A Star from Mosul

THANKS!
I greatly appreciate these blog addresses!
I am regularly reading Iraq the Model. And I essentially agree with his comments about Iran's fingers on the power buttons. Ichy fingers???

The news from Lebanon is quite sad. Israel has really over reacted, and their actions today will only bring them more grief in the future! However, I also blame Iran for giving weapons to Hezbollah. The people of Lebanon have been pawns for years, just like the Palestinians. I am so tired of senseless killing! I will try to read some of what the Lebanese bloggers are saying.

I watched a DVD tonight of an old Kurosawa movie called "Ran". It's in Japanese with English subtitles, and the plot is based on William Shakespear's famous play "King Lear". It's about madness and war. It makes perfect sense compared to the news of what is happening in Lebanon and Gaza.

It's a paradox: Olmert wants to annihilate Hezbollah so that it can never again drag the region into a big crisis. But at the same time, he is happy to participate in exactly such a crisis.
Also, what really bothers me is that neither side takes responsibility for their own actions. I think that when Israel attacks Lebanon, only Israel is to blame for the attack on Lebanon, and when Hezbollah attacks Haifa, only Hezbollah is responsible for the dead in Haifa. That is because they both could have decided not to do it.
This kind of self-defence is hardly distinguishable from aggression.
Olmert probably wants to show to the Israeli public that he is a tough guy just like Sharon. A very destructive attitude.
One last thing: Israeli author and activist Amos Oz wrote a good booklet about the Palestinian-Israeli situation: "How To Cure a Fanatic". Every fanatic between the Mediterranean and the river Jordan should read it.

Israel is far from overreacting. An overreaction would have included attacks on Syria and possibly Iran, which supply all the arms and money that make Hezboallah a danger to Israel.

Israel's reaction, hopefully, in the end will mean the destruction of Hezbollah, which will leave the nascent Lebonese demacracy in a much more stable position and in control of all its territory.

I cannot believe the stupidity of the Israeli Govt, the US Govt & any other Govt for that matter that sees bombing the shit out of Lebanon is going to put a stop to Hezbalah. Every bomb droped, every person maimed, every family displaced just brings more hatred & creates more radical freedom frighters (or terrorists depending what 'side' your on) When has beating a nation to their knees ever produced compliance with the occupying force? Also I would like to equate this conflict with the IRA & the UK. Could you imagine what a hue & cry there would have been if the UK had bombed the shit out of Ireland because of the activities of the IRA? Lets all get a bit real here & have a look at exactly what Israel is trying to achieve. I myself only see a huge stiring of the hornets nest. Why the huge destruction of a whole nation? Very aggressive behaviour from the people who only 60 years ago were the persecuted of the world - or so they keep shoving down our throats. Very short memory. Also while all theis horror is going on in Lebanon palestine has been forgotten. Having the bejesus bombed out of them as well. Ho hum all I see is the creation of more radical Palestinian & Lebanese 'freedom fighters'....more & more & more & more....not just in their own nations, but in nations all over the planet.