World News, August 11-18, 2006
THE FLASHLIGHT, August 11-18, 2006
URL: http://theflashlightnet.blogspot.com
Outcomes of the Israeli-Lebanon War
Washington Post, 8-12 and CNN ff. Losers were Israel and the U.S., neither of whom gained anything and both of whom had their images battered. Israel was seen for the first time as militarily vulnerable. The US was harshly condemned for delaying the cease fire with what was seen as the specious excuse: that a more “permanent” cease fire should be negotiated first. Europe and the Muslim world saw the US as once again the Enabler of Israel, making possible a massacre of a thousand helpless Lebanese civilians.
Hizbollah was the big winner, with its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, a new folk hero of the Muslim world. Fuad Siniora, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, who wept as he reported Lebanese casualties and who demanded complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, also looked good.
The New Yorker, 8-21, story by Seymour Hersh, “Watching Lebanon,” was released to the media 8-13. Hersh said that Bush and Cheney hoped that the Israel Air Force attack on Hezbollah’s underground installations could “serve as a prelude to a potential American preemptive attack” to destroy Iran’s underground nuclear installations. The Israeli plan was prepared in early spring and executed when a Hizbollah provocation provided an excuse. The White House hoped that this would serve as a “demo” for a bombing of Iran. [Some demo.]
Human Rights Watch report, the Internet, 8-14. It concluded that “In systematically failing to distinguish between Hizbollah fighters and the civilian population” the Israeli Defense Force has committed “war crimes.” In some cases the IDF appeared to have “deliberately targeted civilians.” Dropping leaflets warning the population to leave ahead of time was no excuse for the Israelis. The sick, wounded, and those lacking money for gasoline could not leave, and the roads were under attack by Israeli warplanes and artillery.
The reaction of Nasrallah, CNN 8-14. Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hizbollah, complimented all the Lebanese for the “victory.” He promised the homeless free housing and furniture for a year. Iranian money was pouring into Lebanon to finance this. Nasrallah said this was “not the time” to talk about disarming Hizbollah or returning the two Israeli soldiers , since Lebanese prisoners were still in Israeli prisons. With a flourish he set off fireworks in South Beirut to celebrate the “victory.”
[The issue of disarming Hizbollah recalls the fairy tale about the mice who, seeking to end the depredations of the cat, got the bright idea of tieing a bell on the predator. Then they asked for a volunteer to bell the cat. No one volunteered. ]
George Bush said, “Diplomacy has won.”
PBS, 8-14. Hisham Melhem, Christian liberal journalist from Lebanon, took a darker view. He said that Hizbollah had no deterrent to prevent Lebanon from being devastated, and Israel had no deterrent against the rockets of Hizbollah. He said the war had radicalized more Arabs, who will seek to imitate Hizbollah. He said that the Iranians and the Syrians were cynical, and would fight to the last Lebanese.
Washington Post, 8-17. The Israelis were dismayed by the outcome. Prime Minister Olmert’s approval rating sank from 78 to 40%. Soldiers complained about missing supplies and arms, confused orders, and shortages of food and water. The toll: 118 soldiers died, more than 5,000 injured, and 39 civilians died. Hizbollah was not crushed, and the two Israeli soldiers had not been returned.
Iraq
New York Times, 8-17. Violence continued to increase, and public support for the insurgency increased. In the past two months 115 Iraqi civilians a day were killed. US wounded increased from 287 in January to 518 in July. 3500 Iraqis were killed in July.
Sen. John Warner, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said that “if Iraq fell into civil war” the congressional authorization for the use of armed force in Iraq might not be valid any longer. The Administration is considering “alternatives to democracy.”
US Politics
8-14, CNN. Bush approval rating down to 33%, and only 26% think the country is going in the right direction.
Washington Post, 8-17. The ACLU suit against the Administration’s warrantless wiretap program, got a favorable ruling in the Federal District Court in Michigan from Judge Anna Taylor, a 75 year old black woman. The suit was immediately appealed and the wiretapping continues. The suit will almost surely go to the Supreme Court.
Polls. Running as an Independent, Lieberman is now outpolling Ned Lamont 53 to 41%.
Voters are more worried about domestic issues now. They favor Republicans over Democrats as able to fight terrorism, but only by 5%. Formerly the Republican advantage was 30%.
In email to CNN 8-17, there was strong support for the federal court ruling against warrant-less wiretapping. Calling for the impeachment of the president, one writer asked for “Jail to the Chief.”
