Posted on 07/25/2006 8:42:17 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
Yesterday when Rush was discussing the "Military Experts" rantings about the Israel-Hizbollah war one thing was obviously missing. None of the "Experts" have given any thought at all to the Strategic picture and how Lebanon fits in the larger War on Islamic Fascism.
Israel should be going for the long game, a solution to this decade long cancer NOT a drama queen headline breeding short term military blitz. It would be utterly stupid for Israel to prune back Hizbollah when it is in both their's, and the the NATO powers, interests to completely eject Iran's front group Hizbollah from the Mediterranean Littoral.
All the plans advanced by self styled "Experts" would accomplish is a lot of dead Jews for a short term "Quick fix". Hizbollah would simply bleed the Israelis while pulling back into sanctuary areas in Syria and northern Lebanon. Then when the Israelis could no longer stand the blood and treasure long term occupation was costing them, Hizbollah would simply flow back into the same positions they hold now. And 5 years from now the Israelis would face the same crises in Lebanon. Basically all the "Experts" advocate is that Israel repeat the 1982 war now in 2006.
Like the US in Iraq, Israel should go for a long term FIX that uproots Hizbollah and creates a viable Lebanese Govt that can police its own territory.
That maybe why the Israelis have indicated interested in a NATO force to do in Lebanon what it is currently doing in Afghanistan. Suppress the terrorist groups while the Lebanese build a viable nation state that can provide long term stability.
For Israel, and the West, that outcome would be a durable strategic victory in what will be a very long war
From today's Milbank column:
The candidate looked the part of the contender, wearing a monogrammed shirt, his French cuffs sprouting cuff links coordinated with his necktie. He ate carefully, removing the gelatinous yolk from the four-minute egg in his salad. But he spoke with little caution as he ladled a heaping portion of criticism on his own party.
"In 2001, we were attacked and the president is on the ground, on a mound with his arm around the fireman, symbol of America," he said, between bites of hanger steak and risotto. "In Katrina, the president is at 30,000 feet in an airplane looking down at people dying, living on a bridge. And that disconnect, I think, sums up, for me at least, the frustration that Americans feel."
From a Robert Novak column, back on May 29:
But at Prince George's Community College with Principal Myrick at his side, [Republican Lt. Gov. Michael S.] Steele whacked President Bush's educational policies (especially defunding support for low-income college students). In his brief remarks, he could not find anything favorable to say about the president.
He was even tougher on Bush in talking to me: "In the eyes of blacks, [Hurricane] Katrina was a 9/11 event. You didn't fly over 9/11. You got on the ground in the rubble. You should have been on the ground for Katrina." Republican regulars don't mind this sort of talk. They know Steele, their former Republican state chairman, from fish fries all over the Free State. He can say whatever he wants to score a historic victory of national proportions.
http://tks.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NmE5NjFhOTAzOTUzOWZlMmQ2ZmM2M2NlNWUyNTc0MTY=
I also read on NRO Santorum denied it was him on Laura Ingraham this morning.
Darn, Clint.
I missed it! Congrats.
I was just about to make the same observation. Poor Steve.
LOL. I'm sick of it.
Mike Steele? WTF?
I just popped in and have no idea wasssup!
I hope not. I really like him.
Steele just lost my support and I'm extremely disappointed, if true. In public he's SOOooo supportive, which makes me think "HYPOCRITE"! I'm DISAPPOINTED....
He's all I got.
No Linc looks like Steve Doucy after a year-long-bender...
Am I the only one who thinks Rush's "I said that first" patting his own back is getting OUT OF CONTROL the past week?
Its really starting to annoy me.
'specially since some of what "he said first" was posted on FR before he said it.
Bit startled by that myself.
What's the real story I wonder.
My condolences. We need to support him to keep the Majority, but I'm royally P.O.d.... There is NOT a vote of support...
Even after the break, I still can't figure it out though it has to do with Michael Steele and the White House..... I think.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1671898/posts?page=41#41
I wish he would not do that.
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