John King has provided us with some news and that, along with something else I just watched has managed to flip me!
Israel are now using “targetted strikes” implying that its previous tactic was indiscriminate bombing. Israel declares a period of cessation of bombing and then goes against that before Hezbollah fires a missile within that 48 hour period.
It makes one ask the question, was Israel relishing an opportunity to claim “they started it”? This is no longer self-defence — it is now cynical. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Hezbollah to win, but I do want Israel to stop and allow UN peace-makers to take over as soon as practicable.
July 31st, 2006 at 6:49 pm
It’s not just you who is ‘flipping’. The Israeli press which so far has been supporting the military action has actually put yesterday’s Lebanese deaths on their covers for the first time.
Yahoo News Link
I’ve flipped about 50 times over the last 15 years on the middle east crisis so you’re not alone
(Ed: Sorry, edited the link to make it prettier)
July 31st, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Let the UN take over… that should give Israel about 50 years to play with.
July 31st, 2006 at 9:26 pm
I’m not arguing, just thinking out loud..
Is it wise to keep flipping? or a weakness?
I struggle with this myself.
I know people want to be fair, but should there come a time when you have to trust your own reasoning and form a solid opinion? can you do this and still remain open minded?
With every new report you can’t just forget everything else.
July 31st, 2006 at 11:00 pm
Leanne, I would say you cannot form a solid opinion and remain open minded unless you are sure all the facts have been collated.
In the case of Israel vs. Arabs the facts are continually changing, justifications and reasons for actions are subtley changing and, most importantly, the leaders of each side change from time-to-time.
I have a solid opinion that Hezbollah and Hamas (and Al Qaeda and many others) are a danger to democracy, a danger to freedom and a danger to humanity, but that doesn’t change whether or not I think Israel is justified in any particular action it takes.
I firmly believe Sharon would not have attacked Lebanon in this way and I firmly believe that Israelis will join me in my flip following this display of agression.
August 1st, 2006 at 3:16 am
Todays news here was surprisingly all on Israels side….
I dont want to see more deaths but I can’t say Israel shouldnt use force. I would agree there has to be another way though… since its know these groups use civillians and dont care about their saftey themselves.
I read in an arab paper today about Hamas…. children follow them around in battle willingly then when they are killed they are refered to as both civillian and myarters, it’s the same with Hezbollah, they pick constantly at Israel.
In the same arab paper after the kidnapping of the soldiers… before the attack, Hezbollah leaders said they used this stratagy to provoke and would be patient. It went on to say women passed out cookies on the street in celebration…
how do you battle that. And Lebanon needs to choose, not only did they allow Hezbollah to remain and strenghten itself.. it also holds seats in their gonernment now.
there will be no end to this.
August 1st, 2006 at 9:03 am
I think that’s the crazy thing… The terrorists Israel are fighting are so wrong and so indefensible that for Israel to use such overwhelming force and alienate its natural supporting base (people like me) is bizarre.
August 1st, 2006 at 10:15 am
I’ll just sit here with a smug look on my face and say nothing Gav. ;o)
August 1st, 2006 at 10:28 am
In the previous Israel thread I suggested that Israel needed the 48 hours to transport the new bombs America had given them and to move operatives into Lebanon for a takeover. It said on the news this morning that the Israeli’s were using the time to move troops and supplies into Southern Lebanon in preperation for a full-scale ground invasion. I must be a psychic, eh?
August 1st, 2006 at 10:49 am
Smug and psychic…