Israel vs Hezbollah Thread #3

[rainstorm]

in the war between the butchers of hezbollah and israel i want israel to win. thus, i want the destruction to be on hezbollahs side. the loss of the israeli soldiers is a tragedy. they are brave men, fighting a horrific enemy

[Janice]

There are so many innocent people in both Israel and Lebanon. Those innocent civilians are the ones who are suffering. Just like Iraq where hundreds of innocent were killed. I hope it comes to an end soon. Both countries will be trashed by the time this is over and the innocent will have no homes or jobs to go back to. I hate all this. Then after all this, there will still never be any peace. It is almost hopeless, but I hope at least it stops for awhile.

[rainstorm]

There are so many innocent people in both Israel and Lebanon. Those innocent civilians are the ones who are suffering. Just like Iraq where hundreds of innocent were killed. I hope it comes to an end soon. Both countries will be trashed by the time this is over and the innocent will have no homes or jobs to go back to. I hate all this. Then after all this, there will still never be any peace. It is almost hopeless, but I hope at least it stops for awhile.

thats the whole problem. it always gets stopped before israel can be victorious. also, if hezbollah is destroyed there will be a much greater chance for peace. . the worst thing that can happen is for hezbollah to be allowed to re-arm and butcher more people. if you want peace, you certainly do not want a return of the same failed policies followed since 1948

[x-y-no]

thats the whole problem. it always gets stopped before israel can be victorious. also, if hezbollah is destroyed there will be a much greater chance for peace. . the worst thing that can happen is for hezbollah to be allowed to re-arm and butcher more people. if you want peace, you certainly do not want a return of the same failed policies followed since 1948

There's no realistic level of destruction which would preclude eventual rearmament.

[rainstorm]

sure there is.

[x-y-no]

sure there is.

Well, I was perhaps somewhat optimistically considering total genocide unrealistic in this context.

[Janice]

8 Israeli soldiers killed in southern Lebanon
Intense battle rages around Bint Jbeil, troops say
Westerners flee Tyre, huge explosions hit port
Tension high after failed talks, U.N. deaths

[Janice]

Iranians volunteer to fight Israel

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Surrounded by yellow Hezbollah flags, more than 60 Iranian volunteers set off Wednesday to join what they called a holy war against Israeli forces in Lebanon.

The group -- ranging from teenagers to grandfathers -- plans to join about 200 other volunteers on the way to the Turkish border, which they hope to cross Thursday. They plan to reach Lebanon via Syria on the weekend.

Organizers said the volunteers are carrying no weapons, and it was not clear whether Turkey would allow them to pass.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not say Wednesday if Turkey would allow them to cross. Iranians, however, can enter Turkey without a visa and stay for three months.

Iran says it will not send regular forces to aid Hezbollah, but apparently it will not attempt to stop volunteer guerrillas. Iran and Syria are Hezbollah's main sponsors.

"We are just the first wave of Islamic warriors from Iran," said Amir Jalilinejad, chairman of the Student Justice Movement, a nongovernment group that helped recruit the fighters. "More will come from here and other Muslim nations around the world. Hezbollah needs our help."

Military service is mandatory in Iran, and nearly every man has at least some basic training. Some hard-liners have more extensive drills as members of the Basiji corps, a paramilitary network linked to the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

Other volunteers, such as 72-year-old Hasan Honavi, have combat experience from the 1980-88 war with Iraq.

"God made this decision for me," said Honavi, a grandfather and one of the oldest volunteers. "I still have fight left in me for a holy war."

The group, chanting and marching in military-style formation, assembled Wednesday in a part of Tehran's main cemetery that is reserved for war dead and other "martyrs."

They prayed on Persian carpets and linked hands, with their shoes and bags piled alongside. Few had any battle-type gear and some arrived in dress shoes or plastic sandals.

Some bowed before a memorial to Hezbollah-linked suicide bombers who carried out the 1983 blast at Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. servicemen. An almost simultaneous bombing killed 56 French peacekeepers.

Speakers praised Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and laid scorn on Muslim leaders -- including their own government -- for not sending battlefield assistance to Hezbollah since the battles erupted two weeks ago.

Even if the volunteers fail to reach Lebanon, their mobilization is an example of how Iranians are rallying to Hezbollah through organizations outside official circles.

