Is Israel better off with this war?
 

How is Israel better off in the short and long term doing what they are doing in the Lebenon war?

Too early to tell. Ask again in 2 weeks.

B

Way to early, ask again in about 6 months.

This is a good one.

I think you have to break it down from perspective side.

From the Israel side?

It will show the Israeli public that the new (post Sharon) leadership is willing to fight to support their state.

It will measure how much support they still get from the US

It will try and keep Arab nations from taking back their land

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On the other side, it will make them even more hated than they are already by the rest of the world.

Depending on how little we distance ourselves from them, it will do the same for us.

It will solidify the UN as a peacekeeping "system" if the UN can strong-arm them into ending the murder.

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In the end, it will most likely be another Golan Heights. They are going to steal some land in the Southern Lebanon -- call it a "buffer" zone for a few years, and then start to put a few settlers on it... you'll have Golan all over again -- this will REALLY piss off the region.

It will be VERY interesting to see the boundaries of Israel when this is all over. In the end, I suspect they will pick up slightly more land (and better land) than they gave up to Palestine recently (gave back). For each acre they give back, they'll make back 1.1 acres... it's just the way things work.

In the public eye, this UN Out Post and the constant civilians murdered needs to stay on the front page. People need to be reminded who the murders are here -- that isn't going to bode well for them.

They will play the victim, with US standing next to them.

In the end, we'll pay some how -- let's just hope it is only with high-oil prices and not with another 9/11.

In math we learn that infinity plus one still equals infinity. Their aim is to kill all Jews so a few more measures of hate is not significant.

See above.

Drama queen again. Did you ever read up the word "murder" and see how it applies? The UN isn't even strong enough to end the murder on the other side so why do you think it will work here?

So if we fight a war, you expect it to be such that you go back to your corner and I go to mine and we kiss and make up? Can you stop the shelling? Got a better idea to ensure they don't rocket nearby towns? IF your brat keeps throwing rocks at my house, you think I want him standing on the fence line? Would you?

Also we need to know who is using civillians and UN personnel as shields. Drama Queen.

Your buddies do the same thing with the other arab nations standing beside them. What is the difference?

You following GD too? What next? Read the Book? Or name calling? :D :D

Unlike Siduri19, I won't want you to spank me. :D :D Just making fun of the way it could progress.

Please as little name calling in this thread as possible. It may be to early to tell, I agree; but I think the've gotten into a no win situation. I don't believe they can "kill" Hezbollah if they bombed everyday for a year however, and they are making it easier to convert people to do things they call terrorist acts.

I believe they could if the got every square inch covered. Hence a nuke is easier. Scares the people for a while at least.

If so, he is not doing a good job of it. I'd masquerade as a neutral. Best way to be a sleeper is to not attract any attention. Unless you are a decoy.

But a nuke won't happen, and besides all Hezzies are not in Lebenon. BTW I started a name calling thread, so everyone can vent over there.:P

Nukes may not happen. However, with us, there is no hope. With Isreal, if the fighting gets intense enough, they might just lob a few here and there since they have more stones than we do about that sort of thing. One can hope.

How should I know whether Isreal has done the right thing by going into Lebanon? I don't know what sort of pressures they face, day in and day out. Based on what little I know about Isreal, it appears that they either underestimated their foe or are willing to take substantial losses in an extended war.

Courtesy of www.washingtonmonthly.com is the following quote from an article in the Wall Street Journal:

"A senior [Bush] administration official said the U.S. believed Israel would have only a matter of weeks to strike Hezbollah before international pressure for a cease-fire forced an end to the fighting, especially if civilian casualties climbed. Now, the official said, the U.S. is beginning to fear that it could be left both with mounting regional fury and an emboldened Hezbollah that has withstood the initial assault without losing its ability to inflict casualties on Israeli troops and civilians."

Sounds like Iraq to me. Maybe it will turn out OK, but it's going to be a rough ride.

As long as we don't knuckle down and force Isreal to stand down, it probably won't happen.

Hezzies ain't in lebanon? WTF did they go? Sneaky barstools.