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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
The Nation of Hezbollah
2006-07-13
As Lebanon's largest political party and most potent armed force, Hezbollah has long been described as a "state within a state" — a Shiite Muslim minigovernment boasting close ties to Iran and Syria.

But Wednesday's move across the border to capture two Israeli soldiers went a step further: Hezbollah acted as the state itself, threatening to drag Lebanon into a war.

The country's elected government was still in meetings Wednesday, arguing over what to say in public, when Hezbollah chief Sheik Hassan Nasrallah went before television cameras with a pointed threat for the ruling elite.

Running like bunny rabbits they are

"Today is a time for solidarity and cooperation, and we can have discussions later. I warn you against committing any error. This is a national responsibility," the cleric said, looking every inch the head of state.

More at link
Posted by:Captain America

#13  ixnay on the lanpay, OP
Posted by: Frank G   2006-07-13 22:49  

#12  Capsu78 - that's pretty damn good - I might steal that :-)
Posted by: Frank G   2006-07-13 22:47  

#11  Kharg Island exports 50% of Iran's oil. There is little there but oil storage tanks, a runway that may or may not be long enough for a Piper Cub, several loading terminals, and sand. If Israel really wants to put a hurt on Iran, hit that island, hard. Leave nothing but twisted pipelines and burning storage tanks. It would also be pretty easy, except for the necessity of several aerial refuelings: fly down the Red Sea at 50 feet, cross Saudi Arabia through the Empty Quarter, and hook up back into Kharg Island, then across the Saudi-Iraq border back to Israel. The last lap will require US air cover, but it would be worth it. Iran would go bankrupt in about three months.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2006-07-13 22:45  

#10  All the Israelis need to do is send over a sub with a team to take out a couple of refineries. On the way out, drop a gasoline tanker coming into an Iranian port, and that's the last delivery they'd see for a long time.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-07-13 22:19  

#9  Iran doesn't have much by way of oil refineries. That's why they import much of their gasoline. They have lots and lots of crude, though. Not real advanced, but it mostly pays the bills.
Posted by: Baba Tutu   2006-07-13 22:14  

#8  Iran thinks it is beyond Israel's reach. I doubt that is true.

Hint: Oil refineries.
Posted by: phil_b   2006-07-13 19:37  

#7  Or could be Iran's Danzig
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2006-07-13 17:30  

#6  "State within a state"?
Meet our diplomatic equivalent-"bomb within a rocket"
Posted by: Capsu78   2006-07-13 17:26  

#5  Yea, but next worry, mullahs unlease that puke Sadu in Iraq, and we really got a big, ole mess.

From Andrew Cochran at counterterrorismblog.org today:

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.
Posted by: Sherry   2006-07-13 17:03  

#4  The Hezbollah part of Lebanon should be mapped by now. No reason in the world for Israel to not change the political balance of the country by carpet bombing those Shiite areas.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-07-13 16:53  

#3  Looks like Iran has decided to offer up Lebanon as a sacrifical goat to Baby Assad. If so, then as many have said earlier...all roads do lead to Damscus. Better now then when Iran goes nuclear. The mullahs may have done us all a favor.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2006-07-13 16:44  

#2  Then Leabanon will be utterly destroyed I hope.

ROPMA™
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom   2006-07-13 16:37  

#1  "This is a national responsibility," the cleric said, looking every inch the head of state.

If I can indulge in a fantasy for a minute:



Nasrallah, he's a dead man! Meshaal, dead! Haniyah, dead!

/That feels better
Posted by: Xbalanke   2006-07-13 16:36  

00:00