AP: Hezbollah's Fight Impresses Supporters

[Eugene]

Hezbollah's Fight Impresses Supporters


Wednesday August 2, 2006 11:46 AM

AP Photo DAM101

By SCHEHEREZADE FARAMARZI

Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - Hezbollah can claim at least one victory in its fight with Israel
- a growing reputation in the Arab world as one of the few forces to successfully stand
up to the powerful Israeli army.

"What they've achieved is very symbolic and of a gigantic value," said Abbas Baydoun,
a columnist for Beirut's leftist As Safir newspaper. "It may not be a military victory,
but its value is more important than that."

Hezbollah's task could get tougher, though, if Israel launches a major ground offensive.
Israel poured up to 10,000 armored troops into south Lebanon on Tuesday, including an
operation in Baalbek, where they fought with militants at a Hezbollah-run hospital.

Even if Hezbollah suffers losses, though, winning or losing a war that's fought between
a nation state and a guerrilla group requires an entirely different kind of assessment
than a conventional war, said retired Gen. Elias Hanna of the Lebanese army.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5989134,00.html

[pooja]

1. seems a little excesive for the loss ot 2 soldiers.

[cptrflyr]

2. Unless....

Unless you're the family of one of the 2

[Laotra]

3. Families

of the Israel POWs have said they would prefer a prisoner swap and don't wan't escalation of violence.

[Xipe Totec]

4. 10,000 troops - pretty big family n/t