Israel invades Lebanon after new capturing of soldiers

[Imran Siddiqui]

About the airport:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beirut_International_Airport

The airport is operated and maintained by Middle East Airports Services (MEAS) which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the national carrier, MEA. MEAS conducts all airport operations from cleaning the bathrooms to de-rubberizing the runways. Operations are regulated by the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), the Lebanese government agency which sets aviation guidelines, safety standards, etc. The LCAA is also responsible for operating the air traffic control (ATC) in the airport as well as regulate Lebanon's airspace.

MEA and LCAA are both run by the Lebanese government, not Hezbollah. The fact that they are in a pro Hezbollah suburb is irrelevant. They don't control air traffic or operate the airport.

It's like saying the gangs which exist around LAX control that airport.

[q=Plato]Really? Whe n did that change? Bush has pledged to pressure the Israelis to limit civillian casualties. That's being on Lebanon's side? Hmmmm.....[/q]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/14/mideast/index.html

Despite statements from several countries -- including the United States and Lebanon -- that Lebanon doesn't have the capacity to extend its authority into Hezbollah-held territory, Israel has blamed the Lebanese government for the violence and charged it with the safe release of the soldiers.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/13/labott/

The Bush administration has said Iran and Syria bear ultimate responsibility for the violence with its support for the Hezbollah and for Hamas militants battling Israeli forces in Gaza.

"We are saying, 'Think before you leap. Don't overdo it. Don't respond with emotions and end up bringing the fall of this government and strengthening Hezbollah and bring about another pro-Syrian government,' " said a senior U.S. government official, speaking privately due to the sensitivity of the ongoing diplomacy.

"The concern is that any activities by Israel to protect herself will weaken that government, or topple that government, and we've made it clear in our discussions," Bush said.

[q=Az]And the fact that Israel said they blamed lebanon doesn't mean that Israel wants the collapse of the government. Again, if we wanted that, we'd do it a whole other way.[/q]

And your actions may just have led to a collapse of the government anyway. Pro-Syrian forces must be smiling.

[PLATO]

Supporting the continuance of the Lebanese government is not taking their side. Also, not sure that CNN commentators know more about the shadow government of Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon than a US Senator, but I am still willing to look at your source should you choose to reveal it.

[Az]

And your actions may just have led to a collapse of the government anyway. Pro-Syrian forces must be smiling.

On the contrary, and it seems that your knowledge of what's going on currently in Lebanon is limited. What I get is that almost all of the political forces in Lebanon are united against Hizbullah, and it's approach. it's a clear case of mission accomplished. the action is able to uncover dormant pressures amongst the arab world. Saudi Arabia is criticizing it, most of Lebanon criticizes it - everyone knows that it was a stupid thing to do - and calls them on it, plus they're not ashamed of putting the blame where it really lies - Syria and Iran.

MEA and LCAA are both run by the Lebanese government, not Hezbollah. The fact that they are in a pro Hezbollah suburb is irrelevant. They don't control air traffic or operate the airport.

well, duh. question is, do you think that this prevents it being used by the Hizbullah?

[SlowwHand]

Israeli warplanes strike in Beirut again
AP - 1 hour, 29 minutes ago

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israeli warplanes punished the Lebanese capital on Friday, blasting the airport for a second day, shattering bridges, igniting fuel storage tanks and cutting the main highway to Syria. Hezbollah guerrillas fought back with a fresh barrage of rockets. Police said three people were killed and dozens wounded in the airstrikes, raising the death toll to 60 on the third day of Israel's offensive against the Iranian-backed militants.

[Az]

http://lebanesebloggers.blogspot.com

Good reading.

[Robert]

It seems to me that Israel wants to isolate Lebanon for the purpose of keeping other parties out of the conflict. Imagine what happens when the kidnapped soldiers are being moved to Iran........
And of course to be sure that the Hezbollah leaders can't leave Lebanon as well.

Anyway, if 1800 rockets have been fired from Lebanon's territory and the governament of Lebanon doesn't want to do anything about it (for obvious or less obvious reasons) then I think Israel is legally allowed to strike Lebanon. Remember that it was international pressure that forced Israel to return the northern areas of Lebanon back to Israel. Israel didn't want to for reasons of defense. Now you see why Israel didn't want to do that, because the day before yesterday suddenly Hezbollah decided to attack Israel.

1800 rockets on wednessday and thursday, that's an awefull lot of rockets. Fortunately Hezbolla's rockets are made of cardbox or something 8)

[SlowwHand]

Bomb up that road to Syria.

