Posted on 07/27/2006 9:50:58 AM PDT by SirLinksalot
Hezbollah getting anxious?
Analyst says terrorist group's TV network losing confident tone
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Posted: July 27, 2006 9:57 a.m. Eastern
By Aaron Sichel © 2006 WorldNetDaily.com
WASHINGTON – The tone of broadcasts from Hezbollah's Al-Manar television network has turned increasingly unsettled over the last few days, with members of the Lebanese terror group appearing to prepare the audience for military setbacks, according to a report released yesterday by an Arabic communications expert.
"The mood of the broadcasts has been growing marginally darker for three to four days … and there was a more dramatic change starting Tuesday night," said Michael Widlanski, an Arabic-language translator and analyst, and a professor at the Rothberg International School of Hebrew University.
Widlanski, who has been monitoring Al-Manar, writes in a report that Hezbollah's television network, which recently had been boasting of military successes against Israel, has begun taking a less celebratory tone.
"Land is not the most important factor, but rather the spirit of the people," announced an Al-Manar commentator identified as Amin Akhtai earlier this week.
The new broadcasts coincided with reports Hezbollah has lost control of its strategic southern base at Bint Jbail – an area described by the Israeli military as a "Hezbollah capital" – and has suffered dozens of fighters killed or captured, some of them high-ranking, although the terror group also killed eight Israeli troops in an ambush.
Akhtai told Hezbollah's television audience he is not concerned about the loss of Hezbollah territory because "perhaps the remaining terrain is better suited for defense."
Uncharacteristically for Al-Manar, Akhtai prefaced his comments with a eulogy to "those heroes who have become martyrs in the defense of Lebanon."
Wildanski's report termed the new tone "a stark departure for Hezbollah, which has until now admitted to almost no battlefield deaths or injuries."
Hezbollah asking for help
Wildanski's notes Al-Manar has been petitioning Arab countries for help.
States the report: "Another sign of definite internal Hezbollah weakness and even panic was the growing tendency [the past few days] of Hezbollah commentators and talk show hosts to place blame on Arab governments for not coming to the aid of Hezbollah. 'Where are the Arabs?' one TV host asked an Egyptian military expert."
On Tuesday, after Hezbollah's standard political commentaries, the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah appeared on television, and there were several noticeable discrepancies from his usual appearances, notes Widlanski.
According to the media analyst, Nasrallah seemed tired and slightly preoccupied. His presentation was not confident and almost fumbling, said Widlanski, and he was reading from a prepared text instead of delivering his usual extemporaneous remarks.
"The content of his speech is also important," said Widlanski. "Nasrallah essentially wanted help from surrounding Arab countries. In other words, he prepared a written request for help ahead of time so that he could read it aloud on TV.
"It doesn't radiate an impression of strength. When you combine that with the admission that Hezbollah 'didn't expect' a substantial Israeli response to [Hezbollah's] rocket attacks and kidnappings, you have an indication that Nasrallah's position has been weakened, and it's happened a lot faster than he was apparently expecting."
Tone likely to shift with fortunes
Widlanski said much of Hezbollah's daily scripted content has not changed and is unlikely to change in the near future.
"What's important for judging Hezbollah's morale," according to Widlanski, "is the tone that's emanating from unscripted interviews and their other live broadcasts."
He said the tone can be expected to fluctuate with the changing fortunes of battle.
"Hezbollah's daily pre-recorded material – (such as) the music videos and jihad videos – can be taped weeks in advance and that stuff is not going to change quickly," Widlanski said. "But the hosts who go on live TV have knowledge of the battlefield situation and they have emotions, and they will often reflect Hezbollah's internal attitude."
SEE ALSO HERE :
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/742742.html
IDF: Nasrallah talk less bellicose
By Amos Harel
An Israel Defense Forces analysis of the messages transmitted by Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah to his men during the fighting in Lebanon reveals a slightly different tone from the one he took in three public television interviews in the same period and in an interview with the Lebanese newspaper A-Safir.
