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Friday, 14 Jul 2006
Insansity seems like a viable option right now. I have tried my best to boycott the TV today, and succeeded,but news and discussion of the war have follwoed me everywhere. I think it's very interesting the moodshift that all of my friends- many of them are anti-Israeli- are experiencing towards the attacks on Hezbollah: Many of them think Israel is right at doing what it's doing. Some- whoa re of lebanese orgion- are even hoping for the complete destruction of Hezbollah. It's surreal.
Me, personally? I am not sure who to root for, because even though I hate Hezbollah I think Israel is full of shit for not attacking Syria instead. They know that this is where the orders and the supplies come from. It's why they hit the lebanese-syrian Highway: to prevent the supplies from coming in. The way I see it, I want some side to win. Any side. Whatever the ouctome is, I want someone soundly defeated, to the degree that what's happening now can not happen again. I want the rules of the game changed. Either Israel wins and Hezbollah is destoryed, or Israel loses and Hezbollah wins. I don't want some peace negotiations and pussy footing and bullshit where nothing gets resolved and the mentalities stay the same. Basically, either the arabs win this or they should just shut the fuck up forever. If this doesn;t happen, if some side doesn't rule supreme, this will just go on for years and years to come. And honestly, I am fuckin bored with it. I know the lebanese are bored with it and the Israelis are bored with it. The only people that are not bored with it are the freakin Shia of Lebanon and the Hamastanis, but then again, they live for this shit. What else do they have to live for really?
Now, I for one awaited the Hezbollah surprise, and I have to say I found it rather dissapointing. They hit one fuckin ship. That's the surprise? That's what the Israelis should beware? Hehehe. Dude, they blew up half of Beirut, they destroyed Nasrallah's home and Office, and he is now hiding like a rat, declaring war on a cellphone since he no longer dares to show his face in public. He declares open war from a hideout and he doesn't even have the means to have it televized. We are suppsoed to be impressed by this? What are your war capabilities you fuckhead if in one day you run hiding and can't even show your face? What is this bullshit anyway? And you know the Israelis haven't even started fighting yet. why is…ahh..nevermind.
And then you read something like Hal's latest rant and you ponder the arab mentality. We are the only people in the world who talk about dignity and honor when it comes to military conflict, and who will continue fighting losing wars, unprepared and undermilitarized, because of reasons such as "our pride and dignity" and then wonder why the fuck we lose. I mean, can you imagine if the americans acted the same way? They would never have left Vietnam. They would stay in Iraq forever. You don't see a single american saying "we should stay in Iraq because our national pride and dignity are wounded by the insurgents attacks". Only we would use some half assed justification to keep fighting wars we can't win, where we keep getting our asses kicked, and some how don't see the folly in it at all.
And all of this talk about Israel targeting civillians really pisses me off. Let me clear it up for you once and for all: Hamas and Hezbollah don't have military bases: they plan, operate and attack from homes, where their families are. The Israelis, in order to retaliate, they have to attack those homes, which always lead to those women and children, who live in those houses, to die. If Hamas and Hezbollah don;t want civillians to die, don;t fuckin plan your attacks or launch your attacks near civillians. But you know they do this on purpose, so it would look bad on the Israeli if they attacked. Dude, they called the airport 1 hour before they hit it to have it evacuated, they warned all of southern Beirut yesterday to take cover because they don't want to kill them. Not hezbollah. Hezbollah doesn't give a shit who their missiles hit. And somehow, they remain blameless in the arab mind: after all, they are not jews. Listen, you can not talk shit about how you will beat and destory Israel, and then scream "Humanatarian crisis" when they hit you back. Either suffer the consequences of your actions or SHUT THE FUCK UP. I am sick and tired of your fuckin POSING!
I keep thinking that this is the opprutune time for the lebanese army to go in and disarm hezbollah, and end this once and for all. But they won't. Not because they are above it or because of some notions of nationalism or shit like that: they hate Hezbollah more than Israel does. They simply won;t do it because their army is on permenant vacation and can not be botherd to actually fight, well, anyone.
Whatever…
Anyway, the situation has some very interesting developments anyway..
You have the Saudis condeming Hezbollah's actions. The first to do it too. Who saw that one coming?
Chirac took a swipe at Syria as well. Whoa…
Lebanon asked for arab help, and the Arab League meeting is tomorrow. I can tell you what will happen right now: They will meet, drink tea, issue a resolution condeming Israel, then have lunch, then have a Press conference talking about the resolution condemening Israel, and then have dinner, and then they will go home and watch sitcoms or some shit. Lebanon, please, asking arabs to help is like asking Whitney to lay off Crack. I am sorry Doha, your fears are founded: Lebanon, unfortunately, is on its own.
Olmert said that he won't halt the offensive until Hezbollah is disarmed. I guess we are in this for the long haul.
Kais claims that the lebanese army has actually joined the fight. His source is Al Manar though. So we will wait and see!
Palestinian militants have blown up the wall seperating Gaza from Egypt again, only this time to let the palestinians trapped in the middle through back to Gaza. I am glad this happend, because the situation there was horrible, with people dying from being starnded there for days in the ehat. The egyptian government wouldn;t let them through, and didn't provide them with tents or anything. It was shameful to say the least.
Speaking of which, are the Israelis still attacking Gaza? Any news on Gaza anyone?
And , finally, this group called "The lebanese Foundation for Peace" have written a letter thanking Ehud Olmert for attacking Hezbollah. I am not sure how "representitive" this group is though.
More tomorrow…
But before I go, I want you to think of something. What is going on right now, it will lead the Israelis to one inevitable conclusion. This is it:
Can you blame them for thinking like that?
Oh, who am I kidding? Of course we can! They are Jews. We blamed them for the Tsunami. We can blame them for everything!
Update: The new Cairo Freeze cartoon is, as always, perfect:
Touche!
May he of the bigger Penis win!
July 14th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Israel’s reaction is an overreaction. Period. There is no justification for it. Now Lebanese, expats,and tourists are trapped in their country with no way out. The collective punsihment of 7 million for the lives of two soldiers? Imagine.
July 14th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
This is what you said:
“The egyptian government wouldn;t let them through, and didn’t provide them with tents or anything. It was shameful to say the least.”
This is what the woman that writes the blog: http://a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com/ said:
“and of course, Rafh is still closed; 8 people have died waiting to get home. Egypt, following Israeli orders, is refusing to open the gates.”
SM - Do you think the Egyptian gov’t and Army are acting under orders from Israel? About a week ago the Palestinians blew two holes in the border wall between Gaza and Egypt. The Egyptians called their Army in to keep the Palestinians from entering Egyptian territory. Was that on the advice of Israel?
July 14th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
Life is depressing.
July 14th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
First - I wanted to say I recently found your website because of (slate.com). What a find! Your insights are refreshing and give a resonable picture of events occurring in your portion of the world.
I would love to make comments on current events (which have me glued) but perhaps it would come for not at this moment. Too thorny. Though, in the future, perhaps. I hope you keep posting so I can keep reading.
