Lebanon offensive will last ‘weeks.’
By on Jul 18th, 2006 at 11:10 am
Lebanon offensive will last ‘weeks.’
“A top Israeli general said today that Israel’s offensive in Lebanon would last another few weeks, and he said that the use of large numbers of ground forces had not been ruled out.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Business
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
McCain
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Why aren’t they using nukes YET!?!?!
July 18th, 2006 at 11:14 amthis morning the Israeli’s bombed a Lebanese army barracks ,so I guess this is no longer just a war on hezbolah,and correct me if I’m wrong ,isn’t lebanon 40 % christian !
July 18th, 2006 at 11:17 amA month-long Kristallnacht! Hitler would be proud.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:21 amIsreal: The Mother of All Terrorists, since the creation of their stupid state basically sowed the seeds for terrorism.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:23 am“Isreal: The Mother of All Terrorists, since the creation of their stupid state basically sowed the seeds for terrorism.” – - Your indignation Isfake.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:29 amJust move Isreal to America and thats the trouble out of the way
July 18th, 2006 at 11:31 amBMM…your preception is WRONG.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:32 amPalestinians had a total cease fire for 18 months, The Isrealis have been killing them for 18 months 2 or 3 every second day ,, The day the Isrealis killed the civilians on the beach The palestinians finally cracked and fired 8 rockets into Isreal killing no one…………
To me It is so obvious the Isrealis have been the instigators of War on behalf of Bush
July 18th, 2006 at 11:34 amMaj. Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, Israel’s deputy chief of staff, told Israel Radio that the army needed more time to complete “very clear goals.”
Yeah, like blowing up families from Canada and killing 12 people traveling in a mini-bus. Very clear.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:36 amLebanon toll passes 230
at 40% christian thats about a 100, so bush dont give a shit he just wants world war 3 started …………….
July 18th, 2006 at 11:39 am#9 – why do you hate the Jews? Why do you side with terrorists?
July 18th, 2006 at 11:39 amDie: “BMM…your preception is WRONG.” I think you’re some kind of deviated prevert. “I think General Ripper found out about your preversion, and that you were organizing some kind of mutiny of preverts.” – Col. ‘Bat’ Guano. (Sheeesh)
July 18th, 2006 at 11:40 amMutiny of preverts (huh)? I’d prefer a mutiny of perverts, thank you.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:45 am“Israel’s offensive in Lebanon would last another few weeks”
Does this constitute a cakewalk?
July 18th, 2006 at 11:45 amNBC News reported that the Israelis bombed a hospital in Lebanon. I guess from the air they thought the big “H” on the roof stood for Hezbollah ?
July 18th, 2006 at 11:49 amIsrael’s occupation of parts of Lebanon in 1982 fueled the rise of Hizbullah. – from the Chistian Science Monitor (what an oxymoron!)
July 18th, 2006 at 11:50 amSTATE OF ISRAEL = FUEL FOR TERRORISM
The US is finally evacuating people out of Lebanon. Finally. For the last few days I thought that Bush was trying to beat his non-response record that he set with Katrina!
July 18th, 2006 at 11:53 amI’ve noticed “liberal” blogs like TP and Dkos among others have not reported much on this aside from commenting on how neocons and chickenhawks are pushing for war against Syria and Iran. DKos’s coverage has been mainly in the form of recommended diaries, that are either pro-Israel or all-sides-are-equally-guilty. It’s unfortunate Israeli propaganda is so strong that it even affects sites like this and people who post. I’ve had to rely on arab and blogs local to Lebanon and the Palestinian territories for news.
July 18th, 2006 at 11:55 amhttp://electronicintifada.net/new.shtml
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/17/1423250
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/07/14/146258
http://democracynow.org/finkelstein-benami.shtml
http://urshalim.blogspot.com/
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/
Kelso Rich, bull shit bush did beat his record of Katrina. Katrina (4 and 1/2 days to respond) while eating cake and on vacation. Lebanon response (6 and 1/2 days to respond) while making a fool of himself and talking with his mouth full of food……French and Italian going to the rescue ahead of USA…..Seems the world knows what we already know, we are being controled by greedy fools that care for nothing but their own greed. Bull shit bush has become the enabeler of murderers of innicents, as well as the lead murderer……..Blessings, mother earth weeps for her peace loving children. When will the sane minded demand change.
