Cliff LyonThe Dialogue About the US Support of Israel
The dialogue about the US Support of Israel against Hezbolla is drawing much condemnation from many highly respected academics and experts in foreign policy.
It has been suggested that the US unreserved support of Israel’s actions in Lebanon, has given Iran and Syria more permission than ever to pursue their goals in Iran. It has angered our allies in Europe, and led to comments like, “the lack of day light between Israel’s policies against Lebanon and the US ‘s policy has compromised the US credibility as a mediator in the Middle East process.
Did the IDF fail to distinguish between civilian and civilian targets?
It seems our untempered support for Israel’s pounding entire towns in Lebanon has also threatened Ehud Omert’s ability to lead Israel in the future.
Israel should remember that Americans puplic support for Israel is strong but closer to that of the Europeans, but not as strong as the US Israel support lobbies. This can hurt Israel in light of the overwhelming disapproval of Bush and his advisors like Wolfowitz, Feith and Cheney.
Some would argue that Olmert shoud have thanked Bush for his support, but backed off just a little bit in “smashing” Hezbollah.
We need to know the truth about what has happened in this war. Did Israel over react because of US support? Have we together violated the laws of war and set back the foundation for peaceful settlement, or have we forsaken proportionality in a conscious strategy to move this conflict beyond diplomacy?
It is clear to us that air supremacy alone could have eliminated Hezbollah rockets. So it looks like Israel went beyond because of US prodding.
We don’t know what to believe.
Help us understand Jacques and Elisha, keeping in mind, everything Bush touches seems to go bad.
Love Cliff
August 29th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I for one will say emphatically that the ‘death to Israel’ rally scheduled for tomorrow is in really poor taste.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:01 pm
The wackos participating in the “death to Israel” rally are making a statement about themselves more than they are about Israel. They may have the right to protest but we have just as much right to to look upon them as sad pathetic peaces of human debris.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:29 pm
Hello Ken? The wacks organizing the Death to Israel thing are GOP operatives trying to discredit the anti-bush crowd.
You can’t possibly so naive. Google the guy. You do know how to use Google?
August 31st, 2006 at 1:46 pm
“It is clear to us that air supremacy alone could have eliminated Hezbollah rockets.”
I can’t imagine that this is clear to anyone. Israeli airpower may have been able to take out some of the larger, more sophisticated missiles, but Hezbollah managed to launch thousands of Katyushas and may even have been able to resupply despite Israeli control of the skies.
September 4th, 2006 at 11:25 pm
I believe airpower (i.e. surgical bombing, etc.) is most over-rated, and dangerously so. Bombs have never “broken a people’s will.” Just look at Bosnia, Vietnam, Korea, and now Lebanon. I agree with Mr. Warnick, Israeli bombing accomplished nothing but the earning of even more enemies and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The number of Katyushas fired actually went up after Israel stepped up its bombing campaign.
Did the IDF fail to distinguish between civilian targets? Yes. 4 international groups have accused Israel of war crimes in their invasion of Lebanon. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, International Red Cross and the United Nations. Israel knows that they’re right, and have begun to prepare legal defenses for any Israeli officials or military men who are at risk of being detained in another country under war crimes acts:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2006/09/04/international/i115146D84.DTL
September 4th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
was my previous comment (of about a week ago) deleted? Just wondering.
September 14th, 2006 at 10:22 am
for the record -
IDF soldiers speaking about using cluster bombs on villages and firing phosphorous rockets to start fires in Lebanon - both war crimes. Covered in the Israeli press by Haaretz:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/761910.html