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Beirut erupts: Lebanon has declared war on us, says Hezbollah

posted at 3:03 pm on May 8, 2008 by Allahpundit
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One of my very least favorite things to blog about, as there are just as many moving parts and hidden agendas as in Iraq but the cast of characters is totally unfamiliar. Is this Syria stirring up trouble to forestall the UN’s Hariri tribunal? Is it Iran using its proxy to open up a second front against the west? Is it Hezbollah’s own long-awaited revenge for Imad Mughniyeh’s assassination? Or is it actually a show of balls by the Lebanese government, weary of the Iranian/Syrian/Hezbollah axis and finally willing to risk open war by cracking down, however gingerly, on Nasrallah?

The leader of Hezbollah said Thursday the U.S.-supported Lebanese government had declared war by targeting its communications network, pushing the country closer to civil war.

Shiite supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Sunnis backing the government clashed in several Beirut neighborhoods with automatic rifles and rocket propelled grenades, security officials and witnesses said…

Hezbollah launched a new street campaign on Wednesday, piling pressure on the government after it declared the network illegal and removed the head of airport security, a figure close to the group, from his post…

“This decision is first of all a declaration of war and the launching of war by the government… against the resistance and its weapons for the benefit of America and Israel,” Nasrallah told a news conference in reference to the government’s move…

Shortly after he finished, heavy clashes with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades erupted between Hezbollah supporters and pro-government gunmen in Beirut’s volatile Mazraa and Ras el-Nabae districts, and later spread to other areas.

Rather than bore with you with my own uninformed take, let me give you three recommendations. First, Moran follows Lebanon regularly and has essential background on that all-important Hezbollah “communications network,” which, you’ll be shocked to learn, is actually a Syrian spy network. Second, the AFP offers this time-warp call for Hezbollah’s disarmament by the UN, one that could have been written in nearly the same form two years ago after the war with Israel or even 10 years ago. Nasrallah laughed at them the last time they tried to pressure him to give up his weapons; he’ll be laughing at the end of this, too. Finally, the best way to get the sequence of events on all this is to start halfway down the page at Abu Kais’s blog — with his post from last Friday titled “100 Containers and the State of Hezbollah” — and just scroll up. It sounds like Hezbollah was caught off-guard here by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt (a strident Hezbollah opponent and an ally of the anti-Syrian “March 14″ movement) exposing their secret plans for some sort of big shakes at the Beirut airport, and then caught off-guard again when the Lebanese government showed some spine by firing their stooge on the premises and demanding that the communications network be shut down. Nasrallah’s response: To close the road to the airport with a huge “tent city” and unleash the goons who are making news today, prompting the reply from anti-Syrian Sunni leader Saad Hariri described in Abu Kais’s latest post. Exit question: Sunni/Shiite civil war in the offing? Stand by.

Update: Five dead already.


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I guess it was just a matter of time before this happenned

SoCalInfidel on May 8, 2008 at 3:07 PM

Heck we don’t need to know the players, the motives, the details, the stakes, or the consequences.

Get out of Iraq today!
/

RushBaby on May 8, 2008 at 3:08 PM

This is something which has crossed my mind from time to time, but I’ve never been able to verify one way or another…

What exactly is the diplomatic status between Syria and the US?

MadisonConservative on May 8, 2008 at 3:09 PM

Gee… wasn’t it part of the Ceasefire the UN forced on Israel that they would make sure Hezbollah did not rearm?

Color me suprised that they didn’t follow through on that one…

Romeo13 on May 8, 2008 at 3:11 PM

…and so it begins.

jharada on May 8, 2008 at 3:11 PM

I wonder when the Vatican is going to criticize Israel for this. After all they always push for Lebanon to decide its own future. Will they criticize the real problem Hezbollah this time like they always criticize Israel for defending themselves against Hezbollah (attacking from Lebanon)?

Ah heck what do I care. The pope is just another person so far as I care. I just wish so many other Christians didn’t care so much about what he had to say either. I know I know, ‘I’m an anti-Catholic bigot’. . . but I call it like I see it. The Vatican was UBER critical of Israel ‘in defense of Lebanon’. . . where’s the criticism now? I imagine crickets will be louder than the Vatican this time around.

