Terrorist Attack kills 34 Youths in Lebanon

[on-ramp]

Do the Finstones and Muls of this BBS condemn this terrorist attack or do they justify it by "collateral" damage?

-----------------------------

34 youths among 56 dead in Israeli strike

QANA, Lebanon - Israeli missiles hit several buildings in a southern Lebanon village as people slept Sunday, killing at least 56, most of them children, in the deadliest attack in 19 days of fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "great sorrow" for the airstrikes but blamed Hezbollah guerrillas for using the area to launch rockets at
Israel, and said he would not halt the army's operation.


The Lebanese Red Cross said the airstrike in Qana, in which at least 34 children were killed, pushed the overall Lebanese death toll to more than 500. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice postponed a visit to Lebanon in a setback for diplomatic efforts to end hostilities. She was to return to the U.S. Monday morning, abruptly breaking off her diplomatic mission in the Mideast.

Before the airstrike, Olmert told Rice he needed 10-14 days to finish the offensive in Lebanon, according to a senior Israeli government official. The two said they would meet again Sunday evening.

"We will not stop this battle, despite the difficult incidents this morning," Olmert said said during Israel's weekly Cabinet meeting, according to a participant in the meeting. "We will continue the activity and if necessary it will be broadened without hesitation."

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora asked U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan to hold an emergency Security Council meeting to arrange for an immediate cease-fire after the Qana strike.

Rice said she had called Saniora to postpone; angry Lebanese officials said it was their government that called off the meeting.

Israeli said it targeted Qana because it was a base for hundreds of rockets launched at Israeli, including 40 that injured five Israelis on Sunday. Israel said it had warned civilians several days before to leave the village.

"One must understand the Hezbollah is using their own civilian population as human shields," said Israeli Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir. "The Israeli defense forces dropped leaflets and warned the civilian population to leave the place because the Hezbollah turned it into a war zone."

Rescuers aided by villagers dug through the rubble by hand. At least 20 bodies wrapped in white sheets were taken away, including 10 children. A row of houses lay in ruins, and an old woman was carried away on a plastic chair.

Villagers said many of the dead were from four families who had taken refuge in on the ground floor of a three-story building, believing they would be safe from bombings.

"We want this to stop!" shouted Mohammed Ismail, a middle-aged man pulling away at the rubble in search for bodies, his brown pants covered in dust. "May God have mercy on the children. They came here to escape the fighting."

"They are hitting children to bring the fighters to their knees," he said.

Rice said she was "deeply saddened by the terrible loss of innocent life" in Israel's attack. But she did not call for an immediate cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militias.

"We all recognize this kind of warfare is extremely difficult," Rice said, noting it comes in areas where civilians live. "It unfortunately has awful consequences sometimes."

"We want a cease-fire as soon as possible," she added.

The United States and Israel are pressing for a settlement that addresses enduring issues between Lebanon and Israel and disables Hezbollah — not the quick truce favored by most world leaders.

Saniora said Lebanon would be open only to an immediate cease-fire.

"There is no place at this sad moment for any discussions other than an immediate and unconditional cease-fire as well as international investigation of the Israeli massacres in Lebanon now," he told reporters Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel would not rush into a cease-fire until it achieved its goal of decimating Hezbollah, whose July 12 capture of two Israel soldiers provoked the fighting.

More than 5,000 people protested in central Beirut, denouncing Israel and the United States, some chanting, "Destroy Tel Aviv, destroy Tel Aviv." A few broke car windows and tried briefly to break into the main U.N. building until political leaders called for a halt to damage.

Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr questioned Israel's claim that Hezbollah fired rockets from the village. "What do you expect Israel to say? Will it say that it killed 40 children and women?" he told Al-Jazeera television.

Qana, in the hills east of the southern port city of Tyre, has a bloody history. In 1996, Israeli artillery killed more than 100 civilians who had taken refuge at a U.N. base in the village. That attack sparked an international outcry that helped end an Israeli offensive.

Sunday's attack drew swift condemnation from several world leaders.

French
President Jacques Chirac's office said "France condemns this unjustifiable action, which shows more than ever the need to move toward an immediate cease-fire, without which other such dramas can only be repeated."

Jordan's King Abdullah II condemned "the ugly crime perpetrated by Israeli forces in Qana," calling it "a blatant violation of the law and all international conventions."

Lebanese civilians have suffered the most from the fighting. Lebanese officials said most of their citizens slain in the conflict have been civilians. Thirty-three Israeli soldiers have died, and Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel have killed 18 civilians.

Fighting also broke out between guerrillas and Israeli soldiers in a zone called the Taibeh Project area, about 2 miles inside Lebanon. The Israeli army said one soldier was moderately wounded. Hezbollah's al-Manar TV claimed two Israeli soldiers were killed.

Heavy artillery rained down on the villages of Yuhmor and Arnoun, close to Taibeh. In northern Israel, rockets fell on Nahariya, Kiryat Shemona and an area close to Maalot, the army said.

