Middle east outcome

[SmokinDVM]

I don't see how Kim Jong Il and that Iranian president being clinically diagnosed psychopaths is our fault.

Funny how every other POTUS, including dumbyas daddy, were able to keep the whack-jobs in line.
He's weakened our position in the World by driving up a HUGE national debt, tying up our military in an unnecessary conflict, and destroyed our diplomatic relations with most of the World.
Dumbya has taken this Country from diplomatic, economic, and military excellence/dominance, and effectively tied three hands behind our back.

[SuperChuck]

I think it's interesting to see our (the US') tack on the Israel situation vs. the rest of the world's.

For some reason, I watch CNN in the morning (okay, it's mostly Robin Meade's breasts). Then, on the way in to work, I listen to the BBC.

On CNN your hear this kind of softball news "Lebasnese radicals attacked Israel, capturing 2 Israeli soldiers, whereupon Israel invaded Lebanon. Let's see what the President has to say..."

On BBC, you actually get the whole news. They interview people in *gasp* Palestine and Lebanon to find out what's going on. They report the UN Security Council's near-total damnation of Israeli action. They talk about the Lebanese prisoners that are being held in Israel.

Despite what that worthless piece of crap Glenn Beck says, I doubt we're stepping into WWIII here. Anyone the least bit familiar with the situation in Israel know that the Israeli military has spent more time in Palestine than at home and that "hasn't occupied ______ since ___" doesn't count airstrikes.

Aside from the mess that is Iraq, I don't think the Middle East is as bad off as it was in the 80s.

[WhiteWidow]

I say we nuke them all until they glow and then shoot them in the dark.

I don't think the Israli's have a beef with the country of Lebanon as much as they do with the Hezbollah psychos. But then you have to ask yourself just how responsible is Lebanon? What you have there is an organization that they are allowing to make unilateral foreign policy decisions. That would be as if say, the minutemen militias suddenly start launching rockets into Mexico, and we sit here and let them.

[SuperChuck]

I don't think the Israli's have a beef with the country of Lebanon as much as they do with the Hezbollah psychos. But then you have to ask yourself just how responsible is Lebanon? What you have there is an organization that they are allowing to make unilateral foreign policy decisions. That would be as if say, the minutemen militias suddenly start launching rockets into Mexico, and we sit here and let them.

From what I have been able to piece together, Hezbollah seems to be the dominant military force in Lebanon. It seems the government relies on them for security.

So it's more like if the US didn't have an effective military and Mexico had been holding US civilians in their prisons and the Minutemen captured two Federales.

I can't help but think back to the early US, when the "army" was more or less a hodgepodge of militia groups. Even through the civil war, you saw groups like the Green Mountain Boys and the Kentucky Riflemen...

[WhiteWidow]

From what I have been able to piece together, Hezbollah seems to be the dominant military force in Lebanon. It seems the government relies on them for security.

But they are a terrorist organization, so isn't that a reason for concern?

[SuperChuck]

But they are a terrorist organization, so isn't that a reason for concern?

Since 9/11, the US military as killed more civilians than every terror act combined. We conquered two sovereign nations and installed puppet governments. How does this not make the US a terrorist organization? We even named our bombing campaign against Iraq "Shock and Awe".

It's like we have some divine power to point fingers at who is a terrorist organization and who is not. If you ask the Lebanese, Hezbollah isn't a terrorist organization, the Israeli government is. If you ask the Palestinians (the majority of whom voted Hamas into power), Hamas isn't a terrorist organization, the Israelis are.

[Kenyth]

Resolution? Boy, you're optimistic! This area has been fighting for a very long time. None of the fanatics are particularly concerned with building an infrastructure to support a more civilized society. Right now, it's kind of like Vietnam. When, and IF, things calm down in Iraq, that country will be the new South Korea. An undesirable military assignment for the duration of forever. A foothold in the worlds oil pantry. How we'll ever maintain an adequate volunteer fighting force is beyond me. I hear enlistment bonuses are GREAT right now!

[WhiteWidow]

Since 9/11, the US military as killed more civilians than every terror act combined. We conquered two sovereign nations and installed puppet governments. How does this not make the US a terrorist organization? We even named our bombing campaign against Iraq "Shock and Awe".

It's like we have some divine power to point fingers at who is a terrorist organization and who is not. If you ask the Lebanese, Hezbollah isn't a terrorist organization, the Israeli government is. If you ask the Palestinians (the majority of whom voted Hamas into power), Hamas isn't a terrorist organization, the Israelis are.

Are you really trying to argue that Hamas and Hezbollah are not a bunch of scumbags?

If they are so great, why aren't they in the UN? If they aren't terrorists, and we are, we should probably move our families there because it will be so much better, right?