- trip.
July 14th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
> We can blame them for everything!
The usual rant - but not cynical, snarky, secular, libertarian -
instead kissing the butts and licking the boots of the master
race - the ones that help so much to keep Mubarak in power.
Down on your knees! We want you to give them the Sinai!
At least!
July 14th, 2006 at 11:53 pm
> Your insights are refreshing and give a resonable
> picture of events occurring in your portion of the world.
Like Comical Ali.
July 14th, 2006 at 11:55 pm
EEE, dein Fuehrer calls on you. Follow his calls and fuck off!
July 14th, 2006 at 11:58 pm
Roba, isn’t it?
July 15th, 2006 at 12:06 am
Sandmonkey you are as great as usual. I actually found your site by the time of the “danish situation” and it was my first choice now to search for opinions from the “other side”.
Thank you!
July 15th, 2006 at 12:49 am
Sorry SM, but you are full of shit for wanting Israel to attack Syria first.
Don’t be foolish. If Israel attacks Syria, then Hezbollah comes into the conflict as a proxy of Syria anyway. Israel will wind up fighting both Syria and Hezbollah at the same time. On the other hand, if Israel attacks Hezbollah first, then Syria will wait and hold its breath (despite probably posturing from the sidelines), hoping Israel will be satisfied with crushing Hezbollah and not roll on Damascus next.
More interesting updates from Counterterrorism Blog:
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/07/iranian_manufactured_raad_1_mi.php
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/07/inside_hizballahs_decisionmaki_1.php
July 15th, 2006 at 12:58 am
are you surprised you’re friends think in the same way you do ?? i’m not!
but let me remind everyone, take almost anything the monkey thinks, reverse it, and that’s how everyone else in Egypt think( except for mubarak, he sounds more like sandy, you know pro Israel and USA blindly)
So Isreal is pissed off Syria, yet Syria didn’t step on Israels toes, however Israel is blaming it all on Syria!!!!! this is an old game, you have a problem with someone you blame everything on him.
and guess what the biggest retard of all time G.W Bush keeps blaming it on Syria too!
July 15th, 2006 at 1:06 am
Iran will be bombed before Syria. I’ve been expecting Israel to attack Irans nuclear facilities for months. Hezbollah provided them with the perfect excuse. Truth be told,most Arabs will sleep a lot easier if Iran is denuked. Especially Sunni Arabs.
July 15th, 2006 at 1:09 am
http://www.what-a-world.com/2006/07/hezbollah_and_h.html
I reject the notion that this is over-reaction. If you have neighbors on two fronts that crossed the border, killed and kidnapped soldiers - what would you do? Call the united nations? Yea uh huh. No you show them that you take no shit - that you will defend your soil.
How can this end - return the soldiers and go back and lick your wounds. Or face the consequences. When our buildings and people were attacked on 9/11 - did we over-react when we erased the Taliban?
July 15th, 2006 at 1:14 am
Lebanon ignores Hezbolla. Lebanon’s Hezbollah attacks Israel. Israel should attack Syria?
C’mon, man. Why look for the match when the barn is burning? Deal with the fire, then go for the arsonists.
July 15th, 2006 at 1:17 am
WTF is this “proportional response” bs anyway? The enemy decides when and where to attack and with what weapons and therefore you are limited to responding to what the enemy has chosen as to what and where and with what weapons you can respond to this attack? This is even worse than diplospeak. If you’re gonna attack another country, you should be prepared to accept the risks inherent in what that other country might decide is an appropriate response. Period.
July 15th, 2006 at 1:19 am
Hey SM…
This is perhaps the most sane arab (or any for that matter…) responce to this conflict that I have seen so far! Seriously!
I must confess to a pro-israeli attitude regarding this particular incident, but overall, I’d like to see some sort of final solution this time around, whichever way it goes… Whatever happens, it just can’t go on like this, and that’s what we’re looking at right now!
Yes! There is no dignity in war, whether it’s a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ war - there is just loss, and the sooner a war is ended the better!
Yes! Hamas and Hizbollah claim military tactics while waging their wars behind civilians… What do you expect their opponents to do?! The only ones that can do anything about them are the populations of Lebanon and Palestine, unfortunately the ones that voted for them at elections. I’m sorry, but having the right to vote also means bearing the responsibility of your government’s actions…
Yes! Of course the other arab nations won’t help - they never have. Keeping tension up in Palestine and Lebanon have been their agenda since day one, and I wish, oh I wish, that you would realize this before it’s too late!
Come on, already! Renounce any attacks towards Israel! Make an effort to crack down on terrorists in your territory. Do whatever you can in order to not give Israel an excuse to lash out - you’ll find that the rest of the world (including Israel probably) will give you the benefit of the doubt!!!
Sorry for any misspellings or whatnot - english is my second language, and I’m drunk from a night in town.. yes, there are some parts of the world from where your situation seems completely surreal!!!
July 15th, 2006 at 1:23 am
I can’t wait to hear sandmonkey’s reaction when he finds out that the 2nd hizbAllah surprise attack hit an egyptian passenger ship by accident!
July 15th, 2006 at 1:27 am
What? Passenger ship? Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!
July 15th, 2006 at 1:27 am
[...] SandMonkey postCount(’890′); | postCountTB(’890′); | Permalink | Link Cosmos [...]
July 15th, 2006 at 1:28 am
An old Thai proverb:
At high tide fish eat ants; at low tide ants eat fish.
July 15th, 2006 at 1:29 am
Why is everyone ready to believe Syria is behind this? Assad does what Iran wants. Iran wants the world to back off vis a vis its nukes. Ahmamadashole as much as warned the world that he could heat things up in the ME if the world doesn’t back off. I’m not entirely convinced Assad even knew this was going to happen, Lebanon sure as hell didn’t. Even if he knew, Hezbollah is Iran’s creature more than Syria’s, and Assad sure isn’t going to cross the Mullahs. What has Assad said about all this?
July 15th, 2006 at 1:33 am
Sandmonkey, you are one of the brightest dudes on the planet. What really leads me to say that is your cartoon about Israel’s “inevitable conclusion”. Also, though, your insight about needing a final end to the decades-old conflict is absolutely correct. That’s what differentiates WWI from WWII. The Germans couldn’t believe they lost WWI — and didn’t believe it — but they sure got the hint in April, 1945. Telling scene from the miniseries “Band of Brothers” where the paratroopers throw a German family out for the night to encamp in their house: the German woman says “wir sind kein Nazis” (we’re not Nazis) and one trooper says (paraphrasing), “why is it in all of Germany I never meet any Nazis?”
July 15th, 2006 at 1:34 am
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060715/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_civilian_ship;_ylt=AqcXEhzNXGbHAeUFaUffXuGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ–
ap news on the accidental egyptian ship attack
July 15th, 2006 at 1:34 am
Ahmad - you retard!
Have you ever read my Book?
