Panic in Lebanon over Israeli balloons

[takeo]

Too bad. Lessons learned by Hezbollah provocation. Also, don't forget to minus 600-700 Hezbollah that are counted as Lebanese civilians. Be sure to not exaggerate the casualty numbers by saying '1000's' when it was just over a thousand.

New figures released are higher. And in southern Lebanon among the shiites everyone is, to some degree, involved in Hezbollah, a bit like among the catholics in northern Ireland in the 70's. Anyway even 1000 is enough reason to become suspicious of "Israeli presents" don't you think so?
And by the way which lesson learned? The only thing that campaign did was increase the popularity and power of Hezbollah, they even feel strong enough to try to topple the government with their christian allies, what would have been unthinkable one year ago. The only lesson Lebanese learned is that Israel is their number one ennemy, this is even what the pro-Western prime minister literaly said.

[takeo]

Hence I mentioned 'many' since 'many' of these Lebanese are not Lebanese at all, but just squatters introduced by the Syrians that managed to replace/murder/expel ~30% of the Lebanese population over a course from 1975-1990.

This is absolutely not true, the Syrian "squatters" mainly live in Beirout and the rich parts of Lebanon as immigrants without Lebanese citizenship, as the palestinians. Lebanese are racist even against their Arab neighbours. They are not involved in politics and not considered true Lebanese. Hezbollah and their close allies Amal are 100% shiite Lebanese (there are very few shiite Syrians so they would never join this organisation) and nearly all shiites support them. That's why they call for new elections, because together with their christian ally Aoun (a fierce anti-Syrian pro-French politician by the way) they may win the elections.

[Cellis]

Hezbollah and their close allies Amal are 100% shiite Lebanese (there are very few shiite Syrians so they would never join this organisation) and nearly all shiites support them. That's why they call for new elections, because together with their christian ally Aoun (a fierce anti-Syrian pro-French politician by the way) they may win the elections.

thus Hezballah can raise their activities with Shiite, French and Iran's support.

[takeo]

thus Hezballah can raise their activities with Shiite, French and Iran's support.

actually Aoun used to be pro-French, he lived more than 10 years in Paris, now he's just pro-himself. (but still many christians support him) The french support the current government and had their hand in the "cedar revolution" (much more than the Americans), father and son Hariri are personal friends of Chirac.

[Womble]

Usually the stuff that crosses the border isn't so hilarious... only a few months ago 1000's of Lebanese got killed by israeli flying devises...

And that is supposed to make it reasonable to fear balloons?

[takeo]

And that is supposed to make it reasonable to fear balloons?

Well, I can understand they don't trust anything that comes from Israel, Israel's reputation in this country isn't perfect, to say the least...

[NewsGuy]

This is absolutely not true, the Syrian "squatters" mainly live in Beirout and the rich parts of Lebanon as immigrants without Lebanese citizenship, as the palestinians.

Not exactly.

The Palestinians live in refugee camps and are not allowed to find regular jobs or mix much with the rest of the population of Lebanon. They are viewed as dirty, second-class citizens.

The Syrian transplants, on the other hand, enjoy the best of Lebanese society.

Hezbollah and their close allies Amal are 100% shiite Lebanese (there are very few shiite Syrians so they would never join this organisation) and nearly all shiites support them.

100% Lebanese, other than the Iranian revolutionary guards who arm, train, and lead Hezbollah.

[spike]

Well, I can understand they don't trust anything that comes from Israel, Israel's reputation in this country isn't perfect, to say the least...

There is a perfect country????? Why should Israel be so judged?

[NewsGuy]

There is a perfect country????? Why should Israel be so judged?

What takeo means to say is that the Lebanese resent Israel's reputation that it would dare to retaliate against Hezbollah kidnapping Israeli soldiers or firing missiles into Israeli cities.

[spike]

What takeo means to say is that the Lebanese resent Israel's reputation that it would dare to retaliate against Hezbollah kidnapping Israeli soldiers or firing missiles into Israeli cities.

Yeppers.

[takeo]

What takeo means to say is that the Lebanese resent Israel's reputation that it would dare to retaliate against Hezbollah kidnapping Israeli soldiers or firing missiles into Israeli cities.

