Hezbollah says its war with Israel was a mistake

The Washington Times ^ | August 28, 2006 | Joshua Mitnick

[neverdem]

TEL AVIV -- Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said yesterday that he would not have ordered the July 12 seizure of two Israeli soldiers had he known it would provoke a war that leveled Shi'ite villages and neighborhoods throughout Lebanon.

    "We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude. You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not," he told Lebanon's New TV station.

    The sheik also said that officials from the United Nations and Italy were attempting to negotiate an exchange of the Israeli soldiers for Arabs held in Israeli jails. Israel denied involvement in any prisoner-exchange talks.

    In addition, Sheik Nasrallah said Hezbollah would not oppose the deployment of thousands of U.N. peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon.

    His comments confirm weeks of speculation in Israel that Hezbollah was surprised by Israel's military response to the July 12 capture.

    Since the Aug. 14 cease-fire, Sheik Nasrallah has declared a victory in the war, and he has become a hero throughout the Arab and Muslim world.

    But yesterday's admission of a serious miscalculation reflects a need to shore up domestic support for Hezbollah and deflect criticism for starting the war, Israeli analysts said.

    "It means that [Sheik Nasrallah] needs to settle the score in the Lebanese domestic arena," said Oded Granot, the Middle East affairs commentator on Israel's public-run Channel 1 news station. "[He] needs to provide welfare for the residents of the south, and he needs to rehabilitate his standing."

[Paleo Conservative]

They mean they really didn't win it?

[osideplanner]

"We did not think................."

[Always Right]

We were just kidnapping some soldiers for possible beheading if our demands were not met. What is the big deal?

[txrangerette]

So, where are the two soldiers??

[mvpel]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More comments on that thought :

BBC: Nasrallah sorry for scale of war ~ ....WTF...He didn't know the Israels packed such a Punch?

[Smedley]

What everyone seems to be missing is WHY would Nasrallah make such an admission. I don't understand the dynamics of the area well enough to speculate, but remember that Hezballah was the group that spent half the war faking Israeli war crimes.

[Lucky9teen]

I wonder how much $$ Iran is paying them to say this?

[LIConFem]

Sheik Nasrallah to Israelis: Geez, you guys have no sense of humor!

[bwteim]

"We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude."

What a moron. Touch a stove element that's on, and you get hurt. Only takes once to learn that.

[A message]

I would not have robbed that bank if I knew I was going to captured and put in jail.

The man these Hezbos and Palestinians look up to is AN IDIOT and A LIAR.

[Carling]

A smokescreen. Appear to be rational while at the same time restocking with weapons.

Hezbollah learned that they will have to hit Israel stronger next time. They also learned that the rest of the world will condemn Israel for any response.

A year or so of stockpiling arms should will give the Hezbos a better chance to do some real damage next time. They knew exactly what they were doing.

[Conservative Goddess]

I think the translation is: "They kicked our sorry backsides, but I'll declare victory nonetheless." Israel showed great restraint and respect for innocent human life....something Hezbollah will never understand. Perhaps Israel should have been a bit more ruthless....beheaded the snake once and for all.

[xzins]

The Sheik admits a mistake, Israel controls all air space, the Bakaa Valley air defenses are destroyed, other nations have to ask Israel for permission to fly into Lebanon, Israel blows up shipments from Syria to Lebanon, Hundreds of Hezbollah fighters are dead, military implacements are demolished, cities are rubble, and Little Green footballs has cut off some ReuterBalls.

And someone thinks that Hezbollah won this!

Hysterical!

ROTFLOL!

[reagan_fanatic]

In addition, Sheik Nasrallah said Hezbollah would not oppose the deployment of thousands of U.N. peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon.

No surprise there, since UN troops couldn't inspire fear and respect in a Brownie troop, much less hizbollah.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I hope al-Sadr in Baghdad is watching!

[CougarGA7]

This guy is full of crap.