Don’t lie, now, because lying lips are an abomination before Me.
But if you had read my Book, you would know that it is now, as it has always been, ISRAEL AKBAR!
July 15th, 2006 at 1:39 am
Hey SM…..Littlegreenfootballs is quoting you dude!!!! Get your website ready for heavy traffic!! Congratulations
July 15th, 2006 at 1:41 am
Hey, that means they’ll be reading *my* posts! :-> I’m somebody!
July 15th, 2006 at 1:42 am
If this doesn;t happen, if some side doesn’t rule supreme, this will just go on for years and years to come.
That is precisely the most accurate description of 1948 and beyond for the middle east wars between arabs and Israel I have ever seen.
As General Sherman said more than a century ago, “War is the remedy our enemies have chosen, and I say give them all they want.”
Hizbullah just picked a fight with a fresh administration that has to prove its security bona fides to its own people and its allies. This was not a smart move on their part.
July 15th, 2006 at 1:58 am
[...] Egyptian blogger Sandmonkey of Rantings of a Sandmonkey writes a must-read post concerning the war in Lebanon. I think it’s very interesting the moodshift that all of my friends- many of them are anti-Israeli- are experiencing towards the attacks on Hezbollah: Many of them think Israel is right at doing what it’s doing. Some- whoa re of lebanese orgion- are even hoping for the complete destruction of Hezbollah. It’s surreal. [...]
July 15th, 2006 at 2:05 am
God Save Lebanon
July 15th, 2006 at 2:06 am
I just want to thank you for posting man. It is a horrible time, everyone will agree…or most everyone. Your always makes me chuckle, even in the midst of this God-forsaken time.
And for that I thank you.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:08 am
Awesome post, dude.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:21 am
The Lebanese Army has reportedly joined in the fighting….against Israel.
http://arabiandissent.blogspot.com/2006/07/world-war-3-begins-in-t-minus-109.html
http://www.beirutbeltway.com/beirutbeltway/2006/07/the_lebanese_ar.html
The Lebanese have chosen to live in peace with Hezbollah, so I guess they can rest in peace with Hezbollah, as well.
Good night suckers!
Syria, you are next…..
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060715/wl_nm/mideast_syria_hizbollah_dc_1;_ylt=AooKJFEwglf_6SpC4EpozHwUvioA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
July 15th, 2006 at 2:46 am
It takes the Israelis about three days to mobilize probably another two or three days of preparation then they can roll.
Syria has been firing on the Golan.
I think Syria is on the target list.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:47 am
Sandmonkey and company, I wonder if any of you saw this. I thought it would be big news but it hardly made the rounds.
Excellent article. But I hope Israel wins. I don’t think Hezbollah winning will help anyone.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:48 am
Sandmonkey and company, I wonder if any of you saw this. I thought it would be big news but it hardly made the rounds.
Excellent article. But I hope Israel wins. I don’t think Hezbollah winning will help anyone.
July 15th, 2006 at 3:03 am
This is a great article to read.
July 15th, 2006 at 3:17 am
I am not concerned so much with the skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israel however I am very concerned if Israel finds credible evidence to implicate Iran and Syria - hell will break loose.
Visit my blog for articles on the situation.
http://egyptianobserver.blogspot.com
July 15th, 2006 at 3:21 am
Sandman,
What percentage of Egyptians “share” your views, as opposed to regarding you as an infidel?
I lived in Saudi from 1991 to 1995, and although I certainly appreciate that Saudis and Egyptians aren’t identical (happily for you folks), I suspect opinions like yours comprise a tiny minority. Please educate me.
Cheers.
Kirk
July 15th, 2006 at 3:37 am
Let’s fasten our seatbelts…it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
I hope and pray there are more in the arab countries who “get it” like Sandmonkey does. Unfortunately I fear not.
Thanks for expressing in words what I feel but cannot put into words myself.
July 15th, 2006 at 4:14 am
And then you read something like Hal’s latest rant and you ponder the arab mentality. We are the only people in the world who talk about dignity and honor when it comes to military conflict, and who will continue fighting losing wars, unprepared and undermilitarized, because of reasons such as “our pride and dignity” and then wonder why the fuck we lose.
Arab armies lose because the purpose of Arab armies is to support the dictatorship, not to defend their country. “Shit flows down” as they say, and in Arab military it goes double. Morale in Arab armies is horrible because the officers are only interested in preserving their own position, power, and prestige, and that goes all the way to the top. The IDF has a mission to defend Israel first, and they do that first. That’s why Israel has always kicked ass over its neighbors, cause the IDF knows what their mission is.
TBP’s dad said “Israel fought on 3 fronts in 1967 and it was hell. I was there, I saw it all. He has no tanks, no boats, he has nothing except a few toys he got from Iran and it seems abu shakha dah don’t know that Israel confronted 3 of the most powerful armies in the region at the same time. If Israel wanted to brutally crush him it can do so in 1 hour.” He’s right. Like it or not, Israel can kick major ass if it wants to. And right now it wants to. Hopefully the government of Lebanon will get the message, do the right thing, and stop being afraid of Hezbollah. Which is worse, fighting terrorists internally, or taking on Israel?
Hell, I don’t know. I’m just a dumb American who knows a little bit more about geography and history than the average fuck. It’s all a big shit sandwich and we’ve all got to take a bite. But we’ve got to get rid of the sandwich sooner cause otherwise it just keeps getting bigger.
July 15th, 2006 at 4:27 am
the narrow minded person that calls himself one of God names, this can only reflect how do you see yourself, nothing!
July 15th, 2006 at 4:36 am
one military group with relatively small resources and low tech weapons like Hizbullah is a pain in the neck for Israel.
I wonder, what can Iran joined by Syria do to them?
but Israel still have hope i think, if they complete that wall they`ve been building untill it srrounds all of them, they can start building a ceiling for it
July 15th, 2006 at 4:47 am
ahmad has a good point. The wall might keep suicide murderers out,but the unholy warriors can still slaughter innocents with rockets. Israel’s only hope is to level everything within rocket range.
July 15th, 2006 at 5:03 am
yea that, or, they can listen to Ahmadi najad and go live under the see, there was that TV show that saying it’s possible to build a perminant habitat under water.and leave the arab land for it’s rightful people
July 15th, 2006 at 5:03 am
It is easy to critisize Israel for not attacking Syria sitting in Cairo or Toronto.
Are you aware Syrians have chemical weapons?
Oh, and who do you think will replace baby Assad once he is defeated?
July 15th, 2006 at 5:06 am
eee — I have to disagree with what you implied… that Israelis (or Jews) think they are “the master race.” If you know any Israelis or Jews, then you should know there is not a grain of that kind of thinking among them. I happen to think that Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians are and have been atrocious, and Israel bears a lot of responsibility for the present mess (more than the Sandmonkey apparently thinks they do). However, the Israelis do not act out of a sense of superiority, but out of a sense of *fear* — they may have the stronger army but they are still afraid and feel under siege. You may think it is irrational, but it is true.
