My cousin died.

#1

Ravi, my distant cousin was killed in Beirut last week, when an exclusively Christian neighborhood was carpet bombed by IDF forces.

He was a Messianic Christian Jew, who was there as a missionary. He was an American citizen. The entire neighborhood was Jewish, and anti-Hezbollah.

He was there recearching our family history, learning more about my local relatives, and working with the church. He was trying to find out why we went to Scotland, and if we all went at the same time, or if we moved in stages.

A house full of documents older than Israel, reaching back into the history of the area, including the inclusion of Canaanite religious practices into the Jews, after the genocide and gentrification of the PEOPLE OF THE CHOSEN LAND. Art, books, even cloth paintings were destroyed as the house was leveled. at four in the morning. Their church is rubble.

May Messhaich be granted to thee, Ravi, for you sought it more dilligently than most.

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Analysts say Israel's targeting of civilian and government infrastructure overshadows its strikes on the offices and rocket launchers of Hezbollah guerrillas, whose capture of two Israeli soldiers triggered the attacks.

"This is a classic strategic bombing campaign," said Stephen Biddle, a former head of military studies at the U.S. Army War College now at the Council on Foreign Relations. "What the Israelis are trying to do is pressure others into solving their problem for them, hence the targeting of civilian infrastructure."

But the growing list of civilian casualties †™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬‚

despite Israel's use of U.S.-designed precision-guided bombs †™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬‚

could turn Arabs and others against the Jewish state and its key ally, the U.S., and still not fatally wound Hezbollah, said military analysts.

Israeli Cabinet ministers have said the bombing aims to punish Lebanon and make the government understand the entire country will suffer if Hezbollah †™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬‚

which operates freely in the south †™‚¢‚¢¢¢¬…¡‚¬‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬‚

isn't reined in.

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Can someone tell me what part of using destruction of Lebanese civilians, vistors, and property as a means to "make the government understand" their position is not tantamount to terrorism? Lebanon was an ally in the war on terror. Is this how we repay them for arresting Al Qaeda and HAMAS operatives trying to get to Israel? by ambivalence.

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Oh, and his family informed me that I am mistaken about Chebaa farms. Israel occupies it, the UN thin blue line assigns it to Syria, but Syria already announced last year it is part of Lebanon. This means it is part of Lebanon, which Syria cannot return to Lebanon, until Israel leaves.

HERE IS AN ARTICLE THAT VERIFIES THAT.

There are regular demonstrations BY JEWS in Israel to get the IDF out of Chebaa farms so peace with Lebanon can be absolute.

That occupation was the reason Lebanon was forced AGAIN to acknowledge Hezbollah's right to exists as a valid resistance to occupation, despite the will of the majority of Lebanese people. The Hezbollah is the only claim any could make an accusation that Lebanon was a terrorist state. When in fact, they are a cult, of limited influence.

Bot · #2

Sorry to hear that your cousin was killed. As I said before, it's terrible when people who aren't involved in the conflict are killed.

That occupation was the reason Lebanon was forced AGAIN to acknowledge Hezbollah's right to exists as a valid resistance to occupation, despite the will of the majority of Lebanese people.

That right there makes Lebanon responsible. They recognized the group, and they looked the other way. Whether they were incompetent to take the group on or Israel doesn't matter. They recognized the group. Lebanon can't distance themselves from what happened. They can't say they recognize Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance force and then try to condemn them for killing and kidnapping Israeli soldiers and then say they'll fight side-by-side with Hezbollah.

It's time to pick a fucking side. No more fence sitting. Israel has no interest in occupying Lebanon again... but if Hezbollah is going to continue to attack them and kidnap their soldiers, they don't really have a choice in the matter.

If this small piece of land actually does belong to Lebanon, then Israel should move out... but Hezbollah should not be using terrorist tactics to force that move. They've started a fucking war for christ's sake. Now you've got people on both sides being killed... there's massive damage on both sides...

If the Lebanese army joins Hezbollah... then they'll really fuck themselves over. There'll be no distancing themselves anymore. The Lebanese army should be helping Israel detroy Hezbollah. Its been stated many times... Israel has no desire to occupy the country... they just want to make sure they're country is safe.

#3

Yeah raum, I'm really sorry to hear your cousin died..
I really doubt they'll stop fighting for quite a while however, which is really horrible..

The point of killing innocent people is to make the country's propaganda make it seem like it makes less sense than it already does..

#4

My condolences M8...

#5

QUOTEThat right there makes Lebanon responsible. They recognized the group, and they looked the other way. Whether they were incompetent to take the group on or Israel doesn't matter. They recognized the group. Lebanon can't distance themselves from what happened. They can't say they recognize Hezbollah as a legitimate resistance force and then try to condemn them for killing and kidnapping Israeli soldiers and then say they'll fight side-by-side with Hezbollah.

No, Lebanon did not recognize the group. THE WHOLE GODDAMN UN RECOGNIZED THE GROUP'S RIGHT TO ARMED RESISTANCE BECAUSE OF CHEBAA FARMS OCCUPATION. THen the UN passed a resolution calling for them to disarm.

