Klose, now the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer, adding two and Arne Friedrich the fourth.
It is Muller which Argentina will have to watch at the Maracana on Sunday with the Bayern Munich star enjoying another impressive tournament.
The 24-year-old has already scored five goals in Brazil and is one away from joining Colombia's James Rodriguez as the top scorer on six.
Germany, which was beaten in the semifinals in 2006 and 2010, last reached the final in 2002 where it was beaten by Brazil.
"We've got to give our all on Sunday," Klose told reporters. "I know how it feels to lose a final. I want to lift that trophy into the air."
Many of this current crop have grown up together with the likes of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielders Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil all progressing from the youth setup.
This is now a record scoreline in a #WorldCup semi-final. Maybe we can make it an unbreakable record? #BRAGER 0-6 pic.twitter.com/8P35RatFll
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) July 8, 2014 Six of the team which won the European Under-21 Championships in 2009 are set to start against Argentina with Benedikt Howedes, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels all in the defense.
While Joachim Low's side produced a spectacular performance to dismantle Brazil, it has not had a particularly easy ride to the final.
After thrashing Portugal 4-0 in the opening fixture, it was forced to come from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Ghana.
A nervy 1-0 win over the USA ensured it finished top of Group G and booked a last-16 tie against Algeria.
While Germany was widely expected to win, it was only after extra time that it managed to find a breakthrough.
Substitute Andre Schurrle and Ozil scored the goals and although Algeria got one back late on, the Germans held out for a tense victory.
The quarterfinal against France, played in the heat of Rio, was a rather turgid affair with Hummels' early header enough to secure a 1-0 win.
The 7-1 win over Brazil was achieved after Germany raced into a 5-0 lead by the interval following a mediocre defensive display from the host nation.
So poor was Brazil's performance that Muller revealed how the German players made a decision to ease off in the second half so not to embarrass its opponent.
"With the score the way it was, we said we should avoid being arrogant and to refrain from humiliating the opponent," he told reporters.
"But that's something obvious. Yes, there was this agreement and it came from the players themselves."
FINAL!!!!! #ARG 3 - #NGA 2 Argentina se clasifica a octavos de final como 1° del grupo F y espera rival. pic.twitter.com/WfHN9zLHV0
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 25, 2014 There's little chance of Germany letting up against Argentina when the tournament's top two go head-to-head.
Alejandro Sabella, who will leave his role as coach after the final, has led his side through to the final following a hard-fought campaign.
In all of its three group games, only one goal separated Argentina from its rivals.
After beginning with a 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina was made to sweat until the very last minute against Iran before Messi curled home a stunning winner.
Against Nigeria, it was given a real fright before edging home 3-2 courtesy of Marcos Rojo's close-range effort.
Having topped Group F, Argentina progressed to face Switzerland which was defeated by a goal just two minutes before the end of extra-time.
Another 1-0 victory secured a semifinal place as Gonzalo Higuain's strike ensured Belgium was put to the sword.
The semifinal showdown against the Dutch was a dull affair with neither side managing to produce its best football.
Sergio Romero, the Argentine goalkeeper, became the hero after saving two penalties in the shootout before Maxi Rodriguez struck the winning kick.
It sparked wild scenes of jubilation, not just in Sao Paulo but across Argentina where 40 million people celebrated the nation's Independence Day with extra fervor.
Imagine if these TWO played together prime for prime! That would be illegal! #Messi #Maradona #ARG pic.twitter.com/tG59s1MUFh
— FIFAWorldCup (@ThaWorldCup) July 5, 2014 "Brasil, Decime Qué Se Siente" — translated to "Brazil, Tell Me How It Feels" -- is the song that has been sung throughout the tournament by Argentine fans confident of their team's success.
Much of Argentina's success will depend on Messi -- a man who has already scored four goals in the tournament and will captain the side in his 93rd international appearance.
Messi's achievements are well known -- 381 goals in 466 matches for Barcelona, three European Champions League titles and six Spanish La Liga triumphs only tell half the story.
Now he is aiming to add to his 42 international goals by inspiring Argentina to the biggest prize of all -- and the one which will surely make him one of the greatest players of all time.
No European country has ever won the World Cup in South America -- if Messi gets his own way, that statistic won't change any time soon.
As for millions of Brazilian football fans, who had so desperately sought a sixth world crown, Sunday is the party invitation they had could have done without.
Rizzoli to referee final
When it comes to famous football referees, Pierluigi Collina -- now retired -- might be the most famous of them all.
FIFA chose another Italian, Nicola Rizzoli, to take charge of Sunday's final.