[Imran Siddiqui]

[q=Plato]Supporting the continuance of the Lebanese government is not taking their side. [/q]

Er... yes it is. Lebanon is saying it isn't us, it's Hezbollah. Bush is saying it isn't Lebanon, it's Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran. If it IS Lebanon's government, then why would anyone backing Isreal want its continuance?

[q=Az]What I get is that almost all of the political forces in Lebanon are united against Hizbullah, and it's approach. it's a clear case of mission accomplished.[/q]

WTF? It's "mission accomplished" that political forces in Lebanon are anti-Hezbollah... because you know, they kind of where before as well (that's what happens when anti-Syrian forces take over the government... they aren't really fond of pro-Syrian forces). Still doesn't mean they can take out Hezbollah in the South. They don't have enough power.

[Proteus_MST]

From the blog:

Another piece of information by fellow blogger Raja:

ALERT: Swiss embassy in Lebanon has given Swiss nationals until 6:00 PM today to leave the country. They base this timing on the fact that the Israelis have given Hizballah until 6:00 PM to return the prisoners after which, they will effectively burn the country down.

This is only one hour to go. It's 5PM in Lebanon.

Update: Hizbullah is showering North Israel with rockets and tens are wounded and dying. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Health Ministry has declared that 65 Lebanese have died and 195 are wounded.

Saudi Arabia's statement yesterday that what Hizbullah is doing is far from resistance might just be a green light to Israel to eliminate the party's military base. That's scary because we are entering the unknown, an unchartered territory.

[Az]

WTF? It's "mission accomplished" that political forces in Lebanon are anti-Hezbollah... because you know, they kind of where before as well (that's what happens when anti-Syrian forces take over the government... they aren't really fond of pro-Syrian forces). Still doesn't mean they can take out Hezbollah in the South. They don't have enough power.

Not political forces, and not "anti-Hizbullah".

it's the surfacing of the tensions, and the fact that the Lebanese know who's to blame that is positive.

This opens up a whole lot of options. For example, the ruling voice I hear in the blog above, and the other blogs is "Go after Hizbullah". Now it's true that you also hear "don't go after us", but now we can go after Hizbullah.

I hope we do.

[SlowwHand]

Buh-bye Lebanon.

[Blaupanzer]

Clearly Israel has launched a second front in its amazing campaign to try to eliminate an idea. This didn't work in Lebanon the last time, why do they think it will work this time. I am in favor of the continued existance of Israel, but this seems wildly extreme, not really a form of "defense."

[Az]

I am in favor of the continued existance of Israel,

Unbelievable!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Az

WTF? It's "mission accomplished" that political forces in Lebanon are anti-Hezbollah... because you know, they kind of where before as well (that's what happens when anti-Syrian forces take over the government... they aren't really fond of pro-Syrian forces). Still doesn't mean they can take out Hezbollah in the South. They don't have enough power.

Not political forces, and not "anti-Hizbullah".

it's the surfacing of the tensions, and the fact that the Lebanese know who's to blame that is positive.

This opens up a whole lot of options. For example, the ruling voice I hear in the blog above, and the other blogs is "Go after Hizbullah". Now it's true that you also hear "don't go after us", but now we can go after Hizbullah.

I hope we do.

Hell, that's what you should have done from the start! Makes no sense to blame Lebanon for what Hezbollah has done, especially since the new pro-US anti-Syria government has been in office for less than a year and hasn't exactly built up the Lebanese military to take out Hezbollah (if they went after them now it'd be a bloody civil war taking years and years again).

I think most Lebanese do realize that Hezbollah is a pro-Syrian force in a country which threw out the Syrian troops a year back.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
[q=Plato]Supporting the continuance of the Lebanese government is not taking their side. [/q]

Er... yes it is. Lebanon is saying it isn't us, it's Hezbollah. Bush is saying it isn't Lebanon, it's Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran. If it IS Lebanon's government, then why would anyone backing Isreal want its continuance?

It's a bit more complex than the simplistic face you try to put on it...but I think you are probably aware of that and just arguing semantics.

The fact remains that while we support the continuance of the current Lebanese Government, the US is coming out strong in support of Israels right to defend herself. Pressuring the Israelis to limit civilian casualties is well within the order of our poltically correct outward face.

Putting our power where we really feel is evidenced by us blocking UN action to condemn Israel's use of force...certainly not the action of a country that is "taking Lebanon's side". Again, I feel you are probably knowlefdgeable enough to have seen these things as well and to realize that they speak against your argument. However, if you wish to stand on semantics....