The only Israelis (and Jews) who do think they are superior are the religious nationalists (e.g., the settlers), who believe that they are superior on religious, not racial grounds. But that makes them no different from Hizbullah and Hamas, who also believe they are superior to non-believers and entitled to use any degree of violence against anyone they please to achieve their ends. The Israeli settlers and the Islamists are exact mirror images of each other.
Returning to the original point, I don’t even think that Israelis (or Jews) see themselves as a race — Israelis, by “race,” are European, Arab (how ’bout that!), African, Indian, etc. Israel must be the most racially diverse country of 6 million people in the world. You are projecting onto the Israelis something that is not there.
July 15th, 2006 at 5:12 am
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HG15Ak02.html
“It all started on July 12 when Israel troops were ambushed on Lebanon’s side of the border with Israel. Hezbollah, which commands the Lebanese south, immediately seized on their crossing. They arrested two Israeli soldiers, killed eight Israelis and wounded over 20 in attacks inside Israeli territory.”
Now can anyone tell me wtf Israeli troops were doing on the Lebanese side of the border in the first place?
July 15th, 2006 at 5:19 am
Arabic speaking Jew, great comment, and it’s because of Israel’s diversity of opinion and ethnicity, which you exemplify, that I was a fan of the country.
Sphinx, good point, we should investigate that
July 15th, 2006 at 5:25 am
“and leave the arab land for it’s rightful people”
Arabs are from the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia,Yemen,Oman,Qatar. They conquered surrounding lands after Mohammed brought them a new religion around 600 A.D. Archeologists are fairly certain Jews were occupying Israel around the time of Jesus,some 600 years earlier. Heck,some Jews claim they can trace their heritage back even further,LOL.
July 15th, 2006 at 5:34 am
Sandmonkey: I’m glad to see an Egypt writing this from Egypt. How many of your countrymen feel the same way?
You and Omar at IraqtheModel are keeping my faith in Arab sanity alive!
God bless you and keep you safe from those who would kill you, me, and anyone else with whom they disagree.
Heidi
July 15th, 2006 at 5:38 am
#46…So revisionists have begun to distort history already. Or maybe the authors hold the same opinion of Israel as the muslims; that all of Israel is Arab/muslim land.
Reminds me of a gem I read on lgf. To paraphrase, Muslims are like cats. They think that just because they tinkled somewhere, it is their territory.
July 15th, 2006 at 5:43 am
Karen, there is an official border between Lebanon and Israel, and this article clearly states that the Israelis were on the Lebanese side. Since when did the Lebanese side _not_ belong to the Lebanese??
July 15th, 2006 at 5:51 am
Hezbollah does not recognize Sheba Farms as being on the Israeli side. Maybe the ambushed Israelis were in another part of Israel that Hezbollah does not recognize as being Israel. Who the hell knows. Revisionists say all kinds of stupid things. You have anymore “legit” sources for your reinterpretation of events?
July 15th, 2006 at 5:57 am
http://uruknet.info/?p=m24569
First paragraph.
July 15th, 2006 at 5:59 am
Actually, the Israelis insist the turf is on their side. The United Nations thinks it belongs to Syria.
Nobody but Hezbollah makes the claim that the turf was Lebanese territory.
So fuck ‘em.
More news and views:
FFE has a post up:
http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2006/07/israel-rolls-up-sleeves-to-hit.html
A daily dose of moonbat hyperventilation:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1820101,00.html
Something about Gaza:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060715/wl_nm/mideast_gaza_dc_17;_ylt=AuWNGy6POMRuhCEbUrlim44UewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw–
July 15th, 2006 at 6:01 am
Ahmad,
yet Syria didn’t step on Israels toes, however Israel is blaming it all on Syria!!!!! this is an old game
Yes. It is an old game. Especially in Lebanon. Lebanon was a majority Christian country in 1975, before the PLO decided to use Lebanon as a base of operations to attack Israel from. Yassir Arafat started the Lebanese civil war when he began attemptpting to ethnically cleanse the Christians. Lebanon was a prosperous and stable country before that. Why did Arafat start the civil war? Because he needed a dis-empowered Lebanon so that he could wage war on Israel from a lawless safe haven. It’s a pattern that has been repeated by Jihadis ever since. Afghanistan in the 80s and Iraq right now, for instance. Jihadis from all over the ME came to help Arafat attack Israel, from Libya to Iran. And they all particpated in the sectarian violence as well.
That was the stage when Israel invaded Lebanon.
Then, instead of allowing Israel to destroy the PLO, a US lead peace plan was agreed to by the PLO and Israel. American, French, Italian and British peacekeepers arrived to evacuate Yassir Arafat and 12000 of his PLO fighters to Tunisia. Which was done. And then Hezbollah blew up 241 American peacekeepers and 56 French peacekeepers. The last of many attacks on the westerners who were trying to bring peace to Lebanon. Why? Because, quite simply, the absense of the PLO gave Syria and Iran a chance to “win” the civil war by proxy (Hezbollah, Amal and to a lesser extent the Druze) and it was necessary that Lebanon NOT have peace. In the interests of Syria and Iran.
And that’s exactly what happened.
We are watching it happen again. You’re right. It’s an old story. Lebanon was a pawn of Syria and Iran for over 20 years, and it was a pawn of Arafat’s before that.
Iran and Syria cannot be allowed to get away with it, this time.
July 15th, 2006 at 6:04 am
tommy: “The United Nations thinks it belongs to Syria.”
In that case, Israel had no right being there either. So if the United Nations say so, then the United nations should have the guts to inquire why an Israeli troop breached the Syrian border. It’s as simple as that.
July 15th, 2006 at 6:05 am
Your idea of legitimate is my idea of revisionist, to put it politely.
July 15th, 2006 at 6:09 am
The United Nations of Shitheads also said that Lebanon was supposed to disband and disarm Hezbollah (#1559 2004). Looks like nobody, not even the Arabs listens to them.
July 15th, 2006 at 6:10 am
ahmad (again)
I wonder, what can Iran joined by Syria do to them?
Such tough talk! And how much would you be crying about destruction of Syria’s infrastructure and the “massacre” of innocent Syrians if they tried, and died?
I might admire that kind of bold rhetororic (but probably not
) if it didn’t always seem to be followed by plaintive wailing about Israeli atrocities against “innocent” victims.
Are you living in Syria or Iran, by any chance? Or are you just playing the arm-chair hero from somewhere nice and safe?
July 15th, 2006 at 6:11 am
Two points for the silly Sphinx:
1) If Syria has an issue with the territory, it can deal with Israel itself. It ain’t Lebanese business. Sorry.
2) If you are so concerned about international law, then you should be calling for the immediate disbandment of Hezbollah - an illegal militia that should not exist according to UN resolution 1553.
Well…I’ll be waiting for you and your pro-terrorist coreligionists to call for the enforcement of international law on that one….