The 42-year-old architect from Bologna refereed three games prior to the final, including two involving Argentina, as well as the 2013 Champions League final.
Read: Lionel Messi's moment of immortality?
Read: How do you catch Messi?
Blood tackles and calf biters
7/11/2014 4:53:31 PM
- Do you know your fly catcher from your banana pass?
- German success in the World Cup is matched by its creative language
- But to be German, winning must be tempered with pessimism, says CNN's Fred Pleitgen
Editor's note: CNN Correspondent Fred Pleitgen has been reporting on the World Cup while proudly wearing his Germany shirt.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (CNN) -- You may have watched in wonder as Germany dismantled Brazil on Tuesday. But to really appreciate the art of German football you need to understand the lingo.
The sport has its own vocabulary and, as is common in the German language, most new terms are created by simply lumping several words together to make a 15 or 20 character monster word that would be an entire sentence in many other languages.
So here is our guide to help you become an expert while watching Sunday's final.
1. First, start strong in defense. You need a great goalkeeper or a TEUFELSKERL (Devil's Man). He needs to command the penalty area, be the first to corner kicks and block shots and penalty kicks. German history is rich with great goalies from Sepp Maier to Bodo Illgner and Oliver Kahn all the way to today's man between the posts, Manuel Neuer.
2. If your goalkeeper does not perform he is laughed off as a FLIEGENFÄNGER (fly catcher).
3. Moving on to your defense, which is always the core of a German team. This is the ABWEHRRIEGEL (defensive barrier).
4. Great defenders have to excel at the BLUTGRAETSCHE (blood tackle) to take out attacking opponents. Prototypical German defenders have names like Guido Buchwald and Jürgen Kohler from the 1990 World Cup squad, who struck fear into most opponents.
5. There are also smaller more shifty defensive players who cannot be shaken off by attackers that are called WADENBEISSER (calf-biters), like Berti Vogts from the 1974 squad or Philip Lahm from today's team. Vogts earned the nickname the Terrier, like a little dog who never stops snarling around its enemy.
6. Think of the German midfield and you think of names like Lothar Mathäus, Michael Ballack, Stefan Effenberg or today's squad which is laden with talent including Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil, Toni Kroos, and Mario Götze. Great midfielders who lead teams are known as MITTELFELDREGISSEURE (midfield directors).
7. These midfielders must also be able to deliver perfect BANANENFLANKEN (banana passes), usually with the outside of their foot, setting the forwards free on goal.
8. And talking of the forwards, their main job is to score goals. You want a striker on your team who is a TORJÄGER (goal hunter).
9. But in order to be a great TORJÄGER he has to have a great TORRIECHER (goal nose), someone with the instinct to be in the right place at the right time. Germany is fortunate to have had two TORJÄGER with the same last name in Gerd Müller, who scored the decisive goal in the 1974 final against the Netherlands, and Thomas Müller of today's squad who was the top scorer in the 2010 World Cup and has five so far in Brazil. Then there was the current U.S. coach Jürgen Klinsmann who made his mark in the 1990 World Cup.
10. If your forwards and strikers have many chances but never seem to put the ball in the net, they will be dismissed as CHANCENTOD (death of chances). Believe it or not, Germany has had its share of these.
11. If you have your WADENBEISSER and TORRIECHER in your team, good for you. If not your team may be ridiculed as a GURKENTRUPPE (cucumber troop).
12. Or, even worse, a KARNEVALSVEREIN (carnival team). Brazil perhaps.
Ultimately, to be German you need to temper success with pessimism and criticism. After a 7-1 victory over Brazil you have to warn against complacency in the final and you must acknowledge the team still has weaknesses.
People from other countries often cannot understand this. It is why Americans were furious when Klinsmann said that the U.S. had no chance of winning the World Cup.
He was not trying to be mean. He was just being German and guess what, he took team America further than most fans predicted.
So here's to German football strategy, team lingo and pessimism, seeing themselves as the underdog against Argentina even after winning 7-1.
Viel Spass beim Fussball!
Medical crisis as bombs fall on Gaza
7/11/2014 5:21:13 PM
- NEW: Hamas security sources: Islamic Jihad militants killed in Israeli airstrike
- At least 100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Monday, officials say
- Medical sources compare the crisis in Gaza hospitals to that in Syria during its civil war
- Israel says all options remain on the table, says that Hamas must stop attacking Israel
Jerusalem (CNN) -- Patients being treated on the floor, because emergency rooms are overcrowded, medical sources say. Medicines running low. And, according to a Health Ministry spokesman, fuel shortages such that only half the available ambulances can run and the generators powering lights in hospitals might only last a few more days.
