Middle East Tensions Exploding

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

IAF calls up reserves for Lebanon strike

 

 

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Yaakov Katz and Jpost staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Jul. 12, 2006

 

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The IAF on Wednesday began to issue call up orders in preparation for retaliatory air strikes against Hizbullah targets in Lebanon, Channel 2 reported. The air force will target power stations and Hizbullah outposts inside Lebanon.

 

The army was also calling up reservists. Only weeks ago, an entire reserve division was drafted in order to train for an operation such as the one the IDF is planning in response to Wednesday morning's Hizbullah attacks on IDF forces along the northern border.

 

A very high ranking military officer said that if the soldiers were not returned in good condition, Israel would turn Lebanon back 20 years by striking its vital infrastructure.

 

Defense officials said that Defense Minister Amir Peretz has instructed the IDF to take all the necessary steps to retrieve the kidnapped soldiers.

 

After IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz concluded his security briefings in the Kirya in Tel Aviv on Wednesday afternoon, a senior IDF officer said the military was preparing for a large operation against Lebanon. Communities along the northern border had been instructed to prepare accordingly.

 

Regarding Hizbullah's initial offer to release the soldiers, as well as Gilad Shalit for thousands of security prisoners, the officers explained that it only proved what the military has been saying all along: that Hizbullah and Hamas were working in cooperation and were connected to one another.

 

The IDF vowed to hold the Lebanese accountable for the attacks.

 

"The IDF holds the Lebanese government responsible for any act of terror launched from Lebanon at Israel," a statement released by the IDF spokesperson read.

 

This doesn't look good at all. Also, Israel has just struck the Palestinian Foreign Ministry in Gaza so we look to have a two-front conflict on our hand right now with the Israelis going after Hamas in Gaza and focusing on Hizbullah in Lebannon.

[MrRant 0]

Well, at least we will finally get this resolved one way or another.

 

 

Break out the popcorn.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

"Come armageddon, come armageddon, come..."

 

Seriously though...I'm glad Israel is taking these measures. How much longer do they need to tolerate terrorism perpetrated by the Palestinians, Lebanese, Arabs, etc? Another fifty years or so?

[SuperJerk 0]

I really hope there's some Revelations-reading, apocalyptic church out there thinking this is a sign that Jesus is coming back. Its always fun to watch those fuckers backtrack after setting a date for the Great Tribulation.

[MrRant 0]

Actually, on my way back from dropping my girlfriend off at work I saw a dude with a "Repent Now/Armageddon is upon us" sandwich board in the middle of the street.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Actually, on my way back from dropping my girlfriend off at work I saw a dude with a "Repent Now/Armageddon is upon us" sandwich board in the middle of the street.

 

I'm sure in a big city you can find people like that all the time, though.

 

Also, Israel has taken out Lebanon's international airport in Beirut, and has stated that they're going to either push Hezbollah back from Israel's northern border or destroy them completely. Good for them.

[Zorin Industries 0]

I actually wish that Sharon was still around and active, seems to me that Olmert's trying to prove that hes a tough leader, whereas Sharon might have had a bit more leeway in how he handled this

[Dobbs 3K 0]

I think Olmert sees that the never ending situation between Israel and the Palestinians (and now Lebanon) needs to end. How much longer should they tolerate constant terrorist attacks, civilians being killed, and now soldiers being kidnapped? Clearly Israel has no real partners for peace from Hamas or Hezbollah, so why not destroy them and be done with it?

[Zorin Industries 0]

But wheres a viable solution in any of this? They only pulled out of Lebanon a few years ago, do they really want to have another long-term occupation?

 

To be honest Israel shot itself in the foot over Hamas when they refused to negoiate with Fatah. Corrupt as they may have been, at least you could have some sort of dialouge with them, but with Hamas is like a brick wall.

 

At this point is there really a solution that dosn't involve pushing the Palestinians out of Israel? Looks like there factions on both sides that won't rest till they have removed the other.

[Guest CWMwasmurdered]

Even if they manage to push the Palestinians out of Israel it won't end things, the violence will never stop. There are just too many people who want to see Israel destroyed, and they'll never stop coming.

[EricMM 0]

Um.

 

You know what you do with people who won't stop murdering, right?

 

You can't imprison entire nations..

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

I don't know, I'm kind of enjoying this. CNN.com just reported that Lebanese terrorists are transporting the hostages into Iran. Now, my dream scenario is possible: they'll murk Lebanon into submission and they demolish Iran's nuclear program!

[2GOLD 0]

I don't know, I'm kind of enjoying this. CNN.com just reported that Lebanese terrorists are transporting the hostages into Iran. Now, my dream scenario is possible: they'll murk Lebanon into submission and they demolish Iran's nuclear program!

 

Knowing the UN, they'll come to the aid of and protect Iran from the big meanie Israel.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Are you kidding? Knowing the UN, they'll do jack shit and pass a resolution condemning Israel's actions and do nothing about it.

 

Or, maybe, we'll sanction their potato exports.

[2GOLD 0]

Are you kidding? Knowing the UN, they'll do jack shit and pass a resolution condemning Israel's actions and do nothing about it.

 

Or, maybe, we'll sanction their potato exports.

 

The thing I've noticed with the UN is this. When they aren't needed and shouldn't do something, they spring into action. When they are needed, they write a letter and generally watch from the sidelines.

 

Protecting Iran from Israel is something I can see the UN doing.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Are you kidding? Knowing the UN, they'll do jack shit and pass a resolution condemning Israel's actions and do nothing about it.

 

Or, maybe, we'll sanction their potato exports.

