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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: michael97123 who wrote (191977)	7/18/2006 11:25:57 AM
From: carranza2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The problem is that the Lebanese government has not taken steps to control southern Lebanon and to demilitarize it. Whether this is a result of weakness or design is irrelevant to Israel, who suffers from the results. In retrospect, the UN resolution requiring the Lebanese government to take over So. Lebanon was a farce because the government at the time took orders from Syria and was in any event incapable of accomplishing its mission in the south. Because it was powerless and controlled, its failure opened a vacuum which Hizbollah naturally exploited. That Israel allowed this to happen for 6 years is also an Israeli failure. The UN is itself responsible for failing to engage Hizbollah. Lots of blame to spread around everywhere. Olmert is the new Sheriff in town. Whether he'll reverse the mistakes made when Israel left Lebanon 6 years ago remains to be seen. I asume any ceasefire will require a comprehensive and effective means of demilitarizing south Lebanon. How this will be done is anyone's guess.

To: michael97123 who wrote (191977)	7/18/2006 12:43:08 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

Israel helped create Hamas and Hizbollah back in the 80s when taking out the PLO. Now they are forced to take out Hamas and Hizbollah. Michael.. I'm sorry but this is just silly thinking.. The PLO presence in Lebanon was EVERY BIT as much a product of Syria (and other nations hostile to Israel) as is Hizbullah. What has created the environment for the rise of Hizbullah, or any other armed militia in that country has been both the support from nations like Syria and Iran, as well as the general unwillingness/inability for the Lebanese government to establish sovereign control over its borders. When nations like Syria and Iran recognize the futility (repercussions) of using proxy militias to perpetuate their war against Israel, then groups like Hizbullah will diminish in power. Let's place the blame squarely where it belongs.. To the nations who provided Hizbullah 12,000 Katyusha rockets (two for every apparent "soldier" within their organization. The same nations that provided a non-state, internationally recognized terrorist group, with missiles more powerful that actually possessed by the Lebanese army. globalsecurity.org I just don't think any nation can be blamed for destroying a terrorist organization that is usurping control over the national security policy of a soveriegn nation. It certainly didn't prevent us from destroying both the Taliban, the government that harbored Al Qai'da, as well as the terrorist organization itself. Hawk