Sources there say that is the reality nowadays in Gaza, a dire situation that looks like it will persist or perhaps get worse -- since neither Hamas nor Israel's government have shown any indication of backing down.
Rockets being fired from Gaza into Israel are menacing and can be dangerous. Case in point came Friday, when a woman was hurt after a rocket hit a house in Be'er Sheva, according to Israel's military.
Every day, there are more such attacks, each one potentially lethal. Earlier Friday, for instance, Israel Defense Forces reported that two soldiers were lightly wounded in an attack by an anti-tank missile.
Hostilities between the two sides picked up weeks ago -- tensions that were exacerbated by the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers.
There's a disparity in the human toll in the latest fighting.
No Israelis have been killed so far by the hundreds of rockets fired toward southern Israel by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups in Gaza. Some Israelis have been wounded.
More than 100 people -- including at least 23 children and 24 women -- have been killed and nearly 800 others have been injured in Gaza from Israeli strikes, according to Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra, the spokesman for Gaza's health ministry. The toll kept rising Saturday, after an Israeli strike in Jabalya in northern Gaza that Hamas security sources said killed members of the Islamic Jihad militant group.
Those places where the injured are being treated aren't necessarily safe havens, either: Al-Qidra told CNN that at least one hospital in Gaza was shelled.
The medical sources who described the overcrowded emergency rooms in Gaza and dwindling supply of medicine characterized what is happening there as not unlike the chaos witnessed at Syrian hospitals during its civil war.
And even those not in hospitals or who haven't been impacted directly by airstrikes face significant challenges.
CNN staff in Gaza reported there are rolling blackouts, and there are water shortages in some areas because airstrikes have damaged pumping stations.
Israeli authorities insist that they want peace, and that they are striking back in order to defend their territory. As things stand, they contend, doing nothing is not a valid option.
To that point, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Friday that there is one path to a cease-fire: the cessation of attacks from Gaza.
Observers wonder whether Israel will escalate its defense with even more offense -- by sending troops into Gaza. Nothing is off the table, Netanyahu said.
"We are considering all options and getting ready for every possible scenario," he said. "All the citizens of Israel are aware of my major goal, and this is to bring back the quiet to all Israeli territories. Hamas keeps attacking us, and therefore we are fighting them back."
Rocket from Lebanon
Israel faced attack from a second front Friday, but it is unlikely that a rocket fired from Lebanon signifies the widening of the conflict with Hamas.
The rocket launched from Lebanon landed near the northern Israeli town of Metula, which sits right by the Lebanese border, and no damage or injuries have been reported. It was not immediately clear who fired the rocket.
An IDF spokesman said Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the attack, but concerns that Israel will face a two-front conflict are unlikely to be realized.
Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon and is caught up in other conflicts in the region, probably does not have the appetite to start a war with Israel.
Thousands of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel during a war in 2006, but rocket attacks since then have been sporadic. Tensions are always high between Hezbollah and Israel, but Hezbollah's involvement in Syria's civil war means that a fight with Israel might not make sense.
Nonetheless, Israel responded with artillery that landed in the vicinity of the Lebanese town of Kfar Shouba. No casualties were reported, the Lebanese army said.
Israel calls up reservists
As fears of an Israeli ground assault grew among Gaza residents Thursday, Israel revealed it has beefed up its forces by calling about 30,000 reservists to their units.
"We are utilizing that force to enable us to create a substantial force around Gaza, that if it is required, we'll be able to mobilize as soon as possible," Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
The Israeli Cabinet has authorized the military to call up 40,000 troops if needed. That is 10,000 more than were called up during Israel's offensive into Gaza in November 2012.
The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that since the start of Operation Protective Edge, more than 570 rockets have been fired at Israel. The country's Iron Dome defense system has intercepted more than 100 of them, the IDF said.
Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are believed to have about 10,000 rockets of varying ranges, according to the Israeli military. Israel has said some 3.5 million residents live in areas within reach of the rockets.
U.S. willing to help broker cease-fire
Hopes for a cease-fire appeared dim even as world leaders called for the two sides to stop the violence.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Netanyahu spoke by phone.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 cease-fire agreement," the White House said in a written statement, referring to the Egyptian-brokered deal that halted the previous Israel-Hamas conflict.
The President also condemned rocket attacks from Gaza and said the United States reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself.
From Samson and Delilah to Israeli-Palestinian fighting
Flare-up in Israeli-Palestinian violence: Why now?
Has the Middle East crisis reached a tipping point?
