NATO belongs in Lebanon

National Post (Toronto, Canada) ^ | July 25, 2006 | Staff

[La Enchiladita]

This comes out of the more conservative part of Canada. The case is lucid and logical, but would it bring about the desired result: the extinction of Hizb'Allah? And, what of Hamas?

[marron]

Any military force that is not willing to aggressively confront Hezbollah, or whatever militia eventually replaces Hezbollah, will actually wind up enabling and providing cover for it.

Which leads to the question. Besides possibly the Anglo Americans (who are busy elsewhere) which European militaries would be willing and capable of aggressively confronting Hezbollah?

I can't think of any. Which means that not only are UN peacekeepers a non-starter, NATO is probably a non-starter as well.

[brooklyn dave]

I thought there already was a UN presence in Lebanon--and they do nothing as it is.

[Fenris6]

And Canadian forces are good to go. I served alongside them.

But a NATO force should also involve the Euros. If capable...

[kinghorse]

The Iranians are so predictable. They looked into their archives and saw the visage of Jimmy Carter paralyzed in the Rose Garden over the hostage crisis and decided that's the way to neutralize the west, by kidnapping. Not sure it'll work any more.

[Fenris6]

LOL. We were posting at the same time and both used "Europeans" and "capable[?]".

[pissant]

If they do not disavow terrorism, then both need to become extinct.

[marron]

We share the same doubts.

[MNJohnnie]

One problem at a time. Dealing with the Iranian beachhead on the Mediterranean that Hizbollah represents is the 1st step. Close out the Lebanon front frees us up to deal with the next problem. War is a series of campaigns, not a single high stake winner take all poker hand

[dfwgator]

NATOIsrael belongs in Lebanon There, fixed it.

[MNJohnnie]

Too bad your opinions are not based in any understanding of actual current events. NATO is doing a very fine job in Afganistan doing exactly this stabilization mission.

Be nice if ONE time the Freeper Arm Chair Generals would actually bother to learn even the most basic facts rather then mindlessly posting their daily Know Nothing rantings.

[MNJohnnie]

Israel tired that in 1982. It leads to an endless war. NATO could be a 3rd party that could be an legitimate stabilization force like they are in Afghanistan. Israel being in Lebanon merely moves the front, it does not solve the problem.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

"United Nations already has a 2,000-strong peacekeeping force in Lebanon called UNIFIL. It's hasn't lifted a finger to stop attacks on Israel."

In fact, it has closely observed the Hezbollah buildup of installations, firing points, and arms buildup since 2000 when Israel withdrew, not to mention loaning its vehicles to Hezbollah......

[dfwgator]

Disagree, the war is happening now precisely because Israel eventually pulled out of Lebanon. They need to go back in for good, until every Arab state recognizes their right to exist.

[navyguy]

"Which leads to the question. Besides possibly the Anglo Americans (who are busy elsewhere) which European militaries would be willing and capable of aggressively confronting Hezbollah? "

Serbia and Romania... but that's all. Western Europe is too weak, too anti-Semitic, too old to defend itself.

[Fitzcarraldo]

NATO, prepositioned to attack Israel. No thanks. Memories of what happened to Serbia. The Kosovan Liberation Army was no less brutal than Hezebola.

[marron]

NATO is doing a very fine job in Afganistan doing exactly this stabilization mission.

I'll grant you that. Point taken.

[Convert from ECUSA]

Ping!

Personally, unless any NATO contingent had the level of numbers, force, equipment, and most imporantly, political backing from the countries themselves, they'd be about as useful as controlling and stopping the hezbollatiles as the UN "force" was (i.e., about as useful as a sun porch on a submarine).

[Paleo Conservative]

NATO belongs in Lebanon

Like fish need bicycles.

[MNJohnnie]

Screaming your ignorance louder doesn't change it to fact.