Ran Cohen, Israeli MK, calls for cease-fire

[oberliner]

KIRYAT SHEMONA, Israel - As Israel's offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon enters its third week, the government is coming under growing criticism at home.

Israel is sustaining heavy casualties — nine soldiers were killed and at least 22 others were wounded in south Lebanon on Wednesday alone — while the army has been unable to stop the rocket barrages on northern Israel that have killed 18 civilians in 15 days.

<snip>

"The war is leading us by the nose to sink deeper in the Lebanese mud. The Hezbollah wants to drag us into its territory. The moment the army will be in Lebanon for an extended period, it will be hell for us in there," said Ran Cohen, a dovish lawmaker and a colonel in the Israeli army reserves. "The deeper we get drawn in, the worse it will be."

While Cohen called for a cease-fire, political hawks demanded a tougher military strategy, taking issue with Israel's decision to begin the offensive with airstrikes and artillery barrages and only later to send in ground troops.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060726/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_lebanon_s_quagmire;_ylt=AjAQAufOF_NSSFmNAjI5IPKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[ShortnFiery]

1. Yes, finally a moderate voice of reason!

:applause:

On edit: Cohen "Ran Cohen, a dovish lawmaker and a colonel in the Israeli army"

The above statement does not make sense. He's a military man so he's not exactly a peace nic?

[Little Star]

2. The US hawks and the Israeli hawks don't give a damn

about other peoples kids dying to fight their wars! Bastids all of em'.

[smacky44]

3. Democracies don't listen to their people. Don't they know that?

All over the world THE PEOPLE are calling for a cease fire but the leaders of most nations, either monarcy, dictatorship, or democracy just ignore them.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Condi said something to the effect that she did not want "spasms"

in cease fires. Is that playing in line with her "Birthing pains" of the Neo-Con vision of the New (and Improved) Middle East?

Also, as I read through the article, it seems like some of the Israeli Press is taking a non-jaundiced eyed view at this process. I note more criticism of the Israeli government in Israeli media than what I see in the USA M$M. Just my impression that the Israeli Media appears to me, more critical than what I would have expected (as an ugly American :blush:).

[partylessinOhio]

6. Is Condoho lamenting that she has passed up her opportunity to reproduce?

She sure seems hung-up on female terms.

[itzamirakul]

5. Amazing, isn't it, how all of these old farts can sit back and plan wars

and then send young men out to die in them. Playing video games with real people. These old goats should be locked up in nursing homes, to keep the rest of the Israeli people safe from their hardheadedness.

"Hezbolla wants to drag us into its territory," I don't think anyone believes this.

The problem is that Israel thought this attack on Hezbolla was going to be a "cakewalk," the same as Rumsfeld did about Iraq three years ago. Isreal now has to consider if it wants to lose so many of its young men in the prime years of life instead of doing what the original intent was...to trade prisoners because the Hezbees are giving the soldiers a really hard time. The only thing that is left is nuclear weapons and Israel is the only country that has them in the ME.

Israel always says it does not need anyone else's help, but it looks like this time they just might.

[jsamuel]

7. YES, EXACTLY!

Suicide Anti-Terrorism