Israel massing troops on Lebanese border

[leftchick]

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israel massed tanks and troops on the border Friday and warned civilians to flee Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon as it prepared for a likely ground invasion to set up a deep buffer zone.

An Israeli envoy said it will allow aid supplies into Lebanon, a day after the United Nations warned of a growing humanitarian crisis in the country.

Hezbollah militants fired at least 11 rockets at Israel's port city of Haifa, wounding five people. Israeli warplanes pounded Lebanon's main road link to Syria, collapsing part of Lebanon's longest bridge. A U.N.-run observation post near the border was hit, but no one was hurt.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060721/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel



Israeli tanks near the Israeli town of Avivim, along the Lebanese border, July 21, 2006. (Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

[zanne]

1. They have a way with words...

"Buffer zone" sounds so much friendlier than "invasion".

[1monster]

14. Does "deep buffer zone" mean that they are making a sort of

unilateral DMZ where no one will be allowed to live and no cities will be allowed to continue to exist? Where they have control over Lebanonese sovereign land?

Why don't they just build another wall on the border like they are doing elsewherein the region?

[Karenina]

45. They want the WATER from the Litani River.

A 4 km. "buffer" would facilitate that.

[wakeme2008]

2. LOL that is NOT a mass

that is a very small number... :rofl:

[Monkeyman]

6. Yep more like recon numbers

But today they did do a all out call up

[wakeme2008]

9. Yea 3,000 troops.... They want the US Marines to come to

their rescue.

[MGD]

23. CNN is showing more of the invasion force right now

The picture is definitely misleading. This is going to be very large scale.

[whistle]

3. Now Israel begins its ethnic cleansing of Lebanon to then be ....

...followed by Israel settlements. A familiar pattern, bomb, flatten, purge and settle.

[Fredda Weinberg]

7. Don't forget dismantling settlements

Israel's done it twice.

[whistle]

10. That is true where they were pressured to do so or where Israel no

...longer had inhabitants in those settlements.

<snip>
Israeli Settlements on Occupied Palestinian Territories

Originally the term described any new Jewish development in Israel, but now settlements usually refers to Jewish-only housing units scattered around East Jerusalem and other strategic areas throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories in 1967, consecutive Israeli governments have established settlements in violation of international law. Many say that the motive behind Israel building such settlements is to colonize the Palestinian territories, in order to consolidate and secure Israeli control of the areas and prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state. This colonization process is the most visible aspect of Zionism and has been equally ferocious during Labour and Likud governments. <more>

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/factsheet/israeli_settlements_on_occupied.htm

[BeHereNow]

21. They simply removed their citizens before bombing the shit out of it-

Meanwhile, Americans sit there, Katrina-ed by
both the American government and the Israelis...

BHN

[Fredda Weinberg]

24. Israel bombed the Sinai? News to me

Seriously, if the rockets weren't being launched from Gaza, you really think Israeli would still be fighting there? Look back over the sequence of events and you'll see the evacuation could have ended very differently.

[atreides1]

42. Not really bombed

It was more a demolition operation.

[Fredda Weinberg]

44. What are you talking about?

Israel left the oil fields intact - what demolition are you talking about?

[snooper2]

59. after they used all the water...

eom

[Ian David]

64. Yeah, you know what they say about Jews and wells. n/t

[snooper2]

66. No, I don't....

But I do know about Palestinians suffering from a lack of fresh water....

[Fredda Weinberg]

71. Got a source for that? n/t

[Dover]

4. Preparation for invasion of Syria.

Not really about Hezbollah at all.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[warrens]

15. If you're going to insult people for no apparent reason

At least learn to spell "you're"

[BeHereNow]

17. What makes you think they give a rat's ass if the Shia and Sunni

"get along?"
Irrelevant in the neocon agenda, unless
it can be manilpulated to their benefit
in drumming up more chaos to distract
people from the pnac plan.
BHN

[BeHereNow]

16. Syria, then Iran and US will "find a reason" to join in then.

Thanks Dover.
It's always refreshing to see someone
who understands the big picture and
is not caught up in the knee jerk emotional
topics...if folks would simply review the
past two years of "Iran talk" they would
begin to consider the possibility that
the US is probably cooking up the next
event to justify attacking Iran and completely
wiping out all civil rights as we know them.
It's all in place, ready to go- all they need
now is the catalyst.
:thumbsup:
BHN

[Dover]

46. I'm sure the propaganda machines are working overtime to cook up

the next excuse. They love to divert the big picture with emotionally charged and often racially infused incidents.

I am a bit concerned that Bushco will boost 'enthusiasm' for the next invasion with another 'terrorist' target in the U.S./U.K. or even Israel.

[BeHereNow]

51. Dover hits nail squarely with reality hammer!!!

That is EXACTLY where this is all heading.
Cheney already drew up the plan with the Air Force.
Remember the Philip Giraldi report?
THIS is the shit we SHOULD be factoring in to
the current situation in the ME.
BHN

Posting for the 1000th time on DU,
MAYBE SOMEONE will "get it" this time?

