Strewth,

Answer the question.

If not the US as our regional ally, who then?

Fungi,

Hizbollah in particular is not fighting on 'pure guts', they are fighting well, with the latest in laser guided anti-tank missiles (AT-13 Metis-M [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/at-7-specs.htm]& AT-14 Kornet [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/at-14.htm]: http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2006/060805-israeli-tanks.htm). They are essentially an extremely well equipped infantry brigade, with organic rocket artillery support, with a strong offensive capability [eg http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/mrl-iran.htm]. The use of these advanced, or heavily modified & updated AT weapons, is the cause of most of the casualties by the IDF [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/746929.html:http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525834576&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull].

)as well as improved anti-tank grenades (RPG-29: ), direct from Russia via Syria [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/08/06/news/hezbollah.php]. Some of these weapons still are not general issue in frontline Russian Divisions, let alone in the Syrian defence force. They also have used Iranian/Chinese anti-ship rockets (C-802: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/c-802.htm).

Hizbollah are an extremely well equiped, and extraordinarily well prepared enemy, and the going will be hard and costly, but they will be beaten, and destroyed. Israeli politicians cannot afford anything less, if civilians refuse to leave that is really their problem, and their choice. If they are afraid to leave in cars, they can leave on foot.

Inshallah

2bob

Mark

This was the source of the statement. The Officer clearly stated Hezbollah had not fired rockets from Qana for 'one or two days'. Now given the IDF and Israeli propgandists penchant for minimising any Israeli guilt it would be reasonable to conclude it was at least two days.

'Q: I would like to ask Brig. Gen. Eshel: When was the last attack, the last launch of missiles from the Qana village to Israel? ...

Brig. Gen. Amir Eshel: ... If I'm not mistaken, the last one was one or two days ago. '

Here's the link to the full interview.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+from+Lebanon-+Hizbullah/IDF+press+conference+following+the+Kafr+Qana+incident+30-Jul-2006.htm

Now Israel's problem is this: The Geneva Convention is incident specific. A generalised sanitation as Israel contuinually uses doesa not excuse attacks on civilian infrastructure or civilians where no military forces are present unless there is a clear military advantage for doing so. If that later condition is fulfilled then the onus is upon the attackers to satisfy themselves no civilains are present.
Since the IDF knew no terrorists were in Qana for the previous two days the officers involved in deciding there was a military advantage in destroying the civilian structure need to be interrogated as to whether they satisfied themselves the building was not inhabited by civilians. As do their chain of command.

I think it would be fairly easy to show that was not done at any stage. Any Legal practitioner with a modicom of common sense would show that quite clearly

All that claptrap that was written for 2bob on how innocent the officers are and the difficulty of the burden of proof is just that, the usual Israeli whitewashing claptrap.

It was a war crime and those responsible are being hidden behind the cowardly IDF propaganda machine and it's midless mouthpieces.

2bob

Jeez you are such a know all. From legal thesis like presentations and updates on war crimes, to extraordinary knowledge and detailed synopses about the armaments of your opponents coupled with a too well written justification for waging war on Lebanon is raising eyebrows.

Mate how much are they paying you and have they reprimanded you over your self discrediting gaffe'we're at war with Lebanon'.

Mate the more you spruik the the more you seem to be panicking.

Thirty thousand troops on the ground in Lebanon. And still the rockets rain down on Israel.

Your defence force is uselesss at attack!

I reckon OLO should ban Israeli propagandists.

Shepherd, did you go to school? The "West" did NOT target Jews for extermination - NAZI GERMANY, our ENEMY in WW2 did. How does that make the West responsible for killing Jews? Repeat, Nazi Germany is not the West; it was anti-West, much like Islam today in fact. Get your facts straight.

Two major points,

1. I do this for love (translation = gratis, no employment, not at all).

2. Have you explained to the UN, The Arab League, Lebanon or even Israel, that this fight has nothing to do with Lebanon?

Face it, Lebanon CHOSE to place a heavily armed, indigenous paramilitary force on their border with Israel, knowing what would happen. When given the opportunity to declaim responsibility for the actions of Hizbollah, they chose instead to heap praise upon them. Therefore, and in the spirit averted to by Dr Fatfat, the Lebanese Government & Hizbollh are one.

Also please note, that paramilitary groups are not granted representative rights within the UN, and the ceasefire is to be worked out between Israel and Lebanon (bit hard if their not involved).

Finally see the figurative sword of Damocles hanging over Saniora's head, in order to pressure him into accepting the current proposal:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525841944&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Which harsh as it is, is nothing compared to what would happen if this is repeated, as this man would be in charge:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525841930&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Inshallah

2bob