July 18th, 2006 at 12:07 pm#2 – freeman,
July 18th, 2006 at 12:21 pmYes Lebanon is 40% Christian (Actually 40.7%). It is recognized by the US State Department as a faith-tolerant state. Israel is in the process of derailing the recovery of Lebanon and its armed forces for reasons that defy logic. Perhaps they want to strengthen Hezbollah.
i’m glad folks are starting to see the criminals (israel, rothchilds). these fricken pricks need to be brought down immediately. that why i can not stand the msm. they still to this day say the lebanon, palenstine started this. now you really know who is sucking whos dick!!
July 18th, 2006 at 12:43 pm#2
and israel is about 90% ashkenazi jew. don’t read over the last word, nazi.
http://www.answers.com/topic/ashkenazi
July 18th, 2006 at 12:47 pmModerated by Admin.
July 18th, 2006 at 12:51 pmWhere have I heard “The conflict will only last a matter of weeks” before?
July 18th, 2006 at 12:59 pmIsrael has a right to defend itself, but when will it defend itself against the enemy within — i.e., the neo-con wet dreamers who have high-jacked the governments in Tel Aviv and DC, and hold the mainstream news media enthralled…Remember, in his last interview before his stroke, Sharon said that they didn’t have to attack Iran, and that negotiations would work…Nasrallah is an ugly-minded man who has bemoaned the fact that Salman Rushdie was not killed way back when, the light of the world would not be diminished if he was dispatched from it, but instead they are killing Canadians…
Newt Gingrich wants you to embrace this moment as the threshold of WWW III. Well, here are some different perspectives. Unfortunately, the individuals articulating these perspectives will not be given any face time with Tim Russert, Bob Schieffer, Wolf Blister, Chris Matthews or George Stephanopoulos….
Beirut was healing itself wonderfully over this last decade. Beirut is worthy of so much more than rockets and bombs that rationalize lies, and lies that rationalize rockets and bombs. But as I wrote in GS3 Intelligence Special Supplement (2-4-06) — Iran, Hamas, Islamic Fundamentalism, Terrorism, Geopolitical Hegemony, The Great Game & Danish Cartoons: “There is an ugly, gaping chasm opening up beneath our feet. If we are not careful, it will swallow us all. Looking back at the Holocaust, i.e., the Nazi genocide against European Jews in WWII, the philosopher George Santayana wrote: ‘Those who fail to understand history are condemned to repeat it.’ In very poignant and bitterly ironic ways, Santayana’s axiom has a profoundly new significance for all of us..There is very little moral high ground in the Middle East. Any political leader or news media pundit who portrays the situation in terms of absolute good and evil is a liar, an ignoramus, or even worse, a religious fanatic (whether Muslim, Christian or Jew). I do not write much about the Middle East. It only leads to losing old friends and making new enemies.”
For six years, the Bush-Cheney has engaged in a policy of malign neglect toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Furthermore, the Bush-Cheney plan for the Middle East as a whole is one of serial military adventures (see Project for A New American Century). Both are aberrant departures from established US foreign policy in the region. Do you understand this?
Here is some cogent analysis from Larry Johnson, Robert Fisk and Matthew Rothschild:
Richard Power
July 18th, 2006 at 1:03 pmhttp://words-of-power.blogspot.com
Oil money gets around.You all are not progressive liberals , just a bunch of nazis arabs, who always allied themselves against the Allied in wwll. You all need to move to any theo-tyrany any times , they all will be arabic and to your liking.
Comment by OK CORAL
WTF is this moron talking about? English please?
July 18th, 2006 at 1:18 pmarab kid in Lebanon sees his family murdered by cowardly Zionist terroists. he grows up and understands Dumbya and america are the real killers and sponsors of terror. kid gets into america, driven by revenge and bam!!! countless of numbers of kids out here……only a matter of time
July 18th, 2006 at 1:36 pm#9 – why do you hate the Jews? Why do you side with terrorists?
Comment by Suck the Baby’s Skull Out
Zionism does NOT = Jew
SOME Jews are zionists
Zionist Jews STARTED the terrorism campaign in the 1940s. They pushed the UN/Britian out with their constant bombings in market places and hotels.
The arabs learned from this and have been using the same technique ever since.
Until the problem of zionist terrorism from 1940s on till today is addressed this conflict will never be over. ISRAEL started it. Israel brings this all on themselves. The who did what first of every action since that time is a waste of time. Solve the original zionism/racism/terrorism issue and the arabs have nothing left to fight about.
July 18th, 2006 at 1:46 pmDoes ANYONE know what Hezbollah is still allowed to operate inside Lebanon?
