Where are the "good" Arabs?

[achaaban]

I agree with you. The bombing of Lebanese infrastructure away from southern Lebanon is a disaster in the longterm and plays into the hands of Hezbollah. The Lebanese Government would probably be pleased if the IDF gave Hezbollah a good kicking to the extent that the Government could control southern Lebanon. Sadly I think the IDF's strategy will backfire badly and only serve to increase support for Hezbollah who will be seen as the "brave" defenders of Lebanon even though it was they who started the whole disasterous mess in the first place. Rid the world of Hezbollah and let decent civilised people make peace.

They are actually the brave defenders of Lebanon, make no mistake that this is not who they are in the eyes of Christian and Muslim Lebanese.

Hezbollah's ideology, which I personally abhore, can never be applied in Lebanon, Lebanon has 18 religious sects, Hezbollah cannot be the winner in there. Besides most of the Lebanese Shiites are actually secular.

This is really not about propaganda and ideology, this is about a people and a homeland, that is how the Lebanese people think. After all the Lebanese are neither Iraqis, nor Iranians.

Do not think for a minute that the Lebanese people will not hold Hezbollah responsible for their unilateral action, only that right now, it is the Lebanese people's livelihood that is being destroyed.

[Ricky]

I should remind achaaban that the conflict began because Hizbulla invaded Israeli territory and committed agression against israel. In order to prevent such aggression occuring again, Israel is determined that the Hizbulla terrorists will be removed from the Israeli border.
Incidentally, for all those who deny that Hizbulla hides rockets in private houses, I should mention that yesterday I happened to see on BBC World a report from Lebanon, with Lebanese commentators explaining why they don't believe Israel will defeat the Hizbulla. One commentator described the different places where Hizbulla hides their rockets making it difficult for Israel to find them. One of the various hiding places that he mentioned was "in houses"

[Mediocrates]

At the time being just as in 1982. Hezbollah is resisting against an Isareli agression that is targeted against Lebanon and the Lebanese people.

6 years after they leave, a foreign army in the pay of Iran suddenly takes on the task of killing civilians in another country 40 miles away from the border. This is not resistance no matter how stupidly romantic you wish to paint it. It's no less than cold blooded murder. If that's something you stand for, that's fine. We don't really expect any different of you.

I do not know if this means that they are a terrorist organization.

Then leave the issue to people who actually can differentiate between right and wrong.

[user954651]

Sure, but you have to wonder about the Arab societies in which no one speaks out against terrorism publicly, not even in the Arab community in the US and in Europe, where there is no threat of violence.

Arab Philosophy

Me against my brother, me and my brother against my cousin, me and my brother and my cousin against the outsider.

[danbohan]

I can understand that these are the sentiments of someone who believes that terrorists should not be confronted, and that Israel and the U.S. should be required to have their own populations mass-murdered by the terrorists with no effective response. That, of course, is not the position of the U.S. and Israel, and is not the position of any same people.

I know that you'd rather read about Israelis towns bombed by missiles from Hizbullah and Hamas and then go to "peace" rallies that only advocate giving rewards to the terrorists and condemning countries who oppose terrorism. Fine. That is actually the prevalent position of Leftist European hypocrites and their Muslim allies.

In reality, those positions of the Europeans and Arabs are greatly responsible for legitimizing the terrorists.

I know it is difficult for people like you to see Israel defending itself and continue to be slaughtered like sheep.

perhaps mr dumb you have not noticed but is lebannese civilians at last count 400 that are been slaughtered like sheep , nobody condones the attacks on israel and murder of israel civilians but israel is in breach of international law and the law of human rights , very rich from a people who spent last 60 years reminding everybody of the holacost , at least 80 % of europe hates and deplores the israel actions as would any fair minded , educated and balanced people , alas they are not attributes common in USA

[Kenneth]

...at least 80 % of europe hates and deplores the israel actions as would any fair minded , educated and balanced people...

Where did you pluck the stat from?

