It's about annexation, stupid!

[bridgit]

'Officially, Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon is an act of self-defense against Hezbollah's threat, aimed at creating a security buffer zone until the arrival of a "multinational force with an enforcement capability". But increasingly, as the initial goal of a narrow strip of only a few kilometers has now been extended up to the Litani River deep in Lebanon, the real motives behind Israel's invasion are becoming crystal-clear.

It's about (de facto) annexation, stupid. This is a war to annex a major chunk of Lebanese territory without necessarily saying so, under the pretext of security buffer and deterrence against future attacks on Israel.'

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HH05Ak01.html

[AnOhioan]

1. Can't say I disagree w/ your statement n/t

[Kagemusha]

2. So the author claims Hezbollah was provoked by Israel. Ok. How?

How exactly did Israel do that?

I understand full well that S. Lebanon, and indeed, much more of Lebanon now, is being made effectively unliveable by Israel's choking off of the economy and causing mass internal displacement and so on. And yes, this could create conditions for de facto annexation, though I sort of doubt formal annexation would be easy to get accepted, even in the US. But... this thing about Israel provoking Hezbollah into capturing two of its soldiers, that, I don't understand. I don't know what factual basis there could possibly be to it.

[bridgit]

5. there's another lead-in regarding Israel's desire for the scarce waters...

of the region, it seems very much about watering that 'tree of life', Israeli peaches, pears & live stock; so that they don't mind so much if no one is there, less impact upon water access, but i'll say this...

Hezbollah made a major blunder imo crossing the Israeli border

[jonnyblitz]

3. Stealing everybody's land is their thing. nt

[bridgit]

6. and access to water if not the water itself, yes...

[joemurphy]

4. I don't think the Israelis are pursuing an "annexation" strategy.

The last thing Israel wants is another swatch of territory to occupy that is predominantly Arab. I think their motives are to push Hezbollah farther from Israel and disarm it, if possible.

I don't think the latter strategy will make Israel markedly more secure, however, and all things considered isn't particularly smart. But I don't believe Israel is doing this because it's greedy for a hunk of Lebanon.

[bridgit]

7. well, the article mentioned a 'de facto' annexation, and that can...

definitely happen at this rate x(