Do not expect full-scale incursion: Israel

[cal04]

An Israeli military source says the Israeli army plans to step-up pinpoint incursions into southern Lebanon but will stop short of a full-scale ground invasion.

The military source made the comments after a US television network reported that an Israeli invasion of Lebanon was imminent.

"You should not expect a full-scale incursion into Lebanon," the Israeli military source said, adding that brief, targeted incursions would intensify along the border.

"We are already inside Lebanon and troops will continue to operate there because it is the only way to act against the Hizbollah bunkers there," the source said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1693833.htm

[mhr]

1. Oh, So Killing A few Less Brown People Makes It OK

eom

[cali]

8. Brown people?

Lebanon is no more all "brown people", than Israel is all "white people". Time to try a new meme.

[jonnyblitz]

11. it can be considered a metaphor for "other...

the "enemy" is always demonized. you are splitting hairs just so you can scold people. tsk tsk

[cali]

12. No I'm not

Jonny. I'm asking this particular poster a question for reasons that are entirely valid, and i hate that type of sloppy off the shelf phraseology.

[IndianaGreen]

2. We'll call it "pin-point" rape rather than gang rape

The world's real axis of evil Bush, Blair, and Olmert should stand trial at The Hague for their crimes! As Robert Fisk said today in an article, what we have in Beirut today is not Dunkirk, but a Munich.

Blair urged to back Lebanon ceasefire

By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor
Published: 22 July 2006

The Archbishop of Canterbury has led calls for Tony Blair and George Bush to demand an immediate ceasefire by Israel and Hizbollah.

Dr Rowan Williams accused Mr Blair of being out of touch with public opinion as people across Britain prepared to march in protest today at the carnage in the Middle East.

The demonstrations echo the backlash before the Iraq war began in March 2003 when millions demonstrated against British involvement in the invasion of Iraq. The issue of Mr Blair's adherence to the American line has dogged his premiership since.

The former Foreign Office minister Chris Mullin accused the US and British governments of standing by while the Israelis committed "war crimes".

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/politics/article1190595.ece

[DELUSIONAL]

3. My bet -- they will only secure the WATER resources

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2249599.stm
The Hasbani River -- This is the objective for this war -- NOT the Hizbolla.

WE have been duped again by the NEOCONS

http://www.iasps.org/strat1.htm

Thus, by targeting Israel's most vulnerable strategic asset, its dwindling water supplies, Syria has been able to position itself to profoundly influence Israel's bargaining posture over borders and security. This, more than any other factor, may be the reason why Israel has not committed itself to a written agreement regarding a redeployment to the June 4, 1967 line. To do so would be to signal an irrevocable surrender of both the Jordan River and the Kinneret. But renewed rhetoric in Israel seems to suggest that policy-makers are seriously considering just such a move. This would be a win-win situation for Syria. At best, Mr. Assad would not only score a major victory by gaining back the Golan, but also dramatically alter the water equation, and by extension the balance of power, between Israel and Syria. At the very least, the water issue could drive a wedge between Israel and Turkey.

As policy planners struggle to revive the Syrian-Israeli dialogue once again, resolving the topic of water remains the most difficult task for the two countries. It is also the most important. The way the water issue plays out will have major repercussions not only for Israel, but the region as a whole. The ensconcement of Syria on the Golan would allow Damascus not only to virtually dictate terms to Jerusalem, but exert influence over Amman and create a rift in the Israeli-Turkish military partnership as well. Given the signals made by Israel's continued efforts to reopen talks with Syria, Jerusalem has not yet understood the geopolitical significance of water to its relations with its neighbors. As a result, Mr. Assad has been given an incentive to continue to apply the appropriate pressure, diplomatic as well as military to achieve his goals.

http://www.iasps.org/nbn/nbn70a.htm

For more details about how the NECONS have manipulated us -- click link. (This was posted earlier at DU -- wow I am impressed with the research skills here at DU. I'm just connecting the dots.)

THE ROVING EYE
Lebanon left for dead
By Pepe Escobar
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG21Ak01.html

[AnOhioan]

13. Water, the lifeblood of all societies..Israel included.

[rodeodance]

4. ah gee, the cables were getting ready for the shock and awe!

[Pharaoh]

5. And of course they always tell the truth

God fearing assholes always do..............