ThackerAgency on May 8, 2008 at 3:13 PM

The Lebanese need to do what the Iraquis are doing. Pinpoint where nasrallah is, box him in, clear the are of as many innocents as possible and then ask the Israeli air force if they could do us all a favor. If nasrallah was a smoking whole in the ground this time tomorrow it would take the fight out of alot of hezbollah terrorists.

peacenprosperity on May 8, 2008 at 3:14 PM

Best of luck to Lebanon. Take out the terrorists.

rbj on May 8, 2008 at 3:15 PM

How can anyone keep track of the players? Every piss ant in the middle east with a gun has their own agenda. It is time for the US to take care of it’s own needs and let the middle east kill each other, they don’t need our help.

Wade on May 8, 2008 at 3:16 PM

“‘100 Containers and the State of Hezbollah’- exposing their secret plans for some sort of big shakes at the Beirut airport”

The containers have been there for 20 years. They’ve been planning this “big shake” for a while.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:17 PM

War breaks out in Lebanon. Dammit. Why is it that hundreds of years of peace has to end?

“Democracy” in Lebanon = “Democracy” in Iraq = Civil war.

The Middle East is a rathole. Fitting only for rats. And no amount of American blood, or American money, is going to change that.

OhEssYouCowboys on May 8, 2008 at 3:18 PM

This story is getting as old as the story out of Zimbabwe. . .
Somalia. . .
Sudan. . .
Yemen. . .
. . .

rockhauler on May 8, 2008 at 3:23 PM

Is this:

A) Syria stirring up trouble … ?

B) Iran using its proxy … ?

C) Hezbollah’s own long-awaited revenge … ? Or

D) actually a show of balls by the Lebanese government … ?

How ’bout:

E) All of the above?

Plus throw into the mix an anti-Mook offensive in Baghdad, a U.S. crackdown on the taliban in Helmand Province, a Paki offensive in N. Waziristan and you’ve got one heck of a recipe. Unrelated? No sir, ALL of this is related.

Tony737 on May 8, 2008 at 3:24 PM

Imagine, a Muslim country being torn apart by war…what took so long.

right2bright on May 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM

If nasrallah was a smoking whole in the ground this time tomorrow it would take the fight out of alot of hezbollah terrorists. - PnP

“Oh, nooooooo, that would make them very aaaangry and make things worse!” - Generic lefty answer.

Tony737 on May 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM

peacenprosperity:

“If nasrallah was a smoking whole in the ground this time tomorrow it would take the fight out of alot of hezbollah terrorists.”

That’s what Israel thought whent they assasinated Musawi. Then Nasrallah took over, who is an even more capable leader. Hezbollah cannot be stopped, and Israel will never get the Litani river.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:28 PM

Not to sound like a jackass here, but the people of Lebanon kind of deserve the situation they are in right now. If they only let the Israelis crush Hezbollah last year the Lebanese people wouldn’t be in this conundrum. But no, they screamed and whined that Israel was committing “genocide” against them. Hezbollah now has a stronger, more well equipt army to fight the Lebanese.

Now the Christians and Sunni Muslims should really worry about genocide, because Hezbollah will kill who ever to get to their realize goal: complete control of Lebanon.

Lance Murdock on May 8, 2008 at 3:30 PM

Tony:

If nasrallah was a smoking whole in the ground this time tomorrow it would take the fight out of alot of hezbollah terrorists. - PnP

“Oh, nooooooo, that would make them very aaaangry and make things worse!” - Generic lefty answer.

Actually, my answer is that Israel thought exactly what PnP thought when they assasinated Musawi. Then Nasrallah took over, who is much more capable. Israel will never be able to conquer Hezbollah and get their Litani river prize.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM

Exit question: Sunni/Shiite civil war in the offing? Stand by.

Is this a good thing or bad thing for Infidels?

1) It is a bad thing as they are all Allah’s children.
2) Make some popcorn.

MB4 on May 8, 2008 at 3:32 PM

Lance Murdock:

“Now the Christians and Sunni Muslims should really worry about genocide”

They don’t seem that worried. During the war, 80% of Christians supported Hezbollah, along with 89% of Sunnis. Hezbollah must have some good propaganda to get that much support from the people they are about to wipe out.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:41 PM

Actually, my answer is that Israel thought exactly what PnP thought when they assasinated Musawi. Then Nasrallah took over, who is much more capable. Israel will never be able to conquer Hezbollah and get their Litani river prize.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:31 PM

sigh… you do realize that if you kill enough leaders, eventualy you get to the end of the line?

I sense your one of the “don’t defend yourself” cause it only makes them angry types?

Notice that Nasrallah is in Syria? Mookie is in Iran? Now just why are they NOT in the countries they are supposedly leading?

