Optimism in Syria : "We are closing the noose on Israel. This may be the last battle, and we may be able to redraw the map of the Middle East"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

DAMASCUS, Syria, July 15 — The mood here in Syria’s capital was defiant, even gleeful, on Saturday as Hezbollah continued its rocket attacks on northern Israel.

Pop radio stations played jingoistic military marches, and the state-run daily newspaper, Tishreen, reported on a meeting of the ruling Syrian Baath Party by saying, “participants expressed Syria’s firm stance in support of the Lebanese national resistance.”

[...]

“Yesterday the Syrian Baath party expressed its full support and sympathy for Hezbollah,” said Marwan Kabalan, a political science professor at Damascus University. “It is overt now, because this is no longer something the government wants to hide. People here are very emotional about the whole situation, and many of them wish that Syria would get up and join Hamas and Hezbollah in their battle against Israel.”

[...]

Imad Fauzi Shueibi, a political analyst who often works as a consultant to the Syrian government, laughed as he said that he believed that Israel was being drawn into a trap if it thought it could successfully fight on two, or even three, fronts.

[...]

“I am laughing because I am so happy to see that in Israel there are these very stupid leaders,” Dr. Fauzi Shueibi said. “Israel has nothing to gain by changing the balance of power in the region. To fight on two fronts at the same time is stupid; if they try to open three fronts, that will be madness.”

“No one can believe that this will stop without a huge victory for Hezbollah and for Syria,” he added. “I haven’t felt so optimistic since 1973. I think we are closing the noose on Israel. This may be the last battle, and we may be able to redraw the map of the Middle East, but not on the schedule of America’s plan for the greater Middle East.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/16/world/mi...st/16syria.html

[desert_fox 32]

The only map they will re-draw will be that Isreal now has taken possession of Lebanon. As long as hostile govts like Syria and Iran fund these efforts, they will force Isreal to defend itself as it is entitled to do.

[peejay 327]

The only map they will re-draw will be that Isreal now has taken possession of Lebanon. As long as hostile govts like Syria and Iran fund these efforts, they will force Isreal to defend itself as it is entitled to do.

Amen! Israel has a right to defend itself and America should continue to support the only real democracy in the region.

[Jaci 0]

Hello everyone

I have no idea what to think about this. Doesn't it kind of scare the c#@p out of you, though?

Some friends of mine tell me they think it's the beginning of the end of the world. I just want to be with my husband somewhere here on this earth.

I hope to God things simmer down. I think there's potential for great disaster in this. Who the heck said, "what if there was a war and no one came'?

Do you guys think this is going to become a major world conflict? Is it already? This doesn't seem to resemble the conflicts planned for the remapping of the middle east I recall hearing about.

[I'm Gone 60]

The only map they will re-draw will be that Isreal now has taken possession of Lebanon.

Hasn't some other country invaded and is occuping the country? How's that going?

[peejay 327]

The only map they will re-draw will be that Isreal now has taken possession of Lebanon.

Hasn't some other country invaded and is occuping the country? How's that going?

Yes, Syria seems to have it's grubby hands in that pie. I think most of us know how that is going.

[dalegg 143]

No matter what you think, you've got to feel for the citizens and mainstream government of greater Lebanon. I mean what a predicament they are in there. If you are an Israeli citizen, you know where to focus your anger, but the majority of the Lebanese don't even want Hezbollah there. They are divided between blaming Hezbollah and blaming Israel. In fact the government has mentioned that it may be willing to send Lebanese soldiers to the south to deal with Hezbollah (something I might add they were supposed to have already done). But really, how is that going to look to the greater region of their allies if they essentially join sides with Israel? Ouch.

No, if the Beirut really wants an end to the Hezbollah problem as they say they do, they need to sit back and let Israel do what it is going to do.

By the way, for all VJ members or members with loved ones in Palestine or Lebanon, I truly pray for your safety. (I'm not aware of any Israeli members). I know this is especially difficult for you guys and its got little to do with politics. Hang in there.

