Updated
Fox News has just announced that the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers may be taken to Iran. Fox said this news has just crossed the wires, but I’m still trying to find the article.
Here’s the article from Haaretz:
Israel has concrete evidence that Hezbollah plans to transfer the two Israel Defense Forces soldiers abducted Wednesday to Iran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Thursday.
“We have concrete evidence that Hezbollah plans to transfer the kidnapped soldiers to Iran. As a result, Israel views Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria and Iran as the main players in the axis of terror and hate that endangers not only Israel, but the entire world,” AFP quoted Deputy Director General of the Foreign Ministry Gideon Meir as saying.
An Al-Jazeera correspondent said Thursday that he had evidence that the two soldiers – identified Thursday as Ehud Goldwasser, 31, of Nahariya, and Eldad Regev, 26, of Kiryat Motzkin – were alive during the abduction. He said they were transferred to a Shi’ite mosque in a nearby town, where the abductors changed clothes. According to the report, one of the soldiers was transferred in a cab, to make it difficult for Israeli intelligence to locate him. The Al-Jazeera correspondent stressed that he had received the information from a source close to Hezbollah, and that members of the organization refuse to disclose more information with nothing in return.
Update: Al Aqsa announced that it’s going start attacking Israeli cities from the West Bank. I mentioned yesterday that if the terrorists see more momentum swinging their way that Israel would have to deal with assaults from all sides. It didn’t take long.
Update II: The Israeli Ambassador has confirmed: Israel is at war.
Update III: Hezbollah rockets have hit Haifa. Andrew Cochran from the Counterterrorism Blog comments on the significance:
I was a lunch with the Israeli Ambassador to the US when he announced that a Hezbollah rocket hit Haifa – the gasp from the crowd was an audible recognition of the major escalation that the attack represents, in part because it wasn’t clear beforehand whether the rockets had sufficient range. I would draw a parallel to the 1914 Sarajevo shooting of Archduke Ferdinand, which ultimately led to World War I.
Update IV: The United States proved that it is the only friend Israel has on the UN Security Council when it vetoed a draft resolution that demanded that Israel stop its attacks and “disproportionate use of force” in Gaza.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/12/mideast.conversation/index.html
“The problem is occupation,” Mansour said. “Once occupation is completely out, then peace and freedom will prevail. Consider it seriously.”
The problem wasn’t “occupation” in 1948, Mr Mansour. It was that Israel existed.
And the pal-arab rationalists and group hug harmonists need to understand that.
If you smack me in the face because you don’t like my face and I kick your ass for it, you don’t get to come back and tell me that you want to smack my face again because I kicked your ass.
It don’t work that way, and the rest of the world sometimes remembers how to work the calendar and put things in a cause-effect order … even if you don’t.
If this is true, then Israel needs to declare war on Iran. WE should then support our ally 100%…including declaring war ourselves.
I seem to recall us having a few soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines in the area…
In a below thread, I essentially stated that Bush and the GOP favor Israel in this conflict, while Dems and Libs (and much of the MSM) do not. I then questioned why any Jewish people in America would still remain Dems or Libs (except for the “self-hating” Jews).
Mantis replied that this was idiotic of me to state.
Where am I in error?
ted…maybe Mantis felt is was so OBVIOUS that it didn’t need to be stated?? 🙂
ted: your only error is in arguing with an idiot like mantis. He belongs in the bin with mak and lee.
This is all in the Iranian plan. They want to provoke Israel, change the topic from Iranian problems, and maybe, usher in the “12th Imam” so he can take his place in Tehran with Mr. Ackmenijad as his Jesus.
Ack.
U.S has graciously armed Israel to the teeth: The Jews can fight a sustained war from all sides for seven years without anyone’s help.
The only thing ahmajibjab is ushering in is a silver bullet that weighs about 2,000 lbs.
I wish Israel had a stronger government right now. That said, the “fog of war” that is occuring right now reminds me of 1967. In 1967 the Arabs in the field kept lying to their governments, which in turn lied to the world about the “success” of the Arab armies.
The Israeli’s let them go right on lying.
