I think the conditions in the world right now are favourable to a major war...

[lynx]

Amazing what the Colgate 360 can do.

[Busyman™]

Israel doesnt help itself, and frankly i dont think it wants to.

As long as they are getting "threatened" their whole economy is paid for by the USA... it pays them to keep the neighbours unhappy.

Total U.S. aid to Israel is approximately one-third of the American foreign-aid budget, even though Israel comprises just .001 percent of the world's population and already has one of the world's higher per capita incomes. Indeed, Israel's GNP is higher than the combined GNP of Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza. With a per capita income of about $14,000, Israel ranks as the sixteenth wealthiest country in the world; Israelis enjoy a higher per capita income than oil-rich Saudi Arabia and are only slightly less well-off than most Western European countries.

The U.S. government has given more federal aid to the average Israeli citizen in a given year than it has given to the average American citizen.

How come its OK for them to do anything, including flying their military aircraft over sovereign nations with impunity and treating the Palestinians as sub human?

I could understand it if they were even a good ally of the US... but ffs, they bomb your ships (USS Liberty), sell your secrets and ignore the Non proliferation treaty etc and nothing is said.. Any other country so much as looks at you the wrong way (or Israel) and they are in the Axis of Evil.

Is it really any wonder that the Islamic countries hate the US, Israel and UK at the moment?

Personally, so would I if i was in their position...

Yet the fact remains... individuals not under the control of the Lebanese Government hit a military target, and kidnapped Military Personell to exchange with them, and Israel responded by attacking an International Airport and Major City plus hundreds of other civilian targets.

Frankly, if they dont stop.. they will deserve everything that will be heading their way... and in the process garanteeing the US will keep giving them Billions of Dollars annually..

We are in agreement, somewhat. I'd like for the US to be "that country across the water" and let the world go on about it's business.

However, to part of your post....what is Israel supposed to do? I don't why they bombed the Beirut airport unless it was being used a by Hezbollah (I doubt it). As I said before, I disagree with overkill.

Israel should not have sat on their ass either....like maybe the Lebanese government. Either the Lebs sort it or Israel will sort it.

I will say this....if Iran gets nuke capability, Israel will be "wiped off the map".

[Busyman™]

Hmmm C&P

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - A senior Hezbollah official said Tuesday the guerrillas did not expect Israel to react with an all-out offensive after the capture of two soldiers, the first acknowledgment by the group that it had miscalculated the consequences of the raid two weeks ago.

Mahmoud Komati, deputy chief of the Hezbollah's political arm, also told The Associated Press in an interview that the Shiite militant group will not lay down arms.

"The truth is - let me say this clearly - we didn't even expect (this) response ... that (Israel) would exploit this operation for this big war against us," said Komati.

He said Hezbollah had expected "the usual, limited response" from Israel after the two soldiers were seized by guerrillas on Israel's side of the border on July 12.

In the past, he said, Israeli responses to Hezbollah actions included sending commandos into Lebanon, seizing Hezbollah officials and briefly targeting specific strongholds in southern Lebanon.

Komati said his group had anticipated negotiations to swap the Israeli soldiers for three Lebanese held in Israeli jails, with Germany acting as a mediator as it has in past prisoner exchanges.

He said Hezbollah captured the Israeli soldiers from a military area, but charged that Israelis had taken Hezbollah leaders from their homes at night.

"The response is unjustified," Komati said. He claimed the Israeli offensive was planned in advance, and Israel was only "waiting for the right time" to carry it out.

Asked about reports that Hezbollah has been firing Iranian-made missiles on Israel, Komati said: "We don't deny nor confirm. We believe where the weapons come from is irrelevant."

Hezbollah leaders previously have denied that Iran was supplying them with weapons.

Komati said Hezbollah has weapons made in various countries, including the United States, France, China and Russia.

"Some of our fighters carry M16s. So you think we buy them from America?" he asked.

Komati said Hezbollah demanded an immediate end to Israeli attacks before agreeing to negotiate and rejected a plan proposed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit to Beirut.

The plan calls for the deployment of international and Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah attacks on Israel before a cease-fire.

"No one can talk about politics while the fire rages, and killings occur," Komati said.

He was adamant about Hezbollah's refusal to disarm because of what he said was Israeli occupation of Lebanese land, the "threat of Israeli aggression" and the Lebanese held in Israeli jails.

[Rat Faced]

No one has said Israel shouldnt be allowed to defend themselves, they have been doing so for years.