[MrsAmera 41]

How can you honestly expect a national governement to control a "terrorist" organization. As our own dear President has said "they are everywhere, the leadership and cells are spread out etc. etc. etc" Meanwhile Israel has launched an offensive against another sovereign nation. Why doesn't Lebanon get that same right to defend itself in the name of national sovereignty. The 100+ Lebanese that have been killed already are for the most part civilians. An Israeli rocket hit a bus carrying children out of Beiruit - killing 12 of them. Don't tell me they are terrorists. While all the American media can focus on is the poor Israelis, of which 3 have been killed. For what? A soldier, a solitary soldier. Now the Beirut airport is in ruins, as is half of Beiruit and they have begun to bomb the northern sections -- the CHRISTIAN sections...do you think Hezbollah is there? But I suppose if the main news source in contemporary America is Fox News then this would all be unheard by the masses.....

- sorry if I'm on a tyraid but I can't take the one-sidedness anymore!

[desert_fox 32]

....and the ppl killed by a rocket in Haifa dont count????...

where is the one-sidedness??? Israel is only defending itself....it was attacked by terrorists...and I hope they kill em all.

[MrsAmera 41]

How many thousands of Arabs are sitting in Israeli prisons? How many innocent Palestinians have been killed by Israeli's over the years? The Israelis are violating UN provisions by occupying Gaza and no one gives a damn. Maybe if we looked at the root and the cause of terrorism it wouldn't be such an issue. You honestly dont' believe that the "terrorists" woke up one day and decided to be "terrorists" there are causes, whether we see them or choose not to. All I ask is that those so hot to judge and condemn these people try to understand both sides first, instead of ingesting the "terrorists are going to kill us all blather" that is so prevelant today.

- I'm not saying the people killed in Haifa don't count - but there is a LARGE discrepency in numbers. The American media wants to throw all over the covers and headlines that 2 or 3 were killed in Haifa yet there is only a passing reference to the fact that 100+ have already been killed in Lebanon. The same way I feel that Israel invading Lebanon, violating Lebanese airspace in the name of one soldier is a disproportionate act.

[dalegg 143]

How can you honestly expect a national governement to control a "terrorist" organization. As our own dear President has said "they are everywhere, the leadership and cells are spread out etc. etc. etc" Meanwhile Israel has launched an offensive against another sovereign nation. Why doesn't Lebanon get that same right to defend itself in the name of national sovereignty. The 100+ Lebanese that have been killed already are for the most part civilians. An Israeli rocket hit a bus carrying children out of Beiruit - killing 12 of them. Don't tell me they are terrorists. While all the American media can focus on is the poor Israelis, of which 3 have been killed. For what? A soldier, a solitary soldier. Now the Beirut airport is in ruins, as is half of Beiruit and they have begun to bomb the northern sections -- the CHRISTIAN sections...do you think Hezbollah is there? But I suppose if the main news source in contemporary America is Fox News then this would all be unheard by the masses.....

- sorry if I'm on a tyraid but I can't take the one-sidedness anymore!

I watch Fox News as well as CNN and MSNBC and there is at least as much discussion on American Television on the number of casualties in Lebanon as there is about the casualties in Israel. Anyone who watches knows there are more in Lebanon than there are in Israel.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

....and the ppl killed by a rocket in Haifa dont count????...

where is the one-sidedness??? Israel is only defending itself....it was attacked by terrorists...and I hope they kill em all.

With respect to Israel, I'm a bit torn on recent events. Given the Bush doctrine of international military action, it is nearly impossible to say that Israel is out of bounds. As has already been pointed out at least this action isn't entirely pre-emptive. Hezbollah did act against them, in what could be constued as an act of war. I also think that they see it as a good justification for doing what they have wanted to do for some time.

While I am horrified, and see possibilities for the worst to happen, part of me thinks that this is just business as usual. Over the last five years, many of us have been led to believe that the line between terrorism and warfare is clear-cut, and the differences between terrorists and everyone else was even clearer. Anyone who has lived in that region would laugh at such over-simplifications. 9/11 only changed perceptions for the US.

What bothers me most is that the US has no credibility in the region to do anything about all of this. So much for stabilizing the region...

Edited July 17, 2006 by erekose

[dalegg 143]

With respect to Israel, I'm a bit torn on recent events. Given the Bush doctrine of international military action, it is nearly impossible to say that Israel is out of bounds. As has already been pointed out at least this action isn't entirely pre-emptive. Hezbollah did act against them, in what could be constued as an act of war. I also think that they see it as a good justification for doing what they have wanted to do for some time.