There’s a lot to work through here…but I’m thinking what we’re going to eventually discover is…
This was all a giant, long-range plot by Arafat to destroy Iran.
OK, so it took a while and we don’t know why he wanted Iran destroyed and he’s dead, but somehow that seems to be the result.
(no, I’m not serious, relax)
Incidentally, since I haven’t been following this as much as I maybe should be (if the s***storm continues to grow), why are places like Saudi Arabia and Egypt being so quiet? Not silent, but quiet. Are they just trying to keep Israel from bombing the you-know-what out of their cities, too? And what’s the UN doing besides telling Israel to ‘settle down, they’re just a few captives in the hands of decapitaters, take it easy’?
“Where am I in error?
You’re just being a dumb republican bootlicker – no harm in that.
This thread is about 2 Isreali soldiers possibly being taken to Iran!! Stay on topic or bugout.^
This was announced by Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, per Associated Press and a number of other sources.
Also see my quick analysis of how this new development may quickly expand this into a full-blown regional war here.
-Michael McCullough
Stingray: a blog for salty Christians
“ted: your only error is in arguing with an idiot like mantis. He belongs in the bin with mak and lee.”
I don’t agree with that assessment. While I disagree with mantis on a great many things, he’s not an idiot and has, with me anyway, debated rationally.
Thanks for the links Stingray.
Stingray’s piece mentions Israel may take the opportunity to take out the nuclear weapons facilities. If this doesn’t happen, I could see the possibility of Iran using the hostages as a bargaining chip to continue their programs.
Upping the ante a little bit here folks, but if Saddam or his minions transferred chem/bio WMD to Syria before the war, it should not take a genius to figure why the Palsetinians recently reported they had “developed” bio WMD and it also won’t take much to guess that Syria or Palestinians will be using (or trying to use) them in response. Battlefield use of WMD is tricky [a shift in the wind and your side is screwed], but as terrorist tools its a little more controllable as to how many of your side will be exposed.
Hey “pucker puss” (lee lee) where did you come up with the word “bootlicker”? Hmmmm
Fine ted, I left a more substantive response to your idiocy in the other thread.
Thanks Tom, I don’t really like being lumped in with Lee and Mak, whose views I disagree with probably more often than I do with most conservative commenters’.
Oh, and Mitchell, get bent.
Holy shit. WW3
Tom,
I could see that happening (Iran using the kidnapped to sheild their WMD research facilities).
But I think the Isrealies would sacrifice 2 of their own to take that threat off the playing field.
The rest of the planet, please take note. An organization, which happens to be the ruling party of a nation, kidnaps a member of a country’s military. That country promptly opens up a can of of cold, refreshing “Foots in yo’ ass”. Another organization kidnaps some more members of the country’s military. The country then says “Oh, you want some too. Sure. There’s plenty to go around”, and then offers the second organization a can of said beverage, while replenishing the first group of kidnapper’s tall, frost glass of “Foots in yo ass”.
Please note, there are no members of Israel’s government calling this effort “‘a failure or quaqmire”. I’m sure Israel is taking protective measures with its own citizens, without anyone complaining of their civil liberties being violated.
No hand wringing, or “Durbin-ing”‘ or “Murtha-ing”. Just doing what is needed to survive.
And now Iran is getting in on the action. I bet transferring the soldiers to Iran was at the request of Abmenijad… whatever his name is, to provoke Israel. I guess he thinks since his country and military are bigger, Israel will be crushed if they retaliate. But that analogy is similar to me (6’5″ & 275lbs.) going out to take picking up a bee hive.
Which leads me to ask; Why do Arab countries keep putting themselves in positions to get served by Israel? I think it is mostly felt by most Arabs, the world will not condemn their kidnappings, bombings, beheadings, stonings, etc. They also know the world will always condemn Israel, although 99% of the time, they are responding to aggression.
Is it possible all of this ruckus is over 3 soldiers, and is all of this really necessary?…. You’re damn right
“Holy shit. WW3”
Could be – and us weakened and depleted after 39 months of fighting Georgie’s personal war with Saddam — which according to George was over May 2, 2003 when he declared “Mission Accomplished”.
