Israeli editorialist (Haaretz) says US lost war in Iraq..

[kentuck]

Perhaps we need more opinions in the US like this one from Israel? The "existence" of Israel is on its way to becoming self-fulfilling prophecy? This latest invasion seems to be a worse blunder than the last invasion into Lebanon?
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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/743764.html

Let's declare victory and start talking
By Ze'ev Sternhell

It's a widely accepted idea that an Israeli who returns home, even after a short period of time, feels as if he has come to another country. But the opposite is the case: He returns to the same situation, the same problems, the same thought patterns and mainly, the same solutions. Apparently, we did not learn a thing from the first Lebanon War or from the American defeat in Iraq. If the definition of Israel's strategic goal given by the head of Military Intelligence at the beginning of the week reflects the government's position, we are in big trouble.

<snip>

The inability of a major power to put an end to a guerrilla war is not a new phenomenon: From Napoleon in Spain, through his successors in Algeria, to the Americans in Vietnam and now in Iraq, well-organized armies equipped with modern technology have always failed in attempts to defeat irregular forces. The latter know how to adapt themselves to their surroundings, they are an inseparable part of the population and they serve its material, religious and emotional needs.

When there is fighting, guerrilla organizations want the entire population to be harmed. When everyone is a victim, the hatred will be directed at the enemy more forcefully. That is why bombing residential neighborhoods, power plants, bridges and highways is an act of folly, which plays into Hezbollah's hands and serves its strategic goals: An attack on the overall fabric of life creates a common fate for the fighters and those standing on the sidelines. At the same time, the greater the population's suffering, the greater its alienation from the formal ruling institutions - the government, the parliament and the various security forces that are powerless to save them.

It is an illusion to hope that the 700,000 Lebanese refugees will direct their fury at their government, or that the population that still remains in place will evict the Hezbollah members from among it. As far as the population is concerned, responsibility for its catastrophe lies entirely with Israel, and failure to cooperate with whoever fights against Israel would be considered national treason. It was foolish to assume that the Lebanese political elite would dare to confront Hezbollah and use force against it. And anyway, who was even capable of using force? The Lebanese Army, whose bases were bombed as well?

.....more

[smacky44]

1. Now Israel will no doubt flatten Lebanon and kill as many people as it can

But they will not have won the war. They will never be able to live in peace so how is that a "win?"

[ixion]

2. nice to hear the Voice of Reason from Israel

you don't get much of that. I'm glad there is someone over there who wasn't completely lost their mind.

[cali]

4. Actually, you get a lot of it. n/t

[ixion]

6. I don't see it...most of what I hear out of Israel is

Kill'em all, and the like.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Many people outside the USA think evereybody is pro-war, pro-Bush in there

Some people know better because they don't treat countries/tribes like individuals, and focus on the "good apples." That's why I'm here.

Israel is no different.

[cali]

11. The US

has no major newspaper that comes even close to being as left wing as Ha'aretz.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

12. I get it. Ha'aretz is Israel's New York Times.

Did any Israeli pundit ever lament a Hezbollah rocket didn't hit its headquarters?

[cali]

13. Huh?

I have no idea what you're asking, but re Ha'aretz, it can't be compared to the NYT. It is way, way more to the left.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. Somebody please explain it to Mr. Cali. I'm not in the mood.

But you managed to do something positive: my respect for said publication has increased tenfold. Thank you.

[KoKo]

3. It's the Bush Doctrine...create chaos and declare victory for the

principle.

Nice to see an article like this. Thanks for the post, Kentuck. :-)'s

[rodeodance]

10. Bush said yesterday , our foreign policy will not 'manage calm"

[etherealtruth]

16. His first honest statement (?)

"our foreign policy will not 'manage calm' "

I've got to agree with that statement.

Our foreign policy incites chaos/instability ... but it does enhance the coffers of the uber-wealthy.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. The money quote for the chickenhawks at DU who want to see blood:

"That is why Israel's interest must be to isolate Hezbollah, to strike a hard blow at its bases and camps, but to avoid harming the infrastructure of life for the general population, even when its gives refuge to those bearing arms. This is not a matter of military ethics, but of a cold practical considerations. "

[rodeodance]

8. WH/Condi are still in the olf paradign of thinging and have not/do not

even want to learn.

[rodeodance]

9. "from the American defeat in Iraq"---Loud and clear!

[Julius Civitatus]

15. The comparison to Napoleon in Spain is very accurate

Napoleon's troops, though having the imperial power and the upper hand, got severely weakened by guerrilla warfare in Spain (that's where the word "guerrilla" comes from, literally meaning "little war" in Spanish).

Without the slow weakening of Napoleon in Spain and Russia, there would have never been a Waterloo. As a mater of fact, Waterloo would have had a very different outcome.