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  • Originally posted by Sirotnikov


    Of course there is a difference.
    I'll join you on the weird tangent you take

    The difference being that Hezbullah is intentionally hitting plain civilian areas in hope to kill civilians. This is while it is capable of rather precisely targetting only Israeli military facilities and posts (as it did).

    wait, so Hezbollah has great control on the targets they hit? As there is an ever increasing amount of rockets reaching Israel (I practically read everyday they it's a new high), hitting mostly empty space then probably Hezbollah is mostly interested at hitting Israeli soil instead of citizens.

    Israel on the other hand, is not so lucky when selecting its targets. Hezbullah posts, commands and warehouses are unmarked and usually intentionally hidden next to sensitive areas such as hospitals, schools and UN posts.

    what is near? 5 meter?, 50?, 500? There seem to be conflicting reports as to how near the Hezbollah was to the UN, and there have also been conflicting reports as to wether in Qana there was any nearby Hezbollah activity.
    It's easy to attribute all civilian casualties to the cowardly hiding of Hezbollah. I doubt the claims made by Israel to this respect.

    As such Israel is entitled to target said civilian areas since the existance of military positions there has anulled its status of 'civilian area'.

    No, it's not. Like it's been said here before, the area doesn't loose it's status of civilian area. Indescrimanate targeting of such an area is criminal.

    [q]Hezbullah wants to hold the rope at both ends - have military positions and have them secure from Israeli fire, by placing them next to non-targets.[q/]
    Likewise, Israel wants to hold both end as well: claiming they do everything to avoid civilian casualties, but at the same time targeting the civilians as militairy targets (like you just explained how they become one) as well.

    This strategy is illegal and should not be allowed to work.

    indeed

    I'm terribly sorry for all the innocent people who lost their lives. I hope Hezbullah will stop putting civilian areas in danger.

    I hope Israel will stop doing the same as well. I'm also sorry for the soldiers who have lost their lives in this play for power

    On the issue of hitting UN posts or whatever Israel wasn't supposed to hit but hit on accident:

    ...In another incident, a brigade commander himself directed artillery fire at an IDF outpost, and then sent apaches to make sure it was "clear".
    I'm sorry, but that's not an accident, but an error. A small distinction maybe, but a significant one.

    Compared to the sheer number of Israeli raids on Hezbullah targets located in civilian areas - I'd say its a miracle we've killed only 500 people (without knowing how many of them are Hezbullah militia).

    Now, this is just rich. And I'm actually saddened to read it. If this is the mindset with which Israel goes to war, then all the outcry on it's actions is fully justified.
    500 dead civilians are a miracle...

    Israel has said it is sorry.
    This is such a crappy response. It has little meaning as well, as your previous quote makes clear. They are just part of your meager 500 deaths. To the large bulk of the civilian deaths Israel has not expressed much sorrow.

    Intelligence is often false or incomplete - assessment is often wrong. But you have to make a choise.

    Exactly. And what matters is not that you have made a choice, but WHAT choice.

    I also think that the reaction to Kfar-Qana is mostly lead by emotion - not logic

    And what's wrong with that?
    I presume that you mean by emotion that in this case there is disgust, sorrow and dumbness. I'll take those emotions every day above the logic of war.

    True - we accidentally killed several dozen innocent people. But we accidentally killed much more before that. What suddenly makes people angry is the large amount in a small time frame.

    Either you're always against hitting civilians no matter what the circumstances are (which I disagree with, but can understand the logic behind) or you agree to see that civilians can't always be avoided in a true military action - and then this incident, while very very despairing and sad, is just a bigger mistake than usually.

    Do you think that all those who are now vocal about this massacre didn't care when just a few fell to the same causes? I think you're wrong. I think your logic is getting in the way: one doesn't whine over one dead civilian? Then one shouldn't whine over 30.
    The bigger the crime, the more difficult it is to shy away from it. I'm pretty sure that anybody who is vocal about this now felt uneasy when the first few victims fell as well.

    If the lebanese decided to recklessly spend the night in a severly attacked building waiting to collapse on its inhabitants - then its their own fault.

