Israel hits old lighthouse in heart of Beirut

[Judi Lynn]

Israel hits old lighthouse in heart of Beirut
21 minutes ago

BEIRUT (AFP) - Israeli gunboats have hit a state radio relay antenna on an old lighthouse in the heart of Beirut, slightly wounding two people in a densely-packed residential area, rescue workers said.

The tip of the disused lighthouse, in an open field in the Koreitem neighborhood of central Beirut, was damaged by the Israeli navy boat fire, according to army troops based in the area.
(snip)

The lighthouse is located between the Saudi embassy compound, the Lebanese American University, a French school and the heavily-guarded private villa of the family of slain former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

It was the first time that central Beirut has been hit in three weeks during Israel's massive offensive on Lebanon.
(snip/)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060810/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictlebanon

[ERF]

1. Impressive sharp shooting. Glad they took it out.

Good that Israel at least cares about minimizing civilian casualties. Too bad their enemy wants to maximize them.

[leftchick]

2. if they are "minimizing casualties"

why are they preventing aid from entering the south where it is desperately needed. People in hospitals and those left in their homes will soon die for lack of fuel, food and supplies. The UN is saying it is a violation of international law. The phrase collective punishment and the word genocide come to mind....

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-08-10T104932Z_01_L10368498_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST-LEBANON-AID.xml&archived=False

[ERF]

9. You obviously don't know what genocide is. Perhaps contrband

is also unbeknownst as well.

[leftchick]

12. unbeknownst?

:rofl:

[TheWatcher]

41. You obviously aren't paying attention to the destruction and death

that is occurring in Lebanon.

Get back to us when you have perspective.

Which will be never.

[Oversea Visitor]

3. You laugh

You do not know that the destruction of Isreal might come true.
You laugh and think all this fun.

You laugh
UNTIL the Arab League of 22 countries declare war on Isreal.

You laugh until the OIC of 57 countries start sending men and weapon to Hizbollah.

You laugh as Isreal launch their peashooter call nuke.
You laugh as they dismantle Isreal.
You laugh as the troops in Iraq get caught in this mess
You laugh as bush say it war
You laugh at the world say let end all this BUSHIT

You laugh at Afghanistan will the muslim world watch the horror
You laugh ay Iraq as the muslim world watch in horror
You laugh at Lebanon as the muslim world watch in horror

You laugh and think only US can go crazy and do stipid thing war base on lies
YOU LAUGH AND LAUGH AND LAUGH

And WAR HAPPEN.......

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[MrPrax]

89. We laugh and you write poetry? n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. So how many civilians

has Hezbollah killed compared to how many civilians Israel has killed?

I'll even let you go back as far as 2000 if you need to beef up the numbers.

[LostinVA]

7. Numbers can't be crunched and twisted that much!

[ERF]

11. Hezbullah is firing innaccurate rockets into civilian population

centers without any concern for whom or what they hit. Perhaps their targets are military, but they have also killed civilians. They would have killed many more if they had better weapons. Thus, the fact that not more civilians have been killed by Hezbullah is not for lack of trying, but for the lack of capacity.

Israel had pulled out of Lebanon in full accordance with the UN resolution. Hezbullah had won. Why did they kidnap Israeli soldiers? They want to destroy Israel.

[Oversea Visitor]

14. Go google OIC news

Then read what the OIC say they just 56 countries all muslims

They all waiting for UN resolution decision.

After that Hizbollah get arms shipment, maybe all the jihadist comes who knows

Go laugh more.

Me think you go greastest page you get link to articles in my rants there.

Lets all LAUGH VERY VERY LOUD.

For when Elephants Fights the ant get trample.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Got children????

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. "Got children?"

What a great question.

Got Children? And are you ready for them to give their lives for the US/Israel War for Oil?

[ERF]

18. Israel is not fighting for oil. It is fighting for its right to exist

as a nation and live peacefully with its neighbours. And, it is Israel's neighbours (and their terrorist groups) that keep attacking Israel - not the other way around.

