8/1 Middle East Live Thread

Middle East Live Thread ^ | 8/1/06 | BurbankKarl

[BurbankKarl]

The wife and father of kidnapped Israeli soldier Ehud Goldwasser, Karnit, holding a wedding photograph, and Shlomo Goldwasser arrive at Heathrow Airport in London, Monday July 31, 2006. Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers on July 12, triggering an Israeli offensive against Lebanon that has killed hundreds of people, mostly civilians.

[AdmSmith]

Peres said the international community's longer-term goals in the region must include stabilizing Lebanon and drawing it away from Iran's influence. "Hezbollah wants a Lebanon with an Iranian orientation," Peres said. "The Lebanese must decide if they will control their own destiny, or will be swallowed up by a larger threat." If that happened, he said, "Lebanon would be a tragedy of Iranian ambition."

Peres spoke at length about the threat posed by a rising Iran, saying the country's influence derives not from economic or military strength, but its plans for a nuclear weapon, which it pursues because the global community allows it. "As long as the world remains divided, Iran will run wild," he said. He said Iran is using Hezbollah and the fight in Lebanon to "divert attention from their nuclear bomb, which is still their first priority." Despite Iran's growing threat, Israel will not preemptively attack Tehran, he said; it will only respond if attacked.

Peres said Iran, taking advantage of a weakened Syria, is working with Hamas—which he called a "state-in-the-making" -and Hezbollah - a "state-within-a-state" - to assert Iranian influence in the region. Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and the Gulf states-which have reason to fear the advent of a "Shiite crescent" - initially criticized the July 12 Hezbollah raid and kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers that started the latest conflict. However, Israel's attacks on Lebanonhave caused Arab states to line up against Israel.

Syria is running a "double-standard policy," Peres said, by harboring Hamas leader Khalid Meshal in Damascus and shuttling Iranian arms and funds to Hezbollah in Lebanon. "Assad Sr. (former Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad, who died in 2000) never allowed Hezbollah to run the affairs of Lebanon," Peres said, "but Assad Jr. (current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad) is a friend of (Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan) Nasrallah." Peres called Bashar al-Assad "the son of a wise man" who had not learned enough from his father.

Peres said Israel, and what he called the "responsible countries of the world," would eventually prevail in the current crisis, because groups like Hamas and Hezbollah are "shooting without reason or purpose, but (only) to destroy Israel and bring down our spirit." He said the militant Islamic groups have no message for their people and cannot meet their needs for employment, education, or a stable, responsible, transparent government. The current violence could even create an opportunity for change in the region. "I think this is a chance to reinvent the Middle East," he said.

http://www.cfr.org/publication/11183/

[jhp]

running like cowards - yes. But, i just don't see Hizbullah going out w/o attempting to pull off a few more big stunts

[sofaman]

back later...have to get ready for work. Early meeting that should go on a bit...hope all is well.

[Right_Rev]

Pretty optimistic aren't you...Eyes to see and ears to hear are not standard issue. There is a veil that hides what is seen and not seen. Not to sound esoteric, there is only one who gives sight to the blind.

[wildcatf4f3]

took me a second..but LOL!!!!

[Allegra]

Oh, I know all of that, but they have also demonstrated that they are very cognizant of media coverage. We used to see a pattern in it where they were timing them for major news broadcast times in the States.

Iran is behind most of the trouble we are experiencing now. And Iran loves any media coverage.

[Miss Marple]

Checking back in. If they have left Tyre, I wonder where they went?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

16:50 U.K., Germany reject EU draft calling for immediate cease-fire in Lebanon conflict (AP)
16:46 55 people killed in attacks in Iraq on Monday, including 23 Iraqi soldiers (Reuters)
16:26 Palestinians in Gaza lash out at Egyptian president in pro-Hezbollah march (AP)
16:00 IDF: 4 Hezbollah gunmen killed near south Lebanon village of Ayta a-Shab (Haaretz)
15:42 Wife of soldier abducted by Hezbollah visits London seeking support for release (AP)

[redgolum]

Sad thing is, even if the "nuclear nightmare" happens, it still won't awaken every one. Many will just blame the government for not protecting them. Look at the Katrina fiasco.

[jhp]

16:50 U.K., Germany reject EU draft calling for immediate cease-fire in Lebanon conflict (AP)

That's an interesting headline, good for Germany and the UK, maybe we and Israel aren't completely alone in all this

[jhp]

If a "nuclear nightmare" doesn't wake us up then i fear western civilization is done for

[del4hope]

I found it right before I shutdown last night. Thanks. It explained it much more clearly. Sad and scary too.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Bible passage that jumped up at me today:

An Oracle

The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus. For to the LORD belong the cities of Aram, even as all the tribes of Israel; Hamath also, which borders thereon, Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

Tyre has built herself a rampart, and heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets. But lo, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and hurl her wealth into the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire.

Ash'kelon shall see it, and be afraid; Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza; Ash'kelon shall be uninhabited; a mongrel people shall dwell in Ashdod; and I will make an end of the pride of Philistia. I will take away its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth; it too shall be a remnant for our God; it shall be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jeb'usites.

Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again overrun them, for now I see with my own eyes.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass.


I will cut off the chariot from E'phraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your captives free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have made E'phraim its arrow. I will brandish your sons, O Zion, over your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior's sword. Then the LORD will appear over them, and his arrow go forth like lightning; the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet, and march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.

The LORD of hosts will protect them, and they shall devour and tread down the slingers; and they shall drink their blood like wine, and be full like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar. On that day the LORD their God will save them for they are the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. Yea, how good and how fair it shall be! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the maidens.

Zechariah chapter 9.

[Miss Marple]

Germany also rejected the immediate cease fire. Angela Merkle comes through. (So much for that friendly letter from Tehran.)