    This is just gross.
    You have gone to great length to 'explain' the civilian losses as 'accidents', but when a bunch of civilians end up under the rubble of a building in a war zone, they should have been more carefull and the fault is theirs.
    "post reported"Winston, on the barricades for freedom of speech
    "I don't like laws all over the world. Doesn't mean I am going to do anything but post about it."Jon Miller

    Comment


    • Originally posted by Sirotnikov
      The difference being that Hezbullah is intentionally hitting plain civilian areas in hope to kill civilians. This is while it is capable of rather precisely targetting only Israeli military facilities and posts (as it did).
      This mess is such a mudpool I forgot about the most obvious:

      Didn't the current mess start with Hezbollah attacking the militairy (killing a couple and capturing two of them) and Israel responded with attcking Hezbollah HQ and a bunch of bridges, killing a significant number of civilians on the side?
      "post reported"Winston, on the barricades for freedom of speech
      "I don't like laws all over the world. Doesn't mean I am going to do anything but post about it."Jon Miller

      Comment


      • No, it's not. Like it's been said here before, the area doesn't loose it's status of civilian area. Indescrimanate targeting of such an area is criminal.


        By what law?
        (\__/)
        (='.'=)
        (")_(") This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your signature to help him gain world domination.

        Comment


        • Originally posted by germanos

          Didn't the current mess start with Hezbollah attacking the militairy (killing a couple and capturing two of them) and launching rockets at civilians
          Fixed.
          "I read a book twice as fast as anybody else. First, I read the beginning, and then I read the ending, and then I start in the middle and read toward whatever end I like best." - Gracie Allen

          Comment


          • Originally posted by Edan


            Fixed.
            thanks. You did read the whole article, didn't you?
            "post reported"Winston, on the barricades for freedom of speech
            "I don't like laws all over the world. Doesn't mean I am going to do anything but post about it."Jon Miller

            Comment


            • No, it's not. Like it's been said here before, the area doesn't loose it's status of civilian area. Indescrimanate targeting of such an area is criminal.


              Originally posted by notyoueither
              By what law?
              shivers
              "post reported"Winston, on the barricades for freedom of speech
              "I don't like laws all over the world. Doesn't mean I am going to do anything but post about it."Jon Miller

              Comment


              • Originally posted by germanos


                thanks. You did read the whole article, didn't you?
                Yes. Did you see the part where the fighting of the "current mess" started with Hezbollah firing rockets at civilians?
                "I read a book twice as fast as anybody else. First, I read the beginning, and then I read the ending, and then I start in the middle and read toward whatever end I like best." - Gracie Allen

                Comment


                • Originally posted by Edan


                  Yes. Did you see the part where the fighting of the "current mess" started with Hezbollah firing rockets at civilians?
                  yes
                  "post reported"Winston, on the barricades for freedom of speech
                  "I don't like laws all over the world. Doesn't mean I am going to do anything but post about it."Jon Miller

                  Comment


                  • Originally posted by Adam Smith
                    Doesn't that argue for setting the bar a good bit higher before responding to obvious provocations?
                    This argues that Israel should learn to live with a constant (though "small" by some standards) level provocation aginst it self.

                    Doesn't sound so good to me

                    Comment


                    • Originally posted by germanos
                      wait, so Hezbollah has great control on the targets they hit? As there is an ever increasing amount of rockets reaching Israel (I practically read everyday they it's a new high), hitting mostly empty space then probably Hezbollah is mostly interested at hitting Israeli soil instead of citizens.
                      Hezbullah has had rather good control of targets it hit.
                      Of course Israel did what it could to disrupt its shooting, targetting and command and control, so this has worsened.

                      Also, major succesfull strikes are not published to keep Hezbullah guessing.

                      But they did have several non-civilian areas on their sights and managed to hit them successfully until IAF hit the source of fire.

                      what is near? 5 meter?, 50?, 500? There seem to be conflicting reports as to how near the Hezbollah was to the UN, and there have also been conflicting reports as to wether in Qana there was any nearby Hezbollah activity.

                      It's easy to attribute all civilian casualties to the cowardly hiding of Hezbollah. I doubt the claims made by Israel to this respect.

                      I have never seen a report claiming there was no Hezbullah activity in Kfar Qana.