If I were an Israeli and had children, I would most certainly be willing and ready to send them off to fight. As would I personally.

The United States, on the other hand, is in this for oil and that I would not support.

You will find that I will be very pro-Israel and may even ruffle a lot of feathers, but I do not support what the United States has done or is doing in the ME.

[leftchick]

20. living peacefully with neighbors = total destruction of said neighbor?

a war of agtression? invading and occupying? ceasing all aid to enter the country through blackades?

check. :eyes:

[DoYouEverWonder]

22. Apparently you've never read 'A Clean Break'

The ME and US/Israel policy is all about oil and water.

BTW: Since you have no children, you have no right to speak or offer up other people's children.

[Name removed]

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[Oversea Visitor]

19. Yes

But somehow me think so many looks at war like it is a game. Until someone thay know die.

[TommyO]

15. Israel seems to be doing a pretty good job

of destroying Lebanon.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. They kidnapped the IDF soldiers

because the Israeli's have been 'kidnapping' Lebanese and Palestinians by the 1000's for years. When Syria pulled out of Lebanon last year, the new PM asked the Israeli's to do another prisoner exchange. The Israelis refused and did nothing to help the new Lebanese government get on their feet and gain legitimacy. Instead, they provoked and antagonized Hezbollah, waiting for a excuse to launch their invasion.

[ERF]

21. Well that is an interesting version of reality. So the way

you see it, as far as I understand, is that Hezbullah is just a bunch of nice guys who train with military weapons and rockets (which happen to be supplied by Iran) in the southern part of their country but are not controlled by the government, but rather a nice fellow named Nasrallah. And all they really want is to be left alone to play their little games?

[DoYouEverWonder]

23. Don't put words in my mouth

Speak for yourself.

I have never posted any such thing. Try again.

[Name removed]

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[frankieT]

29. not nice guys, RESISTANTS !!!

Hezbollah was created in 1982 by South-Lebanese Shiites to fight Israeli invasion that caused 15000-20000 civilian deaths and to defend their community in the sectarian violence.
Until 2000, they fought Israel and its proxy terror militia (the infamous South Lebanon Army) and even when ISrael retreated Hezbollah left unharmed the traitors of SLA and did very much to support national reconciliation. They kept their weapons because they are the only capable of deterring Israel from another invasion -apparently not enough- and bargaining for the return of the 1000's of prisoners and civilians abducted by Israel.
Since 2000, according to UNIFIL they were hundreds of cross-border incidents, the majority of them initiated by Israel entering lebanese territory, shelling Hezbollah positions or killing young shepherds. Like many you're brainwashed by media propaganda picturing Hezbollah as an alien-nazi-Islamic organization but the reality is that Hezbollah is made of LEBANESE RESISTANTS who fight for their land. Of course they are supported by Syria and Iran but who can survive in this hostile environment without support ? All around the middle-east you see these intricate networks of relationships and i'm not shocked to see Iran (which is part of ME and a big part) supporting a group or a party, at least it is less shocking than the meddling by US only interested by oil and don't give a damn about peace and stability in the region, the ME can burn to ashes, life will continue in Washington and New-York.

[ERF]

30. Then why doesn't the Lebanese government suppor them?

Is that you TheWatcher?

[TheWatcher]

31. I'll say it one more time

I'll use small words so you will be able to understand.

Now read carefully. I KNOW it's difficult, but you can do it.

THIS.

IS.

THE.

ONLY.

ACCOUNT.

I.

HAVE.

Now, back to your nonsense. I'll get the Popcorn. Wait here.

[ERF]

35. If I am wrong than why are you so angry?

Keep a cool head my friend. You can have a grow-up conversation about the issue. Stick to facts and logic and I am happy to do so as well.

You can do it. I just know it.

The best part is, you have now in about 1000+ (at least) days you have spent the equivalent of two full days of average posting on this thread alone.

Me pointing out that this is a bit odd given your ferocity of opinion and speed of posting seems rather natural.