He had just seen the results in Gaza when they took ONE soldier. Now he says he didn't know that Israel was going to attack them for taking two?

He is either a liar, or and idiot....I say both.

[TomGuy]

Nasrallah turns into John Kerry.

Film at 11.

[mylife]

reap your reward shiek nosehair

[Poincare]

You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not," he told Lebanon's New TV station.

More lies and doubletalk. He is sorry that the IDF slow motion response did not lead to the tank killing fields that Hezbollah anticipated.

[Cecily]

Nasrallah, like Mookie al-Sadr, needs to have stopped breathing years ago. Why do we and Israel give murderous thug leaders whose organizations and followers kill our citizens and soldiers a pass all the time?

[Doogle]

"We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude"

translation: we thought the UN would let us rocket Israel and would stop them from retaliating, we also thought the US would stop Israel from bombing southern Lebanon, once again we used the word capture instead of kidnapping,it presents a much better picture of the way WE see things. All in all we got the dog snot kicked out of us and we needed a much friendlier force like France to hold off the Israelis

Doogle

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Middle East is a mysterious place....

[APRPEH]

yes a smokescreen, thats what a Hudna is for

but yes, honest that they took a beating and thus the re-arming effort. I am reading he and Hezbo is under serious pressure (maybe) possibly for the first time in Beirut from others in the "government" because the scale of the destruction.

[neverdem]

They mean they really didn't win it?

I don't know how you acknowledge committing a disaster, but Hezbollah just did!

[ryan71]

"I say no, absolutely not," he told Lebanon's New TV station."

Does anyone here still think the Hezzies won?

[Starboard]

You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not," he told Lebanon's New TV station.

We never anticipated firing any of those 12,000 rockets. /s

[Hoodat]

I am guessing that Nasrallah couldn't take it.

[kabar]

So, where are the two soldiers??

There will be a quiet prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israelis will exchange the high value prisoners they captured during the war for their two soldiers. This will allow both sides to save face.

[SuziQ]

Hey Nasrallah, just because you consider your guys cannon fodder doesn't mean everyone else looks at their guys the same way. Some folks actually CARE about the men who put their lives on the line to protect their countries and fellow citizens, and are willing to do what it necessary to save them when they're in dire straits!

[blue-duncan]

"And someone thinks that Hezbollah won this"

A couple of more victories like this for Hesbollah and Israel will be safe!!

[Tzimisce]

Hezbollah is a bunch of jerk offs and this just proves it.

[DoctorMichael]

Assassinate him.

[Mo1]

They mean they really didn't win it?

And they didn't realize they'd get their butts beat so hard

[Allegra]

I hope al-Sadr in Baghdad is watching!

I hope he's watching from underneath a huge pile of rubble soon.

I don't think Mookie's in Baghdad. The troops are here en masse and Mookie's a coward. I'll bet he's hiding somewhere in Najaf. I think he needs to come here and back up his big talk and face the music, but he's too chickensh!t.

[xzins]

Lousing up the 7 Day war and the Yom Kippur War was Israel's overwhelming success. In both instances, they could have taken over the mid-East if they'd wanted to, so in both instances, the Soviets warned the US that Israel should stop.

Israel learned a PR lesson.

Publishing smashing headlines of victory could prevent the achievement of certain objectives.

Football coaches intentionally downplay their power and success on a regular basis for a strategic reason.

Israel has learned that they get an extra two weeks of activity if they downplay success. Information warfare at its best.

[Marine_Uncle]

Sadr can be eliminated any time he leaves his compounds. He knows it, we know it. There are a lot of SOCOM and Special Task Force men who could pop him in the head at well over 500 yards with a M14 sniper scopes, the 50 cal rifle etc..
I cannot pretend to have a real appreciation for the dynamics politically as well as from the SASO viewpoint, but there must be a good reason he is allowed to continue his rants.
Many of us could delinate three or more viewpoints that would fit having him stay alive, but what the heck, our well meaning explainations are just that, well meaning, but are they accurate. And would they expose to some Islamo Lurker the real reason the fat boys continues to live.
When his time comes. The US or perhaps a Iraqi commando sniper will take him out.