We then spent another three years occupying a country and trying to prevent a civil war that is more likely to happen every day, and which has only served to weaken our defenses further. Hell, we’ve even got nutcases in North Korea taking potshots at us these days…
I hope you evangelical Christians are firing up those prayer hotlines – we may need it.
Why do Arab countries keep putting themselves in positions to get served by Israel?
Technically, Iran isn’t Arab. They’re Persians. Turkey isn’t Arab either, fwiw. The quickest way to get your windpipe slashed in the ol’ oasis is to call an Arab a Turk or vice versa, to call an Arab a Persian or vice versa, etc.
But to answer your question, because they like to reinvent the square wheel. Just cuz it didn’t work the first x-times doesn’t mean that it won’t work this time.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/13/mideast/index.html
Synopsis for those who don’t want to take the time to read:
Hezbollah threatens to send rockets to Haifa; two rockets hit Haifa; Hezbollah denies sending rockets to Haifa.
Gotta find humor somewhere, I guess.
Also, according to earlier reports, Haifa was a city of 300,000.
Now they are a city of 280,000.
Has the NOAA issued a hurricane watch for the eastern Med or something …?
We then spent another three years occupying a country and trying to prevent a civil war that is more likely to happen every day, and which has only served to weaken our defenses further. Hell, we’ve even got nutcases in North Korea taking potshots at us these days…
Wow. I like it when Libs start recognizing the results of foriegn policiy initiatives founded on principles such as bribery (N. Korea), pretending a problem does not exist (Iran), and talking tough but doing nada [UN sanctions, inspections, chasing the yarn string like a cat] (Iraq).
The N. Koreans nuke program is tax subsidized by the US as part of Clinton’s negotiating prowess. And hey!, we’ll even throw in the material to help you build reactors.
Oh, and Iraq was really not involved with terrorism such as Hamas or Al Qqueda. Heck, even the weapons we know he used on others just disappeared, and Bush is a liar, although every public official on the planet from 1991-2001 said Iraq had WMD’s and was looking for the opportunity to restart their nuke program. And to boot, the civil war is being instigated by Iran. Magin’ that.
Yes, we will pray…. Pray that nother poll-watching liberal never gets elected prez.
Sorry Lee, the gutting of the military is what weakend our armed forces.
Our all volunteer military is still going strong, as is our economy.
The conflict in Iraq is not one of total war, like the world wars. It is being fought to leave Iraq standing and standing strong.
If this had been a case of total war, Iraq would be only so much rubble at this point.
Lee’s soft hands are holding up the white flag to all those that want to intimidate us. Thanks Lee for showing us your cowardice. Now run away.
Israel is dealing from strength and will forego hostage negotiations … next.
SCSI: “The conflict in Iraq is not one of total war, like the world wars. It is being fought to leave Iraq standing and standing strong.
If this had been a case of total war, Iraq would be only so much rubble at this point.”
Well, we’ll just hold up our high morals in defense if we get dragged into world war 3. I noticed you didn’t address at my point that we are in a weakened military position as a result of the high moral ground we’ve taken, so I take it you agree with that assessment?
“Pucker puss” (lee lee) is to big of a COWARD to say that at our weakest point we could kick anyones ass right now. But if his crowd was in power they shore could “kiss” anyones ass.
which according to George was over May 2, 2003 when he declared “Mission Accomplished”
Lee, you’d probably be more palatable to those who know what they’re talking about if you did yourself before you shot off your keyboard.
Learn the applicable military jargon before you go around giving lectures, okay?
There’s a significant difference between conducting a war and maintaining an occupation of an un-pacified nation. Just because you see soldiers doing both and casualties in both does not make them equivocable.
The war was over; the occupation was just starting.
…and for the record, since occupation is something the US does not do well, many of us who know military tactics shuddered when we learned what was planned.
If you want to know what’s happening, just ask; but please refrain from any more of your golden showers of ignoramity. Thank you.
…and for the record, since occupation is something the US does not do well, many of us who know military tactics shuddered when we learned what was planned.