[TheWatcher]

37. Ah, the little whelp wants to give orders now. :)

There hasn't been a single moment I haven't had a cool head.

I'm sticking to my assertion that you have an absolute tunnel vision view of things, and that you are blind to the fact Israel has gone way to far with this.

You don't really seem to care how many people they kill, how much of Lebanon they destroy indiscriminately.

You think they are doing pretty good sharpshooting.

I'll ask again.

How many civilians have they killed?

How much of Lebanon have they destroyed?

You are quite fine with it all from what I can tell.

The only thing you seem to want to do with me is analyze my posting habits and accuse me of having multiple accounts.

You can ask Skinner. He runs the place. There is only one of me. :)

[frankieT]

39. the politics of Lebanon are very complicated

but every party in Lebanon praised Hezbollah for its resistance. the polls conducted in Lebanon showed 80-90% support resistance and back in march 06, 70% of Lebanese supported the idea of continuing fight/capture attempts to exchange prisoners ! If the war was finished why did Israel kept thousands of soldiers and even civilians ?
Of course Fouad Siniora the actual PM, all the Hariri people, the (rich) christians and the influential druzes (Walid Jumblatt) are very much pro-US (after being very pro-Syrian!) - they are also very connected to Saudi business interests. All these people control the political power even if they are a minority (Sh-ia 35% Xians 20% Sunni 25% Druze 15% i have to check my numbers). US wanted to destroy Iranian influence and ordered Israel to do the job, Israel had of course some interest to settle scores and to remove this threat (but hey EVERYONE is threatening everyone in ME), Saudi Arabia-Jordan-Egypt the sunni pro-US dictatorships were OK to remove some of the power Iran was gaining (especially in Iraq thanks to the US invasion) and finally the power holders in Lebanon thought it would be great if their political foe was weakened : this is the recipe for the disaster we're watching, not the abduction of 2 Israeli soldiers which was routine business on the ISrael-Lebanon border.

[TheWatcher]

40. They aren't complicated for him, obviously.

Good Shootin' Tex!

Right ERF?

[ERF]

42. Good post. Intersting analysis. Will be back soon. with a response

Have to do sme work

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

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[ERF]

44. Some of us have jobs. You perhaps not.

[Name removed]

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[ERF]

53. Let me try and respond to your points from my perspective:

You wrote: "If the war was finished why did Israel kept thousands of soldiers and even civilians?"

Firstly, Israel was never technically at war with Lebanon. It occupied the southern area as a buffer zone against attacks from its declared enemies. This was a mistake. Although I am sure some of the prisoners are harmless, most are very likely to be the most radical of radicals bent on Israel's destruction and have proved their willingness to do so. To release them is to send back an enemy soldier to fight against you. Hezbullah's supposed reason to continue fighting are the Shabaa Farms. The real reason is to continue toward their goal of destroying Israel.

As far as the rich controlling politics in Lebanon, you are 100% correct. Show me a country where this isn't the case to some degree.

You wrote: "US wanted to destroy Iranian influence and ordered Israel to do the job, Israel had of course some interest to settle scores and to remove this threat (but hey EVERYONE is threatening everyone in ME), Saudi Arabia-Jordan-Egypt the sunni pro-US dictatorships were OK to remove some of the power Iran was gaining (especially in Iraq thanks to the US invasion) and finally the power holders in Lebanon thought it would be great if their political foe was weakened"

"Ordered" is a strong word. Aligned interests is probably closer. Hard to prove, but probably close enough to what actually went on.

So where do we go from here? No doubt the civilian deaths are tragic. Are there too many? Even 1 is too many, but Israel shouldn't be condemned for defending itself. Their enemy is intentionally using tactics that cause civilians to be caught in the crossfire. Hezbullah is doing a great job of winning an asymmetrical war. They can't go head to head with Israel, so they are using the weapons at their disposal, which includes the damage caused to Israel by enticing them to kill civilians. It's brutal but strategically brilliant.

