More decisive action from Israel. From AP:
JERUSALEM, July 12 — The Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah seized two Israeli soldiers this morning in a brazen raid along Israel’s border with Lebanon. Israel immediately responded by sending an armored force into southern Lebanon for the first time in six years.The clashes dramatically escalated tensions at a time when Israel already is waging a military offensive in the Gaza Strip to seek the return of another soldier held by Palestinian militants for more than two weeks.
Israel’s defense minister, Amir Peretz, said in a statement that the Lebanese government “is directly responsible for the fate of the soldiers and must act immediately to locate them, prevent any harm to them and return them to Israel.”
Also, Israel’s prime minister, Ehud Olmert, scheduled an emergency Cabinet meeting in the evening to assess the developments.
The fighting erupted when Hezbollah attacked northern Israel with rocket fire this morning, injuring several Israeli civilians in the northwestern town of Shlomi, the Israeli military said. Israel responded with artillery fire and air strikes that targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon. Later, Israeli troops moved into southern Lebanon in the first such incursion since Israel pulled its troops out of the region in 2000.
Israel is paying the price for unbalanced prisoner swaps. I hope they make the candy passing Lebanese pay for their declaration of war.
Ehud, you are turning out to be the worst PM in history. You should go into business with Condi. Perhaps calling it, 'Chirping birds.' As Condi meets an 'Albanian freedom fighter' or 'Jihadist'(depending on your frame of reference), you, dear Ehud, are weighing each inch of inch of the Gaza with great deliberation.
You ask, "Will Condi love me, she loves me not." You ask, "What will my peace now daughter say?" You ask, "How can this be happening to me? I supported giving away Gaza--completely--never to be there again. I'm about to give away most of the West Bank. I'll play the peace dance with Abbas at Condi's request. I'll defer Iran over to Bush so as not to make trouble. I'll play the good dhimmi. But they are still killing my people, kidnapping my soldiers, sending rockets from liberated Gaza. Who do I turn to for help? Perhaps this bombing bridges stuff and vacilating, tepid military move isn't helping."
Yet, this tepid, vaciliating nature of Israeli response is also being factored into the equation by the Moslems. They see your weakness, Ehud; they smell it. You, Shimon and Peretz; the three happy amigos, are playing a dangeous game. Israeli is not a mandated reality. It can vanish into the Muslim night.
In all defense to Olmert, he is following Sharon's plan of land for more jihad. Its not all Olmert's fault, its still the mindset of the majority of Israelis that the Palis and Arabs can be bought off. This is probally Israel's last chance to crush Hamas and Hezbollah. I pray she takes it.
Read Hezbollah Doesn’t Really Believe US, EU Anti-Terrorism Stances at IsraPundit.
From the numerous articles that are being posted to breaking news centers at this time, it appears that a war may be breaking out between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, let alone Hamas. Reserves are being called up all over Israel this evening by the IDF.
After as many as 7 Israeli soldiers where killed and at least 2 captured by Hezbollah Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert described the Hizbollah attacks as an "ACT OF WAR" by Lebanon and promised a "very painful and far-reaching" response.
True, but I seem to remember that Olmert was the 'mastermind,' Sharon's brain on the disengagement malady. But, you are right; Sharon pulled the plug on land for Jihad. Sadly, I would bet Israeli moves with deliberate mini steps, hampering its military, one inch at a time, in constant contact with Condi. Jihad will only begat more Jihad.
Biorabbi - Israel's not going away. I know you know about the Masada and Samson complexes many Israelis have.
Your words are moving and powerful... but you know as well as I do that the pan-Islamic world will pay with its life.
It's what we call 'a Mexican standoff'.
A word of advice to all members of murderous cults and belief systems out there: learn from the past... do you see any of the cultures, empires or powers that have gone up against the jewish people? Do I need to list them all?
Babylonians
Assiryians
Phoenicians
Phillistines
the kings of Egypt
the Hellenistic world, including the Roman Empire
the Muslims
the Nazis
The only ones left are the Muslims (for the time being).
Don't mess with the Jews you idiots! I'm not a Jew but I have a healthy respect for the culture, its history and the quality of the people it produces in the present time.
The one observation I'd like to pass along to all the muslim people reading this is: be thankful that the Jew isn't remotely like your image of him. If he was you'd all be in deep dung or you'd be dead. Be thankful the Jew isn't like you.