Was teen's death a revenge killing?
CNN's Kareem Khadder reported from Jerusalem, Mariano Castillo wrote this report in Atlanta, and CNN's Ben Wedeman reported from Gaza City. CNN's Greg Botelho, Jon Jensen, Aliza Kassim, Diana Magnay, Tal Heinrich, Amir Tal and Talal Abu Rahma contributed to this report.
Games they can't stop talking about
7/11/2014 10:05:25 AM
- Brazil's 7-1 defeat by Germany becomes huge social media talking point
- Semifinal generates nearly five million social mentions, according to CNN's Facebook
- England second only to Brazil in number of social mentions
(CNN) -- Germany's demolition of World Cup hosts Brazil in their Tuesday semifinal in Belo Horizonte is the game that seemingly everyone can't stop talking about.
The match generated nearly five million social mentions -- close to seven times as many mentions as the other semi between Argentina and the Netherlands -- according to CNN's Facebook Pulse, which has been charting social media interest in the tournament.
"Facebook generally sees a large amount of conversation around sporting events, but the World Cup has proven to be a unique moment," said a Facebook spokesman.
Brazil might have gone out of the World Cup in ignominious fashion but the hosts can take some consolation from the fact that they invariably generated the most social media interest regarding the teams that took part.
Brazil never failed to fall below below 400,000 social mentions for each game it played..
Brazil's star player Neymar, who was ruled out of the defeat by Germany due to a serious back injury, was by far the most talked about player of the tournament with 33 million social mentions -- seven million more than Lionel Messi, who helped guide Argentina to the final.
Ahead of Sunday's final, Germany's Thomas Muller is the most talked about German player with 2.7 million mentions, many of which came after his hat-trick against Ronaldo's Portugal in their opening group stage game.
American Tim Howard was the most talked about keeper with over two million mentions, more than a million more mentions than German keeper Manuel Neuer.
Despite their poor performance which saw them exit in the group stages, England is second only to Brazil in the number of of social mentions, with over 10 million interactions.
Brazilian kids live with big dreams
7/11/2014 1:05:01 PM
Even before Brazil's rout by Germany in the World Cup many were asking whether Brazil is still a major talent producer?
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Politicians dithering as Iraq burns?
7/11/2014 5:50:22 AM
- Iraqi lawmakers have been unable to appoint key posts despite security crisis in north, west of country
- Sunni terror group ISIS has seized large swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territory in recent months
- Nuri al-Maliki, Iraq's embattled Prime Minister, refuses to step down despite growing opposition
- Al-Maliki appears to be holding out for as long as possible in order to influence new government
Editor's note: Hayder al-Khoei is an Associate Fellow of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, a London-based think tank on international affairs. You can follow @Hayder_alKhoei on Twitter. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely his.
(CNN) -- Why are Iraqi politicians dragging their feet while ISIS militants fortify their foothold across the country?
Iraq's lawmakers are simply not going to "let a war get in the way of their political disputes," as one expert succinctly put it last week. And while the country burns, her politicians remain deadlocked on who to appoint to key government posts following April's national elections.
Iraq's new parliament convened for the first time on July 1 to elect a new speaker, but the session quickly descended into bickering between members of different parties and had to be rescheduled for July 8.
But little changed in the ensuing week -- and with all sides failing to reach agreement on who to appoint to the key posts of speaker, president and prime minister, the session was delayed again, until this weekend.
Iraq's political paralysis, even in the face of a threat as grave as ISIS' sweep across huge swathes of the country, is a sign of just how difficult an agreement will be to reach.
At the heart of the political problem lies incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. His coalition secured a plurality of votes in the general elections, winning almost three times as many seats as the closest rival. But a third term for al-Maliki, a Shia Muslim, is a red line for Sunni, Kurdish and even rival Shia parties.
MORE OPINION: Is Iran the only hope for peace?
If al-Maliki's support is melting away, as it appears to be, why won't he just step down? Al-Maliki's intransigence may reflect a desire to ensure that his choice to succeed him -- his former chief of staff, who many believe is the most viable alternative candidate -- will be nominated without much resistance from the other political parties.
"Show him death and he will accept a fever" is an Iraqi proverb that helps explain al-Maliki's insistence on remaining in power. Al-Maliki wants to exert enough pressure to ensure that the next government is formed on his terms even if he's not at the head of it. This may include a seat on the Presidency council as a Deputy, but it will certainly include a guarantee that he will not be prosecuted if he steps down.
