Let the peacekeepers fight back!

[NickIT]

Sounds about time for a repeat performance.

[mcquiggd]

I think the ultimate sanction will be applied to Israel if they do not withdraw from Lebanon soon.

They will be thrown out of the Eurovision Song Contest.

[Mailman]

Haven't we just had enough of Israel pretending to be a civilised nation, while time after time deliberately targeting unarmed Red Cross,

I mean, its not like them peace loving palistinians ever used ambulances to move arms and terrorists around is it?

and unarmed UN observers?

What exactly were the UN people doing there in the first place in the middle of a war? Sorry...but if you plonk yourself in a hill in the middle of a battlezone dont come crying to momma when you get "accidentally" hit

Let's arm the UN personnel,

Yeah lets do that and then tell them not to do anything like they did in Bosnia.

and give them all the air cover they need.

And where would you put this airbase? In Iran?

I guess you were down at the anti-anything to do with israel, america and free trade protests in london on the weekend eh?

Feck, wish I loved in your world where everything is so black and white and them nasty jews are the root of all evil. I mean its not like Herbulla attacked Israel without provocation was it? Not like humus attacked without provocation is it? Naw, that couldnt be it.

But tell you what, Herbulla has signed its own death warrant and no one will force Israel out of Lebanon until their task there is done (the destruction of terrorists who were allowed to operate with a free hand).

But neh mind, laalaa land must be so nice expat

Mailman

[chock]

But tell you what, Herbulla has signed its own death warrant and no one will force Israel out of Lebanon until their task there is done (the destruction of terrorists who were allowed to operate with a free hand).

So, the Israelis have gone in to stamp out terrorism. But wait, support for Hezbollah seems to have grown and new recuits seems to be signing up to the cause at a new phenominal high.

Loads of people massacred and no closer (in fact, much, much, farther) from the objective.

This is gonna be a looooooong war..............

[sunnysan]

Israel

Although I am not a fanatical supporter of the Israeli cause, I have to say that their response to this is probably justified, the arguments over the validity and legality of the State of Israel are not really relevant in context to the present conflict. They are responding to a threat to their nation and I cannot fault them for that.

As far as I understand, Israel did warn of the impending shelling of areas of Lebanon, so I dont really understand what peackeeping forces are doing in the middle of a war zone. Wearing a blue UN helmet does not make you bomb proof.

Although I am sympathetic to the plight of the Lebanese, Hizbollah have not exactly been acting in any fashion to protect the people that they claim to be supporting.

The Israelis aim is to protect their borders and their citizens as a priority and after much restraint, the continual provacation by Hizbollah firing rockets into Israel and the inablity of a weak Lebanese government to control them has a large part to play in their brutal response.

Its a high stakes game, In order to survive Israel cannot let the Lebanese get away with this, Ehud Olmert does not have a military background like his predecessors and cannot be seen to be rolling over in the face of blatant provacation, if they let them get away with this the threat to Israeli serviceman will literally skyrocket and kidnappings will become normal

As far as I can see, Israel are also sustaining a relatively high number of casualties, have world opinion against them and are possibly looking at a resource intensive occupation of parts of Lebanon.

I really dont think they would have been in this situation if any other realistic options where available to them.

[Phoenix]

Although the history in this area is not simple and goes back a long way,This latest "slap fest" was started by the refusal to return an Israeli soldier (wasn't it?).
Protect your borders...Bollox!
It's more like a full blown war because your nieghbour won't give you your ball back..

[AlfredJPruffock]

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

Voltaire

[Mailman]

So, the Israelis have gone in to stamp out terrorism.

No, they are there because the terrorists refuse to live in peace with Israel. Face it, if the peace loving terrorists hadnt have attacked Israel in ISRAEL then them war mongering jews wouldnt be leaving all of southern lebanon right now would they

But wait, support for Hezbollah seems to have grown and new recuits seems to be signing up to the cause at a new phenominal high.

Got any numbers to back this up or are you just pulling this outta your behind?

besides, its not like these new recruits wouldnt have signed up for the great jihad against Israel anyways

Loads of people massacred and no closer (in fact, much, much, farther) from the objective.

Loads of people wouldnt have been "massacred" if Hisbulla hadnt have kicked this all off.

Sorry, but they are paying the price for their hatred of them nasty jews.

BTW, can anyone advise how exactly you engaged a group who's stated goal is your total and utter destruction?

Also, you talk about proportionaility...what would have been a "proportional" response when you deal with a bunch of terrorists who are out for your destruction?

Mailman

[AlfredJPruffock]

So altough Israel wont be too bothered about the killing of the UN observors however it is a bit of an embarrsement for GW Bush ...so what to do ?

Aha ...we need to rustle up the old Al Queda Bogey Man tape quick to shore up public opnion ... just like before the last, and perhaps final, US Election !

Time Will Tell

[DimPrawn]

Aha ...we need to rustle up the old Al Queda Bogey Man tape quick to shore up public opnion ... just like before the last, and perhaps final, US Election !

I can picture it now. CIA on the phone to Been Lardin.

"Hi Bin, any chance of a video about this Isreal - Lebannon thing?"

"Yeah, we can send a camera crew if yours are on leave. You still want an extra make-up crew? No problem."

"Oh one more thing. Try not to get the giggles this time. We had to edit out all that footage last time."