Not exactly, what I mean is that Israel has a very bloody history in Lebanon, especially in the 80's when they joined in in the civil war, supported the worst warcriminals, and somehow managed to alienate even their local allies. The Lebanese have a different opinion about nearly everything, except about their shared hatred for Israel. The latest war, during which many Lebanese civilians died and saw their houses destroyed because two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped (they are still in captivity by the way), didn't exactly improve Israel's image, not in the world and certainly not in Lebanon, not even among the staunch ennemies of hezbollah (especially not among them because this war strenghtened Hezbollah).

[takeo]

Not exactly.

The Palestinians live in refugee camps and are not allowed to find regular jobs or mix much with the rest of the population of Lebanon. They are viewed as dirty, second-class citizens.

The Syrian transplants, on the other hand, enjoy the best of Lebanese society.


100% Lebanese, other than the Iranian revolutionary guards who arm, train, and lead Hezbollah.

Actually the Syrian immigrants too are threated as second class citizens and are payed less than the average Lebanese.
Hezbollah is payed for by Iran and supported by Syria, but their members are 100% shiite Lebanese. Friedman today wrote in the New York Times that it's in the US' interest to search approachment to Iran in return for them giving up support for Hezbollah. He wrote that, on the contrary to Saudi Arabia, Iran cooperated in the war against Al-quaida and the Taliban, and could be an ideal ally in Iraq since they also support the government. He also wrote that Iran is a much more moderate country compared to some of the US' allies such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, and also more democratic, the radical president lost the last elections for example and he is now faced with a hostile parliament. Equally so it would be in Israel's best interest to make peace with Syria (equally a secularised country compared to many of US' allies in the region) and give back the stolen Golan heights on the same conditions. They will gladly accept. But of course this doesn't fit in the republican agenda, which is set by Saudi oil interests. Hope it will change when the democrats come to power.(and once the us changes policy, Israel will have to follow too)

[Illuminatus]

Hezbollah is payed for by Iran and supported by Syria,

Finally! They're admitting the obvious -- (book-marked for use later)

Friedman today wrote in the New York Times that it's in the US' interest to search approachment to Iran in return for them giving up support for Hezbollah.

Freidman is paid to be wrong -- what he didn't write was that the US has specific laws regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran introduced and passed by the Carter Administration (a democrat btw) which makes it illegal to "search approachment" at a governemental , business and even cultural levels (unless approved by the State Dept.). The UN has several supportng similar sanctions from 1979. Civilized nations don't take over and trash each others embassy without consequences.

Hope it will change when the democrats come to power.

and that's all you can do is hope (heh heh heh) -- the Senate has a great chance of becoming Republican again in 2008. But regardless, no party is going to risk future elections by breaking the law and negotiating with Terrorist Sponsoring Regimes like Syria and the Islamic Republic.
----------------------------

.....and speaking of Iranians, in today's news

Iranians arrested in raid on Gaza's Islamic (HAMAS) university

As the Palestians continues to slaughter eash other, its good to know that terrorists organizations and sponsors are such good friends.

From news article:

Palestinian security arrested seven Iranian citizens during a raid at the Islamic University, a Hamas stronghold in Gaza City, a security official said, and another committed suicide during the raid.

-------------------------

As expected the French -- as usual backstabs and undermines its fellow EU negotiators and single-handedly changed EUtopian policy by having President ChIraq say to the International Herald Tribune, The New York Times and the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur, that Iran's possession of a nuclear bomb would not be "very dangerous".

So... France of behalf of the UN and the EU now accepts Iranian nuclear weapons.....and even calls them harmless. HA!

Just as Airbus do to the Germans so does France to the EU.
-------------------------

I don't know why this doesn't surprise me.

Swedes reported dead in Somalia

Naturally, rumours of US Special Forces and British SAS operating in Somalia remain unsubstanciated.

Northlander....? are you ok?

^_^

[nbarzelay]

New figures released are higher. And in southern Lebanon among the shiites everyone is, to some degree, involved in Hezbollah, a bit like among the catholics in northern Ireland in the 70's. Anyway even 1000 is enough reason to become suspicious of "Israeli presents" don't you think so?
And by the way which lesson learned? The only thing that campaign did was increase the popularity and power of Hezbollah, they even feel strong enough to try to topple the government with their christian allies, what would have been unthinkable one year ago. The only lesson Lebanese learned is that Israel is their number one ennemy, this is even what the pro-Western prime minister literaly said.

