As far as applying the Gaddafi Precedent goes, there would be a stronger case for action against Hamas in Gaza than against Israel.

The Arab League demanding military action?? They might demand it all they want, they, and the world and its dog, know they won't do anything about it - 1948; 1956; 1967; 1973; 2006; 2008 - They know if they act against Israel they will be defeated, hopefully this time the Israeli's will finish the job once and for all, both sides in this mess have had over 60 years to reach an agreement and every time the Arabs have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in order to continue "their struggle".

"After this attack was repulsed Iranian forces counterattacked and occupied Iraqi territory until the end of the war (which ended soon after the US shot down a civilian Iranian airliner, which was taken by the Iranians as an indication that the USA was at the point of moving in in support of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime)."

Utter bullshit Kevin. The Aegis weapons control system on the USS Vincennes is extremely fast and cannot be overidden once it perceives a threat. The British DLG HMS Hampshire nearly shot down a civilian cargo 707 in the Malacca Straits during the Indonesian Confrontation under similar circumstances, but the Commanding Officer (who in those days was the ONLY person who could give the order to "engage") took a very courageous decision to wait until one of two things happened:

1: The aircraft turned away sharply and the radar echo split in two with one continuing on towards the ship indicating that the aircraft had launched one or more stand-off weapons (Kelt missiles) - in this case Hampshires weapons systems shoot down the missiles

2: The Rating manning the MRS-3 Director gets a visual on the aircraft and positively identifies it.

What happened was the latter. In accordance with the "Rules of Engagement" in force at the time the Captain of HMS Hampshire would have been fully justified in taking on that aircraft and shooting it down - just as the Captain of the USS Vincennes was.