Possible war in Israel!

[sabradan]

So, a few days ago, some Israeli soldiers on the border with Lebanon were abducted by Hezbollah, and taken into Lebanon. Israel took this as an "Act of War" especially after Gilad was captured and Eliyahu Asheri was shot. Further, the last time Israelis were taken captive in Lebanon we got em back 10 years later in caskets.

So, Israel has proceeded to shell many targets in Southern Lebanon including Beirut, and the Beirut highway, and all sorts of other Military targets including airfields. Today, Hezbollah terrorists have launched rockets into Israel, hitting central Haifa, Carmiel, Tzfat, and otehr northern cities.
I can only assume that a full-scale war will soon ensue.

[backgroundbob]

Ah, the patented George W. method of fighting terrorism: attack a country!

The day someone thinks to make it obvious that terrorists operate internationally will be a happier day for us all.

[sabradan]

In case you didn't know, Bob, all of Southern Lebanon may as well be an independent country, as the Lebanese government has little to no control over it...its run completely by Hezbollah. So, the IAF bombed Hezbollah-land. In turn, our cities were hit. I'm sure war in Imminent. Especially when the socialist-leftwing defense minister, Amir Peretz says "We will crush Hezbollah"

[backgroundbob]

So, great, the best solution is obviously military.

Not happy.

[magicman]

My poor Lebanon is getting attacked. Damn those Hezobollah! Why did they have to go and mess with Israel. Now Lebanon will have to pay the price. What is the world coming to these days?

I can only hope everything will sort out soon. But it doesn't look like that will happen from what I've seen on LBC so far.

[jigsaw]

Typical overreaction. How does bombing a city equate with a few lone kidnapping?

Uggh, I'm sick of this whole bloody situation. And since when are countries allowed to start bombing one another?? Why doesn't the U.S step in? What, they'll only step in if it's in their interests or something?

[sabradan]

Um. yeah.

And countries bomb each other all the time. Dont worry it'll all be over soon: Israel will win the war, and then Lebanon and Syria will negotiate to get their cities back, and terrorists will be dead. It works out well for everyone. Well, except Hezbollah.

As for how this is worth one soldier, I'll tell you what I've told others.
*Admission: I am an Israeli (for those who couldnt guess) and withing three years (hopefully) will be entering the IDF Paratroopers*
This is actually a smart move, for mulitiple reasons.

1. Soldiers run on morale. If the government does nothing to try to bring back lost/captured soldiers, they lose morale, and seems like the government thinks of them only like "numbers in uniforms", and not people, or soldiers. The last time Israeli soldiers were captured by Hezbollah/Lebanon, they came back almost 10 years later, in caskets.
2. Hezbollah are terrorist organization recognized by the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia. Israel DOES NOT negotiate with terrorists, so that option is out.
3. A precision raid is out of the question, because the numbers are off, and we dont have the intelligence on Hezbollah needed. We know where they are, but not where they keep prisoners, etc. Or at least, as far as I know we don't.
4. For the past few years, Israel has done many things to make the arabs, and leftists happy, resulting in more dead Israelis, and when attacked by Qassams on a daily basis, Israel has sit there more or less complicit, doing nothing. This emboldens the terrorists, knowing we won't respond. Then Gilad was captured, and Eliyahu was shot. We invaded Gaza, and still they were emboldened. Israel needs to show the world, and the arab world especially, that we will not sit by and let you abduct our soldiers, and if you try, you will pay dearly for it.

[jigsaw]

Dont get me wrong, I'm not saying a soldier's or any man's life is worthless, only that bombing a city, a country is far too excessive. And yes, a country does need to try and get back their lost soldiers, but bombing a country is not the way to do it. If all countries were to respond in such ways there'd be constant, world warfare. It seems silly. I mean, maybe the reason those soldiers came back 10yrs later in caskets was because of such stupid, heavy handed reactions.

At what point does one think, well I want them to return something precious to me, so I'll just air raid the coutnry from which those people originate? Wouldn't that just piss them off to the extent that they'll take their time in killing whoever it is they've taken?

[sabradan]

The last time we had soldeirs captured in Lebanon, we tried the diplomatic route. They came back in caskets. And like I said, it would be a precision strike, but the intel/numbers/terrain isnt suited for it.

[magicman]

I agree, I think Israel took it a little too far in thier reaction, although I think they have every right to defend themselves. And worse, now Syria's president has stepped in with a threat that if Israel attacks them in their attempt to eradicate Hezbollah he will consider it an attack on the whole middle eastern world and will respond fiercly. I'm afraid this incindent might escalate into a full blown war between the middle eastern countries.

Also, it's been said that Iran had a hand in creating this incident to take attention off their nuclear program. George Bush hasn't really established if he wants to be on Israel or Lebanon's side and is instead trying to be a peacemaker between them.

He didn't seem this hesitant when he wanted to attack Iraq.

I'm Lebanese, of course, and care deeply for the well being of Lebanon and hope that this ends with no major damage to Lebanon or Israel. I guess all we can do is wait to see what will happen next.

[jigsaw]

Your Lebanese?!!! I didn't even know that, ha, so am I. That's weird.

[Grif]

To those that think that a country shouldn't go to war over a single person, consider the possibility that it may be you that is that person.

I know that if I was captured by terrorists, I'd want the stars and stripes to come in and nail them.

A country launches an attack if all diplomatic means of obtaining an objective are exhausted. The diplomatic means in the case of Israel is this: return thousands of Palestinians in return for Israeli prisioners or find the Israeli prisioners.

Talk about disproportionate, Israel would be getting the shaft of that detail. In return for two soldiers, you gain one thousand enemies.

In a military solution, Israel accomplishes several things. Most obviously, it kills a lot of their enemies, particularly the high ranking brass of Hezbollah. You can argue that begets more violence, but the enemies that Israel would make would both be unorganized and fearful of retaliation in the face of an Israeli attack.

Israel is attacking terrorist organizations, which is exactly what the US is doing. The US recently vetoed a proposal in the UN security council, condemning the Israeli attacks, and for good reason. Israel has had little help from the international community in resolving the conflict in the middle east, and her Arab neighbors refuse to recognize her as a country.

Throw in terrorists and you have a country with a short fuse.

[jigsaw]

To those that think that a country shouldn't go to war over a single person, consider the possibility that it may be you that is that person.

I'm one of those, and whether it's me or not, it makes no difference. I would definetly want my country to do everything possible--short of all out war--to get me back but I woulodn't want hundreds, or thousands of innocents to die--as they would in a war--on account of me.

[backgroundbob]

Israel is attacking terrorist organizations, which is exactly what the US is doing.

Actually, no, Israel and the US are now attacking countries in which they believe terrorists to be working.

Well, gee, you don't see the UK attacking Ireland, now do you? That conflict has been going on far longer than the Israel/Palestine issue, but at least both sides are attempting to fuction like representatives of human beings.

The US recently vetoed a proposal in the UN security council, condemning the Israeli attacks, and for good reason. Israel has had little help from the international community in resolving the conflict in the middle east, and her Arab neighbors refuse to recognize her as a country.

Perhaps they had little support because most of the world is appalled at the actions of both sides.

To be honest, I don't trust the US position in this one bit: last time they claimed to be standing up for a nation was when they were propping up the Iraqi system to serve as a bastion against Iran. And look where that got us! Saddam Hussein, a few years down the line.

[Nate]

Daily Star out of Beirut:
www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&article_id=73943&categ_id=17

and by a former candidate for the Lebanese presidency:

www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=73940

It's interesting that a lot of what people are saying about Israel is not being said by the Lebanese people themselves.