[Mediocrates]

Pasdaran troops (Iranian Revolutionary Guards) have been killed in Lebanon. The Arab PR machine will not make a big deal of this because it clashes badly with their silly narrative that Hezbollah is nothing more than dairy farmers.

http://www.nysun.com/pf.php?id=36557


If the Lebanese, Hezbollah and their supporters here have a problem with a foreign army using their women and children as shields then they should take that up with the Iranians.

[locgormanabu]

The Irish people wanted peace, after all.
Sadly, in the ME conflict, people wanting peace in not the case.
Peace is a collateral time of inactivity there - not a worthy goal.
How were all sides in Ireland actually convinced to want peace?
That is the one million dollar question.

I agree with you and I dont think you can convince people to want peace. It is not easy, people in northern Ireland now see people who killed members of their familes walk the streets and in some cases in politics. It is a bitter pill to sallow.
I do belive Israel has a right to exist and that the average Israeli wants to live in peace, hopefully their will be a feeling on the palestinian side that they want to give peace a try and then it will be up to the political leaders to hammer out a two state option.
they got to this stage before camp David but Yasser Arafat did not have the ability to comprise and build a better future for his people. Hopefully if they get this chance again their will be courageous leaders who will make the compromise for peace

[user954651]

I agree with you and I dont think you can convince people to want peace. It is not easy, people in northern Ireland now see people who killed members of their familes walk the streets and in some cases in politics. It is a bitter pill to sallow.
I do belive Israel has a right to exist and that the average Israeli wants to live in peace, hopefully their will be a feeling on the palestinian side that they want to give peace a try and then it will be up to the political leaders to hammer out a two state option.

You forget that Palestinians are run by a terrorist organisation. Anyone who disagrees with them are at risk of their lives.

Israel has always wanted peace, does not want to be in Lebanon, nor the Judea and Samarra. Israel is in all these places because she has been attacked from them. In 1967 after the war Israel immediately offered the land it captured back to their Arab neighbours in return for nothing but peace. They were refused. (No peace, No negotions, No recognition.) Nothing like this has ever happened in military history - a victorious nation defends itself and offers land in return for peace, and that is without even mentioning that the attacks were attempted genocide... again.

Israel has made every effort any nation can do to achieve peace, even taking rocket attacks for 6 years from Lebanon and over a thousand in less than a year from Gaza.

Peace will come when the Arabs want peace, as Israel is so small though, she can not force her enemies to stop attacking her - she can not force a peace in the Middle East. All Israel can do is keep fighting for her own survival.

they got to this stage before camp David but Yasser Arafat did not have the ability to comprise and build a better future for his people. Hopefully if they get this chance again their will be courageous leaders who will make the compromise for peace

The Arab leaders do not want peace. That is why it was refused. I am sure the ordinary people are sick of being used as pawns, but their anger is directed at Israel due to the fantastic propaganda campaigns which keep their minds in self-made prisons.

[locgormanabu]

You forget that Palestinians are run by a terrorist organisation. Anyone who disagrees with them are at risk of their lives.

Israel has always wanted peace, does not want to be in Lebanon, nor the Judea and Samarra. Israel is in all these places because she has been attacked from them. In 1967 after the war Israel immediately offered the land it captured back to their Arab neighbours in return for nothing but peace. They were refused. (No peace, No negotions, No recognition.) Nothing like this has ever happened in military history - a victorious nation defends itself and offers land in return for peace, and that is without even mentioning that the attacks were attempted genocide... again.

I do agree with most of what you said in this post, If the Arab world had agreed to live with Israel in peace after the 67 war a lot of these problems would not be happening. But I do not belive Israel is a complete innocent victim in all this, the settlment program is the biggest mistake made by Israel and they will come to regret it later on down the line and I do think Israel could lift some restrictions on ordinary palestinians but by enlarge Israel are fighting an enemy that cares little for its people

[achaaban]

I should remind achaaban that the conflict began because Hizbulla invaded Israeli territory and committed agression against israel. In order to prevent such aggression occuring again, Israel is determined that the Hizbulla terrorists will be removed from the Israeli border.
Incidentally, for all those who deny that Hizbulla hides rockets in private houses, I should mention that yesterday I happened to see on BBC World a report from Lebanon, with Lebanese commentators explaining why they don't believe Israel will defeat the Hizbulla. One commentator described the different places where Hizbulla hides their rockets making it difficult for Israel to find them. One of the various hiding places that he mentioned was "in houses"

That’s what people do in wars; they take prisoners for a prisoner swap. I believe that Lebanon and Israel have been at war since 1978 and not when Hezbollah kidnapped these two soldiers.

Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 does not mean that the war was over. Since the Lebanese and the Israelis did not reach a negotiated settlement to finalize the causes of the war; issues such as the maps of the land mines, the prisoners, and the Chebaa farms remain hanging and unresolved.

I am sure that Israel cannot make 750,000 people homeless , destroy their busnisses, and their sources of living, because Hezbollah kidnapped the two soldiers. There must be some civilized ways to deal with such issues, and such civilized options include dialogue and negotiations.

So, what did Israel achieve by destroying the lives of the Shiites in Lebanon, I do not understand your destructive war.

[NewsGuy]

i certainly belive terroists should be confronted , ant that is terroism in all its guises including state and superpower terroism , did you ever question why terroism exists in the middle east , how americas and israel role in the past has played into terroist hands , are you dumb enough too think that killing 1000s of civilians in lebbannon will turn the local population against terroism or just increase the hatred throughout the arab world , perhaps you should enlighten yourself too the real world and not rely on the tiny bits of pro israeli propganda that passes for news in USA

I think you're the one dumb enough -- and hypocritical enough -- to spout silly Arab and Leftist lies, which is what passes for news in your country. "1000s of civilians"??? really? Maybe the number keeps on getting exaggerated with each swig of extra-stout in your pub. Pretty soon, 10,000s and then 100,000s, right? By the time you’re done, your Leftist/Arab propaganda will be as credible as the fictional Jenin “massacre.”

In reality, Israel has targeted only the Hizbullah strongholds, communications channels and weapons transportation routes. The IDF warned the Lebanese citizens to leave those areas for their own safety. Those who go to sleep with rockets should not be surprised to wake up to the sounds of explosions.

And what is causing the problems in the Middle East and everywhere else around the world is extremist Islam and their European sympathizers like you. It is not the result of Israel’s fight for survival or the U.S. war on al Qaeda, as you claim.

I should also point out that there has always been a strong connection between the Irish terrorists and the PLO, so it does not surprise me when I see criticism from Ireland.

[achaaban]

I think you're the one dumb enough -- and hypocritical enough -- to spout silly Arab and Leftist lies, which is what passes for news in your country. "1000s of civilians"??? really? Maybe the number keeps on getting exaggerated with each swig of extra-stout in your pub. Pretty soon, 10,000s and then 100,000s, right? By the time you’re done, your Leftist/Arab propaganda will be as credible as the fictional Jenin “massacre.”

In reality, Israel has targeted only the Hizbullah strongholds, communications channels and weapons transportation routes. The IDF warned the Lebanese citizens to leave those areas for their own safety. Those who go to sleep with rockets should not be surprised to wake up to the sounds of explosions.

And what is causing the problems in the Middle East and everywhere else around the world is extremist Islam and their European sympathizers like you. It is not the result of Israel’s fight for survival or the U.S. war on al Qaeda, as you claim.

I should also point out that there has always been a strong connection between the Irish terrorists and the PLO, so it does not surprise me when I see criticism from Ireland.

While the civilian casualties were not really 1000s, Israel has actually targeted whole residential areas where Shiites live, including of commercial streets and retail outlets.

[Greta]

I´m german. You would call it Aryan. How could i be pro-arabist? I never meet an israeli. but i was often at holiday in egypt, tuneasia and they were very nice too germans. I don´t see them as hostile people.

No. Hitler would call you Aryan. The only aryans came from Indo-iran. You have just written how you can be pro-arabist(as you call it), but basing it on finding the arabs nice to a german while on holiday is pretty pathetic.

[Greta]

I learned that i´m aryan at school.

Nice to know that the east germans kept the glory of the third reich alive for all of you. Was that to compensate for being under communist control, or were you actually in the Hitler Youth? Either way, your school system was/is in great denial. Thanks for informing us of what was really being taught to you in the east.