"August 1, 2005 Issue
Copyright © 2005 The American Conservative

Deep Background

In Washington it is hardly a secret that the same people in and around the administration who brought you Iraq are preparing to do the same for Iran. The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney’s office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States."
http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article3.html

[Dover]

61. Thanks for the link!

I think part of the 'propaganda machine' are strategically placed internet blog/chatroom operatives who work to keep those emotionally charged issues and misinformation at the top of the page. Everyone is vulnerable to getting swept up and diverted by emotional subjects. That's why they give us false stories about babies in incubators, etc. And all the talking heads on radio/t.v. do the same. People like Coulter are simply meant to draw our fire and spend our ammunition until we exhaust ourselves. Addicted and spent. That's us.

But don't be too discouraged by what appears to be collective ignorance of the big picture. Some of that is just the machine.

[BeHereNow]

62. I agree with you 100%. Smoke and mirrors-

Pay no attention to those neocon men behind the curtain.
Distract yourselves with the crap we feed ya-
That way you'll never know what hit ya.

That Giraldi article scares the bejeebus out of me
in light of what's going down at the moment.

I do believe it's time to make sure we've got
batteries, food and the essentials.

I would be fairly certain something's coming down soon.
Did you know Cheney is in Florida at the moment?
:scared:

If I was in Iran right now, I'd be packing my bag.
For that matter, I'd like to pack my bag right here
at home, trouble is, no telling where they plan to
create their justification, so who knows where to go?
Wish we all had bunkers like Cheney's as we are clearly
about to be Katrina-ed.
BHN

[The Stranger]

67. This could be the best post I have read on DU in months.

[redqueen]

41. Bingo. n/t

[manic expression]

5. Disgusting

do these people have any shame? Do they not see how wrong they are? Let it never be uttered that Israel has a shred of justification, because no justification exists. Just disgusting.

[BillZBubb]

8. It is funny how fanatics can find a "justification" for anything.

Busholini came up with a Brazillion justifications for invading Iraq. And just as many false predictions about the outcome.

Now the pro-Israeli crowd is up to the same tactics.

[manic expression]

11. Too true

even the most insane injustices have an equally insane justification, this is no different.

[jonnyblitz]

13. I don't know what mental contortions one must peform to

support this heinous shit and still claim to be a member of the human race.

[BeHereNow]

19. It's the uniquely American ability to ignore all logic.

It's the hypocrisy that different factions are so quick to
point out in one another while remaining completely
blind to the fact that they themselves are engaged in it.

"No abortions, protect unborn children but
completely neglect the one's already here..."

"Don't kill THOSE Iraqi civilians, but if it's necessary, kill
THOSE other brown people...."

Exactly the same disconnect from logic.
Maddening, isn't it?

BHN

[jonnyblitz]

20. exactly.

thanks. :hi:

[BeHereNow]

22. No, THANK YOU-

Glad to know I am not alone as I shake my head
in utter disbelief.
BHN

[jonnyblitz]

40. i believe we are in the majority. this is a progressive discussion

board last I checked. there is nothing progressive about supporting this war crime.

[LostinVA]

49. Or be a member of DU...

[ShortnFiery]

18. Sure! After all, it worked so well last time we invaded and occupied ...

:sarcasm:

What? Isn't the definition of insanity: doing the same things over and expecting a different result?

Sad. :(

[Ian David]

25. Hezbollah shows its power- CRACK Israeli forces suffered heavy casualties

Hezbollah shows its power

July 22, 2006

CRACK Israeli forces have suffered heavy casualties in fierce ground fighting in southern Lebanon, with seven killed and six more wounded during 24 hours of assaults against dug-in Hezbollah positions.
The intensity of the battles has surprised the Israeli military by revealing that a week of relentless air strikes against Hezbollah positions and rocket-launching sites has not crippled the militant group's frontline.

The fighting on the northern border of Israel was the heaviest for more than a decade, forcing military chiefs to call up more crack troops from West Bank hotspots and replace them with recently called-up reservists.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah appeared from hiding yesterday to further taunt Israel and link his declaration of war to the Palestinian cause. He claims to be fighting on behalf of the Arab and Muslim world.

More:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19867599-2,00.html

[dave123williams]

26. Hezbollah is deservedly about to get crushed like a bug.

[Taverner]

28. People all over that area are going to die

Israelis, Lebanese, Hezbollah, Syrians, etc....

None of them deserve this shit. None of them.

[Ian David]

31. One good thing that can come of this is it may minimize civilian losses...

Hopefully, by sending in ground tropps and risking their own lives, the Israelis will be able to neutralize the threat without the senseless bombing of innocent civilians.

Maybe this madness will be over soon.

[Spazito]

39. What I don't understand is that Israel occupied Lebanon for 18

years and was unable to defeat Hizbollah, if what I have read is correct, why would there be any better chances that it would be different this time? My question is not a challenge, I really don't understand why it would end differently this time, what dynamics have changed since then?

[Minstrel Boy]

47. It was the occupation of Lebanon

that created Hezbollah.

