[tessalu]

Siniora's impotence is a product of the Lebanese political system. This war is not over yet, and we might as well know the players. Olmert of Israel was a lawyer, and Siniora was a banker, and both are out of place, I think.

[BelegStrongbow]

Sounds like Anna just wants to wrap up ol' Siniora in her arms and rock him to sleep, like a good little boy should.

Now we know where the Gothic novelists went.

[Axhandle]

Our foreign policy is incoherent. We are doing the exact opposite in Lebanon and Iraq for the exact same reasons.

[lormand]

I think this guy is a war criminal.

[Frohickey]

So, Lebanon is being used by Hezbollah to stage attacks on Israel. Who is in control of Lebanon territory? Is it Lebanon, or Hezbollah?

All of this political correectness sucks! If Israel gets attacked again from Lebanon by Hezbollah, it should go in there and start annexing Lebanon territory, exterminating the Hezbollah fighters, deporting the Lebananese civilians. Eventually, either Lebanon will cease being a country, or it will do what it should have been done, control its own territory.

[Mack the knife]

Siniora's impotence is a product of the Lebanese political system. This war is not over yet, and we might as well know the players.

---

On the one hand, I sympathise with Siniora's position -- the Lebanese government doesn't have the $100 million per year that Hezbullah has to "buy friends"; and Hezbullah is being protected by the Shia; and the Lebanese all remember the absolute Hell that occurred during their civil war.

On the other hand ... he had better grow some bigger balls and disarm Hezbullah or watch his country really get blown up. One of the reasons the IDF took so many casualties last time was trying not to damage the Lebanese infrastructure. Now that he is defacto on the size of Hezbullah ... the IDF won't be so generous in the future.

[johnny7]

Both are weak men... who will soon be swept aside.

[Paperdoll]

If sleeper cells in the U.S.A. attacked Canada, the U.S.A. would be responsible for allowing the sleeper cells to exist on U.S.A. soil. Because Hezbollah was allowed to exist in Lebanon, (even as a part of Lebanese government!), Lebanon is responsible for what Hezbollah does to Israel. I have no sympathy for Lebanon, nor do I want to subsidize reconstruction necessary there due to the Israel sorties. Next time I hope Israel takes off the gloves and defends their soil as God means them to do.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. also

2006israelwar or WOT

..................

A touching scene.

His voice shaking, Siniora delivered a passionate speech to the ministers, who sat around a table looking uncomfortable. He called on them to keep Lebanon from being Israel's "punching bag" and alluded to his country's longsuffering status as the battleground for regional wars. He spoke of massacres, martyrs, and the destruction of the country's infrastructure; at that point, some 500 Lebanese civilians and 35 soldiers had been killed. And then he broke down. Weeping, he said he had just heard of another Israeli bombing, in a village called Houla, in which 40 people were believed killed (it turned out to be only one). The Arab foreign ministers bowed their heads, either from courtesy or shame.

At least this article mentions that after the media incitement died down, the obligatory "recount" rendered a revised death toll of one, down from forty.