[SJackson]

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

[potlatch]

[river rat]

Just wait until America works up the anger to deliver a real blow to the Jihadist sonsuvbitches....

The shiiteheads don't have a clue as to the REAL destruction that can rain down on their lunatic cockroach heads....

Unfortunately, America or the world will probably not react to the war declared against us --- until the Jihadists have destroyed a few cities...

Semper Fi

[ExpatCanuck]

Translation: Public opinion in Israel is dramatically against the current government and if they get replaced by someone like Netanyahu, we are royally scr*wed. Let's turn the rhetoric down a notch or two so that p*ssy Olmert can retain power.

[Aquinasfan]

His comments confirm weeks of speculation in Israel that Hezbollah was surprised by Israel's military response to the July 12 capture.

Surprise!

[veronica]

He's trying to appear moderate.

[meandog]

Well, have the kidnapped soldiers be repatriated?
No!

Has Hezbollah been destroyed?
No!

Did Hezbollah gain political strength?
Yes!

Is Hezbollah rearming?
Probably

Is Hezbollah gaining new recruits?
Probably

Did the war make Hezbollah's Irani sponsor stronger
Probably

Is Olmert in Israeli political trouble?
yes!

Has America pledged to donate aid to Lebanon?
Yes

And this guy is crazy...?

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link. I can't imagine what the Persians are thinking about this fool. I think his days are numbered. This story is getting around.

Hezbollah leader says group wouldn't have captured Israeli soldiers if they'd known it would spark war

Hezbollah leader Nasrallah regrets war

[jackieaxe]

When Hamas kidnapped the one Israeli soldier they got a full invasion. Two weeks later Mr.Terorist Nasrullah thought he would get a different reaction? Bullsh*t! Also, why didn't/doesn't the Lebanese government arrest the murdering terrorist Nasrallah?? Maybe they are on the same team?

[ArGee]

The man these Hezbos and Palestinians look up to is AN IDIOT and A LIAR.

Does that mean the Democratic Party is going to nominate him for president?

Shalom.

[jveritas]

Hizballah was badly beaten in this war and Nasrallah deep down realized that Hizballah cannot rise again despite all the rhetoric on the media about the “fake” victories. Over half of Hizballah real fighter are dead or badly wounded, almost all their military infrastructure in the South of Lebanon and the Southern district of Beirut are totally destroyed. They lost most of their weapon including the largest portion of their missiles inventory, it was wither destroyed by Israel or fired upon Israel. Their fortifications and tunnels in Southern Lebanon have been obliterated by Israel, and still all their leadership including Nasrallah are afraid to go public again for fear of Israel killing them, and all what they can are recorded messages or interviews. They were forced to give up their control of Southern Lebanon since 15000 Lebanese troops and 15000 International troops now will control the area. No matter what is the mandate of these 30000 troops, Hizballah will be much more restricted now to do any military movement. Before July 12th Hizballah was the master of the South and no one including the Lebanese army was allowed to enter these areas. Hizballah leaders used to say before the war “He who attempt to touch the resistance weapons will have his hands cut”, now all this rhetoric I gone and the Lebanese army is controlling their areas.

[Dems_R_Losers]

Translation: Public opinion in Israel is dramatically against the current government and if they get replaced by someone like Netanyahu, we are royally scr*wed. Let's turn the rhetoric down a notch or two so that p*ssy Olmert can retain power.

Bingo. Not only that, but now that many regular non-Hezbollah Lebanese are returning to their towns to find them leveled thanks to Hezbollah, Sheik Nasrallah has a lot of 'splainin to do. Handing out a few dollars in front of American cameras does not replace entire villages, ruined businesses, lost family mementos, etc. There are a whole lot of really pissed off Lebanese right now.