Thus the dilemma is either Israel is forced to compromise its values and ignore civilian deaths in the pursuit of military victory, or they live with the military threat from Hezbullah and try to work out a political compromise that would eventually end the violence.

Where do you think it goes?

[TheWatcher]

36. How much of Lebanon has Israeldestroyed and how many innocent civilians

have they killed.

I loved one of their explanations the other night when one of them was being interviewed by a British reporter and they claimed they needed to destroy Power Stations to "keep them from trying to smuggle out the soldiers."

Great logic.

Perhaps if they destroy the whole country they will be able to live in peace.

Even better logic, right?

[TheWatcher]

26. And you are firing gibberish on a message board.

You would kill much more of our sanity and patience with your nonsense if only you had better intellect. Thus the fact that there have been no serious cranial or emotional injuries caused by you is not for lack of trying, but lack of mental capacity and reason.

You should pull out and go back to Yahoo.

Why are you invading this board?

Because you want to defend Mass Murder.

[ERF]

28. 4th on this thread and still no content. And only ad hominem

attacks on my intelligence. You seem to be a bit hot under the collar. Maybe you should switch your accounts and attack me from another so that it looks like more than one person.

[Name removed]

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[theHandpuppet]

33. So you're saying Hezbollah kills civilians by accident or incompetency...

... while Israel does it on purpose? That is what you're saying, you know.

[ERF]

38. Actually I wrote:

"They would have killed many more if they had better weapons. ".

So I guess I know what I am saying and you need to work on reading comprehension.

[Name removed]

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[La Lioness Priyanka]

45. you're fucking joking me

israel has killed 10%hezbollah and 90% civilians

read the fucking stats

[ERF]

47. Lovely language. Responded before the deletion.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

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[La Lioness Priyanka]

50. i think its my post this person is referring to....and i am female...

we do need a pet...but i prefer warm and fuzzy pets

[TheWatcher]

52. My mistake. And I dutifully correct it. :)

But I agree with you, we MUST do something about his spiny like outer shell. I've held porcupines with more softness. He'll have to be de-clawed too. That shouldn't take more than a few posts though. :)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

49. its not a personal attack and therefore shouldnt be deleted

[TheWatcher]

51. Actually it contains stats he can't refute

So it is a personal attack on his ability to avoid the facts.

But that's just details.

Carry on ERF. You can't be bored yet.

And we could all benefit from your wisdom.

::Listens intently::

[LostinVA]

55. I'm now posting as Lostinva, and I'm also listening intently

[LostinVA]

54. The Lioness does have lovely language

And is also quite the looker.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

56. hello dear!

do you think that was a personal fucking attack? cos i fucking well dont think so...

[LostinVA]

59. I personally don't think so

And I think it's sexy when you say "fuck"...

[TheWatcher]

66. My first blush of the day. :)

[LostinVA]

73. giggle

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

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[La Lioness Priyanka]

61. or a sense of humor....

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

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[TheWatcher]

63. Perhaps if your mother didn't drop you on your head as a child you might

Have a better perspective on things.

Now who is insulting without cause?

Ah, the True Colors.....That's why we love you.

[leftchick]

69. It is interesting to note how you ingnore the facts

you have not addressed any in this thread....

1,000 civilians killed in Lebanon by Israeli offensive. 30 PERCENT OF THE DEAD ARE CHILDREN UNDER 12YEARS OLD!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060810/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictlebanon_060810114836

BEIRUT (AFP) - More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched its massive offensive on July 12, an official body has said.

At least 1,002 civilians, 30 percent of them children under 12, have died as well as 30 soldiers and policemen, the state relief committee said Thursday, while 3,580 have been wounded.

The Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah has announced the death of 58 of its fighters, while seven fighters of the Shiite Amal movement, allied to Hezbollah, have been killed during the course of the four-week-old offensive.

LOOK! Another terrorist baby being buried.....



Lebanese men burry the body of a child in Beirut during a mass funeral of people killed in Israeli bombardments in Shiah, August 9. More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched its massive offensive on July 12, an official body has said.(AFP/Ramzi Haidar)

[ERF]

57. I'll respond to the stats too since the post is around

How can you tell if someone is Hezbullah or not? They don't wear uniforms.

