If Iran disappeared, would anyone really care?

[sohotrightnow]

Of course I will continue to watch Fox News! Laughter is good for you!

[Sonny]

Lebanon and its people have been taking a heavy toll.

So has Isreal for many years. But you won't know that by listening to the mainstream media. 4000+ bombs have rained down on Israel in the last four weeks - And all I see on ABC, CBS, etc is pictures of the destruction and dead children in Lebanon. Tell me the mainstream media doesn't have an anti-Isreal agenda.

Israel is attempting to do the job that the worthless UN couldn't/wouldn't do over the last two years.

Lebanon and its people have been taking a heavy toll.

P.S. So did the people of Japan, Italy, Germany during WW2. But the stakes are MUCH higher now, versus then.

[sohotrightnow]

So has Isreal for many years. But you won't know that by listening to the mainstream media. 4000+ bombs have rained down on Israel in the last four weeks - And all I see on ABC, CBS, etc is pictures of the destruction and dead children in Lebanon. Tell me the mainstream media doesn't have an anti-Isreal agenda.

Post WWII examples? The majority of Israelis who died were soldiers. That is a fact! That is not the liberal media bias. Contrast that with the number of innocent Lebanese people who have died and you will see why CBS, ABC, and the other "liberal" channels are showing those images.

[StrykerFSU]

While it is a tragedy that civilians were killed in Lebanon, there are certain consequences to allowing a terrorist organization free reign in your country. And if announcing when and where you were going to attack wasn't enough to prevent all civilian casualties, then I'm not sure what more Israel could have done.

My curiosity has really been piqued as this thread has run its course. There has been so much talk about how bad the US is, and how bad Israel is, and how terrible the loss of life in Lebanon, Iraq, etc...what should have been done? What is the correct response to a terrorist attack on your home soil? What do you do when your soldiers are attacked? What do you do when neighboring countries publicly call for the destruction of your country?

[Sonny]

Yes, WW2 examples. How many cease fires have we endured over the last 40 years in the Middle East that have failed?

Until the "local folks" rise up and actually do something about terrorism in their own backyard - we will have more of the same in the Middle East and around the world. And 9/11 will look like a day at the park.

[Zeuslax]

P.S. So did the people of Japan, Italy, Germany during WW2. But the stakes are MUCH higher now, versus then.

Terrible analogy, especially when the population of the nation doesn't fully support the one side. It's a tough case to make that this fighting has larger consequences then WWII. I would interested to see how you would support that.

Forever the media had a bias for the Israelis, now all of a sudden it's against them? The media is predominately owned and operated by Jew's in this country. Everyone knows the toll that Israel pays on a regular basis, how can you claim that no one knows? Israeli news and what is happening there is always a center piece of US media. No other country in the world receives the coverage that Israel does in the US.

Israel is attempting to do the job that the worthless UN couldn't/wouldn't do over the last two years.

This statement I couldn't agree with more. They did a terrible job! If you're going to send in the UN, they have to give them the latitude to actually do their job. They have to be able to shot back, and they have to be able to really take control. Not just be observers and bodies replacing space.

[Riss]

Post WWII examples? The majority of Israelis who died were soldiers. That is a fact! That is not the liberal media bias. Contrast that with the number of innocent Lebanese people who have died and you will see why CBS, ABC, and the other "liberal" channels are showing those images.

A major factor in the high numbers of Lebanese civilians killed is the fact that Hezbollah wants as many civilians to be killed by Israeli attacks as possible. They put their rocket launchers in schools and hospitals, hide out in highly populated buildings and in towns where Israel has dropped leaflets telling them to get out they tell them to stay and that it was the wrong town. Then they scream bloody murder when Israel targets on one of those sites and civilians are killed. They want the body count to be high to give fuel to their propoganda campaign (which has worked extraordinarly well), and so that people around the world will denounce Israel. The Palestenians have been doing it for years. The mainstream media never gives it the attention it deserves.

