Billmon:
July 27, 2006
WB: Cowards
WB: Breaking Wind
Billmon:
The ultimate result, of course, is a truly insane combination of bed partners, with the Iraqi prime minister giving a stemwinder of a speech against Zionist aggression in Baghdad one day, and then flying off to Washington the next day to vow enternal vigilance against terrorism in front of the most pro-Israel body on the planet — the U.S. Congress. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed guerrillas are killing Israeli soldiers in Lebanon while an Iranian-backed government in Iraq sends its troops out on patrols with the U.S. military, which is speeding bunker buster bombs to the Israeli military so it can go kill more Iranian-backed guerrillas.
WB: Fog of War +
Billmon:
II. Because You Can’t Have Too Many Wars
I. Fog of War
July 26, 2006
Weird but Real
This is weird but very, very real:
With America watching, Israel needs a knockout
But even if Hizbullah does not at this time pose an existential threat to the country – Hizbullah will not throw us into the sea — Israel needs to win this war, and deliver a punishing blow to Hizbullah, for another key reason: to preserve our status as a key strategic US ally.
…
WB: Waist Deep
Billmon:
Other News & Views
Open thread …
WB: How I’m Feeling at the Moment +
Billmon:
If all this sounds familiar — the half-baked war plan, the unexpected setbacks, the frantic search for foreign legions, the lack of an exit strategy, the rising tide of blood — it certainly should. We’ve already seen this movie, in fact we’re still sitting through the last reel. It’s a hell of a time to release the sequel.
II. Better Now
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WB: Off the Reservation ++
Billmon:
Do Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell know about this?
III. The Lavender Threat
—I’m beginning to think that the IDF has completely lost its collective mind.
II. Big Fish
—Man, there’s going to be some serious erections at Little Green Footballs tonight!
WB: Bottom of the Barrel +
Billmon:
July 25, 2006
Endgame: Stalemate + WB: Two Steps Forward, One Back
How will the current Lebanon conflict end?
Israel is day by day losing its moral ground. Attacks on clearly marked ambulances, the use of cluster ammunition and phosphorous bombs are now toping the obviously unproportional use of force applied since the first days of this war on Lebanon.
The mainstream media folks are in history altering propaganda mode, so here is my take for you to discuss of what has led to this and what, I think, the current endgame may be.
(Update: Correlated Billmon post: Two Steps Forward, One Back?)
Cont. reading: Endgame: Stalemate + WB: Two Steps Forward, One Back
Precise Weapons – Precise Targets + WB: Bull’s Eye
Medics, injured civilians under attack
Red Cross trucks in south Lebanon targeted by pilots
Update: Billmon:
WB: Revolt of the Puppets
Billmon:
That’s not an Arab or a Muslim thing, really — just basic human psychology. And it appears that in the concentric circles of Middle East loyalties, Sunni versus Shi’a is still trumped by Arab versus Jew, believer versus infidel and (it would appear) tough Islamic fighters versus corrupt pro-U.S. elites.
WB: War by Tantrum
Billmon:
One can have some sympathy for the Israelis, who love life and don’t want to die (although that hasn’t stopped them from killing a lot of Lebanese and Palestinian civilians) but considering the stakes, a little more aggressiveness on the ground, against an enemy who can shoot back, seems to be necessary. Unless that is, the Israelis really do want a cease fire sooner rather than later, in which case the psychological and political map of the Middle East has just been completely redrawn.
WB: Pity Party
Billmon:
Perhaps we can assume that Ricks, like the child who touched the hot stove, is now once burned and twice shy. But what about his colleagues — the ones out there now writing down whatever propaganda bullshit an Israeli general or embassy military attache is pushing their way? How many years will we have to wait before they let us know they got it all wrong?
WB: Hirohito Effects
Billmon:
I don’t know how much they’re paying Michael Abramowitz and Robin Wright to crank out this crap, but it’s gotta be a lot more than the old Pravda writers used to get. But they’re worth it: Your typical Pravda story would have you dozing and dreaming about tractor parts in no time. But this stuff is almost good enough for The Daily Show.
WB: Iraq 1921-2006
Billmon:
July 24, 2006
WB: Gullible’s Travels
Billmon:
OT 06-67
News & views …
WB: Big Muddy
Billmon:
Dr. van Creveld, more than most, should understand where that logic ends in this kind of war: in defeat or genocide. For some time now, one of my biggest fears has been that the neocons and their helpmates will finally drag America into a situation in the Midlde East where those are the only choices. The last twelve days seem to have taken us — or at least our Middle East proxy — another step in that direction.
WB: Democracy in Action
Billmon:
If "democracies" can and do fight "democracies" — presumably with the support of their citizens, who otherwise would vote the warmongers out of office — then what exactly is the point of trying to spread "democracy" throughout the Middle East? I mean other than providing government consulting contracts to "democracy" experts like Dr. Feldman?