July 18th, 2006 at 2:03 pm[...] Lebanon offensive will last ‘weeks.’ [...]
July 18th, 2006 at 2:14 pm#28 – Tracy,
July 18th, 2006 at 2:40 pmHezbollah is allowed to operate anything they damn please in Lebanon because their’s is a more powerful force than the Lebonese defense forces. Israel is presently in the process of taking out those defense forces, thus, worstening the situation. Syria and Iran are supporting Hezbollah, not Lebanon.
Richard Powder, Great post..Thank you..Blessings
July 18th, 2006 at 2:47 pmTracy: If they kick Hizbollah out, they’ll have to kick out thousands of civilians (fellow Lebanese) and face serious risk of another Israeli invasion in southern Lebanon (to protect themselves, right?). Hizbollah is the only reason Israel is no longer in Lebanon and is seen as a legitimate resistance movement by much of the world, kind of. Also, Lebanon, like many countries in that region, are made up of groups who have quite a bit of tension between them. If the Lebanese army attacks Hizbollah, it’ll likely spark a civil war.
July 18th, 2006 at 3:10 pmAlso, read these interviews: http://www.democracynow.org/ article.pl?sid=06/ 07/ 17/ 1423250
http://www.democracynow.org/ article.pl?sid=06/ 07/ 14/ 146258
These Wikipedia articles are also good, but you won’t find anything too deep/critical:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hizbollah
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Israel-Lebanon_crisis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel-Lebanon_peace_treaty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Lebanon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab-Israeli_conflict
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Zionism
Threads like this one are what make me embarrassed sometimes to be a liberal/progressive. We have an ally that has been fighting terrorism, in its worst forms, for decades. And yet this community reflexively takes the side of the terrorists and not the western democracy they attack. These are countries and organizations that OFFICIALLY declare their goal is to wipe Israel off the map, and formally condone terrorism as a means to achieve this goal. The Palestinians cheered in the streets after Americans were killed on 9/11 – footage that still is haunting to watch.
Can you imagine if Mexico declared that California is still theirs and their official statement was that they wanted to drive all Americans into the Pacific? Then imagine the last 6 years terrorist groups in Northern Mexico launched rockets into San Diego, killing Americans, and sporadically kidnapped and killed U.S. soldiers near the border? And the Mexican government did absolutely nothing? How long do you think it would take the U.S. to put an end to the terrorism? 1 day? We would not have waited 6 years.
2 facts are particularly telling. Israel (who is by no means blameless itself) pulled out of Lebanon in 2000, and pulled out of Gaza in 2006. How did their Arab neighbors react to this? They just moved into the new areas and started attacking Israel from even closer. Are you at all surprised Israel reacted finally to the terrorism?
It’s also telling the muted reaction from alot of Arab countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. They seem to acknowledge the Lebanese government isn’t powerful enough to fight the Hezbollah terrorists in South Lebanon by themselves, and almost seem to accept that Israel is going to have to do it for them.
Regardless what you think of Israel, no country should ever have to accept regular terrorist attacks from both borders. Yet this board seems to be like the U.N. – no reaction when terrorists attack Israel, but a huge reaction when Israel finally fights back. It makes liberally look so bad when we reflexively side with the terrorists instead of our ally, and it plays right into the right’s hands electorally.
July 18th, 2006 at 4:42 pmJay B,
U.S. and Israeli foreign policy encourages terrorist attacks. Why is it ok for Israel to OFFICIALLY declare as their goal the destruction of Hamas and Hezbollah? Just remember who is in the power position. It’s Israel! The U.S. and Israel have all the means to bring peace and stability to the region, but war is more profitable.
t-mac
July 18th, 2006 at 5:34 pm#33 – Jay B,
July 18th, 2006 at 5:36 pmAre you saying that the best way to combat crime is to knock off all of the police? I’m sorry, but that does not seem to be a rational approach to me.
In response to #33 and #34
Hamas and Hezbollah are recognized terrorist groups, that’s why its OK to target them. Same as why I think most rational people agree its OK to target Al Qaeda. When a group officially declares they are going to target and kill your civilians in an effort to achieve their geo-political goals, they are a terrorist group and must be treated as such. We don’t pick and choose who the “good” terrorists are based on how much we agree with their particular cause at the moment.