A senior officer said Nasrallah took a less bellicose position when engaging in his internal dialogue in his organization, than in his appearances in the Arab media - but he remained aggressive.
Nasrallah's tone is apologetic in his messages and he explains that Israel escalated the confrontation by striking deep inside Lebanon after the soldiers were abducted, the officer said.
Nasrallah admits that his organization is having morale problems and says his group will receive support and encouragement.
He adds that not only Hezbollah, but also Israel, has been badly hit.
He also complains frequently that the Arab states have deserted Hezbollah and the Lebanese and are not helping them against Israel.
The army admits that Nasrallah is prepared to continue fighting for a long time and that its military strength has not been broken in a way that will prevent it from carrying out its objectives.
Nasrallah is continuing to function although he is underground.
All the media interviews came at his initiative and his men dictated the terms to the journalists to ensure his safety.
Israel is sparing no effort to try and assassinate him.
Hezbollah is believed to be planning additional surprises, as Nasrallah said, and these could include detonating a drone carrying explosives over Israel or firing Iranian Zilzal rockets at Tel Aviv.
It is possible that Nasrallah will want to send such a missile as a last move before a cease-fire is set in motion, in order to serve as a deterrent in future rounds of fighting with Israel, the officer said.
Since the start of the fighting, the officer added, Hezbollah has suffered two significant hits: The bombing of its rocket alignment particularly the long-range rockets, and the losses of fighters which, after the latest ground battles, are estimated at around 100.
The officer said that, among those killed were senior activists.
Irael needs to pour it on while thay have the chance.
And if you believe that, I have a great plot of land in Gaza for sale....
Reading between the lines, the rout must be on in Southern Lebanon. Ironically, media reports, even from FNC, keep suggesting that the Israelis are facing much stiffer resistance than they expected. But I'm not buying it. We heard the same misleading crap from them in the first week of the Iraq liberation.
Other trhreds say Nasrallah is in Damascus in civvies.
The General does not leave the battlefield if things are going well.
Not a word about enemy casualties. It was only when they interviewed an Israeli Captain back from the front that we learned some 250 Hezbollah perverts were killed in the same fighting.
A sore, well-kicked ass'll do that to ya.
The more they squirm, the harder Israel needs to hit them.
"States the report: "Another sign of definite internal Hezbollah weakness and even panic was the growing tendency [the past few days] of Hezbollah commentators and talk show hosts to place blame on Arab governments for not coming to the aid of Hezbollah. 'Where are the Arabs?' one TV host asked an Egyptian military expert."
A headline one won't see in the NYT: "Hezbollah in Quagmire"
As someone else has properly pointed out the name is HizbAllah. Freepers should try to use this spelling as it's importantly differently from the random appearing Hezbollah.
I guess an Ayatollah is really an AyatAllah.
The Arabs are watching as Hezbollah takes it on the chin and their new buddies the Iranians are nowhere in sight. Me, I'd be asking the guy who started the thing with "let's you and he fight" where he was. Well, maybe Ahmadinejad will give another of his bloodcurdling speeches. That'll help.
Absolutely, without a break. These cowards will fall like a house of cards.
well timed bombings that rattle the bones around the clock will cause even the most bellicose arabian's hands shake and nerve to be rattled. bet he has experienced some close calls. the is HaShem's way, maybe of extending the agony before his day of reckoning.
could be. most of the enemies usually shoot and run, or more often just run.
The reason why the Israelis spent so much of the first week blowing up ports, bridges, and roads suddenly seems so clear.
These guys always end up in caves or bunkers, or run off to another country where they can call for others to fight on.
I still much prefer the spelling 'Scuzzballah'.
They had better pray to "Alla" becuse that is alla they are going to have left! They are trying to demoralize Israel and its supporters with the negative headlines. It is transparent.
They need to kill more "senior" members of Hezba-Alla - the guys who hide under their desks and send children out to clear minefields. I haven't forgotten the Iran/iraq war and what the ayatollah was having children do. He is hopefully rotting now in HEll.
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