Israel lowers expectations over Lebanon conflict

[Purveyor]

24 July 2006



JERUSALEM - Israel began its campaign against Hezbollah with brash claims that it would quickly annihilate the Lebanese Shiite militia, but on Monday, after 13 days of relentless air strikes and cross-border incursions, it appeared to be settling for far more modest goals.


“It’s time for Israel to reevaluate its goals in order to find a way out of the crisis,” a government minister told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We raised hopes too high by promising to disarm Hezbollah’s armed wing and decapitate its leadership. There is no question of us losing this campaign, but we will have to set ourselves realistic goals,” he said.

He implied that the army had not properly informed the government of Hezbollah’s capacity to resist.

---SNIP---

On Sunday another Israeli minister, Eytan Cabel, who is also secretary-general of the Labour party, said he was disappointed with the results obtained so far against Hezbollah.

“I admit that I had expected better from the army,” he said.

But he said he was still convinced the military would succeed in ”pushing Hezbollah back from the border area and significantly reducing rocket fire against Israel.”

---END OF EXCERPTED ARTICLE---

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/July/middleeast_July532.xml§ion=middleeast&col=

[Bush_MUST_Go]

1. Gee, did they find that "the enemy is on the run" and is now in Syria?

[Larkspur]

2. Sounds like the US in Iraq

Wasn't the invasion and occupation of Iraq sold to us as a "cakewalk"? The initial invasion was easy, but we didn't plan on securing the conventional arms depots that have helped supply the Iraqi insurgency.

Weren't the Iraqis also suppose to greet the US as Liberators and toss flowers and candy at out soldiers' feet?

[rodeodance]

3. I cerainly have heard this story before:--

.......“We raised hopes too high by promising to disarm Hezbollah’s armed wing and decapitate its leadership. There is no question of us losing this campaign, but we will have to set ourselves realistic goals,” he said.

He implied that the army had not properly informed the government of Hezbollah’s capacity to resist.

---SNIP---

On Sunday another Israeli minister, Eytan Cabel, who is also secretary-general of the Labour party, said he was disappointed with the results obtained so far against Hezbollah.

[hadrons]

4. neo-cons fail AGAIN