Israel/Lebanon conflict is not remotely comparable to the Iraq war

[ruggerson]

I know some of you like to toss that comparison out there.

But it just simply isn't a remotely valid or intelligent argument.

Iraq did not attack us. They did not provoke us. George Bush decided to go and invade Iraq, entirely unprovoked, based on absurd neocon doctrine that if we somehow established a democratic beachhead in a major Arab country, it would help stabilize the region. We've seen how prescient and savvy the neocons have turned out to be.

Israel, conversely, has had to deal with years and years of attacks from Hezbollah, who have been massing in Southern Lebanon in increasing numbers and with increased funding from both Syria and Iran. Hezbollah have murdered countless innocent Israeli citizens over the years, and this latest kidnapping and murder(s) was the straw that broke the camel's back.

In one instance, we invaded a sovereign nation, entirely unprovoked, for the first time in U.S. history.

In the other instance, a sovereign nation got tired of having a terrorist organization on its border killing itz citizens and its soldiers with impunity.

No similarities whatsoever.

[Behind the Aegis]

1. Well said.

The closest analogy would be Afghanistan.

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. Disagree

The Taliban were supportive of the presence of Al-Q in their country. The leadership of Lebanon has asked for international help to rid their country of Hezbolla.

Lebanon is being punished for the actions of people who are not welcome there.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Good point.

I hadn't considered that the Taliban was harboring AQ, as opposed to the Lebanese who were living as captives. My mistake. Thanks for the correction! :)

[everythingsxen]

2. Watch out, here comes the flamefest...

You are using reason and logic. You will surely be attacked for that! Plus you are trying to justify Israel's actions! For shame.

:sarcasm:

For what it's worth, I agree with and have been saying similar things for the last week.

[Superman Returns]

3. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!

someone I can agree with !

[Clarkie1]

4. No it is not. nt

[babylonsister]

6. Of course it's not. We attacked Iraq, Israel is persuing the

hawk-like tendancies of the US in Lebanon. The soverign nation of Israel went too far.

Your words: killing itz citizens and its soldiers with impunity.

Is that why this is going on?

[Zhade]

7. Except with regards to my sigline.

That argument remains sound.

[Minstrel Boy]

9. let's have some precision here

I'm not carrying the water for anyone's atrocities here, but statements like "Hezbollah have murdered countless innocent Israeli citizens over the years" are not helpful. There is a number; they have been counted.

This pro-Israel site hosts a seemingly exhaustive list of terror attacks upon Israelis. Before the current violence, these are the total attacks resulting in death and injury which have been ascribed to Hezbollah:

Jan 9, 2005 - An Israeli officer is killed, and three others injured, in a Hezbollah rocket attack along the Lebanese border (Shebba Farms).
Jun 29, 2005 - Hezbollah attacks an Israeli position at Mt. Dov from across the Lebanese border, killing one and injuring three.
Nov 21, 2005 - Eleven Israeli soldiers and one civilian are injured by a Hezbollah attack in Metulla, Northern Israel.

This other pro-Israel site posts the number of total Israeli terror casualties over the past five years as 1,151 dead and 7,800 wounded. By far, most can be attributed to Palestinian groups such as Hamas and the al Aqsa Brigades.

Hezbollah has murdered innocent Israeli citizens, but the number can be counted, and it's nowhere near Hamas' count.

[DYouth]

10. The fighting is the same, the dying is the same. LISTEN HERE

The "reasons" for war are always thrown out there by those who fight them. The leaders of the political struggle. They'll always have complex rationalizations for the killing. But the dying, killing, bombing, shooting -- the overwhelming majority of victims: civilians who had no where else to go -- THAT will always be the same, and THAT'S why this is comparable.

And your second point about Israel being a victim: it's flatly false. What about 50 years of Palestinians being occupied and destroyed by Israel. Who cares about THEIR security? Do they have the right to completely attack and occupy Israel?

[OneBlueSky]

11. well, there's one similarity . . .

in both cases, thousands of innocent civilians are being intentionally and/or carelessly killed and maimed by militaries using both conventional and unconventional (i.e. horrific) weapons . . . with seeming impunity . . .

there's no excuse for what the U.S. has done ILLEGALLY and IMMORALLY in Iraq . . .

there's no excuse for what Israel is doing ILLEGALLY and IMMORALLY in Lebanon . . .