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Topic ClosedIs the Middle East going to war?

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marktheshark View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 17:05
Originally posted by Syzygy Syzygy wrote:

Originally posted by avestin avestin wrote:

Originally posted by marktheshark marktheshark wrote:

Originally posted by avestin avestin wrote:

I feel the same as you Mark. Although I will sure lose my cynicism and sarcasm when I will arrive there and start shaking with fear...
Yeah well, you take care of yourself and don't do anything stupid. And keep us posted if possible. When are you leaving?     
I don't know yet. We have been told to be prepared at any minute. It's up to the warmongeres now. This is such a stupid contest of who has the biggest ____. One shoots rockets here and the other bombards their airports and bridges.

 

If it comes to it - and I sincerely hope it doesn't - make sure you take Mark's advice, and keep in touch if you can.

We're all behind you avestin. You mentioned about shaking with fear, wrong! There's a big difference between being scared and being in fear. Scared is fine, triggers the defense mechanism in your head and keeps you on your toes. Any normal person has these instincts. The best soldiers were ones that were the most scared. Fear on the other hand is a mental breakdown, makes you depressed and slows you down. And you don't want that!

So don't give into fear, just be scared if you know what I mean. Hell, you're smart, you're a progger and you'll make it. Just keep your wits about you.
    
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 16:45
^^^
I sure will.
Thanks guys.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 16:12
Originally posted by avestin avestin wrote:

Originally posted by marktheshark marktheshark wrote:

Originally posted by avestin avestin wrote:

I feel the same as you Mark. Although I will sure lose my cynicism and sarcasm when I will arrive there and start shaking with fear...

Yeah well, you take care of yourself and don't do anything stupid. And keep us posted if possible. When are you leaving?
    


I don't know yet. We have been told to be prepared at any minute.
It's up to the warmongeres now.
This is such a stupid contest of who has the biggest ____.
One shoots rockets here and the other bombards their airports and bridges.
 
If it comes to it - and I sincerely hope it doesn't - make sure you take Mark's advice, and keep in touch if you can.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 16:06
Originally posted by marktheshark marktheshark wrote:

Originally posted by avestin avestin wrote:

I feel the same as you Mark. Although I will sure lose my cynicism and sarcasm when I will arrive there and start shaking with fear...

Yeah well, you take care of yourself and don't do anything stupid. And keep us posted if possible. When are you leaving?
    


I don't know yet. We have been told to be prepared at any minute.
It's up to the warmongeres now.
This is such a stupid contest of who has the biggest ____.
One shoots rockets here and the other bombards their airports and bridges.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 15:42
Originally posted by avestin avestin wrote:

I feel the same as you Mark. Although I will sure lose my cynicism and sarcasm when I will arrive there and start shaking with fear...

Yeah well, you take care of yourself and don't do anything stupid. And keep us posted if possible. When are you leaving?
    
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 15:10
I feel the same as you Mark.
Although I will sure lose my cynicism and sarcasm when I will arrive there and start shaking with fear...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 14:51
I can just picture some advanced aliens sitting in their spaceship eating popcorn watching the big view screen and going "Hey guys, we got more slapstick coming. Looks like those nutty Middle Easteners are at it again. Boy, they just can't get along. Ralph and Alice Kramden got along better than this! We've been monitoring this planet for 2000 years and it's always the same ole, same ole with this place."

Sorry, this crap just brings out the cynical shark in me!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 13:48
Originally posted by GoldenSpiral GoldenSpiral wrote:

I don't often pipe in on political threads, but this is just terrible.  I always hate it when a war starts anywhere, and this seems so needless.  But of course, it's in the middle east, so Americans don't have to care about it.  The most I've heard anyone say about it today is "Oh well, I guess gas prices will go up again." Dead
 
I knonw what you mean.
 
Here we say "oh well, I guess I'll be called to my unit and get killed by guerilla warriors in the middle of land not my own..."
 
 
 
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 13:04
I don't often pipe in on political threads, but this is just terrible.  I always hate it when a war starts anywhere, and this seems so needless.  But of course, it's in the middle east, so Americans don't have to care about it.  The most I've heard anyone say about it today is "Oh well, I guess gas prices will go up again." Dead
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 12:47
 Yea since this thread was originally posted it has now officially escalated into a war. I cant wait to see what the U.S. does, now that we have our hands full alll over the world and our troops are spread too thin as it is. Anyway if we are going to back Israel as we have commited ourselves years ago, why are we now content to sit back and say "Israel has a right to defend itself" while we are over in Iraq starting a civil war?