…waiting….
….still waiting….
….I have a feeling I’ll be waiting for some time.
More news:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060715/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel
July 15th, 2006 at 6:12 am
I wonder what would happen if Israel told Hizbollah the following:
Everytime day you shoot a rocket into Israel we will drop a BLU-82B in one of the neighborhoods where your supporters live.
How many days would it take before the rocket attacks would stop?
Better yet they could use this instead:
MOAB - http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/11/sprj.irq.moab/
July 15th, 2006 at 6:13 am
And I don’t know if the Israelis were kidnapped from the Sheba farms area. I was just using it as an example of the different ideas people have about the boarder between Israel and Lebanon (and Syria too).
July 15th, 2006 at 6:22 am
@Karen: “Your idea of legitimate is my idea of revisionist, to put it politely.”
Fine, don’t believe it then.
@Karen”The United Nations of Shitheads also said that Lebanon was supposed to disband and disarm Hezbollah (#1559 2004). Looks like nobody, not even the Arabs listens to them.”
and tommy: “2) If you are so concerned about international law, then you should be calling for the immediate disbandment of Hezbollah - an illegal militia that should not exist according to UN resolution 1553.”
Let me remind you that the United Nations is NOT an executive institution, and that it’s resolutions are - theoretically speaking - only recommendations. Wikipedia says:
“The legal status of UN resolutions has been a matter of intense debate:
* Most experts consider most General Assembly resolutions to be non-binding (Articles 10 and 14 of the UN Charter refer to General Assembly “recommendations”), however some General Assembly resolutions dealing with matters internal to the United Nations, such as budgetary decisions or instructions to lower-ranking organs, are clearly binding on their addressees.”
This also applies for their resolution on splitting up Palestine. BUT I am for the idea of disarming them as well, so don’t understand me wrong.
July 15th, 2006 at 6:23 am
Great comment craig1
July 15th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Fine. I gotta go to sleep. The events of the past week are very upsetting for ALL of us. Good night.
July 15th, 2006 at 6:27 am
Arabic speaking Jew… Great comment… Finally someone who is not pro or anti something… Finally something with a balanced view…
SM, your opinion doesn’t matter much as it is from a secular perspective. You’re a liberal Muslim… No Duh!! All over the Arab world there are probably 5% who share your opinion… If Syria is attacked the region will be FUCKED! Do you want that to happen. I’m tired of the whole “blame the Jews thing” but hey for most Muslims it’s a religious duty to free the Holy land. Yes SM I’m not sure if you’re very well versed in the Quran or not but protecting Jerusalem and getting it back (at least the Arab side) is a duty for Muslims. Jerusalem is the central issue in my opinion…
I’m sick of this shit anyways. I would love to see all the hate and anger Arab Muslims have for Israel productively turned against their own corrupt dictatorships instead. That would be emotions and energy put into good news. Screw dictatorial governments in the Arab world. They always this conflict to get things going for themselves…
Omar Bashir, dictator of Sudan recently declared that the war in Pali and Lebanon is the same as the one in Darfur… DARFUR… Can you believe this shit people?!
Here… first comment in the followin post
http://sudanesethinker.blogspot.com/2006/07/bye-bye-darfur-hello-me-madness_13.html
July 15th, 2006 at 6:56 am
God Save Lebanon
To World Leaders
July 15th, 2006 at 7:36 am
“What comes around goes around”
Great post SM
July 15th, 2006 at 7:44 am
See how much Hizbulllah is causing pain for the Lebanese people. It’s really up to the smart Lebanese people to kick Hizbullah out.
July 15th, 2006 at 7:53 am
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that Syria has a special responsibility to resolve this crisis. But the whole thrust of American policy of the last two years has been to reduce unconditionally Syria’s influence in Lebanon so as to leave Lebanon to the Lebanese.
By what logic does the Administration now seek to hold Syria accountable for the reckless action of Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon?
read the whole article http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060731/editors4
July 15th, 2006 at 8:08 am
Ahmad, the kidnappings in Gaza were “Hezbollah-like”. Not Hamaslike. Done by the Hamas however. Mashal, Hamasleader in Damascus, cheered the kidnapping. Haniye, Hamasleader in Gaza, asked for release of the soldier (notice the difference!). Haniyeh surprised anyone with his moderate start after Hamas got elected; is now surprising everyone again with his moderate stand in this kidnapping drama. But Hamas doesn’t let the soldier go. Because Mashal says so. Mashal is a pupil of Nasrallah. The real power behind messing this all up consist out of a triangle. The triangle Nasrallah, Mashal, Ahmadinedhad. You start a kidnapping in the south, to get the lion angry and don’t give a fuck about your local leaders there who are messing every day with the Fatah anyway and who shoot only those lousy Qassam rockets at Israel all the time. When you know that the ground forces had been activated to enter Gaza in the search for terrorist activities and the kidnapped soldier, you start a kidnapping in the north. Causing Israel to call up their reservists and making the lion even more angry.
I do not believe Syria is the only one accountable for this big mess, but Syria did support the kidnapping in Gaza and does not want to do anything about Mashal in Damascus. Lebanon on the other hand is powerless against Hezbollah. Now the Israelis are attacking Hezbollah, they actually should make use of this oppotunity to get rid of these militants ones and forever.
Mind you, Lebanon,.. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt are openly pissed off at Hezbollah. Now it’s your turn.
July 15th, 2006 at 8:12 am
By what logic does the Administration now seek to hold Syria accountable for the reckless action of Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon?
ahmad,
You really aren’t very bright are you?
The fact is that Syria, along with Iran, directs Hezbollah. This is regardless of whatever its influence throughout the rest of Lebanon may be presently or was previously.
But flippant, ill-informed comments seem to be your forte, so keep it up.
More news:
http://www.slate.com/id/2145714/
July 15th, 2006 at 8:22 am
I want to correct something i said. Kidnappings in Gaza should be kidnapping in Gaza - as I was only refering to the recent kidnapping of Gilad Shalit.
July 15th, 2006 at 8:45 am
I’ve been drinking so my conspiracy hat if fully on. What if Hezbollah really does have a surprise. Not that boat thing but something bigger.
Currently Hezbollah seems to have little to gain from their attack on Israel. It has got Israel coming after them, pissed off the rest of the middle east, and maybe even convinced the other groups in Lebanon that they can no longer tolerate Hezbollah. So why would they attack? Was it just a miscalculated risk at trying to gain support? Or maybe they had assurances from Iran.
If it was just regular military assurances from Iran it might not be enough because Israel still has the bomb.
However, if Iran was close to finishing a nuclear weapon but needed time and a distraction to finish it, a conflict between Lebanon and Israel could provide that. Then later Iran tests the first nuclear weapon. Tells the world that it has others and the tells Israel to disengage from Lebanon and Gaza. This wins Iran popularity in the area and probably gives Hezbollah even more power within Lebanon by being a proxy of Iran.
Hmm… The more I drink the more plausible this theory sounds.
