Israel and Leba-nin

I would think modern satellite technology could detect one nation moving its entire arsenal of WMDs to another nation.

And I would think with all the hostility in the region over the past three years, somehow these weapons would have been given to somebody and, you know, actually USED.

But for them to be used they would have to exist.

Which they don't.

 

That, too.

We're supposed to believe they got by the Mossad, and now Hizbollah has them, but has just showed restraint from using them?

Anything's possible, but I don't buy it. Buried in the desert, maybe.

In Syria or Lebanon, no chance.

 

Workin' Boom's side of the street for a moment:

Dick Cheney, in August 2002: "Regime change in Iraq would bring about a number of benefits to the region: extremists in the region would have to rethink their strategy of jihad, moderates throughout the region would take heart, and our ability to advance the Israel/Palestinian peace process would be enhanced."

Oh. go shoot somebody in the face.

 

The whole thing made me want to puke.

 

Those WMDs were conveniently moved. Where, I don't know.

I wish Iran would go ahead and play their card. I seriously believe Syria has some, and Iran has some now (though they would never have during the Sunni reign of Saddam). If the son of a bitch running Iran would do something brazen, we could go ahead and take their asses out. As far as Israel goes, anyone who can design a raid on Entebbe and end another terrorist war in seven days needs to head up our defense. They'll clean up on Hezbollah within a few weeks.

 

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason Fredo is in office.

Simply astounding.

 

Mr. Dog, your room at the Beirut Hilton is ready for you.

 

I was wondering: Why doesn't Israel have any Patriot batteries to knock those missiles down? I haven't heard of any being deployed or being used.

The U.S. either manned Patriot batteries or gave them to the Israelis to shoot down Scuds (I forget which) during the Gulf War. And the missiles Hezbollah are firing are even more Mickey Mouse than the Scuds.

 

Bat -- First of all, the "success" of the Patriots against the SCUDS was a neat bit of disinformation that been since debunked by, among others, Ted Postol of MIT.
Second, I think the rockets being used now are too fast and fly too low for the Patriot system, even if it did work, which it dosn't really.
As to Dammit, well, he's earnest as all hell but, no, nobody moved the WMD's. They weren't there.

 

Fenian: I respect you, bro, but I'ma quibble with you slightly. They [WMD] were there, as we mentioned -- whether they were there in 2003 is the point of contention (and given the events that have unfolded since then and the lack of use, one makes a good argument for saying they were not there).

As much as it pains me to say this, I don't think it's that far-fetched to think Syria and Iran may have them and are waiting for more appropriate circumstances to use them. Sure, they could use them on the Israelis now, but the U.S. would turn their nations into glass in a millisecond if WMD were busted out. They are waiting for a more appropriate point to use them. Wait until things escalate in the Middle East, and wait until a situation where the EU definitely will back them. As of now, the EU could swing either way; it seems to be waiting for Israel to do something "nasty" so it has an excuse to back the Syrians/Iranians.

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the knuckledragging neocon mind at work.

Instead of working toward peace solutions, it's "Gee, I hope they do something brazen so we can finally take their asses out."

And of course, if they don't actually do anything brazen, you will use faulty intelligence to come up with something.

 

How do you work towards peace in this situation?

For years Israel was told all they had to do was give back land and everything would be ok.

They did that and have been rewarded witih missiles being lobbed at them on a daily basis and incursions into their country that resulted in the kidnapping and killing of their soldiers.

What could Israel possibly do that would cause Hizbollah, Hamas, Syria, Iran, etc., throw down their arms and say, "You know what, you guys are ok."