Nasrallah Rules

The American Spectator ^ | 14 August 2006 | Jed Babbin

[unionblue83]

This morning, Israeli forces will have ceased fire in Lebanon, forced by their government to accept a strategic defeat in the month-long war against Hizballah. Almost any military can recover from tactical losses, but nations are usually powerless to avoid defeat after losing a strategic battle. For World War II Japan, defeat was still three years away when the last of four aircraft carriers was sunk by Adm. Ray Spruance's dive bombers and torpedo planes in the battle of Midway. For Israel, defeat may come much sooner if it doesn't mend its prime minister's ways. Yamamoto had to explain his defeat to Emperor Hirohito, who left him in command. Olmert has to explain his to the Israeli electorate. They must be less forgiving because their time is measured not in years but in weeks or months.

Since July 12, when Hizballah raided into northern Israel and kidnapped two soldiers, Hassan Nasrallah's terrorist brigades have fired hundreds of rockets each day into Israel, killing civilians and driving about one million Israelis into bomb shelters. In answer to that, the Olmert government sent Israeli aircraft and commandos into Lebanon to strike at Hizballah's well-dug-in command centers, arms caches, and armed units. Though it has suffered enormous damage, Hizballah continues its rocket attacks. Yesterday, more than 200 rockets struck, some as far south as Haifa.

[River_Wrangler]

'til the West stops bein anxious 'bout killin civilian shields, all military/war talk is blather

Why does a terrorist suddenly become a citizen when he is killed? If you support and consort with terrorist you are a terrorist. (Kind of like walking like a duck)

[Starboard]

If Olmert were removed and competent leadership put in place, the first rocket attack from Lebanon would be answered with an air and ground campaign that would sweep through Lebanon north to the Syrian border in a manner that emulated Sherman's march through Georgia.

Israel had a chance to kill two birds with one stone. Clean out the infection in Lebannon and end its transmission from Syria. The decision not to neutralize Syria was a bad one IMO. Israel cannot afford to look weak.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Olmert and his cohorts are about as useful as an air conditioner at the North Pole.

[ketelone]

Civilian shields arent there because they want to be!

[Sabramerican]

If there was a UN mandated cease fire after Dunkirk, the British would have lost.

If there was a UN mandated cease fire after Pearl Harbor and the fall of the Philippines, the US would have lost.

Israel started slowly and badly, but the loss came when Rice raised her hand at the UN.

[Tallguy]

What was Israel's strategic objective in this war? The Media says it was "to destroy Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon." This was not a goal that could be attained by military means alone. As things sit now, Hezbollah will probably be in a postion to increase it's representation in the Lebanese government -- possibly taking control of the entire country.

Iran created Hezbollah, but it's line-of-communications stetches through Syria. Iran probably cannot be attacked decisively (by Israel) without resorting to nukes. Syria is another matter. Syria is the lynch-pin.

What the IDF should have done was continue the operation into Lebanon & force the Syrians to intervene, then thrust down from the Golan on Damascus, cutting off the Syrian forces attempting to intervene. With Syria defeated, Hezbollah dies on the vine.

[unionblue83]

So who's the one to step up? Livni? Moshe Ya'alon?

[ModelBreaker]

Agree with both of you in the good points you made in your posts re Israel and Syria. Olmert's handling of this affair is a major disappointment and a big setback for us and Israel in the WOIF (War on Islamic Fascism).

[Zack Nguyen]

After Olmert's cabinet approved the cease-fire yesterday, his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, said the UN deal would, result in a "change in the rules of the game" between Israel and Lebanon. She added, "It can lead to the real change in the Middle East that we have all been waiting for." A more complete detachment from reality is unimaginable.

Hard words, but true.

[Starboard]

WOIF (War on Islamic Fascism)

Nice touch. We need clarity at a time like this. Terrorism describes the symptom, not the source.

[ModelBreaker]

Nice touch. We need clarity at a time like this. Terrorism describes the symptom, not the source.

Thanks. I've decided to use only that terminology--WOIF (War on Islamic Fascism) in FR posts. Join me. Maybe we can change the terminology. There's enough folks on FR that it could just catch on.