If a Hezbullah fighter keeps his family in a house from which he fires his rockets and they are hit by Israel - what is the distribution of responsibility for their deaths?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

60. i think when israel kills children and old people

they can pretty certain that these are not hezbollah militants

unless ofcourse israel felt particularly threated by lebanese children

[TheWatcher]

65. How can you say Israel is using restraint when they tell the civilians

to leave the neighborhoods, and then they BOMB all of their routes out of harms way?

And you neve really did explain why they needed to destroy all the Power Stations.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

68. or why they are choking the country out of fuel and medical aid

or bombing ambulances

lets be real here...isreal is committing terrible atrocities with our money

[dionysus]

64. yeah, i guess they're not allowed to have radio stations eh?

what a stupid comment

[TheWatcher]

67. Or Power Stations Either

After all, how could they POSSIBLY be able to smuggle the terrorists out of the country with all that LIGHT around?

[TheWatcher]

70. Oh COME ON ERF don't you want to play anymore?

I mean, how, how ::Sniffle::, How will we be ENLIGHTENED if you just go away? How will we ever be able to understand the pinpoint precision and the delicate surgical magnificence of the Israeli RESTRAINT if you aren't here to educate us.

Oh I can't go on......I can't.....

This means I'll have to get my information from.....GASP

RANDI RHODES............

OH THE HUMANITY......

(You think the academy will give me points for dramatic effect?)

[ERF]

72. Of course. We are nearly up to .2% of your total posts

on this thread alone. I personally contain a very signficant number in your total post history of more than 3 years. Kind of makes me proud. Bit of a badge of honor.

[Name removed]

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[ERF]

77. A thick skin is necessary to participate on this or any other

discussion forum. That is from the rules.

[TheWatcher]

80. But it does you no good if you have a thick head to go along with it

Ba-Dum-Bum!

[ERF]

79. Trying to find stats you have posted or are talking about

that I haven't addressed. Please be more specific. I believe I addressed most of the factual information presented. You seem quite comfortable dismissing anything I write as delusional rather than responding to the content.

But, I give you points for consistency.

[TheWatcher]

82. Try Post #73

I'll give you points for spinning like a top and diversion.

But then again you must be getting dizzy so I'll allow for a bit of disorientation.

[ERF]

74. Oh and if we can get back on-topic, please read post 77

No one has bothered to respond to that yet.

[mtnsnake]

90. You're wasting your time

I know firsthand. I just wasted the better part of a morning with this person, The Watcher. Reading his or her all-too-familiar jibberish makes me wonder just how many identities they're posting under.

[ERF]

71. Radio stations makes sense. It is a legitimate military target

they weren't just broadcasting music you know. Power stations are more questionable and although they clearly have military value probably included a bit of collective punishment.

[TheWatcher]

76. Oh and the Big Apartment buildings filled with innocent civilians had to

go too. And just about everything else they have destroyed, neighborhoods, towns, women, children, they were legitimate targets too. Can't have any infants with AK-47's runnin around.

You are too much.

[Name removed]

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[ERF]

81. A challenge to you and your googling capacity: Which

power stations did Israel bomb? Where were they located= What percentage of total Lebanese power did they provide? Is all of Lebanon now without power?

[TheWatcher]

83. Here's one for you. Quick enough?

http://newsinfo.inq7.net/breakingnews/world/view_article.php?article_id=13493

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

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[Oversea Visitor]

87. Woah you sure

know how to get hoard of deleted post start :rofl:

[Javaman]

86. This has been one of the best popcorn worthy threads in a long time...

:popcorn:

[Oversea Visitor]

88. Haha ERF

He sure can talk up a storm.

But he wont get any cigars

Maybe he think got future

But :rofl: he sure go about if :rofl: the right way :rofl:

Hmmm

Emerging
Reformed
Fr_ _ p _ r