What do YOU want the U.S. to do about the Israel/Lebanon Crisis?

[Philosoraptor]

Should we get involved or not? Or are we already? I'd like to hear some actual ideas, pro or con.

[Behind the Aegis]

1. I don't understand what "involvement" you are asking about?

[Philosoraptor]

7. What do you think the U.S. should do?

I'm asking.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. I think they should act in a diplomatic capacity...

...along with other world leaders.

[Philosoraptor]

11. Pretend you are brokering the deal.

How would that diplomatic intervention go? Would it work? Permanently or temporarily?

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Too many hypotheticals.

You are asking too many things. Too many hypotheticals. But, just for the hey of it...

I would request an international committee to demand Hizb'allah to let members of the IRC visit the soldiers and determine they are, in fact alive, and being treated "well." Once that the soldiers are confirmed alive, then demand an immediate ceasefire from both sides. It would only be for 72 hours. Representatives from both sides would meet in Cyprus. Hizb'allah would not be allowed to have any prisoner who had committed murder. The Israelis would stand down their naval blockade to allow evacuation, under UN supervision. The Lebanese government would have the right to expel Hizb'allah from their borders. If they choose to do so, and Hizb'allah refuses, then international troops will be sent in to join the Lebanese arny to drive them out, but Israel will be asked to sit out of the conflict, unless there is an attack on Israel, then they may respond to the site that attacked them.

I don't know how it would work.

[readmoreoften]

22. I wish you were president, Aegis. /nt

[Laotra]

27. Thanks

I like this part very much:

"I would request an international committee to demand Hizb'allah to let members of the IRC visit the soldiers and determine they are, in fact alive, and being treated "well." Once that the soldiers are confirmed alive, then demand an immediate ceasefire from both sides."


This is understandable attitude:

"Hizb'allah would not be allowed to have any prisoner who had committed murder."

but not practical and constructive, as the pretext would still remain. How about giving them (e.g. one murderous babykiller) in the hands of Lebanese officials, to serve their time in Lebanese jail instead in Israeli jail?


This I find unrealistic:

"The Lebanese government would have the right to expel Hizb'allah from their borders. If they choose to do so, and Hizb'allah refuses, then international troops will be sent in to join the Lebanese arny to drive them out, but Israel will be asked to sit out of the conflict, unless there is an attack on Israel, then they may respond to the site that attacked them."

Perhaps slightly less realistic (well...) demand would be a Lebanese referendum about whether to combine Hezbollah armed wing with the regular army or let it stay separate militia.

And while at it, why not also demand simultaneous referendums about Geneva Accord combined with Arab peace initiative both in Israel and Palestine? :)

And if any party to the conflict votes against the wishes of the international community, slap them with tight economic sanctions and let them rot, while protecting the nations that voted for peace with international forces.

[Sherman A1]

2. Get involved

by an arms and aid embargo, recall our ambassador, freezing Israeli assets and parking a couple of three or four carriers off their coast to evacuate our citizens and enforce a naval blockade (yes, that is an act of war). Call for a peace conference at a neutral setting headed by Jimmy Carter and/or Bill Clinton.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. oh that will help...

:eyes:

[Sherman A1]

5. Yes, it will

The minute it is announced that any of this was being considered (and it wouldn't be by this White House), the Israelis will start winding down operations and head back to their corner. They are doing this with our blessing so they have no reason to stop until they want to.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. No, I don't think so.

I don't think you understand the mentality of the Israeli government. And, as for going back to her corner...Israel WAS in her corner when attacked!

[Laotra]

9. I think

most here understand the mentality of the Israeli governement perfectly. What is sad is that the AIPAC crowd seems to not only to accept it but to share it.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. And your comment shows you do not.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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[Laotra]

23. I've been looking

and asking for one, but your posts still have no point. I'm beginning to think you really have no point, I hope you can prove my suspicion wrong by taking a shot at intelligent discussion. Like, if you don't agree with what I said, trying to prove my points wrong by rational and factual arguments.

[MsMagnificent]

29. hmm, yeah

that Palestinian family having a picnic on the beach really had them backed into a corner...

[Sherman A1]

31. I am happy

That you seem to know me so well as to be able to decide just what I understand and what I don't understand. Perhaps my studies of history and military history do not apply. Perhaps listening to lectures of several former Israeli leaders clouded my judgment. Perhaps reading contemporary journals on current affairs and military issues have provided confusion. My opinions are just that - my opinions based upon my knowledge and research. If you wish to discuss the issues and offer alternatives (which In seemed to have missed in your post) let us engage in a debate on the issues. If you wish to personally criticize me without ever knowing me or meeting me. Then please feel free to do so as well.... Just don't expect me to pay too much attention to such commentary.

[Dancing_Dave]

15. Jimmy Carter and/or Bill Clinton?

Jimmy Carter, maybe-- if he actually agreed to do such a thing.

Bill Clinton-- Absolutely NOT! That would only add more fuel on the fire, more lies into the process...and, well, you oughta know he would never go along with such a scenario to begin with.

Why don't people here realize that Bill Clinton doesn't really have THAT much credibility anywhere...to say the least, he is no JFK.

He's a bit more trusted now than President Bush or Michael Jackson...but that's not saying much...not nearly enough to make any such scenario work.

Are you also one of those people who think that Hillary Clinton has any better than a snowballs chance in hell of being elected President in 2008? OMG. Don't you get it at all?

