Wider Middle East conflict

[Saint Tom]

Hi Guys,

Just wondering what peoples take on the situation at the moment in the middle east. Hamas/Hizbollah raids followed by severe Israeli retaliation. To me it just seems to be a conflict that has no resolution that is satisfactory to both sides. My biggest fear is if it became a wider conflict, possibly involving Iran. To be honest dont think the israeli cabinet will hold back on using their arsnal if that is the case

[Poor Student]

I'm surprised this hasn't come up yet. It's frightening stuff. I can't believe how far backwards things have gone in the last month. Talk about reopening old wounds.

[Saint Tom]

My boss is a member of the jewish community here and through his contacts we would have a lot of jewish customers (both irish and israelis) coming into the branch, and they see this as a sort of frustration that has built up over security fources in Lebanon and Gaza being unable to control the actions of militants. Watching sky news there and Rockets landing on Haifa with alarming frequency and Israeli troops just been deployed on the ground in the Leb. I really think it is about to take off, unfortunately

[Poor Student]

A state does have a right to defend itself, but Israel are hurting a terrible amount of civilians in the process. I can't see how things can come back from the brink, it really seems a line has been crossed here.

[Saint Tom]

agreed, the whole region has gone back years this last month. Think Russia hit the nail on the head when they spoke of balanced/proportionate retaliation

[beautifulrock]

Have Israeli troops gone into Lebanon?? if so that is extremely worrying. Israel will not defeat Hizbollah this way, you cannot drive out an organisation this is entwined with the largest community (Shia Muslims) in the country. Hizbollah are better armed that anyone thought and its mainly Lebanese civilians that are bearing the brunt of the onslaught. It can only be days before Syria gets at the very least a bloody nose from Israel. What will happen then? what other middle eastern countries will get involved. The UN sits on its hands (again). Worrying times indeed.

[Poor Student]

Yeah, I've been wondering about Syria myself. I thought Lebannon was making progress in wrangling away from them. Are Syria pushing and helping Hizbollah to destabilise thing in Lebannon?

[beautifulrock]

Yes, Leb as a country is trying to develop and stand on its own two feet. Beirut and the airport are (where) the two shining lights and used as an example of the way forward. However, Hizbollah are heavily reliant on both Syria and Iran for weapons, money etc.

[paul_oshea]

i have to keep my mouth shut here, but I dont care what anyone says, the retaliation by israel is completely unjust and wrong. they dont care. the problem is they hold too much bloody power in congress in america and they are a base/back door for the US into the middle east.

remember the two irish soldiers killed by israeli forces in the lebanon in the early 80s??!!?

[Metrostars]

i have to keep my mouth shut here, but I dont care what anyone says, the retaliation by israel is completely unjust and wrong. they dont care.

So are raids into Israel by Hezbollah and capturing Israeli solders ok? And sending a large number of rockets into Haifa? Should they say, "Thats fine, you can do that" ?

the problem is they hold too much bloody power in congress in america

Israel doesnt have any members in the US congress, but the US is an ally of Israel. And they don't care what anyone says.

and they are a base/back door for the US into the middle east.

Except that the US doesnt need to use Israel as a "base/back door for the US into the middle east."

[Saint Tom]

from what I can gather, the incursions into Lebanon were limited to elite troops and not an attempt to re-occupy. Read a great book on the leb.. Pity the Nation by Robert Fisk. Highly recommended

Syria is a strong ally of Iran, would be a disaster to get them involved, I see that as the biggest potential problem

[beautifulrock]

Metro, fair point re the reaction to the capture of Israeli soldiers and I agree that every nation has the right to protect itself and its borders. However, I am sure you agree that the killing of civilians in Leb to the degree that is happening at the moment is not acceptable. The Fisk book referred to is above average and a great read.

[paul_oshea]

metrostars, can you give me an explanation then as to why america is such a "close" ally of israel and always has been. the windy city is a typical example of how money is power in america, and many of those elected congressman have the backing ( the money to *help* them get there ) from very wealthy business ( owned, part owned, or run by jews ).


anyhow thats going off topic, if you want to detabe that open up another thread and I will get into it more.

There is no excuse for the strenght and power of the onslaught israel has retaliated with in the last week.

[Metrostars]

Metro, fair point re the reaction to the capture of Israeli soldiers and I agree that every nation has the right to protect itself and its borders. However, I am sure you agree that the killing of civilians in Leb to the degree that is happening at the moment is not acceptable. The Fisk book referred to is above average and a great read.

I agree 100% with you.

metrostars, can you give me an explanation then as to why america is such a "close" ally of israel and always has been.

Good article to read: http://www.geocities.com/d_elazar/Te...peacemaker.htm

[wws]

and many of those elected congressman have the backing ( the money to *help* them get there ) from very wealthy business ( owned, part owned, or run by jews ).

substitute the word jews for catholics/protestants etc etc and the same is true for other interest groups across the board