"Good time to stop the war because both sides can claim they won"

[bigtree]

Israel harmed Hezbollah and Hezbollah harmed Israel . . .

Stop now, immediately

Haaretz --
By Gideon Levy

This war must be stopped now and immediately. From the start it was unnecessary, even if its excuse was justified, and now is the time to end it. Every day raises its price for no reason, taking a toll in blood that gives Israel nothing tangible in return. This is a good time to stop the war because both sides can claim they won: Israel harmed Hezbollah and Hezbollah harmed Israel. History shows that no situation is better for reaching an arrangement. Remember the lessons of the Yom Kippur War.

Israel went into the campaign on justified grounds and with foul means. It claims it has declared war on Hezbollah but, in practice, it is destroying Lebanon. It has gotten most of what it could have out of this war. The aerial "target bank" has mostly been covered. The air force could continue to sow destruction in the residential neighborhoods and empty offices and could also continue dropping dozens of tons of bombs on real or imagined bunkers and kill innocent Lebanese, but nothing good will come of it.

Those who want to restore Israel's deterrent capabilities have succeeded. Hezbollah and the rest of its enemies know that Israel reacts with enormous force to any provocation. South Lebanon is cleaner now of a Hezbollah presence. In any case, the organization is likely to return there, just as it is likely to rearm. An international agreement could be achieved now, and it won't be possible to achieve a better deal at a reasonable price in the future.

Israel's other goals - returning the captured soldiers and the elimination of Hassan Nasrallah - will anyway be more difficult to achieve even if the war goes on for weeks and months. The IDF is now asking for "two more weeks" and in another two weeks it will ask for "another two weeks." A decisive victory is not in the offing.

continued: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/741435.html

[SoCalDem]

1. I can think of at least a few who did not win.. Lebanon being one of them

It has gone from being a "comeback country", finally emerging from decades of war..all shiny and new..to piles of dust, rubble, and bodies..

I would not call that winning, no matter whose "fault" is was:cry:

[bigtree]

4. the combatants

obviously 'winning' is a callous term for matters of war.

[wordpix2]

2. good points, so both sides: YOU WON!!! Now give it up & make peace!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Pass out the medals, build a monument, and shed crocodile tears.

It usually appeases the public and prepares them for the next round carnage..all for a "good" cause of course.