Israel has said it would launch a series of limited ground incursions into Lebanon to push back guerrillas, rather than carry out a full-fledged invasion. Israeli troops pulled back Saturday from the town of Bint Jbail, suggesting the thrust, launched a week ago, had halted.

But Lebanese officials reported a massing of troops and 12 tanks near the Israeli town of Metulla further to the northeast, on the tip of the Galilee Panhandle near the Golan Heights, suggesting another incursion could begin soon.

France circulated a draft Security Council resolution on Saturday among the other 14 council members. It would call for an immediate halt to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and seek a wide new buffer zone in south Lebanon monitored by international forces and the Lebanese army.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the strike on Qana was a "tragedy for the people affected," especially so since negotiators had been close to reaching "the basis for a cease-fire."

She stopped short of calling for a cease-fire. "We have repeatedly called on the Israelis to act proportionately," Beckett said.

A peace package Rice brought to the region called for a U.N.-mandated multinational force that can help stabilize in the region, according to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions.

It also proposes: disarming Hezbollah and integrating the guerrilla force into the Lebanese army; Hezbollah's return of Israeli prisoners; a buffer zone in southern Lebanon to put Hezbollah rockets out of range of Israel; a commitment to resolve the status of a piece of land held by Israel and claimed by Lebanon; and the creation of an international reconstruction plan for Lebanon.

The latter two provisions resembled parts of a proposal by Lebanon's government. But they fell short of Hezbollah's demands, including a prisoner swap to free Lebanese held for years in Israeli prisons and the disputed land, known as Chebaa farms, put under U.N. supervision until its status can be resolved.

[livi]

Grotesque.

[fastpat]

Isreal is the most powerful terrorist state in the mideast.

I just watched the Israeli UN ambassodor crying crocadile tears for the dead from this attack, blaming Hezbollah for it. Blamed Hezbollah for the two UN observer post attacks as well.

This map exposes the truth, you can see that the Israeli attacks are nothing more than an attempt to strip Lebanon of it's primary infrastructure to make them another serf state, another Palestinian territory-like vassal state, and probably annex southern Lebanon into "Greater Israel".

[sammyg2]

Ohhhhh, someone died in a war? Time for labels!
Tool.

[coldstart]

I agree that it is grotesque. But it isn't a terrorist attack, the deaths are a mistake. The article even states that the Israeli forces dropped leaflets warning residents to leave. Hezbollah purposely fired rockets from around citizens as human shields daring a response. Unfortunately, the Israelis gave them one and innocents (and some not-so-innocents) paid the price.

[jyl]

From what I've read, I agree w/ coldstart's description.

[red-beard]

If you live next to a Hezbollah weapon launching platform, you may be a civilian, but you are not innocent.

OTOH, if you launch unguided rockets at towns with no Military value, you are a terrorist.

[red-beard]

My wife's comment:

"They (Hezbollah) are cowards. They hide behind people like a child behind his mother's skirt"

[fastpat]

Originally posted by coldstart
I agree that it is grotesque. But it isn't a terrorist attack, the deaths are a mistake.

The deaths were from intentional attacks, making them intentional as well.

Since Lebanon has not attacked Israel, the Israeli action are clearly a terrorist activity.

The article even states that the Israeli forces dropped leaflets warning residents to leave.

Not relevant. Israeli's cannot use "dropped leaflets" as a shield for their terrorism.

Hezbollah purposely fired rockets from around citizens as human shields daring a response.

Nonsense, the Israeli's fired upon Hezbollah initially, in this case the Israeli's are clearly the initiators of this situation. The Israeli's refused a prisoner exchange to head off any military confrontation so that they could deliberately attack and cripple all of Lebanon.

Unfortunately, the Israelis gave them one and innocents (and some not-so-innocents) paid the price.

Israel is the most powerful terrorism sponsor in the mideast.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by fastpat
...
Since Lebanon has not attacked Israel, the Israeli action are clearly a terrorist activity....

Of course they have. Any country that allows an army of its citizens to arm, train, and live within its borders...and attack other countries at will....is directly responsible. Hezbollah "is" the military of Lebanon. They will never see peace as long as they harbor such terrorists....who started/caused this entire episode.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by on-ramp
Do the Finstones and Muls of this BBS condemn this terrorist attack or do they justify it by "collateral" damage?...

Do the on-ram,ps and the Patsy's of this BBS continue to support terrorist that have clearly stated their intention to destroy the United States and have already killed hundreds of US citizens? Do they continue to support murderers who intentionally kill women and children in cafes, on school busses and who indiscriminately fire hundreds of unguided rockets into civilian population areas daily?

Or do they justify it because the terrorists also kill Jews?"

[fastpat]

Originally posted by fintstone
Of course they have. Any country that allows an army of its citizens to arm, train, and live within its borders...and attack other countries at will....is directly responsible. Hezbollah "is" the military of Lebanon. They will never see peace as long as they harbor such terrorists....who started/caused this entire episode.