Al-Maliki's Shia rivals can't dictate the terms of the next government formation process because they face an uncomfortable reality: the Shias may have a majority in the new parliament, but the Maliki contingent has the vast majority of seats within that bloc. He may be excluded from heading the next government but his bloc cannot be ignored.
READ MORE: Signs of war in an Iraqi market
This political paralysis is of course benefiting the various armed groups who do not believe in the political process and want to overthrow the post-2003 order. Iraq's Sunni politicians may have been directly elected by the people, but the masked men of ISIS -- many of whom are foreigners -- are the ones who now hold sway in much of western and northwestern Iraq.
Many Sunnis are flirting with the revolutionaries that want a complete overthrow of the current order because that order -- built on an ethno-sectarian model -- handicaps Sunnis, given their minority status. But changing the status quo is a red line for the Shia because it has brought them to the helm of power for the first time in Iraq's modern history. The collapse of the political order is as much a red line for the Shia as it is for neighboring Iran, which enjoys close ties with their Shia allies in Baghdad.
What to do in the face of this deadlock? The best-case scenario now would be a speedy government formation that leads to a greater decentralization of power whilst maintaining the territorial integrity of Iraq.
After 2010's general election it took nine months of horse-trading to get the various Sunni, Kurdish and Shia parties to agree on how best to divide the spoils of state amongst themselves. Now, there is recognition that Iraq does not have the luxury of dithering.
ISIS insurgents will continue wreaking havoc in Iraq because they do not believe in the democratic process. But if the Sunni political parties can buy in to the new government, it will take the air out of the insurgency and prove to the militants that politics can indeed work to secure more rights and privileges.
The worst-case scenario would be the de facto splitting up of Iraq. There is a "vital" Iraq that Iran and the Shia will fight to protect. This includes Baghdad, the city of Samarra to the north, the province of Diyala to the east and all nine Shia-dominated provinces in the south. Iranian-backed Shia militias have already mobilized to confront the insurgents and they will likely lead the efforts to secure this vital Iraq.
If the political process fails yet again, the Shia would likely be willing to cede vast amounts of Sunni-dominated territory and the Kurdish-controlled province of Kirkuk in exchange for unrivaled supremacy in Baghdad and the strategic oil-producing province of Basra in the south.
Iraq is on the brink of abyss again. Its leaders must act quickly.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Punish bankers not banks for crimes
7/11/2014 5:08:34 AM
- BNP Paribas has been fined nearly $9 billion in fines for violations of US sanctions
- French authorities criticized the fine as excessive and disproportionate
- Author Yves Smith says fines such as this have only limited impact on the banks
- Banks will not change until top executives face punishment, Yves Smith writes
Editor's note: Yves Smith is the creator of the influential financial and economics website Naked Capitalism and author of the book ECONNED: How Unenlightened Self-Interest Undermined Democracy and Corrupted Capitalism. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely her.
(CNN) -- French officials exploded in outrage after BNP Paribas agreed to plea guilty to criminal charges, pay nearly $9 billion in fines, and have access to dollar clearing suspended for a year for its persistent violations of US economic sanctions against Iran, Cuba and Sudan.
The international bank fell under US jurisdiction by virtue of facilitating transactions in dollars which passed through the US.
Most financial commentators had little sympathy with the French position, since the giant bank's conduct was egregious. It included ongoing records-doctoring to hide the true identity of customers and stymieing the US investigation.
But the French argument was essentially political: that the US had no right to impose its will on a foreign bank, and these transactions were legal under European law.
Yet this is far from the first time the US has used its position as issuer of the world's reserve currency to advance its foreign policy agenda.
For instance, in the Suez Crisis in 1956, Britain's need for dollar credit to defend the pound enabled the US to force Britain and France to pull back from military confrontation.
The economic reality is that the US derives considerable power from its role as the issuer of the world's reserve currency and its control over dollar-based payment systems. Large banks run huge volumes of transactions with each other during the day.
They are willing to do so because these systems are ultimately backstopped by the Federal Reserve.
Yves Smith
While parties unhappy with America's use, and some would contend abuse, of US dollar dominance, financial institutions could set up dollar transaction mechanisms that completely skirted the US. But with low volumes and no Fed protection, they'd be vastly higher cost.
The other alternative is to try to encourage more use of non-dollar currencies, like the euro and China's renminbi.
But the euro has no benchmark bond, plus continued concerns about political fracture and sovereign bond restructurings mean it's not a contender to replace the greenback any time soon. And even though China has been aggressively promoting trade denominated in the renminbi, the volume is puny, a mere 1.5% of the global total.
But putting aside the international row, what does the BNP Paribas settlement say about addressing misconduct at too big to fail banks?
