President of EU says body extremely concerned with Israeli airstrikes

[bigtree]

SAINT PETERSBURG (AFX) - Finland Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said the EU is extremely concerned about the escalation of violence in the Middle East and regards Israel's air strikes on Lebanon as disproportionate.

"We are extremely concerned with the situation in the Middle East. The escalation of the situation between Lebanon and Israel is particularly worrying," said Vanhanen, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

"It is of particular concern that Israeli strikes destroyed civilian infrastructure and caused civilian casualties. Israel has the right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Lebanese territory. However, the use of force has been disproportionate," he said.

"Lebanon is accountable for the use of its territory. Hezbollah must release the captured Israeli soldiers unconditionally," he said.

http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=5714336&action=article

[Jim Sagle]

1. Nazi Germany's staunchest ally would say that.

[tocqueville]

2. this is not accurate

Finland wasn't Nazi Germany's "staunchest ally", it was a little newly independent country caught in a war between communism and nazism. No more ally than Norway or many other European countries with puppet regimes. If there was a "staunchest ally" it was Italy.

besides Finland only expressed the concerns of the absolute MAJORITY of the European countries

[Laotra]

5. Not an ally

Finland never officially allied with Germany but fought first alone against Russia in the Winter War with Germany not allowing material aid through its territory, after Barbarossa and Russian bombing of Russia attacked Russia to gain back the land lost in the previous war in a separate war, and refused to attack Leningrad against strong German protests. When independence was secured from Russian invasion and Germany was too weak to occupy Finland, we made peace with the allies and threw the German troops out in the third war, called the Lapland War.

[tocqueville]

9. that's what I meant

even if the continuation war can be seen as a mistake since it objectively helped the German side. But it was little the Finns could have done in that situation.

"The aged Field Marshal Mannerheim might have been responsible for a couple of misjudgements, for instance the Sword scabbard declaration in the Order of the Day of July 10, 1941, but at the end of the war he had earned a remarkable reputation among former foes and allies, in Finland as well as abroad, which to a considerable degree eased Finland's extrication from a potentially disastrous undertaking."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation_War

so calling Finland a "the staunchest Nazi ally" is preposterous.

[Laotra]

11. Perhaps not intended

but the comparison to pro-Nazi quisling governements would insult most Finns. I'm you sure you did not mean it that way.

[bigtree]

3. He also condemed Hizbollah for their attacks

pretty lame to saddle the present head of the EU with WWII recriminations.

[mmonk]

13. Where did that come from?

Unfair and in bad taste. Someone needs to say something instead of letting the carnage to continue and yes, escalate. Israel has a right to defend itself but many Lebanese in densly habitated civilian areas do not have a means to defend themselves and most aren't Hezbollah.

[Laotra]

4. Disappointing

"The leader of the free world" (ie. precidency of EU) should call for ultimatum against Israel, threatening Israel with economic sanctions if the aggression against Lebanon continues.

[bigtree]

6. their opening word is "disproportionate"

used by Chirac also. I think more will follow. This is an initial, collective response.

[moondust]

7. About "disproportionate."

The issue here is not just the kidnappings but the underlying issue of disarming Hezbollah which was supposed to happen in 2004 per UN Resolution 1559 but hasn't.

If anything, it is "disproportionate" that Israel has to undertake this job by itself because the UN/EU/Syria/etc. have been impotent to do so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah#UN_resolution_1559

[Laotra]

8. 1559 is bollocks

Hezbollah is internal matter of Lebanon and UNSC has no jurisdiction over internal matters - and that is the position of the Lebanese governement.

But who do you suggest should undertake the job of liberating the Palestinian occupied territories? Its "disproportionate" that Hamas and Hezbollah have to undertake this job by themselves...

[WHAT]

10. Jewish fat might be rendered into candle wax...

(again?).

But, really, what is the wick and who lit the fuse? All of these issues are so obtuse that I think they might be deliberate. Why does europe say one thing and vote something else, and America, too? I really am inclined to believe it might be a set-up, (again?) because the emotional agitation engendered by the disproportionate discussion naturally results in escalating tension. Israel is the perfect scapegoat for that tension (in a way, they might serve to "wick" away focus and falsely express catharsis toward the basic injustice). My hunch is tension, scapegoat, catharsis has been employed for at least 500 years. I don't think it will work anymore.

My guess is the Israelis might be the dumb fucks in this whole situation because their military is too top-notch...too top-heavy, too narrow and focused; a little technical creativity (interference with electronic signals, sweetened fuel sic. sugar in the gas tank, dwindling access to material substance ,their access, now, is not natural or guaranteed and they know about poisoning wells. Israel is just too vulnerable to technical or support sabotage and doesn't have the experience to deal with it.

OK, after thinking about the country, I think about the people; if a country is run by dumb fucks should the people carry the burden (I don't know). Practically, though, Israel's success will be dependent on American and European support (however hidden it might be). This is a dependent situation no matter how eloquently it is scribed otherwise thus Israel is serving somebody else's purpose and if they are successful it will be because of forces outside of their control...implying weakness with however many bombs are dropped.

Simply, I think the best course for the people is different than the best course for the power mongers.

[The Stranger]

12. Thank God someone speaks out for justice.

Let history be the judge of the rest.