Israel is indeed in power, much as the U.S. is. Which is what leads to asymmetrical warfare – such as terrorism – because their is no way Al Qaeda could beat the U.S. conventionally, just as Hezbollah can not defeat Israel militarily. But so what? Do you then say its OK for Al Qaeda to kill 3,000 Americans on 9/11 because they have no conventional military alternative? Because they believe in their own cause? Because the U.S. is in Saudi Arabia and propping up regimes all over the Middle East? No, there has to be a bright line rule that terrorism is always evil, always unacceptable and will always be fought against.
I’m not sure about the police analogy, it doesn’t make much sense. The problem here is there really is no police. Lebanon doesn’t have the willpower or the military might to fight Hezbollah. The result is the terrorists set up shop in the south and work unimpeded, firing rockets all year into Israel and abducting and killing soldiers. If Israel doesn’t take out the terrorists, nobody will. Certainly the UN doesn’t care when the attacks are on Israel. And Lebanon itself is unwilling and unable. So either Israel does it themselves, or they just have to agree to live with constant terrorist attacks on its cities – and that is a ridiculous position. And I think this is why there is a fairly muted world response, instead of the normal anti-Israel ranting – people seem to recognize Israel is the only one who can deal with the Hezbollah terrorist problem in the South of Lebanon.
Israel claimed it needed the disputed lands in Gaza and Lebanon as buffers against attacks. They were told if they gave back the land the attacks would stop, in effect a land for peace swap. Israel finally relented, and unilaterally gave back Gaza in 2006 and Lebanon in 2000. Did they get peace? No, they got more terrorism, but now from even closer to their cities – just as they said would happen. This is NOT to say Israel should be allowed that land back, its not theirs and they shouldn’t. But why do you all forget the other side? Why should terrorists be allowed free reign to continue their attacks as if Israel didn’t give up the lands? Everyone seems to want the “land” part of “land for peace”, but doesn’t seem bothered much that in return Israel got not peace but more and closer terrorist attacks.
July 18th, 2006 at 6:03 pm#30
Then we (the international community) need to get behind the Lebanese government and get Hezbollah to disarm as they should have when Israel pulled out in 2000…or are they not acting AT ALL out of fear of what Syria and Iran might do to their very weak government which Hezbollah has massive representation in? The Lebanese government is complicit in this war and untill they figure out a way to eject Hezbollah from their politics they will continue to be.
July 18th, 2006 at 6:20 pm#32
“…and face serious risk of another Israeli invasion in southern Lebanon”
Israel will not invade Lebanon again if Hezbollah DISARMS and quits hiding behind the Lebanese state soverignty in order to attack Israel at will.
“Hizbollah is the only reason Israel is no longer in Lebanon and is seen as a legitimate resistance movement by much of the world”
So why, since Israel pulled out of Lebanon in 2000, is Hezbollah still armed and considered a resistance movement? They achieved their main goal by getting Israel to withdrawl….ah, but their REAL goal is the same as Hamas…to completely destroy Israel.
July 18th, 2006 at 6:42 pm“Why is it ok for Israel to OFFICIALLY declare as their goal the destruction of Hamas and Hezbollah?”
Because they are terrorist organizations not recognized soverign countries.
July 18th, 2006 at 6:44 pm#37 – Tracy,
July 18th, 2006 at 6:56 pmYou are getting close. If Lebanon is provided the resources and wherewithal to secure its territory, the Mideast conflict would wind down a bit. Instead, there is a rogue nation to their south that tries to destabilize events and weaken their ability to take the situation under control.
#40 – Lebanon has had 6 years and they have done nothing. The proof is in the pudding.
Don’t pretend like Lebanon had been acting to control the terrorists and Israel just jumped the gun, that’s as big a fallacy as saying the Palestinian Authority took any meaningful steps to clamp down on their terrorists (they didn’t)
Israel pulled out unilaterally in 2000, in accord with the U.N. resolutions. The U.N. later approved resolution 1559 which required Hezbollah to disband and Lebanon to police its border. Neither happened and the terrorist attacks continued.
So Hezbollah claims it was using terrorism to get Israel out of Lebanon. They are out of Lebanon, yet the attacks continued and the Lebanese government did nothing.
So what is your position exactly? That Israel should sit back and let terrorists attack constantly without response? That Israel should be able to fight back against terrorists, but only if the response is so tepid it does nothing long-term and just keeps the problem simmering? That Israel has to give back the land they took from Lebanaon to get peace, but even if they do give it back Hezbollah terrorists can still feel free to attack anyhow? I don’t get it.
July 18th, 2006 at 7:13 pmJay B,
July 18th, 2006 at 7:27 pmYou ignore the fact that Syria was in Lebanon until just last year. They assassinated the leader of Lebanon about then. Israel did leave, Syria stayed.