I guess Lebanon is going to do what Hezbollah did: provoke a response from Israel and then watch as the "international community" condemns Israel's unwarranted aggression.
Israel should just go ahead and annihilate both parties. It's not like they have anything to lose by doing so.
Jesus Christ Supercop.... exactly. What does Israel have to lose?
OT, but the folks in Florida are waging a good battle against the spread of the cult of Isuxem.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-ctension12jul12,0,3900338.story?coll=sfla-news-broward
The only good that is coming out of this, is that people are beginning to see Olmert's true colours. Maybe if enough Israelis see that not even their soldiers are safe, much less their daughters, they will cause this corrupt dhimmi government to fall. Israel needs a new Prime Minister as quick as possible, whether it's Liberman, Netanyahu, or anyone other than what they have now.
Olmert will sell out his own mother if he can pocket a corrupt shekel from the deal. Just convince him that there's some under the table money to be made from land deals in southern Lebanon if Hizbullah is removed and he'll wipe them out. Otherwise expect Olmert and his dhimmis to try to strike a deal with Hizbullah.
Israel
Restart the 1982 war again, but this time, do it right - don't exclude Syria. Capture Damascus, and expel the Syrians. Also, re-annex the entire West Bank, and enforce the transfer solution. No infidel life is worth that of the entire ummah put together.
It looks like Hezb-allah and Hamas want to go down in a flaming blaze of glory.
May Israel be the sword they use to enact this "suicide by cop".
Israel needs Netanyahu. At least Likud can say "Told you so"
It is so crazy! France condeming Israel! Japan and many other nations saying Israel should show restraint! It's crazy!! How much restraint and for how long? I guess forever in their minds!
It seems like the nations of the world are growing accustomed to acts of terrorism and expect these things to happen so we should just take it and go on with our lives!
Bull! We should destroy them!
Or it will be us that is destroyed!
Oops: "I guess Lebanon is going to do what Hezbollah did."
That was meant to say: "I guess Hezbollah is going to do what Hamas did."
biorabbi commented: "Yet, this tepid, vaciliating nature of Israeli response is also being factored into the equation by the Moslems. They see your weakness, Ehud; they smell it."
I could not agree more. If I perceive Olmert as weak and indecisive rest assured Moslems do also. I think it is time to stand back and let the IDF do its job.
When Hizbullah observed the timid Israeli response in Gaza with the Shilat kidnapping they knew they could get away with it also. Now Israel is faced with two fronts. If Israel had just bulldozed Gaza into the sea we would not be seeing any activity from Lebanon. The only thing Moslems understand is strength. Overwhelming force is needed at this time, not meetings and vacillation. It seems Ahmadinejad's words will be coming true unless Israel quashes this in the bud.
Maybe there will be a Likud comeback
The Peaceful Religion of Islam is throwing down the gauntlet. They are daring Israel to attack.
Be wary of a trap.
I agree, exsgtbrown. This smells like a trap. Consider beheading the snake. Take the fight to syria.
How long before this kidnapping trend hits the west, how long before the US and British governments are being told to change laws or release prisoners in return for hostages?
How about world peace?
The Temple of Love - The World Peace Religion
http://www.thetempleoflove.com/
I agree. We should destroy the terrorists before they destroy us. The sooner we do this, the safer the world will become.
Elric66, you wrote: "Its not all Olmert's fault, its still the mindset of the majority of Israelis that the Palis and Arabs can be bought off."
But Elric, isn't this what leadership is about? Does a great leader heed the voice of the majority when it is wrong-headed, suicidal and immoral? Or does he lead?
Caractus:
Given that both Hamas and Hezbollah are on the Iranian Shia jihad payroll, the latter from day one and the former, more recently, I think what we are seeing is a case of Ahmadinejad sending in the "A team" to help out the "B team". It's certainly creating one hell of a [international media] distraction from his nuke activities and civil unrest at home, ain't it. And it all fits in with his repeatedly stated desire to erase Israel from the map.
The IDF should show no quater to the Muslim hordes.