I dont believe this accounts for all civilian deaths, nor do I think Israel is completely innocent. But at least Israel protects its citizens in times of attack instead using them as human shields so they can claim high body counts.

[cjwilhelmi]

Technically aren't all Hez. citizens?

[Danny Hogan]

sohot - what should israel have done in response to the kidnapped soldiers ?

[sohotrightnow]

Why don't you engage the group as opposed to singling me out? I am not a foreign policy expert and don't claim to be. I have not said either side is right and I don't know what course of action Israel should have taken...however, re-read your own question and then determine for yourself if what Israel did in response to two soldiers being kidnapped was justified. What if two U.S. soldiers who were stationed in Tahiti were kidnapped? Should we bomb Tahiti? Sure, why not

[Danny Hogan]

i'm not trying to single you out, i'm interested in your opinion because you seem to be the only one on here who has a real problem with israel's reaction and question wether or not they were provoked.

i think they did what they had to.

your tahiti comparison is a little off unless tahiti is a us territory and i don't know it.

it would be more akin to Mexico harboring a Hez-like organization (FARC maybe?) that kidnapped US soldiers and routinely attacked civilians.

i would want and expect the U.S. to do the same thing.

[sohotrightnow]

My main contention is that we are quick to scold Hezbollah, Palestine, etc. for their wrongdoing, but if Israel attacks (even unprovoked!) it is ok, because they have a "Western Democracy" or "Judeo-Christian values". There seems to be no discussion as to what is acceptable. It's as simple as Israel good, "crazy" Arab people bad. That's my problem.

[Sonny]

My main contention is that we are quick to scold Hezbollah, Palestine, etc. for their wrongdoing, but if Israel attacks (even unprovoked!) it is ok, because they have a "Western Democracy" or "Judeo-Christian values". There seems to be no discussion as to what is acceptable. It's as simple as Israel good, "crazy" Arab people bad. That's my problem.

If you can't recognize the difference between Hizbollah (a group that is responsible for more terroist American deaths prior to 9/11) and Israel, this discussion is probably a moot point.

[Campbell]

Why don't you engage the group as opposed to singling me out? I am not a foreign policy expert and don't claim to be. I have not said either side is right and I don't know what course of action Israel should have taken...however, re-read your own question and then determine for yourself if what Israel did in response to two soldiers being kidnapped was justified. What if two U.S. soldiers who were stationed in Tahiti were kidnapped? Should we bomb Tahiti? Sure, why not

We actually bombarded Vera Cruz after the Mexican government had captured 9 of our sailors, amidst a revolution in Mexico. The military action was ordered after the Mexican General issued an apology, but refused to raise our flag and fire a 21-gun salute. That was in 1914.

I have to admit that I have never been fond of Israel and their stance towards Palestine and the rest of the Middle East, but recently I have felt that Israel has probably had enough. I can only imagine that if not for the US much of Palestine and Lebanon would already be under Israeli control. Maybe the kidnapping of two pilots is not enough to go to war over, but it is probably just the straw that broke the camel's back for Israel. Terrorism just seems to run rampant within the Middle East, whether it is supported by Iran, Syria, or whoever, these groups like Hezbollah and Hamas seem put a strangle hold on the politics of these smaller countries. In my opinion it then becomes necessary to take action where there is no local government to keep these groups in check. It is necessary for our security and the security of our allies. We have done it in Afghanistan, Beirut, and Libya twice.

[sohotrightnow]

sohotrightnow wrote:
My main contention is that we are quick to scold Hezbollah, Palestine, etc. for their wrongdoing, but if Israel attacks (even unprovoked!) it is ok, because they have a "Western Democracy" or "Judeo-Christian values". There seems to be no discussion as to what is acceptable. It's as simple as Israel good, "crazy" Arab people bad. That's my problem.


If you can't recognize the difference between Hizbollah (a group that is responsible for more terroist American deaths prior to 9/11) and Israel, this discussion is probably a moot point.

I do recognize the difference, but, once again, I bring up a point, and you try to dismiss it with a blanket statement that does not address my concern.