7/14: Middle East Live Thread

7/15/06 | me

[BurbankKarl]

Israeli gunners cover their ears as an artillery piece fires into southern Lebanon from a position on the border near Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Friday, July 14, 2006.

[Howlin]

Well, now; but I have a Marine 1 patch AND an Air Force One blanket! :-)

And a picture of my mother at the White House last year:

[WestVirginiaRebel]

President Bush: "Hello, Syria? I just wondered if you still had your asses left because I do belive you're going to get them handed to you soon."

[BunnySlippers]

Fox saying that the missile that hit the ship was a Chinese Silkworm.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I like how fark.com has the hezbollah rocket his civillian ship story put in the "dumbass" category

[Allegra]

Fox saying that the missile that hit the ship was a Chinese Silkworm.

I wonder how large Hezbollah's arsenal is and what other little surprises they have in there?

Lebanon's cut off now. It'll be ineteresting to see how long their weaponry lasts.

And if anybody dares step in and help them out.

[The Bass Player]

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right, but here goes. I'm new here in the sense that I just registered. I've been lurking and reading for a couple years,and I'm happy to say that this is the very first time I've ever posted anything on a board. A little background on me, I'm a 42 year old man, I played semi-pro Bass guitar in several rock bands across the country since 1983. A couple of them were on major labels, although, we never sold enough records to go any farther, and we were dropped. I used to be a huge Lib,(living in Hollywood for 11 years kinda had something to do with that,lol). I've since become a conservative and a Christian since 1997. I just wanted to say hello to everyone here, and that I look forward to hanging out with everyone. I also am offering up my prayers and good wishes to each of us here and to Israel. God Bless them as they clean up the dog squeeze. The so called ROP needs to go away as far as I'm concerned. *sliding everyone an ice cold beer, or whatever their fave beverage is*

[leadpenny]

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right

You listen here.

You're doing it quite right. Welcome to FR.

[IrishRainy]

Welcome then! I majored in Music (voice) in college, so you're A-OK in my book.

P.S. I used to be a liberal too, but we all make mistakes.

[wildcatf4f3]

I thought the SAAR had a point defence system.....verticle launch and gun to deal with antiship missles.. Suilkworm is old tech, They should have been able to jam it or throw it off with chaff. Its not that small a missle, thought they would have picked it up. Hell, the Stark knew there was an exocet coming in, damn ciws shutdown.

[Allegra]

I wonder if the Silkworm came in low? A Silkworm hit Kuwait City in '03 and the anti-missile batteries were unable to take it out because it came in too low.

Just throwing that out there.

[jeffers]

Roundup from the Muslim Press:

Tehran Times sports a 100% reversal of position, dated Thursday:

“The best way (to find a solution) for the Europeans is to return
to open and inclusive negotiations as soon as possible instead
of observing the U.S. conditions,” he said.

Larijani held talks with the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
on Tuesday in Brussels on the nuclear proposals which were
delivered to Iran on June 6.

“During the meeting with Mr. Solana, we announced that the
package is negotiable and that Tehran is ready to negotiate,” he
noted.

“We said the potential of the offer can be realized during the
course of negotiations,” he added."

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=7/15/2006&Cat=2&Num=012

Smokescreen?

Cave-in?

Buying time?

Actually, taking the above article together with this one, it appears to be a divide and conquor play:

The great powers and the entire international community must
realize that any leniency toward the Zionist incursions will harm
the whole world, from exacerbating the global security situation
to undermining the world economy, as the attack on Lebanon
has already sent oil prices skyrocketing to an unprecedented
high of $78 per barrel.

If they really care about the security situation in the Middle East,
the leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations, which
begin their summit meeting today in Saint Petersburg, should
send a strong message to Israel to halt its mad rush to
Armageddon.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=7/15/2006&Cat=14&Num=001

Arabnews (Saudi Arabia's English Daily) is down.

