I read that Hezbollah was helping to rebuild Lebanon by giving money to people who's homes had been destroyed. 12,000 US dollars worth.

Yeah, they must've gotten all that cash from all those Hezbollah bake sales and car wash fundraisers.

This is the same argument that comes up with Hamas-- Sure they're terrorists and anti-semites, but they do so much in the community! Hell, Even Iran's president ran on a populist platform to improve the struggling Iranian economy. How's that working out? He spends most days blaming all of the Middle East's problems on Israel.

Yea it's just like gang members.

Anyway, terrible horrible dictatorish non-providing rulers are pretty rare these days. in any political institution you have to "Give to the people" or do other things to make the people like you or at least keep them from revolting. Naturally there's a diplomatic foothold in helping people around you, it's almost as good as bribing someone This idea has been understood for a long time by rulers and pretty much anyone with a brain who realizes that there's breaking points. Not that I'm saying they necessarily don't love their community or people, but thinking politicians are selfless when they give is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Regardless of if you're providing for your people or not, though, that doesn't mean how you treat other people is nice or correct, or that you should be allowed ot commit evil because you do one or two nice things. HEY YOU BRUTALLY KILLED THIS GUY BUT I SAW YOU HELP THAT OLD LADY CROSS THE STREET SO YOURE FREE TO GO.

They studied how social programs were used in Germany, that's all. it should be pretty transparent by now. It's supposed to shame the international community who will no doubt still be sending aid without even a trace of accountability for the funds. This isn't meant to be aid so much as a reward for sustaining a loss. They're on salary, just another element of the propaganda machine. Like a bonus for storming the UN offices, and creating the illusion of an impromptu Nasrallah rally in the middle an Israeli bombing campaign that's supposed to be so devastating they can't evacuating to safety isn't an option.

Not to mention the US dollars are probably counterfit. Can you buy a Coke-a-cola with Dhimmi dollars in Hezbollistan?

It's funny because I was actually thinking of the german social programs when I made that post. :O

So, can we tally up the score now?

Does it bother everyone who was basically in favor of this that the bombing really didn't do much of anything? All the hand-wringing and all we get is an international peacekeeping force comprised of arab muslims whose home nations probably don't recognize the state of Israel.

The IDF is saying they only killed about 500 Hezzbollah fighters in addition to however many civilian sympathizers/human shields/total dumbasses. (which are possibly going to cost Dan Halutz his job) The IDF is also reporting 118 casualties. Five to one isn't great for counter-insurgency warfare. We're at ten to one in Iraq and we all see how well that's going. Furthermore, Mossad and Shin Bet weren't even able to penetrate the lower levels of a nationwde popular organization, let alone get an idea of what they were gonna be up against when they came over the border. (hint: tunnels and RPG 29s)

Well.. ok.. counter-insurgency warfare? That seems the wrong term for a war that was fought over a border with missile strikes etc. I didn't think there was much actual fighting. I don't see how doing five to one is bad at all :( Please explain.

If hezbollah was fighting with soldiers, would they use guerilla tactics(it seems like they used some guerilla tactics even with their missile strikes)? Just curious because doing five to one against gurillas is pretty good. Considering guerillas are typically small units designed to fight against larger units based on the premise that they should kill more bad guys than take casualties. In that line of thought their forces failed.

Outside of that this war was ghey. More lives lost for no good reason.

how is the war in iraq going bad? In the past occupations of cities would often be contested for years, and the "insurgency" may go on for years as well. Do you think that 3,000 years ago when an army would occupy a territory everybody who was living/fighting there would just shrug their shoulders and walk away?
I've always been interested in why people think the war in iraq is going bad.

That's what happens when any possible rational perspective is obscured by naive notions of civilian casualties, torture and other non-issues. We are drunk on our own free lifestyle, blind to realities in other civilizations. Everything is a human interest story these days, and no one is to be blamed for anything that happens to them. The bigger guy is always guilty in any confrontation, be it Wal-mart or Israel, Exxon or the US. No one asks the Katrina victims or the Lebanon evacuees why the fuck they stuck around until far too late with no back up plan... We all just want to know about the hardships they endured at the hands of the bigger guy.

Iraqi citizens are, just like everyone else in the news, victims. Whenever you see a victim, you look for their victimizer. That person or entity is, by default, the bigger guy. There is no opportunity for everyday Iraqis to be seen in a hopeful light, because they are in the news, and thus victims. The only bigger guy in this equation is us.

It's way too early to "tally the scores".

I wouldn't cry for Halutz of Olmert or any of them. If the IDF took a defeat, it was really at the hands of it's own administration.

