News that Israel’s military offensive in Lebanon is having the desired effect:

[I]n the wake of Syria’s withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon in 2005, the disarmament of Hezbollah has emerged as one of the foremost issues in Lebanese politics. Since the fighting with Israel started Wednesday, calls for Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons have gathered urgency.

The article goes on to say that Lebanese from across their nation’s fractured political spectrum insist that Israel’s response to Hizb’allah’s aggression has been disproportionate.

Well, if the above is true, I would say Israel’s response has been just right, if not a little too weak. Additional force would turn those calls for Hizb’allah’s disarmament into action.

The fear many of us on Israel’s side share:

The worst outcome would be for the Israelis to stop after inflicting only minor damage on Hezbollah. This would subject Israel to international condemnation and increase Hezbollah’s prestige for “standing up” to Israel, while producing few benefits for either Israelis or Lebanese.

Just a little tip for those seeking democracy in the Middle East: It won’t work as long as a rogue terrorist organization, acting with impunity while a toothless government looks on, has the country by the balls.

From the Associated Press:

US President George W. Bush expressed worries the Israeli assault could cause the fall of the government, whose formation after elections last year Washington hailed as a major step for Lebanese democracy after years of Syrian control.

Israel is doing far more for Lebanese democracy than anyone is giving it credit for.

The world recognized with UN Security Council Resolution 1559 that Lebanon would not truly be free until Hizb’allah was defanged, but has failed to back up its words with action. Israel is just taking care of the dirty work, and should be applauded for doing so.

Ironically, the only ones giving Israel its dues are the Lebanese themselves (the Christian ones).

The mainstream media, not to mention European governments, is completely ignoring Israel’s careful selection of targets in Lebanon as it seeks to paint the Jewish state as a ruthless predator.

What is also being ignored is the fact that every time Israel gets ready to strike a target that may result in civilian casualties, it warns everyone to get out of the way. This despite the fact the bad guys are also notified of the impending attack and given time to escape.

When was the last time the Arabs warned Israeli Jews to get out of the way before they attacked?

Answer: Never.

Reason: Israel is not targeting civilians. The Muslim Arab terrorists, however, want to kill and maim every single Jew they can get their hands on.

Israel has happily acknowledged America as the leader in the global war on Islamic terror, and so the time has come for the Jewish state to step through the doors being opened by its ally and mimic the examples set by the United States.

Contrary to earlier reports, Bush has reportedly rejected Lebanon’s plea for an imposed ceasefire, leaving Israel free to continue its assault on Hizb’allah.

Ambassador John Bolton is swatting down all attempts to issue a UN Security Council resolution against Israel, effectively pulling the teeth from current international criticism of Israel’s actions.

And Washington has clearly identified both Syria and Iran as the puppet masters behind Hizb’allah’s actions, legitimizing an Israeli strike on Damascus.

The doors are all open. All that is left is for Israel to step through and learn from the US victories in Iraq and Afghanistan: Swift, overwhelming force will end the war before anyone has a real chance to stop it.

The US cannot hold back the world forever. The time to act is now.

Flipping through the major television news networks today, I am reminded of the unbridled bias practiced by the international media in its coverage of the Israeli-Arab confict.

The top story of the day is the ongoing fighting in Lebanon and northern Israel. But it is only being covered by the “objective” mainstream media from one angle.

Images abounded, accompanied by heart-rending commentary, of residential areas of Beirut in flames.

But did the media bother to explain that Hizb’allah had, in violation of international law, purposely placed its offices and strategic facilities in heavily populated areas? Of course not. Offering justification for Israeli efforts to defend its citizens does not make a good story.

Nor was there one word, ONE WORD, of the millions of Israelis who for the past 72 hours have been forced to either live in hot, cramped bomb shelters or flee their homes. Is that too not a humanitarian crisis?

Damascus is looking to score a few propaganda points over the ongoing fighting in Lebanon and northern Israel.

Syria’s new UN ambassador, Dr. Jafar Ja’afari, told reporters in New York Friday that prior to US-backed efforts to end Syria’s occupation of Lebanon, the presence of the Syrian army resulted in far fewer attacks on northern Israel.

Lebanon’s own military, by comparison, has no chance of reining in Hizb’allah.

“They have no army. It is small, it has little control and everyone knows this.”

Washington is well aware of this fact, insisted Ja’afari, and therefore bears a certain degree of responsibility for the current crisis.

Of course, that is all a load of crap. Northern Israel suffered far fewer attacks during those years because the IDF had military control over southern Lebanon. Not because the Assad regime, which is still technically at war with Israel, was calling the shots in Beirut.

As usual, the international community - minus the United States - is criticizing Israel for not reacting in a “proportionate” manner to Hizb’allah’s aggression against its northern border.

But from a military standpoint, insisting Israel deal with such an attack in a proportionate manner is just stupid. You cannot defeat your enemy if you only respond with the same level of force they used against you. To win, you must be stronger, you must be capable of unleashing MORE force than your enemy.

And then there is the fact that a proportionate response by Israel in this case would consist of indiscriminately firing rockets into Lebanese population centers. Certainly not something the world would countenance.

The only logical conclusion is that the world wants Israel to sit back, let its enemies gain the upper hand and harass the Jewish state into extinction.

It is a practice most in the West cannot comprehend. That a government would openly take action that causes the death and suffering of is own people is truly vile. But it is also entirely common in the Muslim Middle East, especially when propaganda points are on the table. Continue reading »

The ongoing flare-up with Hizb’allah could not have come at a better time for Israel.

Israel has a unique opportunity to deal decisively with both Hizb’allah and the Assad regime in Syria with little or no threat of military intervention by other regional powers.

Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak is highly unlikely to lead his nation into battle against Israel on behalf of Syria, as he is old, weak, and heavily beholden to American financial and military aid.

Of course, we all know that thanks to the Americans, Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat.

And with US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan sandwiching Iran, even madman Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is unlikely to attack Israel and give Washington the excuse it has sought to abruptly end his quest to pave the way for the 12th Imam.

This may be just the opportunity Israel and the US have been waiting for to eliminate two of the biggest threats to regional stability. It should not be wasted.

I guess it has been so long since the so-called “Oslo” Accords were signed that the Palestinian Authority forgot it agreed not to conduct foreign relations.

Article IX, Item 5.a of the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement clearly states:

In accordance with the DOP, the Council [Palestinian Authority] will not have powers and responsibilities in the sphere of foreign relations, which sphere includes the establishment abroad of embassies, consulates or other types of foreign missions and posts or permitting their establishment in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, the appointment of or admission of diplomatic and consular staff, and the exercise of diplomatic functions.

Israel Thursday morning helped its peace partners to keep in line with their commitments by leveling the PA Foreign Ministry in Gaza City.