Perversely, while banks are wards of the state and get more support and subsidies than any other type of business (for instance, ZIRP and quantitative easing are massive transfers from savers to financial players), the authorities have lacked the will to discipline them effectively.
Even though the BNP Paribas fine exceeded a year of earnings, the bank's stock rose 3.6% when the deal was announced, saying that investors though BNP Paribas had done well.
The conundrum is indicting a bank at the parent level is widely perceived to be a potential death blow, since many counterparties would have to stop doing business with it immediately.
Removing the US banking licenses of a serial fraudster, another possible remedy, would similarly put a US firm out of business and would inflict severe, permanent damage on a big foreign bank. Hence the tendency of officials to rely on big, or at least big-sounding, fines.
But it is bankers, not banks, that commit crimes.
Here, the BNP Paribas deal falls short. True, 13 officers were forced to resign, including one of its chief operating officers. But he was on the verge of retirement, and more important, no one was charged criminally or fined.
By contrast, in 1991, when Salomon Brothers failed to curb a trader that was repeatedly gaming government bond auctions, Salomon's CEO, vice chairman, and president departed abruptly.
We've seen nothing like that punishment meted out to top executives in the post-crisis wave of investigations.
And until that happens, banks will continue to behave as if they have the upper hand.
Read more: Why screen stars are battling Europe's banks
Read more: Banks know that customers hate them
What Obama could learn on the border
7/11/2014 5:51:03 AM
- Ruben Navarrette: President Obama should visit the border in light of crisis
- He says Obama's call for more spending is right, but won't stop flow of people seeking refuge
- Republicans will have to accept more spending on border and immigration, he says
Editor's note: Ruben Navarrette is a CNN contributor and a nationally syndicated columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group. Follow him on Twitter: @rubennavarrette. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
San Diego, California (CNN) -- It's the law of unintended consequences.
Each time Americans spend billions to fortify the border by building fences or hiring Border Patrol agents, human traffickers raise their prices.
Today, it costs about $3,000 to move a person across the border. It's less if you brave mountain lions and cross off the beaten path. It's more if you cross near civilization and absolutely positively have to be there overnight. If we bolster enforcement, the price could soar to $6,000.
How do we win a battle against an opponent when, the more we spend to defeat him, the more we empower him to fight back?
This riddle could stump anyone, but President Barack Obama seems to find it especially difficult.
Raised in Hawaii and having lived in Chicago, Obama is a newbie to the border. He's made one memorable visit in 5½ as president and he must have felt as if he landed on another planet.
Even on this week's fundraising swing through Texas, Obama couldn't find time to visit the border.
That was his loss. When you travel from San Diego to Douglas, Arizona, to Columbus, New Mexico, to Brownsville, Texas, it's like you're visiting several worlds at once. Each stretch has its own script. It's a fascinating area -- unless you're not interested.
Obama doesn't seem all that interested in the border, except when he can use it as a weapon.
In May 2011, during a visit to El Paso, Texas, Obama mocked Republicans by saying they wanted to build a moat on the border and fill it with alligators.
This week, in Dallas, more than 500 miles from the border, the president revealed his plans for tens of thousands of kids whose heads are filled with nightmares.
Since October, spurred by violent youth gangs in their home countries and fake news reports of "permisos" for young people approved by Congress, about 52,000 children and teenagers from Central America have been apprehended on the border.
"Apprehended" is too generous a word, since most of these people reportedly went up to Border Patrol agents with their arms raised and asked to be arrested. These uninvited guests are neither invading nor evading. They're surrendering.
A lot of Texas Democrats probably thought it was a bad idea for Obama to snub the border, and one said so out loud.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, suggested that Obama's failure to survey firsthand the scene of the crisis evoked memories of President George W. Bush viewing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina from an airplane flying high overhead.
This week, Cuellar said: "I hope this doesn't become the Katrina moment for President Obama, saying that he doesn't need to come to the border. He should come down."
Now that U.S. officials have custody of the border kids, many of whom were -- according to media reports -- sexually assaulted or had their lives threatened, the hard part is deciding what to do with them. Do we really want to send them back? Are we that monstrous?
Obama has asked Congress for $3.7 billion to deal with the crisis -- which includes $1.8 billion to help the Department of Health and Human Services provide better care for the children, and another $1.6 billion to help the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice expedite their removal. The remaining $300 million would go to the State Department to help Latin American governments counter the misinformation campaign.
This budgetary whiplash -- where we show these kids some kindness before banishing them to the dark, desperate and dangerous places from which they escaped -- summarizes Obama's muddled approach to the immigration issue, where he tries to be both tough and compassionate and winds up confused.