Turkey calls for a ceasefire:

Death toll from Israel’s ongoing offensive in
Lebanon exceeds 70. Foreign Minister Gül calls
all on the parties to cease fire immediately,
warning otherwise of severe consequences for
region’s stability

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News

Turkey called for an immediate ceasefire in the
Middle East, where tension is escalating and Israel is
widening an offensive in Lebanon after military strikes
in the Palestinian territories.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül warned that the
consequences for the stability in the region would be
severe if no step is taken to silence the guns.

“I invite everyone to cease-fire quickly. If a cease-fire
is delayed, I see the risk of escalation and the complete
destruction of the opportunity for co-existence,” Gül
told reporters, further calling on the parties to the
conflict to “look for a way out in calm” once the
ceasefire is in place.

http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=48983



Pakistan quotes a Saudi statement criticising Hezbollah, and mentions an Arab league quote to opposite effect:

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has accused Hezbollah, without naming it, of “uncalculated adventures” that can precipitate a new Middle East crisis. A Saudi official, quoted
by the state Saudi Press Agency, said Hezbollah’s capture of two Israeli soldiers was not legitimate.

The official said Hezbollah’s actions could lead to “an extremely serious situation which could subject all Arab nations and its achievements to destruction.”

“The kingdom feels it is time for such elements to shoulder full responsibility for this irresponsible behaviour and that the burden of ending the crisis falls only on them,”
the statement emphasised.

The Saudi government’s stance, it may be mentioned, is different from the stance of Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who has blamed Israel for the deterioration of
situation in the region as a result of escalation of its military activities in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/15/int3.htm

The Saudi statement was issued while Arabnews was still functioning. As noted before, I expect Muslim commentary to trend towards the negative as this dynamic situation evolves, in the content for internal distribution more quickly than in statements for international broadcast.

Kuwait Times runs long on Israeli attacks, and successful Hizb attacks, but stops short of editorial criticism:

http://www.kuwaittimes.net/Navariednews.asp?dismode=article&artid=647613528

Finally NBC says Hezbollah has 13,000 rockets in Lebanon, and that gunmen in Baghdad have kidnapped the Iraqi Olympic Committee Chairman and several workers.

[BunnySlippers]

I've been living in Hollywood my whole life ... still a Conservative.

Welcome!

[The Bass Player]

Thanks for the welcome:) I've got several family/friends in all branches, all over the place. They always tell me that even though it's work at times, that it matters not, we'll prevail. That good will win in the long run. *raising a toast to our troops and our allies* May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather.

[SE Mom]

Good morning:) Thanks for links!

Off topic- but sure to have an effect on "things"...Russia will not be joining the WTO anytime soon...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060715/ap_on_bi_ge/us_russia_trade

I've just had a half a cuppa..but this strikes me as a major big deal..

[theophilusscribe]

ISRAEL WILL ATTACK SYRIA... HERE'S WHY
07/15/2006 6:43:50 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666146/posts
eProfits.com ^ | 7/14/06 | editorial
This is being written Friday night (07/14/06) and since I am not privy to what goes on in the Israeli War Cabinet here is eProfits.com's take on what Israel will, yea must, do in the current war on terrorism…

Body of one of the four missing Israeli sailors found - Israeli radio.
07/15/2006 5:58:14 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666142/posts
BBC News ^
Body of one of the four missing Israeli sailors found - Israeli radio. No story yet, only BBC Headline

US, major allies differ in response to Israeli attack
07/15/2006 5:48:11 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666141/posts
AFP ^ | Jul 14 11:58 AM US/Eastern | Staff
Major US allies condemned the ferocity of Israel's military attack on Lebanon, revealing a clear split with Washington's moderate call for restraint. Cries of alarm mounted worldwide after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered armed forces to intensify the offensive in response to rockets hitting towns in northern Israel, killing two and wounding 50. As the civilian death toll in Lebanon mounted above 60 and Israeli warplanes hit buildings, roads and Beirut airport, French President Jacques Chirac questioned whether Israel was seeking Lebanon's destruction. "One may well ask if there isn't today a kind of wish to destroy Lebanon --...