Romeo13 on May 8, 2008 at 3:45 PM

MB4

Fully agree with you. When 2 Mohammedans fight and kill each other, that’s 2 less Mohammedans there to fight and kill us.

Shia vs Sunni fights are a good thing wherever they happen - Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrein, Yemen, et al. If there aren’t enough Shia in any place, other conflicts will do, such as Hamas vs Fatah, Sudanese Arabs vs Black Muslims, Afghan Pastun vs others, et al. In fact, the solution to this Iraq mess is all Infidel troops withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan, and letting the 2 sides fight it out.

In Iraq, Shia-Sunni warfare would soon transform into an open war between al Qaeda and Baathist based Sunni factions, backed by Saudi Arabia and Egypt as well as Syrian Muslim Brotherhood members vs Moqtada al Sadr backed by Iran and Hizbullah. As a result, not only will more Jihadis pour into Iraq, but also, more money - cash that’s currently being used to build mosques and schools that teach Israel doesn’t exist - will be diverted instead to this civil war. Just as the 80’s war between Iran and Iraq was a good thing for Infidels, so will this be.

So like you said, gather the popcorn.

infidelpride on May 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM

Then Nasrallah took over, who is much more capable. - Dave

Kill him and whoever takes his place, and their place, the third string, the fourth string, and eventually there’ll be nobody left who knows how to run the family biz.

Tony737 on May 8, 2008 at 3:47 PM

Has Jimmah been summoned?

fogw on May 8, 2008 at 3:49 PM

Shi’ite haPPens.

normsrevenge on May 8, 2008 at 3:49 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:41 PM

That’s why they are dumb. Using the great Rev. Wright terminology, Lebanon’s chickens are coming home to roost.

Lance Murdock on May 8, 2008 at 3:53 PM

tony737 and romeo13:
Killing leaders, starting wars, and constant aggression against Lebanon only increases Hezbollah’s support. You can make an attempt to understand this, or any other world issue, by putting yourself in the other person’s place. Would successive assasinations of US presidents by the Iraqi resistance cause you to want to pull out of Iraq?

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:54 PM

What exactly is the diplomatic status between Syria and the US?

MadisonConservative on May 8, 2008 at 3:09 PM

It depends whom you ask - Nancy Pelosi on the one hand…

Entelechy on May 8, 2008 at 3:58 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:54 PM

So the answer what? Throw money at it? Teach the kids to ‘read instead of fight us’ (aka Michelle Obama)?

Limerick on May 8, 2008 at 4:00 PM

Lance Murdock:

“That’s why they are dumb.”

So it’s not just Muslims that are dumb, but Lebanese Christians are dumb as well? It’s not the religion that makes you dumb, but simply living in the Middle East? I didn’t know.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:01 PM

This will end with a new country: Hezbollahstan. God help us all.

fleiter on May 8, 2008 at 4:02 PM

Dave, that’s apples and oranges. In the arab mind, honor goes to the winner, the ’stronger horse’. Wipe out enough layers of leadership and the new recruits dry up. It’s working in Iraq.

Tony737 on May 8, 2008 at 4:02 PM

Limerick:

So the answer what?

Tell Israel that the US will no longer allow their attempts expanding their nation. Problem solved.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:04 PM

In the 1960’s, Beirut was called the “Paris of the Middle East.” It was a cosmopolitan place where people went for vacation. Once the Lebanese government allowed Arafat and his ilk into their borders, there went the neighbourhood.

It’s a tragedy, really. I love the Middle East and the people who live there. But the only truly lovely place there is Israel. The people there have so much potential to be something more than they are. Instead they are brainwashed and they allow thugs and criminals to be their leaders than wonder why their countries fall into chaos and disrepair.

What a shame.

mjk on May 8, 2008 at 4:05 PM

This will end with a new country: Hezbollahstan. - Fleiter

That wouldn’t be such a bad thing, all the Christianscould move to Israel and then Israel could be unleashed against Hezbollahstan with all the IDF’s military might. Two hours later, the Christians could move back in.

Tony737 on May 8, 2008 at 4:05 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:04 PM

LOL….nuff said. Punish the victim and the bully will disappear.

Limerick on May 8, 2008 at 4:05 PM

Tell Israel that the US will no longer allow their attempts expanding their nation. Problem solved

Have you ever BEEN to Israel? What expansion? They haven’t expanded in years.