                      You don't actually prove a point - you merely try to ridicule Israeli claims by arguing about the distances in question.

                      Even if Hezbullah wasn't actively hiding in said building at the time of the bombing - Hezbullah activity in its sorroundings has made it a legitimate target in war.

                      A civilian area is no longer civilian after it is used for military purposes. Period.

                      No, it's not. Like it's been said here before, the area doesn't loose it's status of civilian area. Indescrimanate targeting of such an area is criminal.

                      Yes it does, infact.

                      Targetting of such an area is allowed, since it is no longer protected.

                      Nobody said anything of indescrimenate. Israel reportedly had evidence of said building being used by Hezbullah. It was attacked.

                      Likewise, Israel wants to hold both end as well: claiming they do everything to avoid civilian casualties, but at the same time targeting the civilians as militairy targets (like you just explained how they become one) as well.

                      If civilian areas are used by military forces to conduct military attacks - THERE IS NOTHING CIVILIAN ABOUT THEM.

                      You might as well call them military areas with civilians residing inside. It is not illegal to attack areas of military activity.

                      You also intentionally change terms midway, and move from discussing "areas" (civilian vs. military) as we did before, to discussing persons -
                      targetting the civilians as military targets


                      Israel does not target civilians as you claim.

                      Israel targets areas of military activity. Any civilians residing there are warned several times pre-hand. This is something which Israel could have forgone doing - but still tries to do in hope to minimize casualties.

                      I hope Israel will stop doing the same as well. I'm also sorry for the soldiers who have lost their lives in this play for power

                      I respect and acknowledge your feeling towards the loss of human life in general.

                      I'm sorry, but that's not an accident, but an error. A small distinction maybe, but a significant one.

                      How is it significant?
                      How is it different from an error/accident done when attacking a UN posts?

                      Now, this is just rich. And I'm actually saddened to read it. If this is the mindset with which Israel goes to war, then all the outcry on it's actions is fully justified.
                      500 dead civilians are a miracle...



                      You have obviously never been close to a battlefield and unaware of how much carnage goes around. Sadly your logic is impenetrable by facts and common knowledge.

                      The fact that Israel has managed to wage a war with such minute casualties is a proof of restraint and good will.

                      And 500 people are not all civilians. Newspaper reports in Israel say the army could identify some 200 of those as Hezbullah members.

                      This is such a crappy response. It has little meaning as well, as your previous quote makes clear. They are just part of your meager 500 deaths. To the large bulk of the civilian deaths Israel has not expressed much sorrow.

                      Yes it has.

                      Israel has repeatedly said it is sorry for civilians that are caught in the war against Hezbullah.

                      This does not mean that the war would be stopped.

                      Exactly. And what matters is not that you have made a choice, but WHAT choice.

                      If you think one can wage a war making all pure and defendable choises, then you're living in an M rated movie.

                      And what's wrong with that?

                      its stupid.

                      Do you think that all those who are now vocal about this massacre didn't care when just a few fell to the same causes? I think you're wrong. I think your logic is getting in the way: one doesn't whine over one dead civilian? Then one shouldn't whine over 30.
                      The bigger the crime, the more difficult it is to shy away from it. I'm pretty sure that anybody who is vocal about this now felt uneasy when the first few victims fell as well.

                      My thought were not directed at you in specific.

                      I know you cried about about 1 dead civilian just as well.

                      I see it as a sadenning and by part - unavoidable part of waging war.

                      This is just gross.

                      You have gone to great length to 'explain' the civilian losses as 'accidents', but when a bunch of civilians end up under the rubble of a building in a war zone, they should have been more carefull and the fault is theirs.

                      Given that:

                      1) Israel has for about a week announced that it intends to attack all suspect guerilla targets in the south - and said civilians did not evacuate

                      2) Israel mostly has allowed for evacuation from southern areas of Lebanon - and said civilians did not evacuate

                      3) there is a question posed, as to whether the building collapsed several hours after being hit - leaving plenty of time to evacuate

                      Then any civilian who missed to chances to evacuate, has at least 'some' responsibility for his own faith.

