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Originally Posted by Sticky
I would agree (I know you don't need to get me to agree) with this:
- Before July 12th, the Hezbollah was losing a great deal of support. OR
- Before Israel responded to the Kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers and border incursion on the part of Hezbollah, the Hezbollah was losing a great deal of support.
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I doubt many in Lebanon were chering that the Israeli soldiers were kidnapped, so I'm going to go with the latter. Before the grandiose response from Israel, the Hezbollah was losing a lot of it's core support: that of the civilians of Lebanon.
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Originally Posted by Sticky
On this one I agree with the first half and would rather see the full statement look something like this:
- Now they are seeing renewed resolve and great support not just in Lebanon but all over the ME, simply because Israel is playing right into Hizballa's hand. Or even
- Now they are seeing renewed resolve and great support not just in Lebanon but all over the ME, simply because Israel is willingly playing right into Hizballa's hand.
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Yes and no. Israel isn't necessarily playing into anyone's hand. Hezbollah was not looking for war with the kidnapping. They were looking for a prisoner exchange, not unlike those of the past. The Hezbollah organization was not trying to bait Israel into an all out attack with the kidnapping, but it is arguable that they have been essentially trying to force a show of force from the Israelis for a while.
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Originally Posted by Sticky
I would take out disproportionate (my opinion) and say something like this:
- The response over the past month is serving to galvanize the region, and create droves new recruits for the enemies for Israel.
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OH, it was mighty disproportionate. It's important to point out mistakes or wrongdoing on both sides of this if anything is to get solved. Neither the Hezbollah nor the Israeli government is totally innocent in this. It was wrong of Israel to bomb and invade, espically to the degree that we are seeing.
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Originally Posted by Sticky
I think you do know better that you are pretty much on track, however, I think the following is probably more accurate:
- If I didn't know any better, I'd think Israel is not concerned with making new enemies. Or
- If I didn't know any better, I'd think Israel were actually using this as an opportunity to do something that they felt they were eventually going to have to do.
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They have to be concerned with making new enemies, so the first one is right out. As for the second, I can say yes, this could be something that they would have eventually done had the kidnapping not happened. As for "having" to do it, absolutely disagree. This is a huge step backwards for Israel and is doing nothing but plunging the ME further back into war.
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Originally Posted by Sticky
I don't believe that Israel has any intention to harm or terrorize arab civilians. (If this was the case, why not add ball bearings to the missiles they are firing?) I know that I can't make you believe it, I wish I could. To believe this I would have to think that Israel population is bad and they elect bad people who want to do bad things.
In this specific case Olmert is the one that is pushing the rest of Israel to give the West Bank to the Palestinians. Even Peres, the guy that would give Jerusalem is on board with the war. I just don't see it as you do.
I believe that what Israel is doing is bombing real targets and saying "you know what, we are at war. If the bomb strays and hits something else and people get hurt we will feel bad but that is not going to stop is. Or if by the time the bomb gets there the target is not there anymore and people get hurt again we will feel bad but that will not stop us either. This is war we have to defend our citizens"
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I keep listening to Israelis on the news try and explain away what they're doing. They say stuff like, "Hezbollah are targeting civilians by using bombs that do not have accurate tracking systems." Think about that. Israel has bombs and missles that DO have reklatively accurate tracking systems, but tons more Lebanese civilians have died than Israeli. Not only that, but very few Hezbollah militants have died. That suggests one of two things: they are not using the accurate tracking capabilites, or they are targeting everyone. Yes, Hezbollah is hiding in civiliand areas, but there should be higher reported Hezbollah casualties and less civilian casualties to support Israels claims of not targeting civilians. It reminds me a great deal of the US "smart bombs", that almost never hit their targets.
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Originally Posted by Sticky
Yes, exactly as you state, they want the other countries to be afraid of them so that they won't attack. That is correct.
Did they build up a tremendous army for this purpose. Yes and also for the purpose of defending in case of attack.
Do they have nuclear power for this purpose. Yes, definately.
Are they bombing Lebanon now for this purpose. No (i know I will probably not get you to agree to this either). They are bombing Lebanon to try to root out Hizballah.
Do any of these make up state sponsored terrorism, no.
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What is going on right now is not just defensive but offensive aswell, and that's important to keep in mind. The bombs in Lebanon are serving the same purpous as the invasion of Lebanon by Israel once did: control through fear and oppression. The 'terrorism' part is the fear. They are trying to gain control of the reigon by committing violent acts that are meant to terrorize the populace into submission. That is the terror part. Look at Palestine. Why would they bulldoze buildings? To scare the s**t out of the Palestinians.