Israel is barely the size of New Jersey, you moron. Surrounded by countries hundred of times her size. You’re an idiot.

mjk on May 8, 2008 at 4:07 PM

Limerick:

“Punish the victim and the bully will disappear.”

Those who you call “bully” didn’t even exist until those you call “victim” invaded and occupied Lebanon. It was your “victims” invasion that created the “bullies”. When your “victim” stops invading nations, their problems will go away.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:09 PM

“… you moron … You’re an idiot.” MJK

No need for name calling, stupidity speaks for itself. Let this not turn into YouTube, we can have polite debate and let libs make fools of themselves, they don’t need our help.

Tony737 on May 8, 2008 at 4:09 PM

Hezbollah cannot be stopped, and Israel will never get the Litani river.

Of course Hezbollah can be stopped. It’s the method used to stop them that is the debate. Beirut could be turned into a big black smoking hole in about a half second if that need should arise. There is no such thing as “can’t be stopped”. There is only “what is the best way to stop them?”.

We should never take the nuclear option off the table when dealing with terrorists. In fact our willingness to use nukes should be constantly held out as a big stick when dealing with the terrorist mindset. Of course it should an extreme method of the very last resort, but it should always be included in the plan. It’s power as a deterrent is useless otherwise.

Guardian on May 8, 2008 at 4:09 PM

So like you said, gather the popcorn.

infidelpride on May 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM

Are you the same infidelpride who said this on Jihadwatch almost a year ago?

Remember the 80’s war between Iran and Iraq? Did we end up any worse off due to millions of fanatics on both sides getting killed? Remember the 60’s proxy war between Egypt and Saudi Arabia in Yemen? Was that agood or bad thing for Infidels?

Bottom line - if there is an internecine war between Infidel hating Muslims and Infidel hating Muslims, why is that a bad thing for Infidels? If two or more of our enemies are busy destroying each other, why should we even bother stopping them?

MB4 on May 8, 2008 at 4:09 PM

mjk:

They haven’t expanded in years.

Thank you Hezbollah!

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:09 PM

Does this mean more fauxtography is in the offing?

mikeyboss on May 8, 2008 at 4:10 PM

Guardian:

In fact our willingness to use nukes should be constantly held out as a big stick when dealing with the terrorist mindset.

Pathological.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:10 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:09 PM

Please provide an atlas reference to the following:

1) Lebanese territory taken by Israel
2) A map of the Nation of Palestine (At ANY point in history 5000bce to 1948)

Limerick on May 8, 2008 at 4:11 PM

Thank you Hezbollah!

Ok, nevermind, you can’t have a polite debate with that!

Tony737 on May 8, 2008 at 4:11 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 3:54 PM

This is NOT the leader of a Nation. This is NOT the leader of a state. This is the leader of a terrorist group, with which I have PERSONAL experience. I lost freinds to these guys in 83…

One of the most interesting things happening with the Jihadists is that they understand that we won’t cross certain lines on a map to go after them, so they have safe havens.

Bush had it right after 9/11… you are either with us, or against us. If you harbor these guys, you are part of the problem, and NO international line will stop us from getting them.

If I was President? I’d have a list… 20 names of terrorist leaders, who are targets. Make it known to the whole dang world that these are targets, and we will be coming to get them. If you don’t want us to do it in your country? Expel them, or hand them over… because we WILL be sowing Chaos in our wake when we come.

The idea that violence never solves anything is NOT what history teaches us… if you bother to read it.

Romeo13 on May 8, 2008 at 4:13 PM

Lebanon, once an Eden!
Lebanon? Jesus wept.

It’s always a shame to lose another Christian alliance over the years since WWII, no thanks to Islamic fundamentalists. Once, the Christians of Lebanon blessed their country with peace and prosperity. I’ll not forget my elementary school student-teacher from Lebanon once upon a time in the ’60’s. Nor will I forget my highschool exchange student from Somalia in German class sitting beside me. Then there was my Bolivian refugee friend exiled in the ’70s, part of the ex-presidential Serrano family.

The international intolerance of liberals towards life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The tolerance of liberals promoting the fascistic progressive movement. The growing totalitarian threat of invading terrorism.

What to do?
Where does the voter begin?
Like any good writer, begin with your own experience.
Secure borders.
Support our Military enlistment and law enforcement.
No illegal alien amnesty.
English national official language.

Secure borders requires technical expertise that our military recruits can provide the nation during their own extended basic training–building the fence and installing effective spyware with fortress posts along the border. Allow ROTC units to participate during summer breaks, working beside the new recruits. As posts are completed, Border Patrol (with National Guard back-up) assumes responsibility to maintain and perform. The networking of coordination between border patrol, law enforcement, national guard, and the military needs an established route of effective communications.

