Chris, very little need for depleted uranium in aerial bombardment. However, if it becomes necessary for Israel to go in on the ground, there APFSDS rounds are the same as those used by the USA, which they would be given that Merkeva MkII uses the same German made cannon. These rounds probably won't be necessary unless Syria becomes involved, but I suggest in that scenario, depleted uranium will be the least of their worries, as its non-depleted brother will be flying about.

For the others, finally an author willing to talk about the actual laws of armed conflict. Proportionality is insane in war, it only extends the conflict, leading to excessive casualties on both sides. Anyway what is proportionality, should Israel limit itself to precisely the same quantity of unguided missiles per day as the opposition fires? Israel has tried restraint, and had no reply from either HAMAS or Hizbollah, now as a democracy when the majority of the people say to act to prevent the shelling, the government and thus the army have no choice but to do so.

Israel is attacking the infrastructure in order to ensure that their enemy cannot get away (lets face it they do run away awful quick), and also to ensure that no further major ammunition supplies can be provided (also reinforcements). However, aerial / artillery bombardment is incapable of fixing the current issue, that will require a ground assault, only infantry can actually seize ground and hold it, thereby denying it to the enemy. This fight has only just started, although I would not think that it is necessary for Israel to stay in either Lebanon or Gaza for any extended period (& I would be suprised if they wanted to).

Inshallah

2bob

Ted,
Does this mean that North Korea has the right to defend herself against the holder of the majority of the world's nuclear weapons of mass destruction, and has been the only country in history to actually use them?

"Israel has a right to defend itself against brutal jihadists"

Okay. Fine

"Jihadists have a right to defend themselves against brutal Israel."

Sure, why not. There's another take.

"Israel has a right to bomb civilian locations in the hope of getting jihadists"

Okey dokey.

"Brutal jihadists have a right to bomb shopping malls in retaliation for Israeli attacks"

Fair enough..... wait... no it isn't. None of it is.

Violence is violence. Just depends where you're sitting.

I honestly think the best 'terrorist' act anybody could do would be to destroy all the religious sites in the middle east - I've visited the wailing wall, and seen the dome of the rock that lies just beyond. We'd be better off without both.

I know that is harsh, and we'd lose plenty of valuable history, but it's not worth valuable lives. If both sides are going to act childish, their toys should be taken away from them.

Ted get real. All this killing, supposedly, over two or three soldiers who signed up to do battle. Willing combatants. But then again what else can you expect when Jews like Rabbi Yaacov Perrin say things like “One million Arabs are not worth a Jewish Finger Nail.” (NY Daily News, Feb. 28, 1994, p.6)

Apparently, to the right wing Israeli government the Lebanese, mostly Catholic, population are not thought very highly of either. Mind you I don’t doubt for a second that given the wherewithal Hezbollah would do the same.

We also need to keep in mind here the Israelis who are opposing the war. One Israeli person protesting the war held a sign up which read: “Stop the madness”. Agreed.

In Vietnam two million civilians were slaughtered. One million soldiers were killed fighting for god knows what. (Stay with me). Most of the soldiers from both sides were forced or coerced into fighting. I haven’t a clue how many actually made a free, democratic, un-coerced, properly-informed decision to die for their country. None of them should have been put in that position in the first place. War itself is wrong.

The news coverage of Vietnam was constant. Hours of analysis and coommentary.

Just after the withdrawal, Pol Pot started his “final solution”. The three major US networks devoted a total of 29 minutes to this event in which millions died. The newsworthiness is self-evident; the reason for the neglect is open to conjecture.
I think, it is because, for the USA rulers, one million Cambodians dying at the hands of a supposed communist was just too good a propaganda opportunity.

Given that Israel is populated by a lot of repatriated USA citizens, who are allowed dual citizenship for Israel’s people (and not for Germans), I tend to think that Israel is more American than Judaist, more Zionist than Judaist, and too powerful and right wing; and thus contribute to a greater extent to the dysfunctional, callous and inhumane behaviour in the area. Like the US , it has no real concern for humans, for the blood and bone.

cont

Last night on SBS I watched the footage of the air strike on a Hezbollah rocket launcher. Three times they played the same footage. Israel the great defender that doesn’t kill innocents seemed to be the spin.

Then the ABC had their report. On the ground amongst all the dead civilians (150), destroyed homes and infrastructure, the reporter pleading to get them out of there. Non combatants dead because their lives weren’t as important as Israel’s need to terrorise the Lebanese people into falling into line.

Then there is the cruel absurdity of dropping leaflets telling people that they should leave their homes and then bombing all the roads, airports out of the city. Is that some sort of Israeli rulers’ joke or is some sort of fetish telling people they are doomed? Part of the terror? All to save two willing fighters. Ted Lapkin you encourage the madness. I agree with the Israeli peace activist : “Stop the madness.”

Paddy’s Lament (tradtional Irish)

Hear ye boys,
now take my advice.
To America I'll have you
not be coming.
There is nothing here but war
where the murdering cannons roar
and I wish I was at home
In dear old Dublin.

Well meself and a hundred more
To america sailed o'er
Our fortunes to be makin',
we were thinkin'.
When we got to yankee land
They put guns into our hand,
saying "Paddy, you must go
and fight for Lincoln."

Hear ye boys,
Now take my advice,
To America (Israel) I'll have you
not be coming.
There is nothing here but war
where the murdering cannons roar
And I wish I was at home
in dear old Boston.

end

Taken their factories off shore and now their batttle fields.

Nothings changed Paddy. You guys can parody this ya’self.

Down with America and Jews. Long live peaceful Hezbollah.