France sending troops to evacuate French nationals from Lebanon
07/15/2006 4:23:17 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666135/posts
AFP via Babelfish translation | July 15, 2006
ALARM - Lebanon: Villepin announces dispostif to evacuate the French PARIS - France decided to implement "means maritime and air, civil and soldiers" to evacuate the French who wish to leave Lebanon, announced to Saturday French the Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

Israel warns Beirut civilians [Leaflets warned them away from Hezbollah targets.]
07/15/2006 4:21:07 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666134/posts
Reuters by way of NEWS.com.au, Australia ^ | 14JUL06 | Reuters
From correspondents in Beirut ISRAELI warplanes dropped thousands of leaflets in Hizbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburb today, urging residents to stay away from the group's offices and buildings, witnesses said. "For your own safety and because of our desire not to harm any civilians who are not involved (with Hezbollah), you should refrain from staying in areas where Hezbollah is present and operating," said the Arabic-language leaflets, signed "The State of Israel".

The town of Nahariya in Israel, ten kilometres south of Lebanon, under bombardment on Friday
07/15/2006 4:07:15 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666132/posts
EuroNews ^ | 15JUL06 | EuroNews
Attacks by Hezbollah caused panic. More than 300 short-range Katyusha rockets have fallen on 20 Israeli towns since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel erupted. Around 70 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Friday alone. For the people of Nahariya, life is now on the frontline. This elderly man was woken by attacks - he told police he was OK. Other towns targeted in northern Israel include Kiryat Shemona, Safed, Meron, Karmiel and even Haifa where two rockets landed on Thursday night. Another target was a military base which has a stock of Patriot missile batteries. One of Hezbollah's Katyusha...

Streaming Live Israeli TV Link - If your interested.
07/15/2006 3:13:21 AM EDT · 17 replies · 524+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666124/posts
Fromil.com ^
Here is a link to live streaming Israeli TV with about 10 channels to surf. There are no captions or subs but if you want to see whats going on - you might want to check this out.

Report: Israel gives Syria ultimatum
07/15/2006 3:12:39 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666123/posts
Ynetnews ^ | Saturday, July 15, 2006
London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat says Israel gave Syria 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity, bring about release of kidnapped IDF troops. ‘Israel will not end military activity until new situation created that will prevent Syria, Iran from using terror organizations to threaten its security,’ newspaper quotes Pentagon official as saying Roee Nahmias The London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Saturday that “Washington has information according to which Israel gave Damascus 72 hours to stop Hizbullah’s activity along the Lebanon-Israel border and bring about the release the two kidnapped IDF soldiers or it would launch an offensive with disastrous consequences.”...

Israel PM sets three conditions for ceasefire with Lebanon
07/15/2006 2:09:06 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666115/posts
Australian Broadcasting Corporation ^ | 15 July 2006
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has imposed three conditions for a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has been waging a deadly three-day assault, a Government spokeswoman says. "The Prime Minister is prepared to finish our operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah releases our two soldiers, stops its rocket fire and if the Lebanese Government decides to implement UN Security Council resolution 1559," spokeswoman Miri Eisin told AFP. The resolution calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, the Shiite movement based in Lebanon that abducted two Israeli soldiers on Wednesday. "If these conditions are met, we are ready to cooperate with a delegation from...

[leadpenny]

A classy looking gal. I know you miss her very much. Was she taking questions from Helen?

[theophilusscribe]

Israeli Officials Say Warship Attacked By Unmanned Hezbollah Aircraft
07/15/2006 1:47:23 AM EDT · 20 replies · 555+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666109/posts
AP ^ | 7-14-06 | Staff
JERUSALEM (AP) - An unmanned Hezbollah aircraft rigged with explosives rammed into an Israeli missile ship late Friday, leaving four sailors missing and causing heavy damage and a fire, Israeli military officials said. The army said a search was underway for the seamen. The statement confirmed earlier news reports the four were missing. The attack by the remote-controlled drone indicated Hezbollah has added a new weapon to the arsenal of rockets and mortars it has used against Israeli troops. The army said a missile ship carrying several dozen sailors suffered severe damage and was set on fire. Several hours after...