No criminal amnesty and English the “official” language are mere PAPERWORK achievements for pork barrel pencil pusher legislators to earn their keep and provide in accordance with the Constitutional demands as THEIR RESPONSIBILITY as well as meeting the demands from the American citizens to be SECURE. Our Congress wants self preservation re-election. They want to presume negotiative skills heaping on taxes while exempting themselves as though they have diplomatic immunity. With the immediate urgency on the issues regarding criminal bombardment and communication in English, force legislators to prove their worth before getting re-elected.

maverick muse on May 8, 2008 at 4:14 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:01 PM

I’m not saying Christians or Muslims in particular are dumb, but I am saying that when Israel is involved, arab people in general don’t act in their best interest. Lebanon would be prospering right now if Hezbollah did not exist. The problem the Lebanese have gotten themselves into is that they allowed a violent gang of terrorists become very strong. In doing so they will use violence for a means to an end.

If Israel disappeared tomorrow, do you actually think Hezbollah would lay down their arms? Of course not, they would put all their engery in overthrowing the Lebanese govt.

Lance Murdock on May 8, 2008 at 4:16 PM

Limerick:

Lebanese territory taken by Israel

Shebaa farms. Also, do you not remember the 20 year Israeli occupation? If Hezbollah had not been created and drove them out, the land at least up to the Litani would today be Israel.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:17 PM

Pathological.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:10 PM

Nope. Realistic. I play to win. Always.

Terrorism is a disease with no simple cure. In fact there may be no cure at all in which case you destroy the infected for the good of all mankind.

Guardian on May 8, 2008 at 4:18 PM

Israel is going to take over the Middle East! *looks around* Secret Expansion Plans within.

RushBaby on May 8, 2008 at 4:19 PM

So the answer what?

Tell Israel that the US will no longer allow their attempts expanding their nation. Problem solved.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:04 PM

Please, do you think that Hezbollah actually cares about the Shaaba Farms. It’s just a pretext not to dissolve. If you don’t believe me, then I have nothing else to tell you b/c you are going to believe what you want anyway, make believe or real.

Lance Murdock on May 8, 2008 at 4:20 PM

Dave is unaware of how Lebanon was in the 1960s and 1970s.
Properous and a trading partner with her neighbor Israel.
Time magazine called Beruit one of the marvels of the middle east. Then Hezbollah started blowing up it’s hotels and markets. Israel had nothing what-so-ever to do with it.

Occupation. Yep. As security because of what Hezbollah did to the nation of Lebanon (as sited above). Israel wanted the legitimate PEACEFUL government of Lebanon reinstated.

Limerick on May 8, 2008 at 4:22 PM

Romeo13:

” If you harbor these guys, you are part of the problem, and NO international line will stop us from getting them.

Does the same hold for all countries? The US is harboring a terrorist in Miami. Do you support Cuba to start bombing Miami tomorrow?

lost freinds to these guys in 83…

I am sorry friends of yours were killed, but Hezbollah was not responsible. Also, do you consider killing foreign troups that are occupying your nation terrorism?

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:23 PM

Lance Murdock:

Please, do you think that Hezbollah actually cares about the Shaaba Farms.

So I guess you wouldn’t mind if Canada annexed Seattle.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:27 PM

Or is it actually a show of balls by the Lebanese government

AP, look at this at Instapundit:
http://instapundit.com/archives2/018985.php

And then read the link in his update:
http://informationdissemination.blogspot.com/2008/05/fleet-positions-itself-for-war.html

I’m wondering if the Lebanese government got the high-sign from us to start operations against Hezbollah, in an effort to open up another front against Iran/Syria. This serves as a distraction for them, and doesn’t really directly cost us anything yet.

I’ll be truly convinced if Israel starts taking pot shots at Hezbollah from the South. That means the gloves have come off.

nukemhill on May 8, 2008 at 4:30 PM

Time magazine called Beruit one of the marvels of the middle east.

Limerick on May 8, 2008 at 4:22 PM

At one time Beirut was called “The Paris of the Middle East” as Saigon was once called “The Paris of the Far East”.

MB4 on May 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM

Limerick:

Occupation. Yep. As security because of what Hezbollah did to the nation of Lebanon.”
What the hell are you talking about> Hezbollah did not exist when Israel first invaded and occupied Lebanon.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM

Dave742 is so anti-israel he probably has a picture of Auschwitz in his bedroom and genuflects to it every night.

