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`Cowardly' Hezbollah criticized
The Toronto Star ^

Posted on 07/25/2006 12:56:41 AM PDT by Lorianne

JERUSALEM—Israeli troops punched deeper into southern Lebanon yesterday, closing in on the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbail as a senior United Nations official accused the Shiite Muslim guerrilla group of "cowardly blending" among Lebanese civilians.

UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland, one day after touring bombed-out sections of Beirut and declaring Israeli air strikes "disproportionate," directed equally strong words against Hezbollah, questioning the morality of its fighting style.

"Consistently, from the Hezbollah heartland, my message was that Hezbollah must stop this cowardly blending ... among women and children," Egeland told reporters last night in Cyprus, where he was en route to Israel.

"I heard they were proud because they lost very few fighters and that it was the civilians bearing the brunt of this. I don't think anyone should be proud of having many more women and children dead than armed men."

Egeland's comments came after another intensive day of fighting in the rugged terrain of southernmost Lebanon. Both sides sustained considerable casualties. Among them:

Two Israeli soldiers were killed almost simultaneously in separate incidents, as a Merkava tank was struck by an armour-piercing missile and a second tank rolled over a massive landmine during fighting on the edge of Bint Jbail. Another 14 Israeli troops were injured in clashes, including five believed to be struck by friendly fire from an Israeli attack helicopter.

Two Israeli pilots died when their Apache Longbow helicopter, flying a sortie to support ground troops, crashed and exploded north of the Israeli town of Safed.

At least 10 Hezbollah guerrillas were killed, according to Israel Defence Forces (IDF) estimates. Israeli media reports said the IDF captured two Hezbollah fighters alive and retrieved several bodies of Hezbollah's dead, ostensibly to be used as bargaining chips in prisoner negotiations.

Thirteen Israeli civilians were wounded in salvos of Katyusha rocket fire from Lebanon. Yesterday's 80-plus strikes bring to more than 2,000 the number of short- and medium-range rockets fired by Hezbollah. The IDF estimates it has destroyed another 2,200 rockets in 13 days of fighting. If accurate, the total of 4,200 represents less than half of the estimated 10,000 to 12,000 missiles in Hezbollah's arsenal.

Four Ghanaian soldiers, all UN peacekeepers, were wounded when an IDF tank shell struck their position near the village of Rmeish. It was the third incident involving United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel who have been trapped between combatants since July 12.

Lebanese security officials reported three civilian deaths, without specifying where they occurred, and 30 strikes in and around towns and on roads — down from 37 the day before.

As the search for a diplomatic solution intensifies, the toll on displaced civilians is becoming acute, with hospitals in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre at capacity. It's estimated as many as 750,000 people, or 20 per cent of the population, are on the move.

Northern Israel, too, has emptied, with hundreds of thousands of people, including a third of the population of the port city of Haifa, taking refuge in central and southern areas beyond the proven range of Hezbollah rockets. Still, Israeli officials said half of the industrial factories in the north have now resumed operation, with staff returning to work despite a declaration of martial law.

Israel's overall death toll now stands at 40, with 17 people killed by Hezbollah rockets and 23 soldiers killed in the fighting. On the Lebanese side, officials said 384 people have been killed, including 20 soldiers and 11 Hezbollah guerrillas.

In the Gaza Strip early today, an Israeli air strike aimed at the home of a suspected militant wounded seven neighbours, residents said, a day after Israeli shells killed six people. An estimated 121 Palestinians have died in Israel's nearly month-long offensive in Gaza to force militants to release a kidnapped soldier and halt rocket fire.

With files from the Star's wire services


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 07/25/2006 12:56:43 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne
by next week the entire Hezbollah force will be attempting to stroll out of the area dressed in hajab (burkhas)

What does it say about the Shiite Lebs that venerate and respect these dudes so much?
I think they need new role models
2 posted on 07/25/2006 1:21:16 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
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To: Lorianne
UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland

This is the jackass who called Americans stingy when in fact we contributed BILLIONS towards tsunami relief. Now he's equating Israel's use of allegedly "disproportionate" force with the Hezbolla trick of hiding amid women and children. Disgusting. I really don't know why we listen to anyone from the UN - well, except for John Bolton, of course.

3 posted on 07/25/2006 1:22:14 AM PDT by hsalaw
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To: hsalaw
This is the jackass who called Americans stingy when in fact we contributed BILLIONS towards tsunami relief. Now he's equating Israel's use of allegedly "disproportionate" force with the Hezbolla trick of hiding amid women and children.

Well, Egelund is maybe one step above an amoeba in brain power, but I can't help thinking the Hezzies must have really ticked him off for him to criticize an enemy of Israel.

It seems the Hezzies lack the certain diplomatic flair and it's getting increasingly difficult for the diplomats to pretend they're dealing with people who desire peace -- but I trust they'll be able to pull off the delusion with an extra dose of Prozac and extra high hip boots. It justifies their existence.

4 posted on 07/25/2006 1:42:22 AM PDT by browardchad
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To: hsalaw
UN Jan Egeland is a War Criminal like Annan.
He deserves execution for supporting terrorists.

The UN and Egeland have a long and proven history working with Hizb'allah terrorists
murdering civilians - Christians, Jews, and Americans.