We need more border funding, but we could also use a lot more honestly and clarity in this debate. Money can't buy that.
Liberals will have to swallow the fact that it was their foil, George W. Bush, who signed a law in 2008 giving safe haven to unaccompanied minors from Central America, and now it's their champion, Barack Obama, who seeks the power to override it.
Meanwhile, conservatives are putting up a fight against the funding, but that won't last. They can't stand the idea of letting these kids stay here and grow up to become dependents and Democrats, and so they have to help Obama fund their return. For a while, there will be a tug-of-war in the GOP between the border hawks and budget hawks. But the former will win.
That's a good outcome. It would also be good for Congress to pass immigration reform, and for Obama to ease up on deportations.
For now, the administration needs the $3.7 billion, and it should get every penny. Congress should be generous, and the President should be diligent, but neither of them should be naive.
On the border, enforcement dollars are no silver bullet. We can hire more Border Patrol agents, build more walls, and expedite deportations. But none of that will stop the downtrodden, desperate, and determined from seeking refuge in a country that is supposed to be in the business of offering it.
And if Obama spent more time on the border, he'd already know that.
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Israel strikes back after 'rocket fired from Lebanon'
7/11/2014 10:12:12 AM
- At least 100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Monday, officials say
- Hamas says it's ready for "a very long battle"
- Israel uses artillery to respond to rocket fired from southern Lebanon
- Spokesman for Israeli military says 30,000 reservists have reported for duty
Gaza City (CNN) -- Israel faced attack from a second front Friday, but it is unlikely that a rocket fired from Lebanon signifies the widening of a conflict that has left at least 100 dead in Gaza.
The rocket launched from Lebanon landed near the northern Israeli town of Metula, which sits right by the Lebanese border, and no damage or injuries have been reported. It was not immediately clear who fired the rocket.
An Israel Defense Forces spokesman said Israel holds the Lebanese government responsible for the attack, but concerns that Israel will face a two-front conflict are unlikely to be realized.
Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon and is caught up in other conflicts in the region, probably does not have the appetite to start a war with Israel.
Thousands of rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel during a war in 2006, but rocket attacks since then have been sporadic. Tensions are always high between Hezbollah and Israel, but Hezbollah's involvement in Syria's civil war means that a fight with Israel might not make sense.
Nonetheless, Israel responded with artillery that landed in the vicinity of the Lebanese town of Kfar Shouba. No casualties were reported, the Lebanese army said.
Israel continued to weather rocket attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza, but virtually all of the casualties in the conflict have been suffered on the Gazan side.
Though menacing, nearly all the Hamas rockets have been intercepted by the Israeli air defense system or struck empty areas. Airstrikes by Israel in Gaza, in contrast, have been blamed for at least 100 deaths, including 22 children and 20 women, a spokesman for Gaza's Ministry of Health said.
Hospitals in Gaza are unable to take care of the wounded -- who top 700 -- and patients are being treated on the floors because emergency rooms are overcrowded, medical sources told CNN.
The same medical sources said that medicines are running low and that the scenes at the hospitals are not unlike the chaos witnessed at Syrian hospitals during its civil war.
CNN staff in Gaza reported there are rolling blackouts, and there are water shortages in some areas because airstrikes have damaged pumping stations.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, said that some 100 rockets were fired at Israel today, including one that was intercepted over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.
Israel calls up reservists
As fears of an Israeli ground assault grew among Gaza residents Thursday, Israel revealed it has beefed up its forces by calling about 30,000 reservists to their units.
"We are utilizing that force to enable us to create a substantial force around Gaza, that if it is required, we'll be able to mobilize as soon as possible," Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
The Israeli Cabinet has authorized the military to call up 40,000 troops if needed. That is 10,000 more than were called up during Israel's offensive into Gaza in November 2012.
Government spokesman Mark Regev said units have been deployed.
"We're ready to go, if we need to go," he told Blitzer.
Regev said Israel didn't want a situation where Hamas, which controls Gaza, was given a "timeout" where it could regroup before restarting its attacks.
Grim mood in Gaza
Hamas' military wing, meanwhile, said in a video statement late Thursday that it was ready for an extended confrontation.
"We assure the enemy that we have prepared ourselves for a very long battle, not for a week or 10 days as described by some of the enemy's commanders, but for very long weeks," the speaker said in the video, wearing camouflage fatigues with most of his face covered by a scarf.
"The world will see the skulls of your soldiers being stepped on by Gaza's children with their bare feet," the speaker said.