Edited by dralan - July 13 2006 at 12:47
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 12:34
Things are looking very serious indeed. I'm not sure that it was premeditated, but it does seem rather overdramatic on Israel's part...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 10:22
I'm sorry Blacksword, Lebanon is responsible for this, just like witht he Palestinians, Hizbullah is a political party represented in their parliament.  They can't say, "it's Hizbullah, not us"
 
Fairly inconsequential rocket attacks, Blacksword?:
 
 
Israel doesn't have that martyr mentality so even two deaths are mourned.
 
I am really worried about this situation.  I didn't see Lebanon in this picture at all.
 
Well to answer my own question, looks like a real war, not just border flare-ups.  The ball is now in Syria's court, they may have to get involved for political reasons.
 
Blacksword, I don't think this was premeditated on Israel's part.  The Israeli Governments official policy was disengagement from the West Bank (90% withdrawal), that is what the PM campaigned on, withdrawal.  That plan is dead now because of the situation, and hes not happy about it.


Edited by NetsNJFan - July 13 2006 at 10:35
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 03:46
Originally posted by stonebeard stonebeard wrote:

Has the US government even said aything at all on this damn war!?


Yes. Condie Rice has been very vocal about it. Last thing I heard she said was 'What war?'
     
The US has quiety urged restraint on both sides, but thats about it really. Condie is tied up with bringing Iran back to the UNSC, and the rest of the Bush admin is in despair over North Korea; apperently the NK/China talks have broken down, and the SK/NK talks are about to break down.

What a great week it's been.

You would expect the US to be trying its hardest to broker peace in the ME. I can only conclude there is a strategic reason they're not doing so. I may be wrong, but I believe that the current Israeli action would have been in the planning for along time, and is nothing to do with kidnapped soldiers and home made rockets. I believe this may be the back door route to dealing with Iran and/or Syria, both of whom back Hezbollah. It would not take much to pull either nation into the conflict. Israel may be trying to create a scenario where an attack on Iran maybe justified. The US maybe taking a back seat, if this is the case, as another US led conflict in the ME would not go down well with US media or voters.

..and now Israel have imposed an air and sea blockade of Lebanon. All this for a few captured soildiers? I dont think so. This was not the approach taken in the past, when they negotiated the release of one hostage and the remains of three soldiers from Hezbollah, in return for the release of Arab prisoners. Why would Israel risk taking the entire region to the brink over three hostages, and some fairly inconseqeuntial attacks from home made rockets?

A bridge too far?...and an airport...

Edited by Blacksword - July 13 2006 at 05:26
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 00:33
Has the US government even said aything at all on this damn war!?
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 00:18

I found this interesting:

Mideast envoys have war of words in U.N. hallway

Israeli: 'You're paying the price'; Palestinian: 'Leave us alone'

 
Quote

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The Palestinian and Israeli ambassadors to the United Nations engaged in an impromptu debate Wednesday in the hallway outside the Security Council.

Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman said sarcastically that Palestinians must be "in love" with the idea of Israeli occupation; Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour responded, "I wish you'd leave us alone."

The exchange came amid heightened tensions and fighting in the region. (Watch the testy exchange caught on camera -- :57)

An Israeli airstrike hit the Palestinian Foreign Ministry in Gaza early Thursday, part of a campaign Israel says is aimed at recovering an Israeli soldier kidnapped June 25 and stopping militants from firing rockets into Israel. (Full story)

And Israeli artillery and airstrikes pounded Hezbollah installations in southern Lebanon on Wednesday after a cross-border raid that left three Israeli soldiers dead and two others captive. (Full story)

Despite the tense situation at the United Nations, both diplomats remained cordial, shaking hands at the end of their one-minute exchange.

"You are so in love with occupation that you, you cling to it even when we leave every single inch," Gillerman said.

In the middle of Gillerman's sentence, Mansour injected, "We hate occupation."

"You are not leaving us; I wish you'd leave us alone," Mansour said.

Gillerman told Mansour that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza last year was "one of the most heart-wrenching acts by any Israeli leader."

"Why are the soldiers inside?" Mansour asked. "Leave us alone."

When Gillerman said Israel had left the Palestinians alone, Mansour disagreed.

But Gillerman responded: "Your own people, your government had two choices. Take care of its people or turn it into a terrorist. You chose the latter, and you're paying the price."

"No, that is not true," Mansour said.

"The problem is occupation," Mansour said. "Once occupation is completely out, then peace and freedom will prevail. Consider it seriously."