Here’s a real simple question, Dave: do you or do you not think that Israel has a right to exist?

Part 2: I assume your answer to one is no. Do you or do you not agree that when Muslims kill Jews, that the Jews have a right to defend themselves.

Part 3: Do you or do you not agree that the stated goal of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Fatah is to eliminate Israel and the Jews that live there, preferably as bloody to the Jews as possible?

Part 4: Would you rather see One Palestine with all the jews exterminated as your friends in Hezbollah and Hamas want, or do you think that Jews have a right to live?

Answer honestly please. Your comments so far tend to show that you support groups that have explicit goals of murdering Jews.

Vanceone on May 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM

We (the West) formed NATO to have a way to legitimately oppose the eastern bloc nations after WWII.

How about a middle-east version? Maybe we could form METO, through Iraq as a proxy, with Lebanon, Turkey, and whatever other nations in the area that might be interested in being our allies, so that there is another bloc of islamic nations that have a basis (besides Islam or Ba’athism) to oppose islamic proxy terrorism by Iran, Syria, Yemen, etc. METO, as an organization of islamic states, could explicitly target “extra-governmental” organizations like Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Jemaah Islamiyah (I know, that’s Indonesia, right?), whatever-other-group-of-putz’s-that-pop-up, etc.

Wha’dya think?

urbancenturion on May 8, 2008 at 4:35 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM

You are correct and I stand corrected. Hezbollah sprouted from the Lebanon civil war in which the Islamist TERRORISTS destroyed the government of Lebanon.

Limerick on May 8, 2008 at 4:36 PM

So I guess you wouldn’t mind if Canada annexed Seattle.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:27 PM

Seattle would never fire rockets at Canada. Which is exactly what happened at Shaaba Farms. It looks down on Israel and was used as a launch site. Lebanon wouldn’t or couldn’t control it so Israel did it for them. Who’s fault is that? Don’t bother to say Israel. That would just be stupid.

Guardian on May 8, 2008 at 4:40 PM

Romeo13 for Defense Secretary!

JetBlast on May 8, 2008 at 4:43 PM

So I guess you wouldn’t mind if Canada annexed Seattle.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:27 PM

Actually there would be a silver lining to Canada annexing Seattle as Washington state, sans Seattle, would be a red state.

MB4 on May 8, 2008 at 4:44 PM

Vanceone:

“do you or do you not think that Israel has a right to exist”

Of course not. I don’t think the US has the “right” to exist either. I do not think any group of people have the “right” to wipe out another people so they can form their own nation their. I do, however, understand that certain realities do exist. I believe that since Israel wants its own nation that at this point it would be realistic to let them have their nation inside the 1967 border. If they actually did this and stopped efforts to expand, I would support their “right” to exist there. An even better solution would be that instead of Israel residing inside the pre-1967 border as a theocracy, that all of Israel should become one nation, and that nation should be a nation of all of its citizens.
I certainly do not agree that resistance groups should give a blanket “right to exist” agreement before Israel says where they have this “right to exist”. You have to ask “exist where”?

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:48 PM

So I guess you wouldn’t mind if Canada annexed Seattle.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:27 PM

Well when your most moral of all organizations, the UN verified Israel withdrawal of the Lebanon and Hizbollah did not except it, you know its not about 1 square of land.

But keep on dreaming buddy, maybe one day these days when all those evil Jooooos disappear the world will “finally” be at peace.

Lance Murdock on May 8, 2008 at 4:52 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:48 PM

Are answers to parts 2-4 forthcoming?

This is very telling…

db on May 8, 2008 at 4:53 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:23 PM

sigh, last time I’ll post on this subject…

1. Yes, the Cuban should be handed over…

2. Barracks were bombed by a splinter group which became part of Hez eventualy. Hez didn’t “formaly” exist until 85, but there were Iranian funded and trained groups of Shiites in Leb in 83… I know, I was part of MARG 2-83 and walked those streets. Documentation exists that PROOVES Qud’s force members were in Leb…

Lets see… we went to Leb as part of a deal to get Israel and the PLO, BOTH invaders, to stop fighting there. Revisionist history from the Islamic world paints us as “invaders”, when it was the failure of the Arab Leagues forces to stop the PLO from attacking Israel from Leb that was the cause of the whole sequence of events to start.

