Israel looking for something that could be viewed as a victory

[bigtree]

as they continue their bloody assaults on Lebanon . . .

Israelis Chase Hint of Victory

August 13, 2006

JERUSALEM, Aug. 12 — Israel’s move to triple its ground forces in Lebanon a day before it is expected to accept a cease-fire has two goals: to cause as much damage to Hezbollah as possible before leaving and to conclude the conflict with something that could be viewed as a victory for an Israeli government under domestic pressure.

Having begun the war by proclaiming that the aim was the destruction and disarmament of Hezbollah, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will only be able to claim that Hezbollah is badly hurt and, with the help of international troops, effectively restrained — even without the robust new international force or disarming of the militia that Israel initially demanded.

In this last army push, which many here regard as awkwardly handled and coming too late to make a big difference, Mr. Olmert wants to ensure that the Iranian-backed militia and its stockpiles are at least cleared out of southern Lebanon. The hope is that inhabitants of the north will be able to emerge from bomb shelters and live without the daily fear of rockets falling on them.

Mr. Olmert and his defense minister, Amir Peretz, have been wounded by the perception that they mishandled the war and were overly reluctant to commit sizable ground forces when there was still enough time to accomplish the government’s stated goals. The life of the government is likely to have been shortened.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/13/world/middleeast/13israel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=world&pagewanted=print

[Lerkfish]

1. as opposed to something that is viewed as....

naked aggression.

[malaise]

2. No something that can give both

political survival a la Bushco.

[bigtree]

5. in this stage of the conflict, before the ratifying of the agreement,

there's the fact of Israel's defense, there's the pursuit of military advantage, and then, there's the pressures of Israeli politics which are driving Israel's continuing assaults on Lebanon.

Israel's Cabinet meets again tomorrow . . .

[jsamuel]

3. their policy is a failure

it is the same policy that the US used in Iraq and Afghanistan

it is a failed policy (for so many reasons! if you want them, search for my previous posts)

[The Magistrate]

4. That Is, Indeed, Pretty Much It, Sir, And A Classic Pattern Completed

"War is, at first, the hope that one will be better off; next, the expectation that the other fellow will be worse off; then, the satisfaction that he isn't any better off; and, finally, the surprise at everyone's being worse off."

[scarletwoman]

6. I'm sure it's perfectly reasonable for more civilians to be killed and

wounded, and for more national infrastructure and people's homes to be destroyed in order for the Olmert government and the Israeli military to save a bit of face.

What's the physical, economic and environmental devastation of some little Arab country worth compared to salving the wounded self-esteem of Israel, after all?

sw

[bluestateguy]

7. I'm really more interested in domestic issues right now

With the exception of the Iraq war. So when news of this other little spat is on TV I turn the station. It's time for America to return to normalcy and take care of our own for awhile.

[bigtree]

8. as long as this little spat doesn't spread like the last ones

remember the hijackings that surrounded all of the unrest in the '70s?

[Marie26]

9. Just declare victory & go home. nt

[leftchick]

10. Sunday Bloody Sunday?

tomorrow? :(

[Snivi Yllom]

11. good for Israel

As soon as the 'ceasefire' starts, Syria will start smuggling in stuff to Hezbollah that instant.

Better to cripple Hezbollah while they can. No one else is going to disarm Hezbollah and they will never voluntarily disarm themselves.