True, but that just means Lebanon has done almost nothing at all to stop the terrorism since the 2000 Israeli withdrawal, under both Syrian rule AND under their own rule. They didn’t just remove Syria last week, it was early 2005. If you are Israel and you see another year of the same – Hezbollah terrorist attacks and no government action against them – what are you going to think? When exactly does enough become enough? And its the same with the Palestinian Authority – Israel gives back land, terrorists still attack Israel, the PA government does nothing.
July 18th, 2006 at 7:42 pm#43 – Jay B,
July 18th, 2006 at 8:39 pmYou still do not get it! Lebanon was trying to rebuild. It’s been less than a year. Consider how well the US has been in rebuilding Iraq in the 3+ years since the fall of Saddam. In addition, Hezbollah has been a force in southern Lebanon since the 1970’s. The insurgency in Iraq is a mere three years old and the US is still at a loss on how to control it. A similar mistake, though – disband all local authority and let the scavengers run rampart.
Come on guys, Jay B is a neocon. Don’t buy his crap. Those freaks were celebrating Lebanese elections a year ago. Now they are terrorists.
O…….k.. Don’t worry about it OK Coral (I did not know they had coral in OK) is an idiot.
July 18th, 2006 at 9:40 pmMy friends would laugh hysterically if you told them you thought I was a neocon. Good humor. I just happen to be a liberal Democrat who takes a hard line on terrorism, supports our allies, and doesn’t think any country should be forced to accept regular terrorist attacks from neighbors who have sworn to eradicate them from the map. I’m nutty like that.
July 18th, 2006 at 10:37 pmJay B,
July 18th, 2006 at 10:54 pmYou have friends, with an ’s’? God bless us, the Earth is doomed (or is that domed?).
A month-long Kristallnacht! Hitler would be proud.
July 19th, 2006 at 2:01 amMy bet is that Israel is waiting for all the Americans, and other foreigners to leave, then they will sweep into Lebanon with tanks and troops to attempt a wipe out of Hezbollah, but in actuality they will probably murder a few thousands Lebanese civilians in the process! Israel is guilty of unwarranted aggression on unarmed civilians > shame on all Israelis!
July 19th, 2006 at 2:14 am#40
“If Lebanon is provided the resources and wherewithal to secure its territory, the Mideast conflict would wind down a bit.”
Absolutely but their is a key element that is in short supply as far as the Lebanese government is concerned…the will and courage to disarm and disban Hezbollah.
Instead, there is a rogue nation to their south that tries to destabilize events and weaken their ability to take the situation under control.
Your close but your direction is off and short by one…that would be precisely two rouge countries to the east/northeast.
BTW the goal of Israel, with their current offensive it to, OR should be, to ONLY push Hezbollah back far enough so that their rockets cannot effectively reach their cities. After that then the international support should be kicked in to help the Lebanon disarm and disban Hezbollah. If this would happen it would completely expose Syrian and Iran in their support for Hezbollah, which they lie to the world by denying it on a daily basis.
July 19th, 2006 at 10:13 amHere is an interesting point. Will the international community help Lebanon get rid of Hezbollah and then in turn start helping the Iraqis get rid of their terrorist problem?
July 19th, 2006 at 10:17 am#51 – Tracy,
July 19th, 2006 at 10:45 amIn a word, no.
#51
No to Lebanon, Iraq, or both?
July 19th, 2006 at 2:00 pm#53 – Tracy,
July 19th, 2006 at 2:28 pmIn a word, Iraq.
#54
Why not Iraq?
July 19th, 2006 at 6:12 pm55 – Tracy,
July 19th, 2006 at 7:40 pmBecause it is in a state of anarchy and civil war. There is not a single country insane enough to enter that fray (Except BushCo).
#56
So since Lebanon is in a state of anarchy where Hezbollah operates why should the international community be insane enough to enter into that fray considering Hezbollah would just consider those blue helmets as well defined targets?
July 20th, 2006 at 9:55 am#56
Right, the Iraqi’s are worth it.
July 20th, 2006 at 10:01 amBelly Dance Dina
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:49 amPayday Advance
If your brother is drowned in a low gains employment and is having dilemma making ends meet cash loan might help.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:22 amHotels Doubletree Hotel Chicago Hotels
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view
April 8th, 2008 at 9:20 amVacation Home Swap
Recently I took a trip to the Bahamas and used some of your advice. Cheers.
April 12th, 2008 at 11:14 am