[M1Tanker]

Very interesting take. There is always another layer (or 5) under the veneer of what these terrorists do.

Stopping the war, with Israel trouncing Hizbollah and the MSM/left losing face daily, in many ways weakens the Iranian position, odd as it may seem to some.

Iran did and did not need Hizbollah to get smashed as it did. I'm sure the Iranians thought Israel would not react to the kidnappings. However, Hizbollah may indeed end up on a VERY short leash from now on. Iran may have them retreat to Syria for refit and reenforcement, something Syria would rather not have.

I say "did need" because the beating Hizbollah received took pressure off Iran in the nuclear weapon diplomatic arena, but does not justify the financial losses. The odd way Arab/Persians define "victory" may, in the short run, help Iran and terrorists in general. In the long run, it will only send more of their youth to the slaughter.

Iran "did not need" Hizbollah to lose as it did and still may if/when they break the ceasefire fully. The loss of missile launchers, crews, technicians, and support facilities is detrimental to Iran's efforts. Also, while the "anti-war" left and Arabs/Persians/Palestinians may celebrate Israel's "defeat", Israel has gained valuable experience, severely weakened Hizzbollah, rendered the road network in Lebanon unusable for transporting large forces, and exposed the MSM as the lying sacks of excrement they are.

Iran, and the world for that matter, are walking a tightrope. The world was never peaceful, despite what the "anti-war" useless idiots state, but Iran's little henchmen may end up costing the Mullahs more than just a few missiles.

[Frank Sheed]

A MilAnalyst on Fox mentioned two salient points late last week. I wonder if you could comment?

1) The Merkava tank was highly susceptible to Soviet and Chinese anti-tank missiles and the Hezzies took great advantage of that. The MilAnalyst said the Israelis noticed it too and will take steps fast.

2) The fixed positions of the Hezzies is both a blessing and a curse as they would have to defend those positions which are not mobile. A "sprint" as in Desert Storm would have put Israel at the Litani within days and the Hezzies screwed within these fortifications. Comments?

Thanks,
F

[Poincare]

Perhaps you could confirm or disprove for me the idea that Israel (under Olmert's advisors) avoided a trap for its tanks. It could have lost a lot more to the Kornet and Saxhorn anti-tank missiles if it had rushed into Lebanon in a blitz as it had in the past.

Perhaps the whole deliberate provocation, the kidnapped soldiers and the rocket bombardment, was aimed to that end--to defeat the IDF armor in horrible killing fields. Israeli intel must have known of the advanced anti-tank weapons in possession of Hezbollah.