Then the new figures released should also include a higher casualty rate amongst the hezbollah terrorists.

The Israeli campaign killed a large portion of their trained fighting force and a lot of their infrastructure. It did the job, so irregardless of what happens about increased support for hezbollah, I really don't give a flying *beep*.

Siniora is a puppethead with little power, so another person I don't really care about.

Once Lebanon ejects all the foreign entities out of their country and move forward, then Israel can approach them with full-diplomatic ties and open arms. Until then, they can figure out their own problems.

Israel wasn't out to make friends with the Lebanese when it was retaliating against Hezbollah.

Nice lame comparison with Hezbollah and the IRA/Ireland bit. They don't come anywhere close to the desires of the average Lebanese, only to the desires of the imported Syrian/Iranian collaborators.

Anything else?

[takeo]

Finally! They're admitting the obvious -- (book-marked for use later)


Freidman is paid to be wrong -- what he didn't write was that the US has specific laws regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran introduced and passed by the Carter Administration (a democrat btw) which makes it illegal to "search approachment" at a governemental , business and even cultural levels (unless approved by the State Dept.). The UN has several supportng similar sanctions from 1979. Civilized nations don't take over and trash each others embassy without consequences.


and that's all you can do is hope (heh heh heh) -- the Senate has a great chance of becoming Republican again in 2008. But regardless, no party is going to risk future elections by breaking the law and negotiating with Terrorist Sponsoring Regimes like Syria and the Islamic Republic.
----------------------------

.....and speaking of Iranians, in today's news

Iranians arrested in raid on Gaza's Islamic (HAMAS) university

As the Palestians continues to slaughter eash other, its good to know that terrorists organizations and sponsors are such good friends.

From news article:

Palestinian security arrested seven Iranian citizens during a raid at the Islamic University, a Hamas stronghold in Gaza City, a security official said, and another committed suicide during the raid.

-------------------------

As expected the French -- as usual backstabs and undermines its fellow EU negotiators and single-handedly changed EUtopian policy by having President ChIraq say to the International Herald Tribune, The New York Times and the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur, that Iran's possession of a nuclear bomb would not be "very dangerous".

So... France of behalf of the UN and the EU now accepts Iranian nuclear weapons.....and even calls them harmless. HA!

Just as Airbus do to the Germans so does France to the EU.
-------------------------

I don't know why this doesn't surprise me.

Swedes reported dead in Somalia

Naturally, rumours of US Special Forces and British SAS operating in Somalia remain unsubstanciated.

Northlander....? are you ok?

^_^

illuminatus, nice to to see you! Actually I'll make a collection of your many "victory" outcries concerning Iraq one day, that sure must be funny stuff these days.
let's see what happened last year:
1) Iraq war is going from bad to worse, public support in the us less than one/fifth 2) Democrats controll congress 3) president Bush' popularity at all time low. 4) the left won nearly every election in Latin America 5) Israel could not defeat hezbollah, Israeli top commander had to resign because of the disastrous war. etc. etc. etc. etc. I admire you for still remaining optimistic despite all these humiliations your beloved hero had to endure...

About Iran, Friedman is absolutely no leftist or even moderate, he's a much an interventionist and pro-Israel as Bush is, the difference is that he KNOWS rapproachment to Iran is the thing to do, since Iran has the same interests as the US in Afghanistan and Iraq, and on the same side in these countries. And Iranian help would also be very helpfull in the solution of the other middle Eastern problems. The embassy incident happened almost 30 years ago, that's just a fake reason not to have to admit that you were wrong in isolating Iran, especially since Iran collaborated in the fight against al-Quaida and the taliban, and supports the same government in Iraq as the US. Laws can be changed by the way (there are many countries trading with Iran, china on a large scale, Russia even sells nuclear technology to Iran) and under clinton and Albright there was already an approachment going on, since the Clinton-administration was smart enough to know they would need Iranian help to deal with the Iraqi problem.
Your and Bush-administration approach on the contrary led to absolute disaster, as could have been predicted, that's also what the absolute majority of Americans think, nuff said...