I would agree, there really was no reason for them to underestimated how intertwined Iran would be in a offensive attack by Hezbollah. Iran's capabilities should be considered Hezbollah's capabilities. Many Israelis are naive, and do not realize that while they've spent 15 years learning peace songs, the Arabs have been breeding animals for the sole purpose of wiping Israel off the map. To that end, neither side achieved their goals - it was a squirmish. The benefit to Israel is knowing who they're fighting against, and weakening Iran's second line in any possible attack on Israel. If we play the numbers game (not the best way to judge these battles though) 500 Hezbollah casualties is a huge hit considering estimates of an army of 1000, and possibly 10,000 reservists. Israel's 150 casualties, out of a force between 10,000-30,000 were largely due to their own self defeating strategy, putting their lives in danger to avoid casualties - or just outright idiotic positioning. Israel's initial reserve numbers in the 300,000 range but if shit hits the fan, you'll see more then half the country suit up, and every veteran from Dr. Ruth on down, hopping on a plane, and grabbing their walkers and their uzis. Anyway, in that regard, Israel did okay. In reality, I don't think anyone feels they lost 150 men in exchange for accomplishing anything aside from maybe Lebanon putting it's army in the South again.

Of course, if a small percentage of the entire Arab world just up and decides to rush the borders, Israel is dog meat. Like I've been saying, this has always been Israel vs. the Arab/Islamic world.

1. Israel is objecting to the latter problem.

2. What exactly do you think was Israel's goal? To be attacked? To have two of their soldiers kidnapped?

From the very beginning, Israel asked that Lebanon control their own borders, and disarm Hezbollah. It won't happen, but it's what the UN asked Lebanon to do two years ago, and they're asking them again. Maybe they could, I dunno, do it? It would've spared over 1,000 lives.

Israel's goal is to be secure. If this resolution fails, as it undoubtedly will once Hezbollah rests up and rearms, Israel will continue to defende herself.

Your tone gives the implication that Israel had bigger plans. Would they feel more secure with a more democratic, Hezbollah free Lebanon? Sure, but they were attacked and they defended their country.

"Mossad and Shin Bet weren't even able to penetrate the lower levels of a nationwde popular organization, let alone get an idea of what they were gonna be up against when they came over the border. (hint: tunnels and RPG 29s)"

Um, and? Israel has never argued that Hezbollah is some underdog insurgency. That's a myth promoted by the Arab world, but the Israelis have always known better.

Is it a surprise that a well funded, well trained, and well armed paramilitary unit managed to stay alive and put up a fight?

I'm not exactly sure what your point is with your score card. Israel could've carpet bombed all of Lebanon, rather than using targeted bombings and infrastructure targets. That probably would've done away with Hezbollah, but it also would've killed a lot more people. Maybe Israel didn't "score" so high in your book, but that's what happens when one side plays by the rules and the other does not.

Off point: The state of humbleness (not humility) is heroism.

Pure comedy, and an admission of guilt!

Kofi Annan in typical two faced fashion is calling for the release of the soldiers kidnapped and DEMANDING Israel stop the blockade that prevents weapons from getting to the Hezballan troops and breaking the treaty.

I wonder what religion Annan belongs to and what country is he from? This might explain his leanings a bit.

Hitler got the streets paved and reduced crime too. The Nazi party was prior to the war known for social programs. Nazi is after all short for the National Socialist party.

Of course killing all the prisoners and people in asylums or with any health problem sure freed up the money for the other social programs.

abc, what do you think is behind this Nasrallah mea cullpa? Is this just another attempt to promote their underdog, victim image, or is Nasrallah perhaps bowing to pressures from Iran and/or Syria???

"This is what terrorist democracy looks like?"

Remember when during week one of the war they uncovered the American $100 conterfeiting in Hezballah controlled financial district the FBI has been looking for since 2002? Anyone else think, and this may be me being paranoid but, does anyone else think the money Iran is giving Hezballh may be the same money Hezballah was counterfieting, being returned and laundered through Iran? Hezballah was founded by Iranian gaurds in othr countries.

We wonder where they get the money since their banks where blown up in the war but we forget they were caught counterfieting, and where you counterfeit you need to launder as far away as possible.

There's all sorts of blog world speculation as to the origins and usage of $100 American bills in Lebanon. I don't think anyone has found the conclusive proof like with the Reuturs stuff, but we can all put two and two together.

Misquote maybe? Nasrallah is dealing from pressures from all sides this week in particular. Kofi did't last more then 10 minutes in Hezbollah land, Iran is sending 500 million in aid to Shia villages, Syria are being pressured to negotiate with Israel and they've been cutting power in Southern Lebanon, all the while Lebanon's government can't figure out which way is ass up but they are talking about a treaty with Israel for the first time since 1948 (they too hold an Israeli soldier captive for 20 years and are about to release new video of him), and even some of Nassrallah's own Shia population are speaking out against Hezbollah ....and then his number two guy lost his son on the battlefield.

in either case, there was some interesting speculation at debka:
http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=1201

This editoria challenges the idea that Hezbollah have done what no other Arab army have pulled off against the IDF:
http://www.reason.com/links/links082406.shtml

All that said, Arutz7 (IsraelNN) reported that the IDF wants out of Lebanon quick because Hezbollah have re-armed and they're sitting ducks. In the old days that would have been the reason they would have wanted to stay in there and fight.