Under your rationale, New York would be justified in attacking Florida since most of the 9/11 highjackers lived there prior to their attack.

Won't work, the Israeli's are the most powerful terrorist's in the mideast.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by red-beard
My wife's comment:

"They (Hezbollah) are cowards. They hide behind people like a child behind his mother's skirt"

I recommend you show your wife this:
The 'hiding among civilians" Myth

[fintstone]

Originally posted by fastpat
Under your rationale, New York would be justified in attacking Florida since most of the 9/11 highjackers lived there prior to their attack.

Won't work, the Israeli's are the most powerful terrorist's in the mideast.

Pitiful analogy. That would only be the case if Florida knew about the terrorists and allowed them to make daily attacks from FLA on NY...then hid them among the civilian population to prevent NY from taking reprisal.

And of course, the 911 terrorists were not citizens of Florida. In fact, most were there illegally...unlike the terrorists which are citizens of Lebanon.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by fastpat
I recommend you show your wife this:
...

I've met his wife. She is far too intelligent to fall for such obvious propaganda.

[jdm61]

Originally posted by fastpat
[B]The deaths were from intentional attacks, making them intentional as well.

Since Lebanon has not attacked Israel, the Israeli action are clearly a terrorist activity.

[b]
Not relevant. Israeli's cannot use "dropped leaflets" as a shield for their terrorism.

[b]
Nonsense, the Israeli's fired upon Hezbollah initially, in this case the Israeli's are clearly the initiators of this situation. The Israeli's refused a prisoner exchange to head off any military confrontation so that they could deliberately attack and cripple all of Lebanon.


Israel is the most powerful terrorism sponsor in the mideast.

A southern seccesionist, eh? Would you feel differently if it had happend in Soweto circa 1980 as opposed to JEWS dropping the bombs? Lets try this........when the Israelis kill Arab number 6,000,001, then we can talk. Until then, i think the terrorists are on the other side of the Lebanese border. Aren't these some of the same people who were celebrating in the street on September 12th, 2001? And who is Israel "sponsoring"? If you want to bring up that tired old story aboput Lebanon and the Israeli backing of Christian and Druze militias against the FOREIGN Pleastinians who had been foisted upon Lebanon back in the 80's, well then that just put them temporarily on an equal footing with Syria and Iran. By the way......one of the reasons that the Palestinians don't have a "homeland" is that they tried to overthrow the government of what was supposed to be their "homeland"by the terms of the original UN mandate...Jordan.

[jdm61]

Originally posted by fastpat
I recommend you show your wife this:
The 'hiding among civilians" Myth

And lets also check out the "Hezbollah had its headquarters on the ground floor of an apartment block" myth too, right? And the "One bilion Muslims are victims and 15 million Jews are the Oppressors" myth. How bout the "US defiled the Holy Places of Islam" myth when the troops were INVITED to Saudi in 1990 to stop Hussein from crossing the border? LOTS of "myths" out there, bubba

[gaijindabe]

Originally posted by fastpat

Nonsense, the Israeli's fired upon Hezbollah initially, in this case the Israeli's are clearly the initiators of this situation. The Israeli's refused a prisoner exchange to head off any military confrontation so that they could deliberately attack and cripple all of Lebanon.

"a prisoner exchange" that reaks of some kind of equivalence between the two sides..

Who are these prisoners Israel is holding and why are they being held?

And why did Hezbollah kidnap those Israeli soldiers and why dont they give them back?

[jdm61]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
"a prisoner exchange" that reaks of some kind of equivalence between the two sides..

Who are these prisoners Israel is holding and why are they being held?

And why did Hezbollah kidnap those Israeli soldiers and why dont they give them back?

last time we had one of these "exchanges" it involved a couple of Israelis for a couple of hundred Hezb'Allah prsisoners. How many of those guys do you think retired from the terrorist game and how many of them are firing Katyushas across the border today?

[fastpat]

Originally posted by jdm61
A southern seccesionist, eh? Would you feel differently if it had happend in Soweto circa 1980 as opposed to JEWS dropping the bombs?

Eh?

Lets try this........when the Israelis kill Arab number 6,000,001, then we can talk.

Ah, an apologist for Israeli terrorism, should have recognized it right away.

Until then, i think the terrorists are on the other side of the Lebanese border. Aren't these some of the same people who were celebrating in the street on September 12th, 2001?

No, that was the group of Israeli agents spotted in New Jersey.

And who is Israel "sponsoring"? If you want to bring up that tired old story aboput Lebanon and the Israeli backing of Christian and Druze militias against the FOREIGN Pleastinians who had been foisted upon Lebanon back in the 80's, well then that just put them temporarily on an equal footing with Syria and Iran. By the way......one of the reasons that the Palestinians don't have a "homeland" is that they tried to overthrow the government of what was supposed to be their "homeland"by the terms of the original UN mandate...Jordan.

What gave the British the right to give Palestinian land to the Zionists in the first place?