Indonesia Muslim Calls Israeli Attacks As Terrorist Acts (nothing about Papua..)
07/15/2006 1:31:28 AM EDT · 5 replies · 76+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666104/posts
Bernama.com ^ | July 14, 2006 17:34 PM | bernama
Indonesia Muslim Calls Israeli Attacks As Terrorist ActsJAKARTA, july 14 (Bernama) -- Indonesian Muslim Brotherhood (Parmusi) condemned Israeli attacks on Palestine and Lebanon as terrorist actions and military arrogance, ANTARA news agency reported Friday. Quoting its chairman Alihardi Kiaidemak, Parmusi also condemned the United States government's support to the Israeli aggression, saying that the support is injustice against the humanitarian values, and diminish efforts to create a world peace. The organization called on peace-loving nations to make political pressures on the terrorist state of Israel and the US through the United Nation Security Council. Muslim majority countries especially must help...

Bangladesh for immediate int'l steps to end attacks in Lebanon, Palestine
07/15/2006 1:26:27 AM EDT · 11 replies · 104+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666103/posts
Financial Express ^ | 7/15/2006 | Financial Express
Pro-Islamic parties condemn UN, USA Bangladesh for immediate int'l steps to end attacks in Lebanon, Palestine 7/15/2006 Bangladesh Friday called for immediate international actions to stop Israel's escalating air attacks on Lebanon and continued offensive in Gaza."We're deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. We hope the international community would take steps to restrain Israel from attacking Lebanon and Palestine," DGEP Zahirul Huq told the UNB in the city Friday. He said Bangladesh hopes that the parties concerned would come forward to implement the road map establishing two states-Palestine and Israel-for a durable solution in...

Military Believes Unmanned Aircraft Iranian-made
07/15/2006 12:53:53 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666098/posts
The Associated Press ^ | 7/14/06 | The Associated Press
JERUSALEM -- An unmanned Hezbollah aircraft rigged with explosives rammed into an Israeli warship late Friday, causing heavy damage and fire on the vessel, Israeli military officials said. The attack by the remote-controlled drone indicated that Hezbollah has added a new weapon to the arsenal of rockets and mortars it has used against Israeli troops. The army said a missile ship carrying several dozen sailors suffered severe damage and was set on fire. Several hours after the attack, the fire was put out and the ship was being towed back to Israel, officials said. The military officials spoke on condition...

Repression, rather than popularity, keeps President Ahmadinejad in office
On 07/15/2006 12:44:28 AM EDT
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666096/posts
Guardian UK ^ | 7/14/06 | Guardian UK
Simon Tisdall is right to point to the "complex forces that were instrumental" in bringing the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power last year, but fails to explain the factors keeping the president in office (World briefing: US underestimates Ahmadinejad at its peril, June 27). His analysis overlooks the contradictions in Iranian society and the widespread unpopularity of this regime. He portrays Ahmadinejad as an "anti-status-quo candidate" who has built "a third constituency among the working classes, younger voters and the less well-off". A closer analysis shows the opposite. The press, within Iran and outside, reported the courageous demonstration of...

Hezbollah may have overplayed its hand
07/15/2006 12:25:23 AM EDT · 25 replies · 1,188+ views
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666090/posts
Toronto Star ^ | 7/14/06 | Mitch Potter
Islamic group bids to fill power vacuum But risks underestimating Israeli resolveJERUSALEM—There are multiple reasons why Hezbollah chose precisely this moment to throw an already turbulent Middle East into cartwheels of even greater turmoil. But for most observers, none stands larger than the militant Shiite Muslim movement's overarching quest to elevate itself as the pre-eminent defender of the pan-Arab realm. Whatever secondary reasons may come into play — and there is no question that for Hezbollah's sponsors in Syria and Iran the new crisis presents a convenient diversion from the critical issues confronting them — Arab-Muslim pride is paramount. Scan...

[SE Mom]

FOX reporting there are at least 100 Iranians on the ground assisting Hizbullah...AND that it would have required Iranian know-how to deploy the missle that hit the Israeli ship...

[theophilusscribe]

Ugh. Not good.

[Rte66]

Are you around? I want to FReepmail you something.