1. Take and subdue Lebanon
2. Take and subdue Syria
3. Annex the Westbank and Gaza
4. Expel Palestinian agitators to Egypt and Jordan.
5. Destroy Irans nuclear and military capabilities.
from above
How long before this kidnapping trend hits the west, how long before the US and British governments are being told to change laws or release prisoners in return for hostages
In America, the terrorists already have some politicians in their pocket who are constantly advocating that we release the terrorist prisoners we currently hold (as in GITMO) with no strings attached. According to them, our law apparently outlaws such prudent policy as removing killers and thugs off of the battlefield, where they were aiming AK47s and RPGs at American servicemen.They even say the POWs have the same rights as American Citizens.
Remember Americans, you voted these people in. Remember them on the next election day. Try not to make the same mistake twice.
Its a Mad Mad world.Sooner or later the major world powers are going to have at it.Its becoming less avoidable.Russia supports Iran Syria Hezzbbola.China supports N.Korea Iran.Pakistan supports sevral Islamic paramiltary groups.We the US support Saudi Arbia ,Egypt,Jordan the Emirates.Etc..All this and more fits the very defantion of conflict.Its not satanable.Isreal gives land to not freindly naighbors not even nuetral naigbors but straight up hostile naighbors.Such moral illussions are driving Isreal straight to the brink.Theres no other path.If things were different maybe.But the reality of this world opperates by a set of rules.Example Gaza.Reality warned disengagment from Gaza and even northern Isreal S.Lebbanon was not going to bring any peace.Only fools thought it would yeild the impossable.So here we are reality again checks the foolishness of man.Yeilding to demands from Hezzbollah Hamas even the PLO has done little good.Frankly such moral capptulations will countnue to bare compounding dangers.Theres no other outcome.And dont be fooled into any other thoughts of but this time or just this peice of land Etc..Its irasponsable and indangering us all.
From a Storyline on the DEBKA web link:
The Lebanese front differs from the Hamas front in Gaza in that Hizballah has arrayed its 12,000 rockets and missiles on the ready. Within their range are Israel’s northern cities from Nahariya to Haifa and Hadera in central Israel. Should the war situation escalate, Syrian military and air intervention cannot be ruled out.
It certainly appears Lebanon has planned for an attack. You can expect these rockets to be launched in the very near future. There have been reports of Syrian fighter jets in the area. This could be a major escalation and not a retaliation. Israel should consider itself at war once again. Israel should reconsider its little incursions here and there and just destroy everything in sight. It is certainly clear the Islamic terrorists intend to wage war on Israel.
It will be interesting to see who condemns Israel for its military hostility or who supports Israel in its defense of its country.
The French have already exibited their limp wristed typical French reaction. Let's consider France lost to the Islamic cause.
Who will be the next Euroweenie to cower in the face of a noble fight.
The anger among Israelies has reached a boiling point with the usual EU countries and the US asking them to show restraint as usual, enough is enough many have said, The Islamic terrorists and their supporters don't respond to restraint,they don't respond to peace treaties, they see it as weakness. Israel gave up the Gaza strip in effort to gain peace and what did they get for it? Just another location for them to attack Israel
From the Jerusalem Post:
Following a security consultation with Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin, Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Wednesday afternoon, "We don't need to use threat, we need to take action. From this moment on, we demand minimal talk - let action speak for itself."
"We know what we need to do, to complete preparations to begin operating," the defense minister said.
Peretz added that the goal of the operation was to hit the Hizbullah "hard, so it regrets what it began this morning.""
"There are elements in the north and in the south who are threatening our stability and are trying to test our steadfastness. They will fail, and pay a heavy price for their actions."
Olmert also singled out Syria for sharp criticism.
"Syria has proven lately that it is a state which supports terror. Its government facilitates murderous activities by terrorists both within and without its borders. This will of course require an appropriate response to deal with Syria's actions," he said.Wednesday morning, Peretz called on Lebanon to immediately bring about the release of the soldiers who Hizbullah claim to have kidnapped Wednesday morning. Peretz said the Lebanese government would be held responsible for the
soldier's fates, and needed to do everything possible to keep him from being harmed. "The Lebanese government, that allows Hizbullah to operate in its sovereign territory, will be held responsible for the results and the outcome.
"The state of Israel sees itself as free to take all the steps it believes are appropriate."
Likud MK and former foreign minister Silvan Shalom said, "We can't have a situation in Lebanon where there is peace and quiet on one side and our soldiers are living in bunkers on the other. We have to disarm Hizbullah. All the weapons that are being used come through Damascus. Damascus must know that we cannot tolerate this.