[Sherman A1]

33. The suggestion was

Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter, I am afraid that I did not mention Hillary so I find the question rather odd (and no, I would prefer another candidate in 2008 but, time will sort that issue out). I suggested those people as U.S. leaders who have had at least some success in getting the folks in the neighborhood to the table to talk (which perhaps might be a good idea in the near future). I believe both have standing on the world stage and could get something started, what is eventually agreed to will be up to the parties involved but nothing happens until they start talking. I am particularly pleased with your comment that apparently I don't get it at all? Gosh, just how would you know that? By putting words in my mouth to bash a potential Presidential Candidate (that I don't support, but apparently you believe I do, because I suggested her husband's name)? Odd however, I did not notice any suggestion of a plan from you? I guess it's just easier to find fault with the ideas of others than to actually do some pondering of your own.

[lvx35]

4. Stay out of it.

And stay out of Iraq. I question the US policy of having to be involved in so much overseas action. Of course GW says that the lesson of 9/11 is that we have to be or it will get us, but the fact remains that the 9/11 attack occured as a retaliation for our intimate involvement in the affairs of Saudi Arabia. We should be looking at things like energy independance, so we aren't forced to prop up dictatorships in the middle east, and so when israel acts to do such and such its mostly an israeli affair without us being automatically involved.

[Selatius]

12. Let Israel do what Israel wants. Stay out of it.

If Israel is intent on pursuing the present course in Lebanon, I say let them do it. Israel is clearly superior in this latest skirmish anyway. We have issues in Iraq that are far more pressing anyway.

Let the EU, the Russians, the Chinese, and the Arab League broker the peace. Our international credibility has been annihilated by Bush, so I doubt we'd be seen as a neutral, fair arbiter anyway.

If I was in the White House, I'd say Israel should do whatever it feels is necessary to defend itself. My overriding goal would be the withdrawal of US forces and the dismantling/destruction of any permanent US facilities now being built on Iraqi sovereign soil. Then we will correct other international issues such as a weak US dollar by correcting the fiscal mistakes of Bush.

Then we will demobilize the armed forces and bring them back into a peace time position and cut the military budget down by 4/5ths. Time to take the profit out of war.

[cornermouse]

14. What you said.

[dmosh42]

17. Let the UN handle it!

Under our present leadership, I wouldn't want us to be the lead on handling this cease fire arrangement. The rest of the world only shakes their head in wonderment as we offer up our armed forces in sacrifice, as they make no concessions for peace, only lipservice.

[sweettater]

16. short and sweet

cut off all money to israel.

[kevinbgoode]

18. Stop selling them all military equipment.

This is already gone far beyond any reasonable conflict.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

20. Under normal circumstances, I would say "get involved."

However, these are decidedly Not Normal Circumstances, and since everything that Bush touches turns to shit, I'd have to opt for letting other, sane people get involved.

[Boomer]

24. We're already involved

Israel is using U.S. weapons and U.S. funding to attack Lebanon. We need to take responsibility for our involvement instead of pretending this situation has nothing to do with us.

[nealmhughes]

25. Decidedly other, i.e., metaphorically waterboard all parties to try to get

a Lebanese government actually in control of the country, militias disarmed, and Israel to not target Lebanon's infrastructure for Hezbollah's attacks. Go to Damascus, to Teheran, and wherever else. Multiparty talks -- we have the largest carrot and the biggest stick to aid the intransient. On the other side, Israel has got to address its extrajudicial incarcerations of Arabs.
Hezbollah has to be told by everyone in the world that they are not a state and are committing acts of extra-state murder, even if they feel it is justified.
The tit of tat of rockets from Gaza to Israel and from southern Lebanon to Israel being answered by destruction on the wholescale of people in Beirut and Tyre is not acceptable either.

[muriel_volestrangler]

26. Other: Get out of it

Withdraw all military support for Israel, including the fuel they've asked for. Explain that the money will go to the reconstruction of Lebanon and Gaza. Stop vetoing ceasefire resolutions in the UN Security Council. Call for the kidnap victims to be returned (oh good, they've managed to do one thing right so far). Support a UN peackeeping force, that is authorised to shoot at Hamas, Hizbollah and Israelis if they fire on either the peacekeeping force or civilians.

When Israel stops throwing its murderous temper tantrum, and the reconstruction is finished, then the US can think about giving military support to Israel again. Until then, Israel is on its own, and should be expecetd to stick to international law.

[Jacobin]

28. Sell arms to both sides and let them all blow themselves to

smithereens and be done with it.

This never ending attention getting, "holy land" 'holywar" bullshit, with 'gawd or allah' on our sides......I say if they want it, let them all blow themselves to kingdom come.

Oh, and we need to green up energywise, so we don't have to hold their hands to keep them from blowing each other up so we can suck up their oil.

(naive, perhaps, but ever so satisfying)

[mmonk]

30. Lead. Seek solutions other than letting it play out further

and the carnage to keep going in order to "punish" Hezbollah or make a political point. But deep down, not many in our government are that good right now.

[patcox2]

32. How about withdraw all aid and military assistance to Israel?

Lets see how tough they are when they aren't standing behind the biggest bully on the block, us. Oh, and stop vetoing all efforts by the world to demand the Israel act like all other countries, instead of being special with special rights to invade and kill and attack others.

[Sherman A1]

34. Agreed