                      Comment


                      • Originally posted by germanos
                        Didn't the current mess start with Hezbollah attacking the militairy (killing a couple and capturing two of them) and Israel responded with attcking Hezbollah HQ and a bunch of bridges, killing a significant number of civilians on the side?
                        As Edan said - this started with Rockets being shelled on Israeli civilians in the north.

                        And the Israeli response was quite clear - attacking guerilla outposts and relevant military targetrs (bridges etc).

                        Comment


                        • Originally posted by germanos
                          shivers
                          How dramatic!!

                          Comment


                          • Siro, I don't buy the whole: 'they're warned so they are to blame' line.

                            From day one bridges and roads were attacked. The claim was that this would make the transfer of the captive Israeli's out of the south difficult if not impossible.

                            I've seen many reports of convoys being attacked as well.

                            Petrol stations were attacked as well.


                            How on earth can you blame those who stayed behind for their misery?
                            Can you imagine that there are people who are more afraid to travel then they are terrified of staying?
                            Can you imagine that there are people who might not have means of transport?

                            Could it not be so that in some area there is relative calm, Hezbollazzis in the villages around, so you stay put avoiding the crossfire, and a few days later the morons end up shooting from a hill nearby you? (and yes again I ask: how close do they need to be?)

                            A reporter went to Qana and he broadcasted a guy who said there were no attacks from there. Was he lying? I don't know.

                            I indeed know little of the battlefield and the carnage that goes on there.
                            On the other hand I know plenty of being in a city under fire while the roads out of there appear an even greater risk.
                            "post reported"Winston, on the barricades for freedom of speech
                            "I don't like laws all over the world. Doesn't mean I am going to do anything but post about it."Jon Miller

                            Comment


                            • Originally posted by germanos
                              Siro, I don't buy the whole: 'they're warned so they are to blame' line.
                              I'm not saying they are to blame.

                              I'm merely saying that if what I heard as a rumor is true - that the building collapsed several hours after it was bombarded - then all the people who occupied the building in the hours after the bombing - must take some responsability for getting caught in the wreckage.

                              Israel does alot more than it has to, to inform civilians where is it going to attack, and what is it going to attack so they can save their lives. If people disregard that, they have some responsability, they had 'some' choise.

                              Howaever, if folkes they go to sleep in a building which is prone to collapse because it was heavily bombarded then they have to take some blame for the consequences.



                              How on earth can you blame those who stayed behind for their misery?
                              Can you imagine that there are people who are more afraid to travel then they are terrified of staying?
                              Can you imagine that there are people who might not have means of transport?

                              Yes.
                              I can imagine that.
                              For instance my folkes have no means to leave Haifa and viably live for a month in another place.

                              However my folkes do not live next to an Israeli army base, and they still get targetted.

                              Could it not be so that in some area there is relative calm, Hezbollazzis in the villages around, so you stay put avoiding the crossfire, and a few days later the morons end up shooting from a hill nearby you? (and yes again I ask: how close do they need to be?)

                              The matter of distance is silly.

                              For the record I will mention that I read that Hezbullah fighters were seen fleeing to the targetted building on several occassions.

                              However on the moral ground - it is eventually a question of whose life do you wish to save:

                              a) innocent lebanese (at the expense of your countrymen dying from rocket fire)
                              b) your countrymen (at the expense of innocent lebanese)

                              It is a very difficult and hellish choise. But I have my answer.

                              A reporter went to Qana and he broadcasted a guy who said there were no attacks from there. Was he lying? I don't know.

                              A reporter also once went to Jenin and a guy there said that 500 people were massacared and their bodies were loaded on Israeli trucks.

                              We know that is not true now.

                              I think that eyewittness accounts from the arab street are sometimes of dubious nature. Call me paranoid.

                              I know the Israeli account. I wasn't there to check it out. I tend to believe Israel had enough reasons to suspect that building. Though it is true that the limit tends to change.

                              I indeed know little of the battlefield and the carnage that goes on there.
                              On the other hand I know plenty of being in a city under fire while the roads out of there appear an even greater risk.
                              When were you under fire?

                              Comment


                              • And quickly before I forget:

                                There was a would be suicide bomber captured today in Haifa

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