 

That's exactly what will happen. (Well, maybe not the potato part...that would be too extreme for the UN to consider).

 

I think Israel should expell all the Palestinians and end this thing once and for all. If the rest of the Arab world cares so much about the Palestinians, let them reside in their own countries, since it's become obvious they cannot co-exist with the Israelis in peace. After that, Israel can defend itself with its missiles, and build a wall around its borders, etc.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

This one's escalating, but I just saw a funny headline on CNN.com about Hezbollah denying involvement in rocket attacks against Haifa.

 

Hezbollah: "What, rockets? Uh............. we didn't do it?"

[2GOLD 0]

This one's escalating, but I just saw a fully headline on CNN.com about Hezbollah denying involvement in rocket attacks against Haifa.

 

Hezbollah: "What, rockets? Uh............. we didn't do it?"

 

"WE WERE DEAD AT THE TIME!"

 

This is going to be a bloody mess. Part of me knows there is no other solution but another wants someone on the sides to say, "We gotta stop this. This is stupid!"

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

The thing is, you just know that Israel is going to wax them. It's not even going to be a fair fight.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

IF Hezbollah moves the kidnapped soldiers into Iran then it's over for the Islamic Republic because Israel is not a country that is going to care if the world tells it to hold back in attacking Iran to its fullest capacity. Hell, Israel took out Iraq's nuclear program in the 1980s and probably will not hesitate to do the same to Iran but the danger is that Iran has its nuke facilities scattered and Israel probably wouldn't be able to hit them all.

 

When I heard the UN was sending a "diplomatic team" to resolve the conflict I let out a big groan. The UN hasn't accomplished anything of diplomatic note in quite a while as is evidenced by the stalemate over Iran, stalemate over North Korea, stalemate in the Sudanese peace process, and stalemate over the Democratic Republic of the Congo getting free/non-violent elections later this year. Plus, Israel doesn't necessarily trust the UN since the General Assembly treats it as its whipping boy and doesn't want peacekeepers in its territory since the peacekeepers would be very ineffective at stopping terrorism versus the Israelis but then would halt any attempt at retaliation. I guess you can count me in the boat of those people who say that the UN would probably intervene to protect Iran or any of the other Islamic countries from the "evil" Israeli force that is the true piece of evil in the region.

 

In response to someone's post above about the Middle East countries should just let the Palestinians come into their territory it's not going to happen. This isn't because its not necessarily feasible but its because the people of other Middle Eastern nations look down on the Palestinians and don't see them as a pure Arabs. In fact, other Middle East nations don't give a damn about the Palestinians and only use them to continue the jihad against the Jews of Israel. Quite sad really because not only do the Palestinians get the shaft of being able to form their own state but they aren't supported in good faith by their Arab brothers and sisters.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

The problem for Israel attacking Iran is geographical, though. There's a big army in the middle of Iraq that probably wouldn't look too friendly at Israel for marching through their lines.

[Guest Felonies!]

"Come armageddon, come armageddon, come..."

Viva Hate is right!

[Zorin Industries 0]

It'll be interesting seeing if what sort of reaction comes Iraq if theres a serious escaltion, you can bet after 60 odd years of being told how evil Israel is, that the average man on the street won't have warm feelings towards them, Democracy or not

[Guest Felonies!]

In response to someone's post above about the Middle East countries should just let the Palestinians come into their territory it's not going to happen. This isn't because its not necessarily feasible but its because the people of other Middle Eastern nations look down on the Palestinians and don't see them as a pure Arabs.

Bullshit. Like anyone could pick a Palestinian out of a lineup of Mediterraneans. They're essentially displaced Jordanians.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

In response to someone's post above about the Middle East countries should just let the Palestinians come into their territory it's not going to happen. This isn't because its not necessarily feasible but its because the people of other Middle Eastern nations look down on the Palestinians and don't see them as a pure Arabs.

Bullshit. Like anyone could pick a Palestinian out of a lineup of Mediterraneans. They're essentially displaced Jordanians.

 

Don't shoot the messenger. Just reporting what I have read over the past six years.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Well, my understanding is that the Palestinians are generally better educated than people in other Arab countries...so, for example, the house of Saud doesn't want them in Saudi Arabia because they would probably end up calling for the royal family to be overthrown and for free elections to be held.

 

I'm surprised the international community isn't already coming down harder on Israel on this at this point. Usually the UN would've already passed a resolution condeming Israel. Is the rest of the world finally realizing the position Israel is in, or is this just a short reprieve?

 

On the other hand, Russia and France are calling for Israel to be more restrained...not that Israel has any real reason to listen to them.

 

As an aside...the only way Israel could hit Iran would be with missiles of some kind...their warplanes wouldn't even be able to get there before having to either ditch after the mission, or refuel somewhere else, which probably won't happen.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Bullshit. Like anyone could pick a Palestinian out of a lineup of Mediterraneans. They're essentially displaced Jordanians.

 

Actually, you're wrong. Palestinians ARE looked down upon.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Palestinians are looked down upon, or at least unwanted, by the rest of the Arabs...but Felonies is right..."Palestinian" is just another word for "Arab," really. The Arabs have mainly bought into the lie that Palestinians are somehow ethnically different from them, though.

[Guest Felonies!]

Bullshit. Like anyone could pick a Palestinian out of a lineup of Mediterraneans. They're essentially displaced Jordanians.

 

Actually, you're wrong. Palestinians ARE looked down upon.

They are looked down upon, yes, but I'm just saying the whole notion of it is silly.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Fair enough, semantics. I thought you were calling the observation BS.