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 13 2006 at 00:13
Update from jpost.com:
 
IAF bombs Beirut International Airport

Quote IAF fighter jets bombed runways at Beirut International Airport early Thursday morning as part of a military campaign which it vowed would be harsh and quick against the Lebanese government and Hizbullah, which a day before killed eight IDF soldiers and kidnapped two others along the northern border.

It was unclear whether there were any casualties in the IAF strike.

Meeting in emergency session late Wednesday, the Cabinet approved plans by IDF echelons to target the airport and other strategic infrastructures inside Lebanon including power plants.

Earlier Thursday morning, several Katyusha rockets, fired by Hizbullah from southern Lebanon, landed on an IDF base in Mount Meron on Thursday morning. No one was wounded and no damage was reported.

Overnight Wednesday, the IAF struck a Hizbullah post and two bridges in southern Lebanon as the number of targets hit by the Airforce since fighting erupted after the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers, reached into the hundreds.

Meanwhile, Hizbullah shelled the Western Galilee with mortars. No one was wounded and no damage was reported.

For a Jerusalem Online video of events click here

Earlier, in a series of air strikes, IAF aircraft bombed Kfar Shuba and Sheba Farms. The communications infrastructure connecting Beirut to the south of the country was also damaged by IAF strikes.

The strikes followed an attack by IAF warplanes and navy gunboats on a Palestinian terrorist base south of Beirut late Wednesday in the closest raid to the Lebanese capital since fighting erupted.

Meanwhile, the names of six of the eight soldiers killed Wednesday in a Hizbullah attack on IDF forces patrolling the Lebanese border were released for publication Wednesday evening: Sgt. Nimrod Cohen, 19, from Mitzpe Shalem; Sgt.-Major Eyal Benin, 22, of Be'ersheba and Sgt.-Major Shani Turgeman, 24, of Beit Shean. All the soldiers' families have been notified.

The fourth victim was later identified as Sergeant-Major Wasim Nazel, 27, from the Druze village of Kfar Yanouch. Earlier, Nazel's family was mistakenly informed that he had been kidnapped.

Two of the soldiers who were killed when the tank in which they were riding drove over an explosive device, were identified as Staff-Sergeant Alexei Kashiniervski, 21, from Ness Ziona and Yaniv Bar-on, 19, from Maccabim.

Under heavy fire, IDF forces continued their attempts to reclaim the bodies of the four soldiers who died when their tank was ripped apart by the blast.

Three other soldiers were killed were riding in a Hummer jeep when it was attacked, while two other soldiers in the same jeep were kidnapped.

All residents along Israel's northern border from Nahariya in the west to Kiryat Shmona in the east were ordered into bomb shelters on Wednesday night.

"This is a new situation. The residents of Israel need to know that we are going into a period that would require resilience," Minister Issac Herzog said after the emergency cabinet meeting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened on Wednesday night in Tel Aviv in light of the events on the northern border.

According to Herzog, Israel is holding Lebanon responsible for the attack, which was carried out from its territory.

OC Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam said the IDF was preparing for a widespread operation not only against Hizbullah but also against the Lebanese government. The IDF, The Jerusalem Post learned, has drawn up plans to bomb main infrastructure, including power stations in Lebanon.

"The IDF is responding with its full might by the air, the sea and the ground," Adam said. "We are also preparing for a massive operation to defend Israeli citizens and stop the terror."

 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2006 at 12:29
Right now I am at the mercy of those generals and leaders that sit behind their desks and shout Forward. And you know what happens to the Front Rank now...

Thanks for your words of sympathy, fellas.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2006 at 12:29
Originally posted by NetsNJFan NetsNJFan wrote:

God I hate Kofi Annan.  Like usuall, he's made himself the first to "condemn Israel's actions without reservation."
 

Gimme a break. 


Well, their actions are pretty OTT, Nets, but I would agree that Annan's condemnation is far from balanced. So far, he has just said the 'soldiers should be released' I'm sure Hamas will listen to him and do as they're told.. I dont think...

In answer to your original question in this thread; Yes, it looks like the ME is going to war. Big time.

Bad times.
      
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2006 at 12:05
God I hate Kofi Annan.  Like usuall, he's made himself the first to "condemn Israel's actions without reservation."
 
Gimme a break. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 12 2006 at 11:32
Originally posted by avestin avestin wrote:

^^^Chances are little as I see it. For the time being, only officers have been called so that they will be told what to expect. Then after receving their orders, the rest of the commanding force (which I am part of in my unit) and the rest of the soldiers will be called as well. Honestly, I fear the worst. I hope I am wrong.


I hope you're wrong too. I'm very sorry you're having to go through this.
    
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