July 15th, 2006 at 8:54 am
tommy said”The fact is that Syria, along with Iran, directs Hezbollah.”
and you know this fact because you’re a top CIA official or did you saw it as an encoded message on the ‘Cartoon Network’ ?
July 15th, 2006 at 9:01 am
Great Post!
July 15th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Ahmad, by the fact that there were 1500 Iranian Revolutionary Guards stationed in Lebanon in 1982; developing into Hezbollah cells.
July 15th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Suzanne,
Those innocent soliders were captured on *OCCUPIED* land! both in Palestine and Lebanon.
I don’t think Mashal, Najadi and Nassrullah had planned this.
Also, I wouldn’t picture Israel as a lion (I have a differant animal for them in mind), but anyway, let me assure you, the arab leaders don’t represent their nations, they are much like Israel living behind concrete walls.
just ask the people on the street and they’ll tell you what they really think of Hizbullah.
July 15th, 2006 at 9:10 am
I see you see whole Israel as Palestine, as you are stating that territories outside Gaza and Lebanon-Israels blue lign are “occupied”. Since you refuse to accept an Israeli state to exist where jews (and others) can live safely in peace, I believe it is not worth the effort to discuss with you any longer.
Unlike you, I wish the Palestinian people, Lebanese, Syrians, Jordans and Egyptians a peaceful and wonderful country existing in co-existence with Israel. Countries which will leave peacefully along each side profiting from each others tourists, knowledge and development.
I’m sorry. But if you want to turn the whole place into one parking lot crying out loud for not getting any international attention because your leaders are fucked up and fight each other with bullets instead of actually building something up from ground zero,.. I see no use to discuss any further about how to make the world a better place with you.
I’m sorry.
July 15th, 2006 at 9:14 am
and you know this fact because you’re a top CIA official or did you saw it as an encoded message on the ‘Cartoon Network’ ?
I know it the way I know that the Holocaust was real or that the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are fake or that Qaddafi is a jackass or that 2+2=4. It is one of those things in life that everyone, excepting dim-witted Muslims named Ahmad, can grasp.
Ahmad? That is Arabic for ‘douchebag’ right?
News and views:
Were Iranian Revolutionary Guard elements involved in today’s strike on an Israeli ship?
CTB seems to think so:
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/07/the_war_widens_hezbollah_strik.php
July 15th, 2006 at 9:18 am
Sam we are still targeting militants in Gaza. I believe we hit another bridge the militants were using to transport in more rockets. Two militants were killed in Gaza. They are still firing qassams. In other words, it is still “business as usual” overin Gaza.
What I find interesting is, given that it is still business as usual, we’re not seeing 500 talking head and every other news report screaming that there is a humanitarian crisis, that this or that is just horrific in Gaza. No, they’ve all moved on to saying that regarding Lebanon. Hamas must be a bit unhappy with Hezbollah for stealing their whining limelight.
Personally, the lebanese people have a lot more they can legitimately scream about. This really sucks for them and they didn’t vote for Hezbollah to lead their government.
In essence though, this situation sucks for every peon civilian in all of the areas involved. It has sucked for a very long time.
July 15th, 2006 at 10:12 am
tough talk from tommy. good to see somebody bringing back “douchebag”, haven’t heard that in a while.
“It is one of those things in life that everyone, excepting dim-witted Muslims named Ahmad, can grasp.”
Why would you mention that he was a Muslim? What does that have to do with anything? I happen to agree with what you say, but I think your a douchebag.
And Ahmed, you need to be able to prove the things you say. I don;t like commenting on this thing because nobody seems to be able to prove what they say with credible sources, yet they still state everything as if its a fact.
To whoever it is that said they’re drinking, it’s about 1:15 PM where I am, and I think I’m going to join you.
Cheers
July 15th, 2006 at 10:32 am
“Me, personally? I am not sure who to root for… The way I see it, I want some side to win. Any side. Whatever the ouctome is, I want someone soundly defeated… Either Israel wins and Hezbollah is destoryed, or Israel loses and Hezbollah wins… I am fuckin bored with it.”
Are you totally nuts? Do you think is is some sort of game? You should know exactly what would happen if Hesbollah wins.
These are the rantings of an idiot. I guess that’s what you get when you run with a bunch of anti-semites, uh… anti-israeli friends.
And I don’t care if you feel endorsed by LGF, it’s one of the worst posts on this blog ever. I’ve come to expect better from you.
July 15th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Hi SM,
So far it gets from bad to worse, and we are doing precisely what Nasrallah wants us to - on a larger scale. Hope he has miscalculated all the same, otherwise it is bad.
Re “The lebanese Foundation for Peace” - do not take them too seriously: I believe they are located in Jerusalem
And here my letter to the Lebanese bloggers:
http://simplyjews.blogspot.com/2006/07/open-letter-to-lebanese-bloggers.html
I shall try to answer your call to bomb Syria instead of Lebanon separately on my place.
July 15th, 2006 at 11:01 am
@Kim, I think he’s just fed up with all the mess. I’d also have the feeling: let’s work this out and deal with the results and no more needle picking irritations back and fro. I do not think SM believes Hezbollah to win this.
July 15th, 2006 at 11:16 am
I love the naive and frankly, assinine “disproportionate response” cries. It’s war. The objective in a war is to win by defeating your enemy. You defeat your enemy by massing your power against their weakness in a disproportionate manner such that the enemy surrenders quickly and casualties are kept low. That’s been a doctrine since Sun Tzu wrote his infamous book.
Fighting a “proportionate war” is how you get into long, drawn out conflicts with mounting casualities like Vietnam. But of course the Left is in Love with Vietnam and defeatism so no doubt they think all wars should be fought like that. Gives them something to bitch about since they don’t have a concept of actually winning anything.
July 15th, 2006 at 11:36 am
@Faith+1:
You defeat your enemy by massing your power against their weakness in a disproportionate manner such that the enemy surrenders quickly and casualties are kept low.
And they are NOT being kept low. Civilians are dying all the time, on both sides, is that fair?
July 15th, 2006 at 11:47 am
Sphinx, the point is that more civilians are killed if the war is fought is a proportionate long, drawn out conflicts.
July 15th, 2006 at 11:54 am
And here is the response promised:
http://simplyjews.blogspot.com/2006/07/shalom-to-sandmonkey.html
July 15th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
> Since you refuse to accept an Israeli state to exist where jews
> (and others) can live safely in peace, I believe it is …
1. A jewish state in that arab country was and could only be created
by war, terror and crime. It’s inevitably a gangster state which lacks
the “right to exist”.
2. For it’s a “jewish” - a state based on unveiled racism - their’s no
way for non-jews - appr. 20% now - to live “safely” there - unless
confined in ghettos guarded by the youths of the master race, thus
training them to behave and feel like the master race.
Brief - a “jewish” state in that region is criminal and doomed to fail.
July 15th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Your a crazy fuck man.
