Posted in Hezbollah, Lebanon, Syria on Aug 16th, 2006
I find Bashar Assad’s crowing and chest beating amusing. It’s a lot like the posturing of his father after his disastrous attack on Israel in 1973.
I guess that we should consider it as yet another one of those incomprehensible (but quaint) family traditions.
Anyway… Bashar Assad, the leader of Syria, claims that there is now a new Middle East – that brave Nasrallah of the amazing Hezbollah has won a great victory.
Oh, how fabulous.
Hezbollah has lost between ten and a hundred fighters for every one soldier lost by Israel. Hezbollah command and control has been decimated. Fortifications along the border of Israel have been destroyed.
I find Bashar Assad’s crowing and chest beating amusing. It’s a lot like the posturing of his father after his disastrous attack on Israel in 1973.
I guess that we should consider it as yet another one of those incomprehensible (but quaint) family traditions.
Anyway… Bashar Assad, the leader of Syria, claims that there is now a new Middle East – that brave Nasrallah of the amazing Hezbollah has won a great victory.
Oh, how fabulous.
Hezbollah has lost between ten and a hundred fighters for every one soldier lost by Israel. Hezbollah command and control has been decimated. Fortifications along the border of Israel have been destroyed.
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Posted in Lebanon, Peace, Society, War fighting on Aug 16th, 2006
I am not a fan of Olmert, the Prime Minister of Israel. I don’t know if he’s good or bad or something inbetween. I leave that to those who know him better than I do. But, there are a few things that I know about him that are good.
He’s trying to make peace with the neighbors. That’s good.
(I mean the part about the trying.)
He’s also trying to do as little damage as possible. That’s also good.
But, he makes a lousy general. Really lousy.
I am not a fan of Olmert, the Prime Minister of Israel. I don’t know if he’s good or bad or something inbetween. I leave that to those who know him better than I do. But, there are a few things that I know about him that are good.
He’s trying to make peace with the neighbors. That’s good.
(I mean the part about the trying.)
He’s also trying to do as little damage as possible. That’s also good.
But, he makes a lousy general. Really lousy.
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Now comes the finger-pointing.
In Israel, some will say that they have achieved a great victory. Hizbullah has been served notice that it cannot act with impunity. Lebanon and the Lebanese have been served notice that there are consequences when crimes are committed against Israel. The Arab world has been served notice that Israel will not stand still when attacked.
However, others in Israel will say that the war was a failure. The two boys kidnapped from their tank in northern Israel have not been returned. Hizbullah is still intact and functioning as an organization. In return for the damage and devastation in the north of Israel, they have received only a promise of cease-fire in return.
Now comes the finger-pointing.
In Israel, some will say that they have achieved a great victory. Hizbullah has been served notice that it cannot act with impunity. Lebanon and the Lebanese have been served notice that there are consequences when crimes are committed against Israel. The Arab world has been served notice that Israel will not stand still when attacked.
However, others in Israel will say that the war was a failure. The two boys kidnapped from their tank in northern Israel have not been returned. Hizbullah is still intact and functioning as an organization. In return for the damage and devastation in the north of Israel, they have received only a promise of cease-fire in return.
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Posted in Hezbollah, Lebanon, Palestinians, Peace, PLO on Aug 13th, 2006
I confess that I didn’t understand.
I remember the first Lebanese war, in which Israel was forced to go to war with the PLO – which had created a separate state within the state of Lebanon. That war was more than a war freeing Israel from incessant attack.
It was a war liberating Lebanon from a vile and murderous regime run by Yasser Arrafat and his Cleptocrats.
But, I had thought that this war was somehow different. That it wasn’t like the previous war in Lebanon.
I was wrong.
Read Michel Behe, a Lebanese commentator reporting from Beirut:
I confess that I didn’t understand.
I remember the first Lebanese war, in which Israel was forced to go to war with the PLO – which had created a separate state within the state of Lebanon. That war was more than a war freeing Israel from incessant attack.
It was a war liberating Lebanon from a vile and murderous regime run by Yasser Arrafat and his Cleptocrats.
But, I had thought that this war was somehow different. That it wasn’t like the previous war in Lebanon.
I was wrong.
Read Michel Behe, a Lebanese commentator reporting from Beirut:
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Posted in Hezbollah, Lebanon, The U.N. on Aug 13th, 2006
I think that the Israeli government has played this one out really well.
There is a UN cease fire that Israel has signed, which means that there is a clear end to the fighting in sight.
At the same time, Israel has positioned forces in such a way that they will be able hinder Hezbollah reinfiltration south of the Litani river.
This means that Israel has won. For now.
Of course the war never ends, but this round has been won.
I think that the Israeli government has played this one out really well.
There is a UN cease fire that Israel has signed, which means that there is a clear end to the fighting in sight.
At the same time, Israel has positioned forces in such a way that they will be able hinder Hezbollah reinfiltration south of the Litani river.
This means that Israel has won. For now.
Of course the war never ends, but this round has been won.
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