Well, according to certain of our trolls. But be sure to read Michael Totten’s latest dispatch from Southern Lebanon, and the comments and his responses, as well. It’s the single best piece on Lebanon, Hezbollah and Israel that I’ve read, and it’s full of interesting revelations that haven’t been reported in the MSM, such as:
–Many Lebanese believe that the conflict was timed to give cover to Iran’s nuclear program
–Hezbollah retreated into Christian villages in order that they should be destroyed rather than Shia villages
–Hezbollah social services promise much more than they deliver
Of course, the UN is doing nothing to prevent the Hizzies from establishing a Syranian proxy state in southern Lebanon. Meh, it’s not “Palestine,” though, so I suppose there won’t be any outrage about it.
If that was a victory they better hope they don’t suffer a defeat.
a very fair and balanced report from his interpreters.
“Independent” journalism is a tricky proposition. Makes me wish I had chosen a different career.
Speaking of independent, has anyone read anything by Robert Kaplan. His latest work “Imperial Grunts” is an interesting read. He has also written a fine book on the Middle East. I would recommend him to any and all for his fine travel work in 3rd world countries.
Haven’t read any of his books, Timmy. Have read some of his pieces in Atlantic.
God, I love The Atlantic
Anyway, check out any of his books. He and I are not political blood brothers*, but I love his writing and his stories.
*By not political blood brothers I mean the dude enthusiastically supported the Iraq war and writes blurbs for Fred Kagan’s books on how liberals are wimps who don’t understand the challenges of 9/11. You really can’t get further away from my realism than that line of thought expressed that way.
With that said, he’s been everywhere in the world and provides a great balance of sources and a wealth of history.
Back to your original post, I hate to bring Katrina into this, but, if we can’t re-build a city and a system of canalas and dykes in over a year, how do expect an organization that spends 80% of its money on guns and rovkets and 19% on propaganda to show how great they are to rebuild Southern Lebanon in 6 months?
Personally, unlike Mr. Totten and his guides, I have trouble rooting for anyone in most Middle Eastern conflicts.
Well yeah.
Israel lived up to the terms of the cease fire by pulling out of Lebanon. So where is Cpl. Gilad Shalit?
Honestly, Israel should resume bombing since the UN doesn’t seem interested in making Hez live up to its promises.
Start spending 80% on construction materials, maybe?
Defense guy
to gain what? They got nothing but international condemnation (and in a country that needs international business trade, that is an important calculation).
What shocks me is they have been able to get an informant (like they do in Gaza or the West Bank, or Southern Lebanon in the old days) to tell them where he is.
I’m not positive about this, but I think Hezbollah offered to return him in an prisoner exchange (pretty common), but the Israelis balked at who they wanted.
By the way, please don’t misconstrue my statements. I don’t think Hezbollah is right to fire rockets into Israel or to kidnap Israeli citizens. I’m not discussing right/wrong, but strategies to get their guy back.
In the end, I don’t think a resumption of bombing would solve either the rocket problem or the prisoner problem.
Wasn’t the balking at how many they wanted?
Both, OHNOES.
TimmyB
The bombing comment was pretty much tongue in cheek. That said, I had the UN in mind as a target since they are to all appearances working in concert with Hezbollah.
You have noticed that there has been no press criticism of Hezbollah for not living up to their end of the bargain, and oddly enough the UN doesn’t seem to care either.
In the end, the one overwhelming truth is that they need to let the guy go back to his family, or failing that, to allow his family to bury him.
Point of clarification: Hamas has Cpl. Gilead Shalit. Hezbollah has Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.
My bad. Thanks Pablo.
Not sure what canalas are, and I don’t see why the dykes can’t rebuild themselves, but as for the city proper, I have a little research project for you timmy:
How many houses need to be destroyed?
How many man-hours does it take to tear down the average house?
How many dumptrucks does it take to haul one away?
How far away do the dumptrucks have to go to find landfills to hold all this rubbish?
Given that the whole freakin’ south, not just New Orleans, is trying to rebuild, how hard is it to get loaders and dumptrucks to do all this demolition?
And before you ask, I have no fucking idea. But I am not upset that the city hasn’t been completely rebuilt in only a year, either.
“We” can do ANYTHING, though!
Well, except win a war against an outmanned, outgunned insurgency. And gain the respect of the French.
But those wounds appear to be self-inflicted.
They’re little pastries with a sweet, cheesecakey filling. Good stuff.
I may be a little off on the spelling, though.
Nice snarky little comment as usual, B. Why don’t you bother someone else for awhile? Maybe you can over to Huff Post and correct spelling there.
Any chance you’re going to the game on Sunday? If so, can you tell Peyton how to spell sack? I wouldn’t want him to offend you if he gets it wrong.
Nice complete refusal to answer serious questions and sidestep inconvenient facts, as usual, timmy.
Oh, and joke you if you can’t take a fuck.
Thanks for the link to Michael Totten. I had vaguely heard of him before, but was not familiar. Very good writer, and I respect the way he engages his readers. I read the great article linked and also learned something about the situation in Cyprus. Basically wasted a day at work. But I’m smarter, and that’s good business, right? I will definitely be following Mr. Totten’s exploits.
B Moe, are you coming on to me?
If so, your dumptruck foreplay foray (a turn of phrase? Well, I ain’t no writer or nothing) was not alluring. Put on the pink teddy and whisper about how big the Dem majority after 2008’s gonna be? 30 seats int he House and filibuster proof in the Senate? Keep talking, B, keep talking.
Did you guys know, according to the Pentagon, a counter-insugency forces requires 1 soldier or trained policeman for every 50 people? We have 60,000+, maybe 70,000 ion Baghdad and George is sending over 21,500 more. Too bad Baghdad has 6.5 million people.
Anyway, bon appetite boys.
PS BMoe, I trust I can steal your pun and use it in everyday conversation?
70,000 + 21,500 = 91,500
91,500 x 50 = 4,575,000
6,500,000 – 4,575,000 = 1,925,000
1,925,000 / 50 = 38,500
Are there more than 38,500 Iraqi soldiers or trained policemen in Bagdad, timmy? I am betting there are.
See how enlightening a little math exercise can be? Now let’s see you give the Katrina one I laid out for you a go, I think you can do it if you really try. I will teach you some more junior high level puns if you do.
So, having reviewed the math, I gather that TimmyB thinks the Bush plan will work. Is that right, Timmah?