Iran, who hated Reagan from him forcing them to back down o the Hostage issue when he was elected, used it as a cheap way to attack American troops, with an international “cut out” so they could have plausible deniability.

If Lebanese wanted to kill foreign troops, then why not kill the Syrians who were there? or the “Palestinians”? Or the Iranians (Quds force) who emmigrated there to train the PLO?

Lebs a mess beacause of all the OUTSIDE forces fighting in the country… just like now when Hez is being run from SYRIA.

Romeo13 on May 8, 2008 at 4:54 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 4:48 PM

And which nation on the planet has not secured itself by right of arms?

Limerick on May 8, 2008 at 4:55 PM

Dave742 is so anti-israel he probably has a picture of Auschwitz in his bedroom and genuflects to it every night.

Vanceone on May 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM

You don’t have to exaggerate.

It’s probably Birkenau.

Aristotle on May 8, 2008 at 4:56 PM

Aristotle: True. I probably give him too much credit.

Seriously, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had something somewhere that said “Arbeit macht frei” though. The fact he didn’t respond to my other three questions is quite interesting.

Vanceone on May 8, 2008 at 5:24 PM

That’s what Israel thought whent they assasinated Musawi. Then Nasrallah took over,

Nasrallah has been in charge all along. musawi was just one of his commanders. nasrallah hid out in the iranian embassy during the war. And besides, it’s not certain who exactly killed musawi anyway, they were lining up for an opportunity.

peacenprosperity on May 8, 2008 at 5:54 PM

Hey dave742:

i wonder why Hezbollah has not taken the Shebaa Farms away from israel? in fact i wonder why israel is still there at all given the overwhelming disadvantages it suffers. the entire arab/muslim world is arrayed against the zionist entity.

What is the explanation for their failure to drive the jews into the sea. they outnumber the jews by a factor of 10. they have oil resources. they have had the military support of a superpower. they are militant. they are raised to hate jews from cradle to grave. so why haven’t they been able to do so?

The only reason that comes to mind its that these muslims and their leftist allies are really effete cowards that don’t know how to fight. they are not real men.

i know the US has been supporting the jews since 67 but that does not explain the cowardice of the muslims who afterall had soviet support.

in fact i think the jews should adopt a more aggresive foreign policy in the face of such muslim cowardice. israel would do humanity a favor if they invaded and civilized these muslims and arabs in the region. only then could we be done with the whining of these dogs who hide behind hospitals and women’s skirts when they actually have the courage to pick up a weapon.

sniveling, morally relativistic, effete, cowards all.

elduende on May 8, 2008 at 5:56 PM

One of my very least favorite things to blog about, as there are just as many moving parts and hidden agendas as in Iraq but the cast of characters is totally unfamiliar. Is this Syria stirring up trouble to forestall the UN’s Hariri tribunal? Is it Iran using its proxy to open up a second front against the west? Is it Hezbollah’s own long-awaited revenge for Imad Mughniyeh’s assassination? Or is it actually a show of balls by the Lebanese government, weary of the Iranian/Syrian/Hezbollah axis and finally willing to risk open war by cracking down, however gingerly, on Nasrallah?

may be all of the above. It is a crazy world over there.

WoosterOh on May 8, 2008 at 5:56 PM

So which side should we be rooting for?

SoulGlo on May 8, 2008 at 7:01 PM

elduende:

The only reason that comes to mind its that these muslims and their leftist allies are really effete cowards that don’t know how to fight. they are not real men.

Israel, using every modern weapon that the US can supply them with, with a large army, could not get 100 yards into Lebanese territory in 2006 because a few thousand “effete” Muslims with relatively primitive weapons would not let them.
I would not attribute this to the Jews being “effete,” however. It is because Hezbollah is fighting for their homes, and they have the moral high ground. Israel is fighting to conquer other peoples land, and deep down Israeli soldiers know this and know they are morally bankrupt. I do not care who has what weapons. Those fighting for their homeland will eventually always win.

Limerick:

And which nation on the planet has not secured itself by right of arms?

Your argument here is that people have always atacked other countries to conquer their land, and since it has always been that way, why try to change it. This is the same argument people used to defend slavery. Just because something has a long tradition does not make it right. I am against people attacking other people to take their land. I am also against someone cracking your skull in to take your wallet. Just because wars of conquest and robbery have always existed does not mean I will support it. Rape has always existed. Do you support that as well?

Romeo:

Yes, the Cuban should be handed over…

But he has not, and will not. The US is harboring terrorists. Does Cuba have the right to bomb Miami or not?

db:

Are answers to parts 2-4 forthcoming?