I wonder what will be created by this.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

48. Israel wasn't fighting Hezboallah last time

...they were fighting the PLO.

The PLO is made up of Palestinians, who have legitimate grievances with Israel.
Hezboallah is made up of Iran-backed Lebanese Shi'ia, who have no legitimate
grievance with Israel (other than religiously invoked hate).

Hope that helps in your understanding.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Spazito]

54. My understanding is that Hezbollah came into being during the occupation

of Lebanon and Israel was unable to defeat them and so withdrew. If that is correct then, the dynamics of the situation at the time of Israel's withdrawal have not changed and, if that, too, is correct, why would a re-invasion of ground troops into Lebanon have a different result this time?

[manic expression]

35. Lebanon is being crushed like a bug

get a grip.

[atreides1]

43. It's possible

It's also possible that this could end up in a draw.

[Minstrel Boy]

50. It's never a good idea to describe people as vermin.

I don't care who they are or what they've done. The metaphor dehumanizes and justifies extermination.

[BeHereNow]

53. AND it is no different that freepers calling people "ragheads"

Oh the fucking hypocrisy, eh?
BHN

[ckramer]

68. Yeah, everyone opposing Israeli brutality should be crashed like a bug

Might makes it right.

[philb]

27. here we go again

cheering for the terror merchant.......

why don't you just ask chimpy to go to war, nobody has more experience at killing women and children

[Ian David]

32. Yeah, because when Jews defend their lives it's "terrorism?" n/t

[manic expression]

36. No, when Zionists murder others, it's 'terrorism'

When Israel puts an entire people to the sword without any justification, it's "terrorism".

What about when those victims fight back?

[BeHereNow]

33. Well, actually, the Bushies ARE involved- the irony is

So many posters here protest this shit in Iraq
but fully support the US ARMED-to-the-TEETH Israeli
genocide of civilians.
Not saying Hezbollah is is justified in killing
civilians either, but for God's sake, can
we at least discern the fact that Israel is
acting in the interest of the same neocons
behind the mess in Iraq?

BHN

[LostinVA]

52. Agreed -- I know

It's like falling down the rabbit hole...

[BeHereNow]

56. Or watching people cheer as the train approaches the cliff..

Unfucking believable.
I mean think about it?
Do they actually believe this is not connected
to the big picture of the neocon plan?
http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article3.html
Here we go, into the abyss and some folks think
it's gonna be fine.
No, that's not a cliff...not at all.
Hang on to your ass.
BHN

[LostinVA]

58. I know...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

29. This really surprises me

I know that the Israeli secret spy organization is considered one of the best in the world. I had figured they knew exactly where Hezbollah were and something about their strengths. This information shows me that perhaps Israel has done so much bombing because they really don't know exactly where Hezbollah is and how strong it is...unfortunately, that bombing is only strengthening the pyschological hold Hezbollah has on many Lebanese, and is weakening the Lebanese government.

[Strelnikov_]

57. Of Course The NeoCons Looming 'Air War' Against Iran Will Go Swimmingly

We all know the IDF is just not a very competent, and a poorly equipped, force.

There is no doubt that the US Block 1 Level B Mk XXXVIII super duper high tech gizmo's will clear a determined, dug in 'enemy' from the north shore of the Persian Gulf in no time at all with minimal casualties. Just the Hormuz area alone has a battlespace 10x that of what is being contested in Lebanon, no problem at all.

No, I am sure that 18% of the worlds oil supply, along with critical facilities like Abqaiq through which 7% of the worlds oil supply flows, will only see minimal disruption with the Block 1 Level B Mk XXXVIII super duper high tech gizmo's providing a hi-cap, technicolor bomb camera video show better than a computer game level of protection.

I mean, it's all worked so well in Iraq so far.


Things couldn't be going better, could they?

(Edit: Abqaiq only handles 7% of the worlds oil supply, sorry)

[BeHereNow]

63. Cheney is in Florida today...

Wasn't the Shrub there during the last attack on the US?
Wonder if Cheney is planning to read some goat
stories to kids today...
Isn't it sad that such thoughts cross our minds?

BHN

[bemildred]

65. IIRC ...

There was a fuss about some Israeli spys a month or so before the war started. Then there is this:

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1051202006

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Well they've had six years to prepare.

Haven't they?

[MGD]

34. Hezbollah has been weighed and measured

and has apparently not been found wanting judging by the Israeli call up of reservists and the forces massing across the border.

[goforit]

37. The stupidest think for Israel to do was knock out the electric.

It will be harder to trace their enemies' steps and now they will be more vulnerable for attacks.

[cantstandbush]

38. Think how they would deal with Israel if they had equal weapons. nt

[QuettaKid]

55. just sayin'

[The_Casual_Observer]

60. An occupation was part of this plan from the start.

The thing about the kidnapping has sort of all been forgotten now.

[Tight_rope]

69. It never was a kidnapping...the soldiers were captured.

[The_Casual_Observer]

70. Call it whatever you want, it's all forgotten now anyway.