Note -- and remember -- this photo where both the UN and Hizb'allah terrorist flags fly together.
After the UN continues to be implicated in such savage behavior
millions of Americans wonder why America continues to fund and
help the UN-terrorists, the UN-slavers, and the UN-rapists.


5 posted on 07/25/2006 1:51:17 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
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To: Lorianne

bttt


6 posted on 07/25/2006 1:53:24 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: Diogenesis; All
Curious about that Yellow Flag?
Here's a closer view- pay no attention to the Nazi salute:


7 posted on 07/25/2006 2:39:10 AM PDT by backhoe (Just an Old Keyboard Cowboy, Ridin' the Trakball into the Dawn of Information)
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To: Diogenesis
After the UN continues to be implicated in such savage behavior millions of Americans wonder why America continues to fund and help the UN-terrorists, the UN-slavers, and the UN-rapists.

Because, sadly and maddeningly, millions of other Americans continue returning these Clymers to Washington:


8 posted on 07/25/2006 2:41:04 AM PDT by Dahoser (Time to condense the stupid party nonsense: Terry Tate for RNC chairman.)
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To: backhoe

Heard Liberal guests on Fox this past weekend say what we need to do is 'educate' them, of course'. Once they're 'educated' they'll understand that violence (Jihad), is not nice and won't achieve anything. Unbelievable.


9 posted on 07/25/2006 2:45:53 AM PDT by hershey
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To: Diogenesis

Fox News last night had a picture of the Hezbollah HQ with U.N. in stones on the mountain behind it.
Make no mistake about who Israel is fighting.


10 posted on 07/25/2006 2:50:28 AM PDT by dyed_in_the_wool ("O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends" - Koran 5.51)
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To: hershey
Heard Liberal guests on Fox this past weekend say what we need to do is 'educate' them, of course'. Once they're 'educated' they'll understand that violence (Jihad), is not nice and won't achieve anything. Unbelievable.

Such willful ignorance still astounds me.

I neglected ( to my eternal regret ) saving a link and quote from a famous Islamic cleric a few years ago, but the context, and the gist of it were-

A reporter was asking him something along the lines of "why can't we all just get along," and his answer was succinct, and perfectly chilling:

"You do not understand us.
You wish to talk to us...
We wish to kill you..."

You can't "educate," "negotiate," "nuance," or "protocol" your way out of an attitude like that. You can fight, run, or submit. Or die. But talking isn't going to cut it.

11 posted on 07/25/2006 2:54:03 AM PDT by backhoe (Just an Old Keyboard Cowboy, Ridin' the Trakball into the Dawn of Information)
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To: Dahoser

Just a minor suggestion----Whenever Chuckie Schummer is pictured and not alone, it is realistice to show his Pix as in the foreground and partially covering everyone elses. That is because they would, in reality, be on the ground as he knocked them down to getbetween them and the camera.


12 posted on 07/25/2006 3:55:29 AM PDT by rod1
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To: Lorianne
UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland

I stopped there. "UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland" is a certified idiot and nutjob. He is to the UN humanitarian program what cancer is to health.
13 posted on 07/25/2006 4:02:59 AM PDT by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: Lorianne

Krauthammer's been saying it for a long time:

The Jihadists wrap themselves in babies.


14 posted on 07/25/2006 4:26:01 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: rod1

LOL!


15 posted on 07/25/2006 4:30:57 AM PDT by Dahoser (Time to condense the stupid party nonsense: Terry Tate for RNC chairman.)
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To: Lorianne
"In the Gaza Strip early today, an Israeli air strike aimed at the home of a suspected militant wounded seven neighbours" Gee honey....you know our neighbor Abdoul has all these missles in his backyard. Do you think it may be dangerous living right next door?
16 posted on 07/25/2006 5:06:07 AM PDT by Fred911 (YOU GET WHAT YOU ACCEPT)
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To: Lorianne

Wonder how many Hezbollah "warriors" were hiding in burkas and being airlifted out to safety by the US and Canada. There should be a rule for rescuing Muslims: Take off the burka or you stay. What a bunch of despicable cowards, hiding behind women and children and then bragging that your "fighters" aren't being killed.


17 posted on 07/25/2006 5:12:03 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: Lorianne
Israel's overall death toll now stands at 40, with 17 people killed by Hezbollah rockets and 23 soldiers killed in the fighting. On the Lebanese side, officials said 384 people have been killed, including 20 soldiers and 11 Hezbollah guerrillas.

We're supposed to believe this cock-n-bull?

18 posted on 07/25/2006 5:25:27 AM PDT by houeto
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To: Lorianne
Northern Israel, too, has emptied, with hundreds of thousands of people, including a third of the population of the port city of Haifa, taking refuge in central and southern areas beyond the proven range of Hezbollah rockets. Still, Israeli officials said half of the industrial factories in the north have now resumed operation, with staff returning to work despite a declaration of martial law.
I think the bottom line is that it is cowardly to criticize people who are taking the only possible action to relieve their population of such a burden as that.

And doubly cowardly to be the cause of it, without necessity.


19 posted on 07/25/2006 5:49:38 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters except PR.)
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