Could Lebanon Have Controlled Hezbollah Before the War?

so technically. . . they have some level of legality
authority . . . .
This would make it more difficult to root them out
this
would be like rooting out the libertarians
[if they actually had seats]
by stating . .well they are terrorist
even if they were .. . they were voted in . . and
well . .it would smell of the government protecting itself
from a third party [just americanizing the ideal here]

Rocket River

 

What if the kidnappers become greedier and greedier eachtime?. you gotta send a message that enough is enough.

 

Could Israel control Hamas before -- ahhh nevermind...

 

Hezbollah is now stronger than ever. They may have used quite a bit of arsenal, but they have won over many Lebanese Arabs in this conflict. In effect, Israel may have just legitimized their position in Lebanon. Some message.

 

No Israel could choose to limit their attacks to Southern Lebanon instead of attacking Beirut including even Christian neighborhoods that were allied with Israel during the previous Israeli occupation. You act as though the only two choices for Israel is stand by and do nothing or attack all of Lebanon. There are a huge range of choices between those.

So then you find it justifiable that the wife should be punished for something the abusive husband does? Whether Lebanon didn't seek outside help doesn't justify the destruction of Lebanon, far beyond Hezbollah strongholds. Your argument is akin that if an abused wife didn't seek outside help and the husband commits a crime then the abused wife should also be punished.

But you're painting a false dichotomy for Israel that its do nothing and let Hezbollah attack or destroy Lebanon. Again there are a whole hosts of range of responses that Israel could do. Infact Israel is in a far better position to consider options than Lebanon since taking on Hezbollah would've meant civil war.

 

Except that Hezbollah is supported by roughly 40% of Lebanon's population. You also forget that Lebanon had been through a 25 year civil war where various factions did align themselves with Israel. That only increased the bitterness of the war as Israel occupied Lebanon and even abbetted attrocities committed by Lebanese factions. For the Lebanese government to ask for Israel's help wouldn't have been a joint venture since for a majority of Lebanese Israel is the enemy that occupied a big part of the country and abbetted attrocities. The majority of Lebanese would be in no way supportive of asking Israel for help.

Lebanon could've asked for help from the International community in general but definately not Israel without war. You guys act as though most Lebanese consider Israel the good guys or even neutral when even Syria has a better image than Israel in Lebanon.

 

Israel could not control Hezbollah through 20 years of Lebanese occupation and for them to seriously expect the Lebanese government to control Hezbollah without outside help is Rumsfeld'esque in its dishonesty. Israel, through its short-sightedness and its inclination to use heavy handed tactics, is the biggest enabler of Hezbollah.

 

I didn't say that they were likely to do it, or that it would be a popular decision in Lebenon, only that it would be a positive diplomatic step in their relations with Israel. I frankly couldn't care less what the Hizballah supporters would think of the action. Anyone who chooses that side will reap what they sow.

 

I pretty much agree with this. 40% of the Lebanese population in Shia most of whom has always viewed Hezbollah as legitimate especaily since they drove out Israeil occupiers before.. One thing is certain. Since the latest Israeli invaseion, now the strong majority hates Israel and the United States and supports Hezbollah. Lebanese are human, too, and do not like foreign aggressors on their territory. See Iraqis opposition to foregin i.e. American troops occupying their country.

As far as the 60% who aren't Shia, controlling Hezbollah, Lebanon has had enough of the joys of civil war, despite Hayes' love of such wars and Isreal's desire to start civil wars throughout the Muslim world. if they can't have undemocratic puppets emposing pro-Zionist regimes..

 

Yup, and we all know that a positive diplomatic step in Israeli relations outweighs national security.

 

Yep their national security situation sure looks rosey they way they decided to go.

 

I just saw this post. To answer your question, which was out of right field ...absolutely not. It is two completely different situations, and your implication is that Bush and company are getting a raw deal for their cocked-up invasion and occupation of Iraq. They are not. If anything, they have gotten a pass from the American public for far too long. A pass that is going to be revoked in November, in my opinion.



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