Does anyone do occupation well? Just curious, what else did you think could have followed the war than protracted occupation? Or are you talking about specific occupation plans?
Protracted occupation is inevitable in any such invasion that deposes an entire gov’t…. You have to build a new one from scratch. And throwing all the bums out in this case was the only viable option.
Lee,
My fist sentence addressed you. Please, learn to read.
And pick up some history while you are at it. While I am far from happy that thousands of US and allied military have died in Iraq, the casualties are historically low.
IF anything, the military as a whole has gotten stronger, IMO. They have operational experience, not just training and war games. They are learning the mindset of the islamo-nuts, on the ground. They are adjusting tactics, and abandoning the ones that don’t work.
The post 9/11 US Armed Forces are far more effective and devastating than most folks can imagine. And if there was a total war scenario, it will be nasty, brutal and short.
Mantis,
For insight into the planning and implementation of the Iraq occupation and rebuilding read Paul Bremer’s “My Year in Iraq”.
Whether you agree with our policy or not it is a very interesting read covering MANY details that you may otherwise be unaware of.
You may find that we are a lot better at it than we have been given credit.
The war was over; the occupation was just starting.
Glad you agree. That matches what I said.
I wasn’t suggesting otherwise; I agree that we have occupied Iraq for the last three years — but how many times have you heard President Bush or anyone in the White House, or Republicans Congressmen, refer to our presences in Iraq as an “occupation”. I count zero.
Maybe Rumsfeld needs to “Learn the applicable military jargon” as you suggest, rwilymz or, at a minimum… give you the “golder showers” you crave.
Lee,
The word ‘occupation’ is said all the time by our officials. Bush avoids the term because NYT and soft-handed tweezer dicks like yourself misconstrue its meaning in the context of the Iraqi War.
Lee, you are a shining example who plagues us all: A COWARD.
Now run away screaming with our cum in your tummy.
Personal note: Am I being to rough for you to respond, soft hands?
Does anyone do occupation well?
Ghengis Khan. Rome.
Just curious, what else did you think could have followed the war than protracted occupation?
you presume that a full-scale invasion was the only military option available.
Glad you agree. That matches what I said.
Hardly.
Maybe Rumsfeld needs to “Learn the applicable military jargon” as you suggest
He knows it quite well. But when the people in the government talk to the general public about these things, the differentiations are lost. When the public doesn’t understand, they conclude “the guvmint’s lying” rather than “I’m an ignoramus”.
Don’t they?
Lee?
Of course, you cannot possibly admit to yourself that you aren’t the all-powerful Oz. Can you?
So when they say one thing, you conclude they mean another. Because it’s easier to believe they’re lying than you are ignorant.
But.
You are.
rwilymz,
you presume that a full-scale invasion was the only military option available.
I definitely don’t presume that. I just was confused as to what you were talking about. It seems what you’re saying is that you favored a different military option, as did I.
For insight into the planning and implementation of the Iraq occupation and rebuilding read Paul Bremer’s “My Year in Iraq”.
Whether you agree with our policy or not it is a very interesting read covering MANY details that you may otherwise be unaware of.
I like Bremer and have been meaning to check out his book.
You may find that we are a lot better at it than we have been given credit.
For what it’s worth, I think the military has done a remarkable job in Iraq considering what they have had to deal with. If you were to look through the archives you will never find me badmouthing the military. The do the job that is given to them and they do it well. I disagree with those who gave them this particular job as I see it as a losing proposition, and have since the first rumblings of war in Iraq.
And you didn’t provide any facts to support your theory other than opinion.
And as for your “occupation” canard the US has been asked to stay in Iraq by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and been given a full mandate by the UN
They also reiterated the importance for all forces promoting the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq to act in accordance with international law, including obligations under international humanitarian law.No occupation? Who Knew!!!
from cnn.com:
Israeli military sources say they believe the longer-range missiles fired yesterday at Haifa, Israel, were made in Iran.
The plot sickens.
Yes indeed, Irans technological advancements are now showing up in the hands of terrorists.
Can there be any doubt they must not aquire nuclear weapons?