Green Light for Larger offensive in Lebanon

Reuters ^ | 12-08-2006 | Reuters

[unojook]

DITTO !!!!!!

[Tallguy]

I make the assumption that France represents Hezbollah's interests, not Lebanon's. :)

I realize you say that in jest, but I think there are enough idiots out there (mostly working in the Media) who might want to believe that. France can no more represent the interests of Hezbollah than the government of Italy can represent the Mafia.

[Alouette]

Olmert is Israel's Jimmy Carter

Shimon Peres already claims that title. In fact you could say that Jimmy Carter is the USA's Shimon Peres.

[Personal Responsibility]

They are pretty pissed that he didn't do this BEFOREHAND. As opposed to the insanity we deal with where leaders are bashed for being too harsh, the Israelis complaint is that Olmert has not been harsh enough soon enough. God bless em.

[batter]

Yep. Stay out of IDF's way and let them finish the job! (Same goes for our troops)

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

I'm with ya. Israel needs to snocker 'em, punch their lights out, and pound 'em to dust...

[Red Badger]

Israel has to win this decisively and finally. There must be no ceasefire! Hezbuttheads must be totally destroyed and whatever's left must be totally humiliated and disenheartened to the point of imploding. Nasal-rallah must be killed and his forces neutered!...............

[Red Badger]

Olmert is Peres's Mini-Me........

[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 Keywords 2006israelwar or WOT [War on Terror]

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[tobyhill]

The MSM looks devastated by Israeli's decision because they just had the win they were going to give the Hezbos snatched right from their grasp.

[george76]

For the good of Israel and for the world...

Olmert needs to resign.

[BJClinton]

From AP via Yahoo!

Israel expands offensive in Lebanon

By KARIN LAUB, Associated Press Writer 19 minutes ago

JERUSALEM - Israel began an expanded ground offensive in southern Lebanon on Friday after expressing dissatisfaction over an emerging cease-fire deal in the United Nations, government officials said.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided to expand the offensive after meeting for four hours. Peretz instructed the military to launch the offensive, officials said.

Olmert's spokesman, Asaf Shariv, told The Associated Press that the expanded incursion had already begun. A cease-fire deal being worked out by the U.N. Security Council failed to meet Israel's basic requirements, such as stationing robust international combat troops in southern Lebanon once Israel withdraws, Shariv said.

[mojito]

You've profoundly misunderstood if you find anything in my post in support of Olmert. As for the role of the Administration, I will only say that I support diplomatic "initiatives" if they further the military objectives on the ground. I'm hard pressed to find anything of that sort this past week at the UN, as we flirted with our good friends, the French. Perhaps, as you suggest, it was all some very deep game. However, experience suggests that weakness and confusion on the part of some, and bad intentions on the part of others, are often a better and more likely explanation. Often we escape misfortune only by the skin of our teeth, and I hope that we have managed somehow to do so again this time.

[Magnum44]

My prediction, and I might be wrong is that Isreal will lose this, and NATO will come in to "secure" the area. ....I also hope I am wrong about the possibility that Olmert KNOWS they will lose and is sending these IDF troops into slaughter.

I dont believe that the parties in Israel are self destructive like the Dem party has become here. I think you are wrong on both predictions.

[GregB]

Geeze Fox has on Ashley Wilkes and Henry Kissinger...they are turning into CNNABCCBSMSNBCCNBCABC!!!!!!!!!!!

[unionblue83]

Can't answer that at this time. I'll have to get back to you.

[mojito]

And as for our State Department, I can only offer this, originally from their drinking buddies at the New York Times and via al-Reuters:

"Israel has asked the Bush administration to hasten delivery of short-range anti-personnel rockets armed with cluster munitions, which it could use to strike Hizbollah missile sites in Lebanon, The New York Times reported on Friday.

Sourcing its report to two American officials, the newspaper said the request for M-26 artillery rockets, which are fired in barrages and carry hundreds of grenade-like bomblets that scatter and explode over a broad area, is likely to be approved shortly.

But the newspaper said some State Department officials want to delay approval because the rockets, while likely effective against hidden missile launchers, would also likely cause civilian casualties if used against targets in populated areas.

The United States has already approved the sale of the M-26 rockets, but the weapons had not been delivered when the Lebanon crisis erupted. Israel needs the rockets now, officials said, because it has been unable to suppress Hizbollah’s Katyusha rocket attacks by using bombs dropped from aircraft and other types of artillery."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060811/pl_nm/mideast_israel_rockets_dc

[EQAndyBuzz]

I was listening to ROger Hitchcock earlier and he said something about the Israeli military had a preemption strike planned which would have taken out Hezbo leadership before they went to ground.

But Olmert ruled against it.

He has to go. We need Bibi in there.

[EQAndyBuzz]

In 1982 Israel made it to the Litani river in 3 hours.

[Candor7]

I believe this picture is of a blessing by a rabii. Please correct me if I ammistaken.

It is a great picture, and one which needs to be thoroughly understood by westerners.

If you happen to know, please inform us.