CNN: Israel leafleting north of the Litani river

[Karmadillo]

Advising civilians to abandon the area. Looks like Israel is very, very thirsty to expand the conflict.

[David Dunham]

1. Blood thirsty rats

[malaise]

2. River thirsty rats

They want the Litani. It's all coming out.

[theHandpuppet]

11. We told 'em, didn't we?

Israel has coveted the Litani since the beginning and if they have their way Lebanon will never get it back.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1696420
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1698430

[malaise]

13. Yes we did

They won't get it -ever.

[mmonk]

3. South Lebanon stretches much further north than we knew.

[theanarch]

4. wanting it and having it are two different things...

...and i'm beginning to doubt that even Olmert et al have any idea what the hell they're doing anymore, except escalating the violence to overcome the accumulation of mistakes, losses, etc., they've achieved thus far...as Uri Avnery points out (www.counterpunch.com), like a gambler on a losing streak, who keeps betting more and more and more, each time he loses the previous hand. The air war didn't work, so they sent in the commandos and special forces; they got their asses handed to them, so the IDF brigades were committed; they've bogged down, so now the divisions are being dispatched, with more divisions of reservists on the way. Even if Israel intends to stay, they are just setting themselves up for a repeat of the 1982-2000 occupation that ended with an ignoble retreat--an experience Israeli politicians from all parties (including Likud and Kadima)were promising to NOT repeat only a few years ago. As someone quoting Napoleon posted on another thread: do not ascribe to evil what can adequately be explained by incompetence; remember, PM Olmert and Defense Minister Peretz (sp?) are chickenhawk novices, getting to "play soldier" with the IDF for the first (and hopefully last) time.

[leveymg]

5. They'll soon wish they had the old (pre-7/06) Hezbollah back

The inevitable end of this will be a reversion to terrorism. And lots of it.

This isn't going to destroy Hezballah, it will just convert it from a stable "state within a state" back to a terrorist organization -- but, one that's much larger and more diverse with fresh recruits from throughout Lebanese society, and likely much more dangerous than what Israel faced before it was forced to withdraw from Lebanon the first time in May, 2000.

It's going to be bloodbath on both sides, and it's going to go on for a long time. Years.

This is really a monstrously stupid thing to do, unless a permanent state of regional war is what they want.

[theanarch]

6. well, it kinda seems that...

"...a permanent state of regional war" is what they already have, and had, for the past 60 years; which may explain why the present government found it so thoughtlessly easy to provoke this blood-fest...otherwise, i (sadly) agree. It's so obvious, only an Israeli or American politician would fail to see it.

[leveymg]

7. It can get a lot worse, and is quickly.

Hope there's a strategy to this that doesn't just end with a lot of great big craters where cities used to be.

[theanarch]

8. Given the current alignment of forces...

...which is to say, the US political class's near-total support for Olmert and his war, i don't know of any. But then, i do tend towards cynicism, because in the long run, the cynics are always correct...one just has to wait long enough.

[leveymg]

9. Same is said to be true of broken watches.

No comparing you to one. :hi: Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Do you you think the elites are incompetent or ingenious in this one? Perhaps they have an ingenious plan that's being carried out incompetently? This escalation just looks like brute force and ignorance to me.

[theanarch]

12. hard to say...

...and i tend to look to Uri Avnery for guidance here; i'm certain they (the elites) imagine they have a plan (how ingenious it may or may not be is an entirely separate matter); but they certainly are incompetent, if not delusional. My personal feeling is that Olmert et al initiated this "war" for the usual reasons, and as per previous governments, expect an unusual (e.g. different) result--like, this time it will actually "work" (however they define the term). And likewise, a pleasure to make your acquaintence.

[wordpix2]

10. I am sorry to say I agree: Olmert is looking like more like * each day

I hope I'm wrong but that's the way this war is looking to me.