15K ground troops call up in Israel. Shit is about to hit the fan.

[lonestarnot]

CNN Anderson Pooper reports Syria is on alert. Road to Damascus bombed.

[MADem]

1. The actual number is closer to 30. It is just that half are ready to go

[lonestarnot]

2. Don't know about the 30, they said 15k

[Skip Intro]

3. A recent thread said 30K called up - maybe the 15K is a separate call up?

not good either way...

we are descending into madness

[BeHereNow]

4. The train is approaching the edge of the cliff...

We are so fucked.
God help our troops in the region.
BHN

[MADem]

7. Oh, no, they said thirty, and they are RAPIDLY pulling that number back

Google it if you don't believe me. Here, let me save you the trouble. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=+30+thousand+reservists+israeli+cabinet+&btnG=Search

For some reason, they are backing away from that number, but it is out there, and has been for three or four days. THIRTY thousand. Not ten, five, fifteen or twenty.

http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=2&nid=41281 Israel wants to refresh the forces already in Lebanon.

The Israeli Army is calling up 30-thousand reserve soldiers.

Israel's security cabinet has decided against expanding its offensive in Lebanon.

But the size of the troop mobilization leaves questions about the Israeli military's overall strategy.

They are scrubbing that number from the websites as I type this. Caches are your only hope of seeing the reports.

[TomInTib]

5. 15K or 30K, ...

This is bad shit.

God have mercy on the Lebanese.

"When the elephants fight, the grass gets trampled"

[uppityperson]

6. calling up 15,000 more reservists, no ceasefire 'til Sat

Israel Radio reported plans to call up more reserve soldiers to support the expanded ground operations. The radio said additional three divisions -- which could mean at least a further 15,000 reservists -- would be called up.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=TopNews&storyID=2006-08-01T050146Z_01_L30823603_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml

The expectation is UN wil demand a cease fire Fri, with it taking effect Sat or letting them continue a couple more days.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/744888.html
"The sources added that the UN Security Council would call for a cease-fire in Lebanon on Friday, and it could take effect as early as Saturday."

[NVMojo]

8. The Zionists have a war boner going on and no cold water will douse it

now cuz it feels too good for them ...

[regnaD kciN]

9. ...but only because Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld...

...slipped the Viagra in their Mogen David.

O.K., I admit that's sick humor. But I can't help feeling that the Israeli government is dutifully following instructions from the PNAC crew in Washington...because only reviving the notion of a "global clash of civilizations" will be enough to frighten American voters into running back to Daddy W and his party in November. (Unless, of course, this brings about another terraist attack on U.S. soil -- that would be even better, from their point of view.)

My guess is that the White House "true believers" want this new front on the Middle East war to continue at least for the next couple of months, so that we'll be scared sick of World War III just about the time the fifth anniversary commemorations of 9/11 roll around.