MSM is virtually ignoring the import of Israel's entering Lebanon....

[Blackhatjack]

The PLO and Hamas, now Hezbollah and Lebanon -- and Israel's reactions, have changed the rules of engagement in the Middle East. This is huge for everyone, especially the US with our troops stationed in Iraq and in a very vulnerable position. And the MSM has failed to communicate to the American public the gravity of the actions taking place.

Remember, all parties are heavily armed and Israel is widely believed to have nuclear weapons. Add to the situation the almost total abdication of any diplomatic role the US might have played to keep a lid on the violence.

I fear things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.

[Gabi Hayes]

1. just wait...they won't be able to for long

Armageddon ready for the fun to start, right now.

[AndyTiedye]

2. I Think You're Right About the Getting Worse Part…

…not so sure when/if/how it can get better.

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. This thread will be dumped in the Israel/Palestine forum soon

Read it and vote on it while you can. (In that forum you can't vote for Greatest Page - gee, I wonder why?)

Here are two BBC reports on the Lebanon invasion:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5174726.stm
(July 12) Israel in fresh Lebanon strikes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5175160.stm
(July 13) Israel attacks Beirut's airport

Here's another thread that already got banished to the I/P closet, er, forum:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x133416
Israel just invaded Lebanon, so where's the outrage?

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. Note in my previous post - reply #3 - Israel has attacked Beirut airport

this is escalating

[autorank]

5. "Syria and Iran" mischief behind Lebanon invasion...

It's the "set up" for going after them. They keep trying. I have no idea what Israel is up to here. I have no idea what the Israel left has to say. I just know this stinks. The last Isreal experience in Lebanon was a disaster and the people remember it...who knows. But the Syria and Iran talk, as though they're somehow to blame, is clealry a set up to do someting nasty to them. Amazing. Where is Eisenhower when we need him?

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. Yes - see my post #8 below. NYT is blaming Syria and Iran for it all n/t

[JCMach1]

12. BS Hezbollah bluffed everyone and acted on GAZA

Every other ME actor was frozen on this issue...

[McCamy Taylor]

6. Disagree. Israel-Lebanon getting front page MSM treatment. Maybe

you want DU to discuss it more? Fine by me, as long as we keep discussing election theft, Abramoff, Bush's war crimes and all the stories the MSM isnt covering.

For the record, Israel attacks Iran first then calls upon the UN to back it up in order to force a UN conflict with Iran is one of the much discussed scenerios, but if Israel drops a nuke on Iran, I dont think the UN will come in on Israel's side.

[JCMach1]

7. Hezbollah is no 'real' military threat to Israel

Hezbollah's capabilities are tiny in comparison...

The risk is esacalation...

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. Escalation in Lebanon is up at the NY Times site _ LINK & EXCERPT:

I see nothing about the attack on the Beirut airport in this New York Times article, but there is a paragraph blaming the trouble on Iran and Syria. For example: "The expectation among political and foreign affairs analysts is that Hamas and Hezbollah would never have taken such provocative actions without at least the tacit approval of their sponsors in Tehran or Damascus."

Here is a link and excerpt, the latest in the NY Times RSS feed on this story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html?ex=1310443200&en=5b4658b29a4ba9a2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Escalation: Clashes Spread to Lebanon as Hezbollah Raids Israel

caption: In their retaliatory air raids on Lebanon Wednesday, Israeli bomber pilots destroyed the Qassmiya bridge, on the main north-south highway.

By GREG MYRE and STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: July 13, 2006
JERUSALEM, Thursday, July 13 — The Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah surprised Israel with a bold daylight assault across the border on Wednesday, leading to fighting in which two Israeli soldiers were captured and at least eight killed, and elevating recent tensions into a serious two-front battle.

Israel, already waging a military operation in the Gaza Strip to free a soldier captured by Palestinian militants on June 25, immediately responded by sending armored forces into southern Lebanon for the first time in six years.

Early on Thursday morning, Israeli warplanes fired missiles at the runways at Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, shutting the airport and potentially stranding thousands of visitors at the peak of tourist season. Israeli warplanes also hit numerous locations in southern Lebanon, adding to the civilian death toll. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying that the airport was a target because Hezbollah receives weapons shipments there.

The Israeli government also confirmed that Hezbollah fired several Katyusha rockets into northern Israel, injuring three people.

(snip)

What is going on here? Is this a setup for invasion of Syria and Iran? Are they expected to enter the fight? At this point, the NY times is already blaming them for the violence. Who and what is the goal of these attacks?

[mogster]

9. OK. Here's my contribution to this debate ...

From a U2 concert in Buenos Aires, I think. Found at myspace.com.

[JCMach1]

11. Enforced de-militarization

But let me guess, that would spoil the profits of military contractors...

[TrueFunkSoldier]

13. You know, I didn't like everything Clinton did, but...

...because of him and the peace accord at Jordan, we were moving closer to peace and understanding between these two groups. Now everything is getting out of control. I totally blame Lil' Dumbya and his evil, corrupt empire. I am absolutely convinced that they really want to start WWIII.

[threadkillaz]

14. gone.

nt