[IndianaGreen]

6. The real aims of the US-backed Israeli war against Lebanon

The real aims of the US-backed Israeli war against Lebanon

Statement of the Editorial Board
21 July 2006

Israel has a long history of attempting to transform Lebanon, through a combination of military pressure and political alliances with right-wing forces in that country, into a virtual protectorate.

In March 1978, in the midst of the Lebanese civil war, Israel sent military forces across the border into Lebanon, justifying its actions as a response to PLO terrorist activity. Though compelled by international pressure to withdraw after its military operations had resulted in more than 2,000 Lebanese deaths, Israel maintained control of a 12-mile strip north of the border by sponsoring a right-wing militia, dubbed the South Lebanon Army, under the proxy leadership of one Major Saad Haddad.

Four years later, in 1982, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and his defense minister, Ariel Sharon, set into motion a far more ambitious plan to take political control of all Lebanon and expel the PLO from the country. Once again, a convenient pretext was found when an Israeli ambassador was wounded in London by a Palestinian assassin in June 1982. Though intelligence experts acknowledged that the PLO had nothing to do with this incident, the Begin government used the event as a pretext to invade Lebanon. In an operation entitled, with consummate cynicism, “Peace for Galilee,” Israeli troops swept north toward the outskirts of Beirut, which was subjected to protracted bombing.

The war forced the PLO’s expulsion from Lebanon and led to the Israeli-sanctioned slaughter of thousands of Palestinian refugees by Lebanese fascist militiamen.

The United States also became involved in the subjugation of Lebanon, with the Reagan administration stationing Marines in Beirut. But direct US participation in attacks on the poorer neighborhoods of Beirut (which were shelled by American naval vessels) created deep hostility, leading to the suicide bombing in which nearly 250 Marines were killed. The Reagan administration decided to cut its losses and withdraw from Lebanon.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/leba-j21.shtml

[MrPrax]

14. Of course...

Israel has always seen Lebanon as a economic threat and potential ME 'leadership' broker.

It's amazing that none of the supporters never see Israel as a 'player' in the scene and then handicap them like any other world conflict -- they seem to have the same emotional attachment to the issues as do Cuban exiles when arguing about Castro.

[Spazito]

7. I was wondering what was said by Israel just prior to invading

Lebanon in 1982 and I found this interesting tidbit:

Israel's objective was to push back the PLO militants 40 kilometres to the north. The Israeli forces soon reached that target but were determined to drive the PLO from southern Lebanon once and for all<5>. Tyre and Sidon (major cities in the south of Lebanon, still within the 40 kilometre limit) were heavily damaged, and the Lebanese capital Beirut was shelled for ten weeks, killing both PLO members and civilians.

Replace the PLO, add in Hizbollah, and, voila, we have the plan. They came in to reach a target and then they stayed.

Edited to add the link I forgot:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_Lebanon_War

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Why would US Television even think such a thing?

Especially after the Israelis went around all day telling the people of Southern Lebanon to leave immediately.

[twaddler01]

10. I disagree!

Israel builds up forces for expected ground invasion of South

By Leila Hatoum and Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star staff
Saturday, July 22, 2006

BEIRUT: The Israeli military said it was holding corpses of Hizbullah fighters killed in clashes along the border Friday - and had killed a resistance leader during other raids on Lebanon. The claims could not be independently confirmed, but a Hizbullah statement said two of its fighters had died during clashes Friday in the South.

...

Meanwhile, the Israeli Army called up a rapid deployment division of 5,000 soldiers Friday as security sources said throngs of Israeli tanks and military forces were massed along the border.

<more>

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=74169

[w4rma]

15. All that destruction for 2 people? How many others have replaced them

because of this?

[cali]

16. That's a vast over simplification

One can condemn Israel's brutal and disproportionate response, but it wasn't just about two captured/kidnapped soldiers. I don't know how much knowledge you have about I/P affairs, but if you do understand a little about what's been going on, you know this.

[w4rma]

19. I'm just applying the propaganda they tell everyone to the situation.

Don't blame me if it doesn't add up.

Neo-cons are very very good at propaganda.

[goforit]

17. Mean while you're calling up the reserves! Yah, right!

[bemildred]

18. I'll pull out after a minute. I just want to see what it feels like. nt

[Barkley]

20. I recall the 1982 Lebanon invasion led to hyper inflation in Israel - nt