I can only answer so much when I am ganged up on. I can answer one of them:

“Do you or do you not agree that when Muslims kill Jews, that the Jews have a right to defend themselves.”

The key here is what you consider defense. It is impossible to talk about this rationally with people who consider the US invasion of Iraq a defensive war.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 7:34 PM

Those fighting for their homeland will eventually always win.

I guess this is not true, since Native Americans did not win. I still will put my money on Hezbollah in the next war.

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 7:36 PM

dave742 on May 8, 2008 at 7:36 PM

Keep on dreaming buddy, the next war Israel will crush Hezbollah.

Oh and I got bad news for you too, Israel will also destroy Iran’s nuclear program too.

So please FOAD

Lance Murdock on May 8, 2008 at 8:02 PM

hey dave 742

sorry everyone is ganging up on you that just does not seem fair…

LOL! modern weapons huh? well i agree with one thing you did say: the israelis did not close the deal in 06. that won’t happen again. the next one hezbollah is done. by the way will you be helping hezbollah liberate the shabaa farms or should we expect you to provide all your moral support from your keyboard?

in fact if i remember correctly it was hezbollah and its leftist apologists who were instrumental in the calls for ceasefire. why were you all calling for a ceasefire if things were going so well in 06?

as for jews fighting with modern weapons the arabs have had sophisticated weapon platforms in every war they have fought and lost. so the reason for those losses must be cowardice.

elduende on May 8, 2008 at 8:13 PM

oh and dave 742

the iraq war was a preemptive war not a defensive war and there is nothing wrong with that.

elduende on May 8, 2008 at 8:19 PM

Dave is wearing his checked keffiyeh as he types his propaganda. It’s empowering. /sarc

Um, Canada is a country; Hezbollah is not.

onlineanalyst on May 8, 2008 at 8:35 PM

Its time for Lebonan to be free of Iran and Syria,
Israel needs to flatten all threats to Israel and
the goons of Hamas,and Hesbollah!

Israel wants to live in peace,all Terrorists,Iran and
Syria want Israel vapourized and vanished from the
planet,they say it daily!

It doesn’t take to many brain cells to figure out
who the good guys are!

I hope Israel rocks their world until the Jihadys see the
light!

canopfor on May 8, 2008 at 9:45 PM

. . . I’m wondering if the Lebanese government got the high-sign from us to start operations against Hezbollah, in an effort to open up another front against Iran/Syria. This serves as a distraction for them, and doesn’t really directly cost us anything yet.

I’ll be truly convinced if Israel starts taking pot shots at Hezbollah from the South. That means the gloves have come off.

nukemhill on May 8, 2008 at 4:30 PM

I seem to remember reports not very long ago that we had warships off Lebanon. So there may well be something up. It might be a good time to squeeze Syria out of Lebanon, and de-fang Hezbollah. This may well be preliminary to an Israeli attack (with US help) on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel’s going to want her backside protected.

We also have been adding to our naval forces in the Persian Gulf. . .

MrLynn on May 8, 2008 at 11:48 PM

the iraq war was a preemptive war not a defensive war and there is nothing wrong with that.

elduende on May 8, 2008 at 8:19 PM

Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly, I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked about such a thing. When people speak to you about a preventive war, you tell them to go and fight it.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower, 5 star General and 34th President of the United States of America.

MB4 on May 9, 2008 at 2:30 AM

Hezbollah has taken Beirut. It looks like things backfired for Lebanon.

Al in St. Lou on May 9, 2008 at 8:43 AM

looks like things backfired for Lebanon

Things have backfired for Hariri/Jumblatt/Abrahms/Welsh/US/Israel/Saudi Arabi

dave742 on May 9, 2008 at 10:35 AM

dave742 on May 9, 2008 at 10:35 AM

Lance Murdock on May 9, 2008 at 11:27 AM

You should worry, your Hezbollah buddies are going to lose.

Lance Murdock on May 9, 2008 at 11:28 AM

Hah! Yes, I think it’s safe to say that for Dave742, the only good Jew is a dead one.

I explicitly am saying you are anti-semetic, Dave742. You want to see dead Jews.

So why should anyone rational believe a word you say? Except as a spokesman for terrorists, of course.

You piece of human scum.

Vanceone on May 9, 2008 at 12:57 PM

Vanceone:
Want to go out and have a beer?

dave742 on May 9, 2008 at 2:00 PM


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