The mood is grim in Gaza, Palestinian officials say. Throughout Gaza, people are expecting an Israeli ground incursion. Many people have nowhere to flee and there are no bomb shelters.
"I can't leave. I have nowhere to go. Better to stay at home, inside and be safe," one resident of the town of Bait Hanoun in northern Gaza told CNN.
Most residents live in homes without safe rooms and walls made of breeze block, which a bullet could pass through like paper.
Children among the dead
Each day, the death toll has risen in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday it has struck at 785 Hamas targets since announcing the start of its offensive Monday with the aim of hurting Hamas and stopping rocket attacks on Israel.
Tensions in the region flared last week after the killings of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank, followed by the killing in Jerusalem of a Palestinian teenager that police say may have been an act of revenge. Israel blames Hamas for the deaths of the three Israeli youths, although the group has denied responsibility.
The IDF has said its targets in Gaza include rocket launchers, tunnels and the homes of senior Hamas leaders, which the IDF describes as "command centers."
But among the dead are an 18-month-old baby and an 80-year-old woman, according to information from the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The Palestine Liberation Organization said Israeli bombs have hit civilian infrastructure, including a line that provides water to a refugee camp and a sewage plant.
The IDF has not responded to the accusations. It says it uses phone calls and drops empty shells on roofs -- what it calls "roof knocking" -- to warn civilians that airstrikes are imminent. But the approach doesn't guarantee their safety.
U.S. willing to help broker cease-fire
Hopes for a cease-fire appeared dim even as world leaders called for the two sides to stop the violence.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 cease-fire agreement," the White House said in a written statement, referring to the Egyptian-brokered deal that halted the previous Israel-Hamas conflict.
The President also condemned rocket attacks from Gaza and said the United States reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told reporters he has been reaching out to regional leaders in an attempt to help get the two sides to stop the violence soon.
"It is imperative not only to restore calm today, but to establish a political horizon for tomorrow," he said. "Without the prospect of an end to the conflict, the sides will grow ever more polarized."
'Prepared for all possibilities'
There have been hints for days from some Israeli officials about the possibility of a ground offensive in Gaza, but there were questions about the government's appetite for such a conflict.
Netanyahu said Wednesday that the aerial offensive would be expanded and continue "until the firing at our communities stops and quiet is restored."
He didn't specify what the expansion of Operation Protective Edge would entail, saying that Israel's military "is prepared for all possibilities."
No Israelis have been killed so far by the hundreds of rockets fired toward southern Israel by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups in Gaza. Some Israelis have been wounded by the attacks.
The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that since the start of Operation Protective Edge, more than 570 rockets have been fired at Israel. The country's Iron Dome defense system has intercepted more than 100 of them, the IDF said.
Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza are believed to have about 10,000 rockets of varying ranges, according to the Israeli military. Israel has said some 3.5 million residents live in areas within reach of the rockets.
Sides speak at U.N. Security Council meeting
Israel and the Palestinians laid out their positions at a U.N. Security Council meeting Thursday.
Ambassador Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, accused Israel of "terrorizing our people, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds."
Allegations by Israel that Palestinians are using human shields are "audacious," he said, and he rejected the argument that Israel is defending itself.
Israel "deliberately carries out reprisals and collective punishment against the Palestinian people in declared retaliation and revenge ... for the killing of the three Israeli settlers, which the Palestinian leadership has clearly condemned," Mansour said.
Israel, for its part, called on the Security Council to condemn Hamas and its launching of rockets across the border.
Ron Prosor, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, played a recording of a siren during the middle of his remarks, to show how Israelis only have 15 seconds, he said, to run for cover.
"Asking Israel to show restraint while our cities are under constant attack is like asking the fire brigade to battle an inferno with nothing more than buckets of water," he said.
Gaza timeline: From Samson and Delilah to Israeli-Palestinian fighting
Flare-up in Israeli-Palestinian violence: Why now?
Has the Middle East crisis reached a tipping point?
Was teen's death a revenge killing?
CNN's Ben Wedeman reported from Gaza City. Jethro Mullen reported and wrote from Hong Kong, and Steve Almasy reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Michael Pearson, Yousuf Basil, Nada Husseini, Brian Walker, Larry Register, Kareem Khadder, Diana Magnay, Tal Heinrich, Amir Tal, Salma Abdelaziz and Talal Abu Rahma contributed to this report.
Gaza mood darkens
7/11/2014 10:25:08 AM
CNN's Ben Wedeman reports from Gaza were the mood has grown darker as Hamas and Israel continue to exchange fire.
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