Middle East thread continued

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by GePap
What does that have to do with anything? Why would the Lebanse government want the political headache? To make Israelis feel safer???

I'd say yes.

[SlowwHand]

Here's part of the problem. People like this idiot soccer mom.

"No one has stood up to Israel the way the resistance (Hezbollah) has," said a 33-year-old housewife, Laila Remeiti, one of about 130 people who have taken refuge at a Beirut government school.

[GePap]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Here's part of the problem. People like this idiot soccer mom.

And why is you opinion any more valid?

To add, if she is 33, then she lived either through the Israeli ocupation, or the civil war, or both. So she has far more personal connectiont o the issue than some Texan half a world away. And she is the idiot?

[SlowwHand]

GePap, Israel is doing this over terrorism. She is a supporter of terrorism, but she can't understand retaliation. Texan or not, I can.

[Ecthy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5184428.stm

Deadly Hezbollah attack on Haifa
Rockets fired by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have killed at least eight people and wounded many others in the coastal Israeli city of Haifa.

Meanwhile, Israeli jets have hit targets in the south of the Lebanese capital Beirut, including Hezbollah's al-Manar TV and a power station.

The fifth day of violence came as the UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement calling for a ceasefire.

The Israeli air raids began after Hezbollah seized two Israeli soldiers.

It is the second time Haifa has been hit by Hezbollah rockets in recent days and the worst attack on Israel since hostilities with Lebanon broke out.

At least five rockets are reported to have landed in the city, including one which hit a train station.

On Saturday, Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had made an emotional appeal for a UN-supervised ceasefire to end Israeli raids that have killed more than 80 Lebanese.

Lebanese diplomats blamed the US for blocking the ceasefire move.

The current president of the UN Security Council, French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, said there would be "no agreement tonight" on a truce statement following a closed-door session late on Saturday.

Lebanese representative Nouhad Mahmoud said he was "very disappointed" and that this would "send a very wrong signal not only to the Lebanese people, but to Arab people".

I hope everyone and everyone's loved ones are OK

[GePap]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
GePap, Israel is doing this over terrorism. She is a supporter of terrorism, but she can't understand retaliation. Texan or not, I can.

Given your "world view", I am sure it is beyond your ability to comprehend that that woman does not view what Hizbullah does as "terrorism". BUt of course, subtlety and complexity are not things found in the "Sloww" universe, so expecting comprehension from you is a wasted enterprise.

[Ecthy]

As for the discussion? I find it insane how Israel's actions are compared with Hizbollah (is there ANY standard spelling for this? I hate how Siro spells it ) actions on the same level, how Israel's actions are called "state terrorism" by evil lefties and how some people just don't want to see the restraint Israel has been taking for decades.

There are many who'll just do anything to bend reality in a way t oblame Israel for whatever goes on. Stealing land and water? These are security issues, what is land and water versus blood? And I seriously wonder why some people are so keen on twisting it all to blame Israel. I hate generalizing and jumping to conclusion, but I wouldn't be surprised if the anti-Israel "criticism", come it from pacifists or whatever people, was founded on some much older sentiment in their western minds.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
GePap, Israel is doing this over terrorism. She is a supporter of terrorism, but she can't understand retaliation. Texan or not, I can.

Israel's not doing this over terrorism. It was largely guerilla activities which set this off.

[Qilue]

Originally posted by Sprayber
The Isralies are bombing what they are bombing because they can and in their mind it is limiting their enemies ability to act out. The idea of bombing America or Europe is stupid to even consider. I don't see Iran or Syria in any hurry to get involved in this despite the bravado coming from Iran. If I were the Palastinians or Lebanese I would be ****ing pissed that Iran only seems concerned about threatening to do something if Syria is attacked and Syria is keeping its mouth shut except for the usual line of the evil Zionist.

The only people actually trying to do something are the Egyptians. They may not have been successful so far but at least they are doing more than talking out their ass. From what I have heard Egypt has actually been trying to broker a deal. Ineffective yes, but at least they are trying.

This might be influenced by the fact that Israel's nominal ally has a significant military presence in the blue shaded area on this map.

(Original image from http://www.worldatlas.com/)

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Not to interrupt, but...how do I get the $100?

[Ecthy]

How can I win $100

[Ecthy]

@ Koya

[Qilue]

Originally posted by Koyaanisqatsi
Not to interrupt, but...how do I get the $100?

Get a flight to the Suqutra islands and start swimming.

[Dr Kellogg]

The Hezbollah hides behind civilists in towns and cities where they fire off their rockets from backyards. It is part of their tactics that civilist may get killed if Israel strikes back.
They use state-run facilities like that airport and harbour as well as the road network.
The Lebanese government is responsible for its territories and it is obligated to disarm and disband any militias. It is irrelevant if the Lebanese government is incapable or averse to do that. Fact is, nothing has been done from their side.

Now what would be the correct attitude instead of Israel fighting the Hezbollah on her own?
That is a simple question, isn't it?

[Thedrin]

Looking at that map, given that the nations in the Middle East were carved out dring British decolonisation of the Middle East, how was it decided by the powers-that-were that Lebanon would be an independent nation rather than a part of Syria?