You dont hear about the Commando attacks into Lebanon that successfully neutralised Hezbollah targets for years...

Why? Because it was proportionate and they were militia targets. Israel has had the upper hand for years on the matter, so much so that Hezbollah have been quiet for years...

The things you hear about, and cause condemnation are the disproportionate attacks and actions... such as those against the Palestinians and what is happening now in Lebanon.



There is no justification for bombing hundreds of Civilian Targets in Lebanon because of the kidnapping of a couple of soldiers.

There is no justification for throwing Tanks against kids throwing rocks.

There is every justification for them to seize members of Hezbollah and Hamas or to take out their weapon supplies.

[Busyman™]

No one has said Israel shouldnt be allowed to defend themselves, they have been doing so for years.

You dont hear about the Commando attacks into Lebanon that successfully neutralised Hezbollah targets for years...

Why? Because it was proportionate and they were militia targets. Israel has had the upper hand for years on the matter, so much so that Hezbollah have been quiet for years...

The things you hear about, and cause condemnation are the disproportionate attacks and actions... such as those against the Palestinians and what is happening now in Lebanon.

In the past, he said, Israeli responses to Hezbollah actions included sending commandos into Lebanon, seizing Hezbollah officials and briefly targeting specific strongholds in southern Lebanon.

Komati said his group had anticipated negotiations to swap the Israeli soldiers for three Lebanese held in Israeli jails, with Germany acting as a mediator as it has in past prisoner exchanges.

Why should this be allowed to go on....forever...?

There is no justification for bombing hundreds of Civilian Targets in Lebanon because of the kidnapping of a couple of soldiers.

There is no justification for throwing Tanks against kids throwing rocks.

There is every justification for them to seize members of Hezbollah and Hamas or to take out their weapon supplies.

I think Israel has said fuck it. Once again, I don't agree with the current overkill. However, I understand the incursion.

[Rat Faced]

But Its OK for Israel to kidnap and kill present and former members of Hezbollah for years?

No, despite what you think, Israel is largely at fault here. They brought it on themselves.


There are a LOT more Shi'ite Muslims than there are Sunni's... you thought we had problems with Al Queda and Hamas (Both Sunni)?

What the hell is going to happen now that they are all baying for US/Israeli blood?

Whats going to happen in Iraq, now that 2/3 of the population just changed sides? Hell, even the US installed Prime Minister of Iraq wont call Hezbollah a terrorist organisation..

...and neither, due to the definition insisted upon by the USA to protect all those that live in the US, will the UN add it to their list of terrorist organisations (They must have links to Al Queda or Hamas to qualify)

"Even before we know who will win this campaign, we can state with certainty that Israel has suffered a terrible propaganda defeat in Lebanon and the Arab world," wrote Maariv columnist Jacky Hugi. "From being our silent allies, the Lebanese have become the victims of our blind pounding."

BTW: Guess who originally armed the Shi'ites in Southern Lebanon, and then look up why they changed sides and formed Hez'bollah in the 1st place...

[Busyman™]

But Its OK for Israel to kidnap and kill present and former members of Hezbollah for years?

No, despite what you think, Israel is largely at fault here. They brought it on themselves.


There are a LOT more Shi'ite Muslims than there are Sunni's... you thought we had problems with Al Queda and Hamas (Both Sunni)?

What the hell is going to happen now that they are all baying for US/Israeli blood?

Whats going to happen in Iraq, now that 2/3 of the population just changed sides? Hell, even the US installed Prime Minister of Iraq wont call Hezbollah a terrorist organisation..

...and neither, due to the definition insisted upon by the USA to protect all those that live in the US, will the UN add it to their list of terrorist organisations (They must have links to Al Queda or Hamas to qualify)




BTW: Guess who originally armed the Shi'ites in Southern Lebanon, and then look up why they changed sides and formed Hez'bollah in the 1st place...

Mostly at fault? They both are, plain and simple. You can't harp on the latest and greatest and pick a side. In this case, Azrael responded, although with overkill, to Ebollah.

I wonder what would happen if everyone would put down their guns for a year.

[Rat Faced]

The world would be a much better and safer place..

[Busyman™]

The world would be a much better and safer place..

.....for a year....

[Filliz]

Not sure if it has ben adressed here already but apparantly the US doesn't want to sanction Israel for the bombing on a UN camp because it was an "accident"

I wonder what the U.S reaction would've been if there were any US soldiers/civilians in that camp during the bombing.