Thu 20 Jul 2006
said Abu Ali Koteish, 53, who owns a nearby flower shop.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Mideast_Fighting_South_Lebanon.html
Yes, especially for those great "Christians" in this country who support Israel just so the Israelites can reoccupy their lost lands and hasten the coming of the apocalypse.
Finally The UN is saying that war crimes might be occurring. Might be occurring? If the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes in Lebanon by the IDF and IAF is not a war crime, then what is? Olmert the heir to the architect (Ariel Sharon) of the Sabra and Shatila massacres in 1982 (who is trying to prove to the world that he's got as small a dick as Bush) should be indicted for war crimes.
Ok, attack Hezbollah, attack their rocket installations, attack Syria and Iran if they are to blame like Bush is saying (not that I agree with that nonsense) but the murder and destruction of Lebanon is unconscionable, and the United States complicity and consent to this criminal act makes it an accomplice. It is our weaponry that keeps the IDF armed to the tune of more than $3bn in tax dollars annually. If the U.S. wanted this to stop we could stop it, so while we sit idly by and watch the destruction of Lebanon we are guilty too.
Also, the action will be a failure. Hezbollah, who's power was waning in Lebanon prior to this action, is now gaining in popularity because those who do remember the Lebanese Civil War (really a proxy war between Syria and Israel) are seeing their nightmares return, and those who don't are shouting "why us, we didn't do anything."
Israel blames Lebanon for not implementing SCR 1559. Besides the hypocrisy (uhh, SCR 242 Israel?), Israel didn't hold up their end of 1559 by not retreating from the Shabaa farms. How was Lebanon supposed to disarm Hezbollah when it had no means to do so and no help was offered?
July 20th, 2006 at 10:14 am
Mr. ed, do you seriously think Hezbollah is a free agent in this? Or that their military wing has ever been anything but an Iranian proxy? Is it a coincidence that the Katyusha trucks started firing as the pressure on Iran's nuclear program began to mount? Where do you think the Fajr-3's came from?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fajr-3_rocket
How would you suggest Israel respond to this sort of high mobility, state-sponsored threat?
That said, my favorite recent Pat Buchanan quote:
"The Israeli's behavior is un-Christian and Un-American."
July 20th, 2006 at 10:47 am
Sassy– I don't think that just because the weapons came form Iran means that Hezbollah is acting as an Iranian proxy. They ceratily have their own reasons and ideological positions to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Israel's weapons came from the U.S. but they certainly are not acting just as our proxy, despite the fact that the U.S. government has obviously given an OK to the Israeili actions.
And given present international relations (especially in the Middle East can we honestly say that any group/nation is acting as a free agent?
July 20th, 2006 at 11:06 am
Sassy, regardless of whether or not Hezbollah is an Iranian or Syrian proxy (why does Hezbollah get linked to either or as is convenient for whoever is spouting rhetoric), I don't in any way beleive that Hezbollah acted on Iran's orders (in the initial attack and kidnapping of IDF soldiers) in the attributed causality (by the U.S.) of this conflict. It seems to me that they were being opportunistic of Israel being involved in taking apart Gaza to try to put egg on Israel's face and grossly miscalculated Israel's response.
Regardless, I'm not apologizing for Hezbollah - I could really care less if they get pounded into the dust - I still don't see any justification for Israel's destruction of Lebanese Civilian Infrastructure and Civilian population to date over 300 Lebanese have died and 500,000 are IDPs or refugees who had nothing to do with Hezbollah.
If your assertion is correct, that Iran is pulling all of Hezbollah's strings, then why did Israel not attack Iran? How does destroying Lebanon accomplish their aims? Hezbollah rockets are still falling on Haifa while Israel bombs christian neighborhoods in Beiruit, powerplants and cities in Northern Lebanon (not where Hezbollah operates). Israel is also bombing Lebanese army outposts and bases - how is the Lebanese army supposed to put an end to Hezbollah attacks when it is itself being attacked? Please elucidate.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:00 am
Interesting analysis by John Robb:
http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/
No explanation for exactly why, buy Robb's contention seems to be that Israel's intention is to turn Lebanon in to a failed state. I can't fathom how that is in their best interest, but there you go.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:04 am
Yeah, I read that yesterday before posting and agree that the current actions are doomed to turn Lebanon into a "failed state." I don't understand Israel's motiviations either (perhaps to turn Lebanon into an Israeli client as opposed to a Syrian client?), but looking at today's Haaretz and the pending invasion of Lebanon by IDF ground troops, the situtation is just going to get uglier.
Also, the other Haaretz commentary that Ana passed to me and I posted is a really interesting perspective on the damage that Israel is doing to itself morally and culturally - sentiments in that commentary are generally echoed by Refusniks.
July 21st, 2006 at 10:51 am
For the record, I don't think "systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure and homes in Lebanon by the IDF and IAF" is, in itself, a war crime. We did as much in WWII and every other war I can think of. Isn't that part of destroying an opponent's ability to wage war?
But, that said, the implication is that Israel is at war with Lebanon and not just Hizbollah, and I'm not suggesting that either is a good idea or well-executed.
July 22nd, 2006 at 9:23 am
I think Pat Buchanan may be on your side, Ed:
http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/16312.html
Also, I've just been reading up about war crimes, and I don't think it fits the legal definition, but that doesn't make it any less repugnant. Nor does the fact that many Christians in this country are cheering on the destruction seem any less revolting. Where's our humanity gone?