"We must act immediately, said Shalom.
Defense officials said that Peretz has instructed the IDF to take all the necessary steps to retrieve the kidnapped soldiers.
The IDF vowed to hold the Lebanese accountable for the attacks.
"The IDF holds the Lebanese government responsible for any act of terror launched from Lebanon at Israel," a statement released by the IDF spokesperson read.
"If the suspicion that soldiers have been kidnapped turns out to be true, the IDF will hold the Lebanese government responsible for their fate."
France condeming Israel? Here's an idea - how about handing over Chiraq and de Villepin to Hizbullah, in exchange for the 2 Israeli soldiers? Then France can negotiate with Hizbullah for exchanging them for the Hizbullah prisoners that Israel holds, and Israel can negotiate with France on whatever it wants in return.
As per France, all Israeli soldiers should be turned over to Hamas and Hizbullah. That should solve the problem.
I usually resist the temptation to write off any country, but sometimes I wonder.
Netanyahu to the rescue! l cannot beleive that they do not listen to this great man! l have heard him talk and read his speechs.. he fits the bill and knows the real enemies of Israel!
See, at least the Israelis have some guts, unlike our own Indian govt. That's because the modern state of Israel was founded by pioneers. When their soldiers get kidnapped, they move into action, and they do it quickly.
What I see though, is that everytime they do it, the European Caesars launch their own broadsides at Israel, with left-wing rags like NYT and Time quickly following up to provide cover fire.
Crazy, yes, but given that the motivation is oil, profits and markets, what do you expect. You have to contend with free enterprise, profits, the bottom line, the stock market, and market share, you aren't a socialist are you?
Earlier today I listened to a talk show host and a left wing leberal argue about Israel and Israel's actions. The talk show host said that Israel should take out Iran's nukes and Syria. The leftist liberal got all upset and said why should israel be so concerned with a few nukes 1,500 miles away in Iran when Israel had over 250 nukes for it own use.
Mushroom clouds over the middle east are in the future................
WW3 is fastly approaching and America will be exchanging nukes with China and probablly Russia. Japan will nuke N. Korea and China and then disappear under China's nukes.
The stench of war is in the air..........
are you prepared armed and ready???????
as the bartender said, it is fixin to hit the fan.
The Texican.
Freedom, the only choice at any cost and the cost will be immense.
Off i go shopping again to the gun shows.........
Israel needs to take up permanent positions at the Litani River. Expel the Shias, bring in any willing S. Lebanese Christians not yet beheaded. Seal it off. Next expel the Gazans into Egypt. Force them out. Hosni, Let your people in! Hamas will greatly enrich your culture, oh Hosni. They will make the nile bloom. Your a big country; what's another million Islamists to the big picture anyway? I'm told Cairo needs better trash collection(but I digress). Next, move out the W. Bank Arabs out of Judea and accross the river Jordan. To paraphrase an old song, "Somebody's waiting on the River Jordan, somebody's waiting on the otherside." The Palis will enrich the kingdom of Jordan with little cities like Zarqa!
Seriously, expulsion is a valid solution here. Peace is out; it was never really in, was it? Disengagement is folly for all too see; I bought into this fallacy once.
What does Israel have to lose? It's UN seat. Will W cut relations with Israel? Will Condi scold Israel? Will Senator Charles Percy come back to life and villify Israel? Will Bob Novack empty his spleen over my beloved Sun Times? Will Senator Sunnunu and the brother's Zogby rant howls of protests? Will the hard left condemm Israel? Will Pat Buchanan? Will there be a orgy of hate? Fine, in the words of a Texan . . . bring it on.
Seriously, a depopulated Gaza, W. Bank and S. Lebanon--populated by Christians--expelled from Lebanon and Iraq could change the dynamic. For good measure, take out Iran's gimp in chief; better yet, capture his ass and display him in a cage with fruit in Tel Aviv.
Wait, it won't work. Israel will be compared to Nazis. Cartoonists will satarize the IDF as Nazis, Olmert noshing on bloody Matzas or feeding on the corpse of an arab youth. Been there, done that, you say? Seriously, what hs Israel to lose. Bush will scold here. Falwell and company will read W the riot act. Condi and W will stand in the corner for five minutes . . . Condi with a dunce hat on; and Israel will soon be forgiven. Just get the job done.