Iran insists it is not directly involved in the conflict on the military side, but it remains the group's key pipeline for money. Iran has dismissed Israel's claims that Hezbollah has been supplied with upgraded Iranian missiles that have reached Haifa and other points across northern Israel.

"We cannot stand by and watch out Hezbollah brothers fight alone," said Komeil Baradaran, a 21-year-old Basiji member. "If we are to die in Lebanon, then we will go to heaven. It is our duty as Muslims to fight."

[Derek Ortt]

blatantly obvious that Iran is backing Hezbollah and providing them with military support

[x-y-no]

Teenagers and grandfathers. I'm sure the Israelis are real impressed.

[Janice]

Scary, huh? I wonder if Iran will donate some of their weapons too?

[x-y-no]

blatantly obvious that Iran is backing Hezbollah and providing them with military support

Certainly there's never been any doubt about that.

It's less obvious exactly how deeply Iran was involved in the decision to instigate this round of conflict, although I'd say it's real likely the idea originated from them given how well this serves their strategic purpose.

[Aquawind]

blatantly obvious that Iran is backing Hezbollah and providing them with military support

Certainly there's never been any doubt about that.

It's less obvious exactly how deeply Iran was involved in the decision to instigate this round of conflict, although I'd say it's real likely the idea originated from them given how well this serves their strategic purpose.

I would agree highly likely.. This was like perfect from them.. just like the NK missles..

[feederband]

blatantly obvious that Iran is backing Hezbollah and providing them with military support

Also one of the main reasons Israel bombed all the roads and bridges in northern Lebanon...

[stormtruth]

US troops to Lebanon? Bush admin considering it says Harper's Ken Silverstein citing a CIA source.
http://harpers.org/sb-source-bush-admin ... 36109.html

There's much discussion of putting a multinational, NATO-led force in southern Lebanon as part of a ceasefire agreement in the Israel–Lebanon conflict, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to a story in the Washington Post, has said that she does "not think that it is anticipated that U.S. ground forces . . . are expected for that force." However, a well-connected former CIA officer has told me that the Bush Administration is in fact considering exactly such a deployment.

The officer, who had broad experience in the Middle East while at the CIA, noted that NATO and European countries, including England, have made clear that they are either unwilling or extremely reluctant to participate in an international force. Given other nations' lack of commitment, any “robust” force—between 10,000 and 30,000 troops, according to estimates being discussed in the media—would by definition require major U.S. participation. According to the former official, Israel and the United States are currently discussing a large American role in exactly such a “multinational” deployment, and some top administration officials, along with senior civilians at the Pentagon, are receptive to the idea.

[Regit]

US troops to Lebanon? Bush admin considering it says Harper's Ken Silverstein citing a CIA source.
http://harpers.org/sb-source-bush-admin ... 36109.html

There's much discussion of putting a multinational, NATO-led force in southern Lebanon as part of a ceasefire agreement in the Israel–Lebanon conflict, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, according to a story in the Washington Post, has said that she does "not think that it is anticipated that U.S. ground forces . . . are expected for that force." However, a well-connected former CIA officer has told me that the Bush Administration is in fact considering exactly such a deployment.

The officer, who had broad experience in the Middle East while at the CIA, noted that NATO and European countries, including England, have made clear that they are either unwilling or extremely reluctant to participate in an international force. Given other nations' lack of commitment, any “robust” force—between 10,000 and 30,000 troops, according to estimates being discussed in the media—would by definition require major U.S. participation. According to the former official, Israel and the United States are currently discussing a large American role in exactly such a “multinational” deployment, and some top administration officials, along with senior civilians at the Pentagon, are receptive to the idea.

Other media sources (which I can't cite) have said that current plans are for the force to be headed up by Russia.

[Janice]

Israeli bombs level 10-story building in Tyre


This is breaking news on CNN... I will get the link when it comes up

NORTHERN ISRAEL (CNN) -- Ten people were injured Wednesday when Israeli airstrikes destroyed a 10-story building in Tyre, Lebanon, city officials said.

Smoke rose over the city after two large explosions, and people near the building were covered in dust and blood as they fled through the rubble.

[Pburgh]

I miss the interesting and informational posts of AKatrina. He knew what he was talking about and I learned!!!!

[Pburgh]

I miss the interesting and informational posts of Audry2Katrina. He knew what he was talking about and I learned!!!!

[Pburgh]

OOPS, I guess I said that twice cause I really mean it!!!!!