July 15th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
lol there are loads of non-jews living peacefully in israel, eeee.
wtf are you talking about.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
Hey, the Cairo Freeze cartoon is not too far off the mark…
THE driving force behind the devastating 7/7 suicide bomb attacks in London last year was not Islam but a desire by the terrorists to prove their masculinity…so says the UK researchers.
What this world needs now is for everybody to get down on their knees.
July 15th, 2006 at 2:49 pm
And they are NOT being kept low. Civilians are dying all the time, on both sides, is that fair?
Sphinx. War is not fair. It is not proportionate. It will never be.
Israel has kept its gloves on for most of this. I do see them starting to come off.
Yes, civilians are going to die. You have two choices, continue the war and watch more of your people die, or sue for peace, real peace, and get rid of the terrorists at the northern Israeli border/southern Lebanese border. Only when Lebanon completely controls their country, border to border, without a terrorist proxy for Syria and Iran romping about to stir up trouble, can their be peace at that border. When there is peace at that border, more civilians won’t die.
No, it isn’t fair. War never is. Israel didn’t ask for this one, but it sure as hell won’t shrink from it. Someone made a huge miscalculation on the arab side, and lots of civilians are going to die as a result. Lots of Israelis have, lots of arabs have, and more will.
Ahmad: there is no reasoning with people like you. You obviously know little about the history or legality of the area, or simply choose to selectively ignore or convienently forget reality; the deconstruction of the Ottoman empire in the early 1900s, the Balfour declaration and British Mandate, the partioning and acceptance by the jews, and rejection by the arabs in 1948. The war that was declared on the newly minted state of Israel by 5 arab armies, the armistice that was reached, and the illegal land grab of mandatory lands by Jordan and Egypt. I didn’t see any press coverage of the illegal acquisition of land in a hot shooting agressive war by Egypt and Jordan in 1949. They took the land that was in dispute by the arabs. The arabs rejected the partition, the land had no status. I am not aware of anyone who rejects this analysis, its there in the UN records among other places. After hot shooting wars leading up and including the six day war in 1967, where again Israel was forced to defend itself from attacks or massing of forces on its borders to prepare for attacks, Israel decided to hold the disputed land rather than return it immediately to the aggressors. Israel under international law is entitled to permanently annex land used to launch operations against it. By all rights it can (and should) annex Judea and Samaria. To its credit it has offered this land as an olive branch, for the past 40 years. To date not a single pali leader has emerged with the brains and saavy to grasp it and run with it to create a second pali state. The first pali state being the hashemite kings throne in Jordon, which was built upon land that Winston Churchill had removed from the British Mandate for Palestine. Again, all documented, googleable, visible for the world to see.
By your (il)logic ahmad, Al Andalus is occupied land. As is Rome. And Britain.
Some things that will never happen, and you need to get over thinking they ever will. Israel will not go away. If you can’t live with this, then go join the terrorists, because that is what they are hoping for before they start running amok trying to reclaim al Andalus and other places. Remember, OBL (spit and camel dung be upon him) and his merry cohorts recently put out a top-40 video whining over the loss of al Andalus, and some hisbullah kiddie mag demanded the return of Seville.
Give it up, join modern civilized life, or stay the course and incite and support terror and violence against people unlike yourself. Hard choice to make. Civilized people will hold out that olive branch, inviting you to join with them and grow with them. Uncivilized “people” will launch rockets towards cities wantonly killing civilians without warning, blowing up busses and bus stops, and shooting pregnant mothers and their children in the heads.
July 15th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
[...] Superb rant from the Sandmonkey - right on target and most eloquent in his adopted language. (H/T LGF). And then you read something like Hal’s latest rant and you ponder the arab mentality. We are the only people in the world who talk about dignity and honor when it comes to military conflict, and who will continue fighting losing wars, unprepared and undermilitarized, because of reasons such as “our pride and dignity” and then wonder why the f-ck we lose. I mean, can you imagine if the americans acted the same way? They would never have left Vietnam. They would stay in Iraq forever. You don’t see a single american saying “we should stay in Iraq because our national pride and dignity are wounded by the insurgents attacks”. Only we would use some half assed justification to keep fighting wars we can’t win, where we keep getting our asses kicked, and some how don’t see the folly in it at all. [...]
July 15th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Vince,
Why would you mention that he was a Muslim? What does that have to do with anything?
The last I checked, aside from neo-Nazis, the Muslim world was the only substantial body of people that took Holocaust denial and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion seriously.
Lets face it, the Muslim world is very conspiracy-minded.
That isn’t to imply that every Muslim is like that, but still….
More news:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060715/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel_82;_ylt=AnyBe0aKHtFJ7CpxPIetudcUvioA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
July 15th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Where did he deny that the holocaust happened?
July 15th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Where did I state that he denied the Holocaust?
Read carefully and don’t put words into my mouth. I stated that things like the reality of the Holocaust are the sort of things that so many moronic Muslims cannot acknowledge. Just like the reality that Syria, along with Iran, actually controls Hezbollah. (Believe it or not!)
News:
http://powerlineblog.com/archives/014695.php
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/07/hezbollah_missile_strikes_uav_or_ground_based.php
Particularly biased (buy hey, what do you expect from the BBC):
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2006/07/hezbollah_missile_strikes_uav_or_ground_based.php
July 15th, 2006 at 9:29 pm
So, when I asked: Why would you mention that he was a Muslim? What does that have to do with anything?
You answered:
“The last I checked, aside from neo-Nazis, the Muslim world was the only substantial body of people that took Holocaust denial and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion seriously.”
So, I asked where he had denied the holocaust. Maybe I shouldve asked “Where did he say that he took holocaust denial seriously”, since my question was clearly asking why you decided to mention that Ahmad was a Muslim in your comment to him. Am I going to fast for you?
July 15th, 2006 at 10:00 pm
Hey tommy i’m glad you came down to insulting me, coz that’s what ill logic- people do when they have nothing to do.
Please be advised to revise you’re presumptions.
poor lil thing is brain washed by the media
July 15th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
Vince,
What I was implying was that people like Ahmad, moronic Muslims, believe in all sorts of stupid things: the Holocaust never happened, Syria doesn’t control Hezbollah, Jews are pigs and monkeys, suicide bombings are cool, etc. etc. I didn’t imply that he held all of these beliefs, just that his beliefs fall into this constellation of irrationalities.
Is that a difficult concept to grasp? Can you wrap your mind around that? Did I use words you cannot understand? Do I need to rephrase it for you?
Maybe I ought to spell it out on paper in Crayola crayon and mail it to you, huh?
News:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/15/mideast/index.html?eref=yahoo
July 15th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
[...] The author of http://www.sandmonkey.org/2006/07/14/surprised/ has a hell of a rant going on. Me, personally? I am not sure who to root for, because even though I hate Hezbollah I think Israel is full of shit for not attacking Syria instead. They know that this is where the orders and the supplies come from. It’s why they hit the lebanese-syrian Highway: to prevent the supplies from coming in. The way I see it, I want some side to win. Any side. Whatever the ouctome is, I want someone soundly defeated, to the degree that what’s happening now can not happen again. I want the rules of the game changed. Either Israel wins and Hezbollah is destoryed, or Israel loses and Hezbollah wins. I don’t want some peace negotiations and pussy footing and bullshit where nothing gets resolved and the mentalities stay the same. Basically, either the arabs win this or they should just shut the fuck up forever. If this doesn;t happen, if some side doesn’t rule supreme, this will just go on for years and years to come. And honestly, I am fuckin bored with it. I know the lebanese are bored with it and the Israelis are bored with it. The only people that are not bored with it are the freakin Shia of Lebanon and the Hamastanis, but then again, they live for this shit. What else do they have to live for really? [...]
July 16th, 2006 at 10:00 am
“Maybe I ought to spell it out on paper in Crayola crayon and mail it to you, huh?”
Shit. Such a master of insults. I like how you said you ought to spell it out on paper, then added “Crayola crayon”, because I’m a kid, right? Or did I not understand the insult completly? Because you could have just said “crayon”, but, being the genius that you are, you decided to go the extra mile and specify which company should produce the crayons which you insulted me with. You’ll have to excuse me, I’m not used to getting insulted like that. I was blown away. Fuck.
Well, after an insult like that, I guess your right, all Muslims must believe those things, whether or not they say them, because regardless of whether they state that they believe these things or not, their beliefs “fall into this constellation of irrationalities.”
Crayola Crayon… Genius.
July 16th, 2006 at 10:47 am
I never claimed to be a “master of insults,” but my comment was certainly no worse than your own ingeniously-conceived am I going to fast for you? You must have spent a good half-hour coming up with that cliche.
And then you add:
Well, after an insult like that, I guess your right, all Muslims must believe those things
After I just stated:
I didn’t imply that he held all of these beliefs.
I guess maybe you really were blown away. Maybe I really do have to spell it out…
News/views:
BP has an interesting piece on his own experience with the Lebanese Army:
http://www.bigpharaoh.com/2006/07/16/me-and-the-lebanese-army/
Iran is clearly nervous about the potential of a strike on Syria:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2006/July/middleeast_July294.xml§ion=middleeast
July 16th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
“I didn’t imply that he held all of these beliefs, just that his beliefs fall into this constellation of irrationalities.”
If those beliefs fall into this constellation of irrationalities, and assuming you believe that ahmad’s belief’s fall into that constellation of irrationalities, your implying, whether you mean it or not, that he believes those things. Otherwise, your initial response made no sense as an answer to my original question. Dumbass.
July 16th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Cut out the swearwords and I’d be willing to add a comment, rather than a scolding. I can excuse the spelling errors in a rush posting–but what’s with all the spelling errors in your bio. Both only show your contempt for your readers.
July 16th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
Good post, but I will disgaree on one point: Lebanon HAS someone to turn to. If only they took their head out of their arse, they will realize that their best ally is the one currently bombing them - yes, that’s right, Israel.
If the Lebanese government decides to be truly courageous, let prime minister Siniora call Olmert and tell him this: guys, we’re helpless. You know and we know the Syrians are behind all this, and we hate them as much as you do. Let’s join efforts, kick Hizbullah’s asses together, and negotiate a peace agreement while we’re at it, in which we commit to having a full and open relationship (including open trade, economic and scientific exchange, the works), and you agree to a bilateral defense pact.
Guess what? Israelies would LOVE this - it would be the fulfillment of the Israeli public’s dreams. Lebanon would instantly become far stronger than it ever was in its history. Syria would be instantly stripped of its power in Lebanon - let’s see them try to mess around with Lebanon when they know it will immediately trigger a joint Lebanese-Israeli counterattack - and could only howl in impotent rage. Same with Iran. And for Israel, there will be an added benefit of isolating Hamas even more.
July 16th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
[...] (Hat-tip, Sandmonkey) [...]
July 16th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Looking back over my previous comments, I realized that the way I phrased things might leave the impression that I believe that Ahmad does not believe in the Holocaust or has similar crazy ideas. This isn’t what I meant to imply, just that I do see patterns of denying obvious facts, victimization, and a conspiracy-oriented mindset among Arabs and Muslims in general. However, I have no idea what Ahmad’s particular beliefs on these subjects are and I should have worded things more carefully so as to make that clear. The examples I used were also ones I should have avoided.
I disagree with Ahmad’s insinuation that Syria doesn’t direct Hezbollah. He asked how I could possibly know such a thing and if I had intelligence sources. My reply would be that while I do not have CIA sources, the counterterrorism experts who regularly assert that Hezbollah is directed by Syria and Iran often do have such sources. So I would appeal to the ethos of those experts in the same way I would rely upon the authority of the author of a world almanac to know that there is an island name “Saipan,” for instance. I have never been to Saipan nor do I know anyone who has been to Saipan nor do I even know anyone who has mentioned that they know somebody who has been to Saipan. Yet, I have no doubt that Saipan is a real location since I take on the authority of the author of the almanac to be knowledgable on this matter. Furthermore, I have never heard a credible source deny that such a country exists. In the same way, I have never heard any counterterrrorism expert argue that Hezbollah is not, in fact, directed by Syria or Iran. In summary, I would argue that ‘Hezbollah is directed by Syria’ is a true statement because (1) experts say so, (2) no one I would label an expert refutes it, and (3) many experts concur. I find that satisfactory on something I cannot hope to have any further knowledge of.
But enough epistemology.
I’m sorry to Ahmad and sorry to Vince. I don’t want things to get unnecessarily nasty over something this trivial. I also don’t want this to degenerate into a name-calling match.
Have a nice one.
News:
Blair coins a new phrase:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060716/wl_uk_afp/mideastunrestbritain_060716134046
Sorry but the ‘arc of extremism’ doesn’t quite have the ring of the ‘axis of evil.’
US readies to evacuate citizens from Lebanon:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060716/pl_afp/mideastunrestusisrael_060716192202;_ylt=AjbVN_Ml_jNhT_cWbotlYxsUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw–
July 16th, 2006 at 10:53 pm
Arabist propaganda always a laughable package of desperation
Remember this joker?
To the Arabist street he was the “Iraqi Information Minister” during the second gulf war. To the rest of us he was a comedian put on air for our amusement. And amuse us he did.
Hizbollah is employing similar comedy …
July 22nd, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Disproportionate Response? I have heard this in the news so much recently. What-a-world thinks this is ridiculous on many different fronts. I feel it is high time for Lebanon to step up and honor the UN Accord and put pressure on Hezbollah… I liken Hezbollah to be a cancer in the body - where the white blood cells kill a lot of good cells in fighting the cancer. Get rid of the cancer and peace can be achieved. http://www.what-a-world.com
December 18th, 2006 at 2:59 pm
Hello, i love http://www.sandmonkey.org! Let me in, please