URL: http://theflashlightnet.blogspot.com
Outcomes of the Israeli-Lebanon War
Washington Post, 8-12 and CNN ff. Losers were Israel and the U.S., neither of whom gained anything and both of whom had their images battered. Israel was seen for the first time as militarily vulnerable. The US was harshly condemned for delaying the cease fire with what was seen as the specious excuse: that a more “permanent” cease fire should be negotiated first. Europe and the Muslim world saw the US as once again the Enabler of Israel, making possible a massacre of a thousand helpless Lebanese civilians.
Hizbollah was the big winner, with its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, a new folk hero of the Muslim world. Fuad Siniora, the Prime Minister of Lebanon, who wept as he reported Lebanese casualties and who demanded complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, also looked good.
The New Yorker, 8-21, story by Seymour Hersh, “Watching Lebanon,” was released to the media 8-13. Hersh said that Bush and Cheney hoped that the Israel Air Force attack on Hezbollah’s underground installations could “serve as a prelude to a potential American preemptive attack” to destroy Iran’s underground nuclear installations. The Israeli plan was prepared in early spring and executed when a Hizbollah provocation provided an excuse. The White House hoped that this would serve as a “demo” for a bombing of Iran. [Some demo.]
Human Rights Watch report, the Internet, 8-14. It concluded that “In systematically failing to distinguish between Hizbollah fighters and the civilian population” the Israeli Defense Force has committed “war crimes.” In some cases the IDF appeared to have “deliberately targeted civilians.” Dropping leaflets warning the population to leave ahead of time was no excuse for the Israelis. The sick, wounded, and those lacking money for gasoline could not leave, and the roads were under attack by Israeli warplanes and artillery.
The reaction of Nasrallah, CNN 8-14. Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hizbollah, complimented all the Lebanese for the “victory.” He promised the homeless free housing and furniture for a year. Iranian money was pouring into Lebanon to finance this. Nasrallah said this was “not the time” to talk about disarming Hizbollah or returning the two Israeli soldiers , since Lebanese prisoners were still in Israeli prisons. With a flourish he set off fireworks in South Beirut to celebrate the “victory.”
[The issue of disarming Hizbollah recalls the fairy tale about the mice who, seeking to end the depredations of the cat, got the bright idea of tieing a bell on the predator. Then they asked for a volunteer to bell the cat. No one volunteered. ]
George Bush said, “Diplomacy has won.”
PBS, 8-14. Hisham Melhem, Christian liberal journalist from Lebanon, took a darker view. He said that Hizbollah had no deterrent to prevent Lebanon from being devastated, and Israel had no deterrent against the rockets of Hizbollah. He said the war had radicalized more Arabs, who will seek to imitate Hizbollah. He said that the Iranians and the Syrians were cynical, and would fight to the last Lebanese.
Washington Post, 8-17. The Israelis were dismayed by the outcome. Prime Minister Olmert’s approval rating sank from 78 to 40%. Soldiers complained about missing supplies and arms, confused orders, and shortages of food and water. The toll: 118 soldiers died, more than 5,000 injured, and 39 civilians died. Hizbollah was not crushed, and the two Israeli soldiers had not been returned.
Iraq
New York Times, 8-17. Violence continued to increase, and public support for the insurgency increased. In the past two months 115 Iraqi civilians a day were killed. US wounded increased from 287 in January to 518 in July. 3500 Iraqis were killed in July.
Sen. John Warner, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said that “if Iraq fell into civil war” the congressional authorization for the use of armed force in Iraq might not be valid any longer. The Administration is considering “alternatives to democracy.”
US Politics
8-14, CNN. Bush approval rating down to 33%, and only 26% think the country is going in the right direction.
Washington Post, 8-17. The ACLU suit against the Administration’s warrantless wiretap program, got a favorable ruling in the Federal District Court in Michigan from Judge Anna Taylor, a 75 year old black woman. The suit was immediately appealed and the wiretapping continues. The suit will almost surely go to the Supreme Court.
Polls. Running as an Independent, Lieberman is now outpolling Ned Lamont 53 to 41%.
Voters are more worried about domestic issues now. They favor Republicans over Democrats as able to fight terrorism, but only by 5%. Formerly the Republican advantage was 30%.
In email to CNN 8-17, there was strong support for the federal court ruling against warrant-less wiretapping. Calling for the impeachment of the president, one writer asked for “Jail to the Chief.”
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 11:45 AM
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