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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Picture of the Day



Lebanese protesters broke into the United Nations headquarters in Beirut on Sunday, smashing windows and ransacking offices, after an Israeli air strike killed at least 50 people in south Lebanon. (MSNBC - "most of them children.")

posted by mikevotes at 8:37 AM

12 Comments:

  • I read the MSNBC article and it had this quote: “One must understand the Hezbollah is using their own civilian population as human shields,” said Israeli Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir.

    Isn't it just as despicable for Israel to be killing these same civilian populations to get at the Hezbollah??

    By Blogger Ptelea, at 10:40 AM  

  • That's a great point!!!!!

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 12:37 PM  

  • There is an interesting correlation with the 60 deaths.
    I posted a story link yesterday in which an Hezbollah fighter was interviewed.
    In part, he said that they have 10 - 15 minutes to clear a launch site before the Israelis identify it and reduce it to rubble.
    The implication is that Hezbollah sentenced those innocent people to cast negative PR on the Israelis.
    The Israelis fell for it.

    By Blogger Cartledge, at 12:48 PM  

  • Doesn't this anger seem a bit misdirected?

    By Blogger Praguetwin, at 1:12 PM  

  • Cartledge, I agree with you.

    Praguetwin, yes, but I think they're blaming the UN for not stopping the violence. Also, I don't know the geography of Beirut, but I would guess that the US embassy is probably empty at this point and impossible to reach.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 2:30 PM  

  • I would suggest anger doesn't come into it for the protagonists.
    THis is a calm execution of strategies. In this case Israel loses because CNN et al simply show their callous massacre of civilians.
    Next time the tables might be turned on Helzbollah, or not.
    Either way it is all designed to sway our thinking.
    A dispassionate view, I'm aware. But to see it otherwis is to be trapped in the forced thinking constructs.

    By Blogger Cartledge, at 2:54 PM  

  • Cartledge, just to float a counter theory. When the world was discussing a UN force, the Israelis accidentally bombed a UN post, pretty much killing the recruitment of troops.

    This time, Condi Rice was in Israelm, getting ready to go to Lebanon to sell her ceasefire deal that she was going to put before the UN Wed, and the Israelis hit a village killing that effort along with all the children.

    I can't say if either of these are absolutely true, but that could be Israel using CNN to advance their goals.

    I don't know what is true in that region. I don't trust ANY of the players.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 4:10 PM  

  • Mike, I'm sure they are both using CNN et al to advance their cause.
    My argument is that Helzbollah are winning that game.
    Partly the clue is in another quote from said Guadian article.
    The terrorist holds that that they can rely on Israel to respond too quickly and without thining their actions through.
    Hezbollah training is reputed to focus heavily on patience and discipline.
    They appear to be thinking this through far more effectively than the Israelis.

    By Blogger Cartledge, at 4:24 PM  

  • I definitely agree that Hezbullah is winning the game. I was just trying to make a point.

    Also, Israel walked right into it. They have no real options. They can't escalate and they can't cease. Classic Guerilla warfare. Patience and discipline. You got it.

    It's interesting the degree to which "new" media has amplified the effect of guerilla tactics. I think that's something I need to chew on awhile.

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 4:44 PM  

  • What interests me is that traditional intellegence has not really come to terms with new media.
    There is far more information available publicly, from a wide range of sources. Trad media is using thes sources well.
    Intel seems to be stuck in its own trap, fearing disinformation and unwilling to accept the potential of new sources.
    There has been ample opportunity to understand the dynamics of Guerilla warfare and new media. Instead they are behaving like stunned rabbits, or alternatively holding on the redundant methods.

    By Blogger Cartledge, at 5:03 PM  

  • I would guess that it's because open source doesn't have the cache of secret info. Plus, I think there's an egotism involved. "That reporter couldn't possibly be as good at getting info as I am, because I am a spy."

    Mike

    By Blogger mikevotes, at 6:25 PM  

  • LOL, right on.

    By Blogger Cartledge, at 7:39 PM  

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