Not only that, but it really seems that there is more to it than that. Not only is Israel justifed, but Hezbollah has given them the green light on a well known goal of theirs to take some action to eraticate Hezbollah once and for all. If it wasn't for the fact that Hezbollah has already admitted to kidnapping the soldiers, it wouldn't suprise me if Israel staged the kidnapping themselves. They've been looking for an excuse to go after Hezbollah, and Hezbollah gave them an early Hannukah gift. If it looks like this is about more than the release of a couple soldiers, that's becuase it is. Don't expect Israel to back off of this at all until Hezbollah is gone completely. That probably goes for Hamas too.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

With respect to Israel, I'm a bit torn on recent events. Given the Bush doctrine of international military action, it is nearly impossible to say that Israel is out of bounds. As has already been pointed out at least this action isn't entirely pre-emptive. Hezbollah did act against them, in what could be constued as an act of war. I also think that they see it as a good justification for doing what they have wanted to do for some time.

Not only that, but it really seems that there is more to it than that. Not only is Israel justifed, but Hezbollah has given them the green light on a well known goal of theirs to take some action to eraticate Hezbollah once and for all. If it wasn't for the fact that Hezbollah has already admitted to kidnapping the soldiers, it wouldn't suprise me if Israel staged the kidnapping themselves. They've been looking for an excuse to go after Hezbollah, and Hezbollah gave them an early Hannukah gift. If it looks like this is about more than the release of a couple soldiers, that's becuase it is. Don't expect Israel to back off of this at all until Hezbollah is gone completely. That probably goes for Hamas too.

I very much doubt Israel staged the kidnapping themselves, on the other hand - I don't doubt they are using this situation to their best advantage, as the US did with Iraq and 9/11.

Ultimately its the Lebanese government and civilians who will pay the price for this - Hezbollah is a rogue organisation that operates largely autonomously from the Lebanese government. They are armed, funded and controlled by Iran and Syria. Israel's response, as with Hamas is to bomb the civilian infrastructure (roads, airports, power stations etc) to put pressure on the Lebanese government to deal with Hezbollah, which as I see it, accepted an uneasy peace rather than face a continuation of the war that had previously gutted that country.

Essentially - Syria gives the orders, Iran supplies the weapons, Hezbollah executes, Israel retaliates and Lebanon pays the price.

Between a rock and a hard place, I'd say...

Edited July 17, 2006 by erekose

[one...two...tree 2,762]

With respect to Israel, I'm a bit torn on recent events. Given the Bush doctrine of international military action, it is nearly impossible to say that Israel is out of bounds. As has already been pointed out at least this action isn't entirely pre-emptive. Hezbollah did act against them, in what could be constued as an act of war. I also think that they see it as a good justification for doing what they have wanted to do for some time.

Not only that, but it really seems that there is more to it than that. Not only is Israel justifed, but Hezbollah has given them the green light on a well known goal of theirs to take some action to eraticate Hezbollah once and for all. If it wasn't for the fact that Hezbollah has already admitted to kidnapping the soldiers, it wouldn't suprise me if Israel staged the kidnapping themselves. They've been looking for an excuse to go after Hezbollah, and Hezbollah gave them an early Hannukah gift. If it looks like this is about more than the release of a couple soldiers, that's becuase it is. Don't expect Israel to back off of this at all until Hezbollah is gone completely. That probably goes for Hamas too.

I very much doubt Israel staged the kidnapping themselves, on the other hand - I don't doubt they are using this situation to their best advantage, as the US did with Iraq and 9/11.

Ultimately its the Lebanese government and civilians who will pay the price for this - Hezbollah is a rogue organisation that operates largely autonomously from the Lebanese government. They are armed, funded and controlled by Iran and Syria. Israel's response, as with Hamas is to bomb the civilian infrastructure (roads, airports, power stations etc) to put pressure on the Lebanese government to deal with Hezbollah, which as I see it, accepted an uneasy peace rather than face a continuation of the war that had previously gutted that country.

Essentially - Syria gives the orders, Iran supplies the weapons, Hezbollah executes, Israel retaliates and Lebanon pays the price.

Between a rock and a hard place, I'd say...

What do you suppose Hezbollah stood to gain from kidnapping the soldiers? Why now? I'm not asking rhetorically - I'm honestly trying to understand what is behind their motives. The reason I've heard is that they just want to chaos but that doesn't really make sense.