You don't seem to understand, Hezbollah was not a HAMAS type group. Originally, it was just farmers fighting for their country against an invasive force. The rise of Nasrallah in Hezbollah through the tens of thousands of Palestinians Israel ran into Lebanon is what made them reduce themselves to the tactics that have led to them being labelled as terrorists. NEVER did they call for the destruction of Israel, and to date those extreme tactics are the only thing that has worked.

QUOTEIt's time to pick a fucking side. No more fence sitting. Israel has no interest in occupying Lebanon again... but if Hezbollah is going to continue to attack them and kidnap their soldiers, they don't really have a choice in the matter.

Chebaa farms is in Lebanon. Apparently, even Syria acknowledged the mountain ridge is the mountain. Thus, Israel is STILL OCCUPYING Lebanon. I do not have to pick a fucking side. Israel invaded Lebanon back in 1967, and has been there ever since. They have met with resistance for it, even as the Hebrews attacking Cannan, the Roman, The Muslims, and anyone else has! Since their independence from France in 1948, they have been invaded Israel three times, now again makes four.

Lebanon was a politically neutral area. NEVER declaring war against ANYONE. If a group rose up in Switzerland, and bombed Israel, would the world stand by and let Israel carpet-bomb the Swiss?

QUOTEIf this small piece of land actually does belong to Lebanon, then Israel should move out... but Hezbollah should not be using terrorist tactics to force that move. They've started a fucking war for christ's sake. Now you've got people on both sides being killed... there's massive damage on both sides...

the damages to civilians in Israel are not targeted. I am not excusing Hezbollah, but their aim is horrible. most of their strikes miss anything of importance. they are shooting blind. Israel is using sophisticated and precise targetting systems while bombing vehicles in the middle of Christian villages trying to evacuate.

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Hezbollah has by this action, betrayed Lebanon for Palestine's sake. THey attacked Israel to demand release of Palestinian Soldiers.

Does this not sound like total shit to you guys?

QUOTEIf the Lebanese army joins Hezbollah... then they'll really fuck themselves over. There'll be no distancing themselves anymore. The Lebanese army should be helping Israel detroy Hezbollah. Its been stated many times... Israel has no desire to occupy the country... they just want to make sure they're country is safe.

and for the record the Lebanese Prime Minister is a representative of the Sunni Muslims, as the Prime minister is for the Shiite Muslims. The President is the chief executive chain of command for the Lebanese Army. He must be a Christian. He does not control the military. and what he said is "If israel contines their attack, for the dignity of Lebanon and the safety of its people, the Lebanese army will join Hezbollah in striking Israel. This means "we will strike Israel, ad Hezbollah is also doing. This is NOT a "we forgive or support Hezbollah" this is a desperate contingency for survival, and they have yet to do it.

#6

turns out UN soldiers from india are reporting there were bribes and complicity,.. just like back in 2000.

http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/d ... p_0061.htm

#7

QUOTE(who.am.i)Yeah raum, I'm really sorry to hear your cousin died..
I really doubt they'll stop fighting for quite a while however, which is really horrible..

The point of killing innocent people is to make the country's propaganda make it seem like it makes less sense than it already does..

Thank's to you all for your condolences, I will pass them onto his mother, who is now safely out of the entire region. He was going to evacuate others, who could not leave by ship. According to her, they had 1 hour and 45 minutes left before the bombs were supposed to be dropped. His last phone call to her was clear.

The Israeli flyers that fell just said "get out, you have four hours." The airstrikes came in 1 hour and fifteen minutes later. They decimated the whole area.

Yeah, unless someone makes Israel stop, it will be going on for months, easily. Already Lebanon has had to reduce to mass burials, because much of the power is out in some areas. Even so, in other places, you can still get a cocktail and find a pretty girl to forget about the war with.

But what REALLY disturbs me is Israel is building prisoner camps. lots of space for lots of people. and there is no way they are just going to magically figure out who belongs in them.

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I really can't blame Israel for wanting to react like this, which is a sentiment many Lebanese share. The crime is they are being allowed to declare war on Lebanon and not upholding Geneva convention statutes for doing so.

If they are REALLY holding all of Lebanon responsibile for these hostilities coming from Hezbollah, they still have to abide by the Geneva convention.

#8

I'm very sorry to hear about your cousin Raum. I will be praying for you and your entire family.

This war is just so sad. I wish it would end but part of me thinks that it's the beginning of Armegeddon

#9

Sorry about your cousin raum.This current war is a very compicated mess.I didn"t know about the farms being given up by syria or the origanal purpose foe hezbulas formation.They have obviosly become a powerful force based on there resistance to isrial and i wonder how much of that power they would retain if there were lasting peace.I dont really understand how isrial thinks it can bomb there way out of this through the air.The targets they want to hit are deep in populated areas with no garentie of even knowing if who they want to hit is there.The level of how bad there information must have been to destroy an intire town that had no hezbola strong holds is mind numbing.I hope the rest of your family is now safely out of the area.

#10

Sorry to hear of your loss raum. My condolences