August 20: Arab foreign ministers said that they will pay for the damage done to Lebanon. This move doesn't make sense. Israel did the damage, so it should pay. Why are these rulers trying to shift the blame? They have been correctly described as "half men" with "half-a-stand" on the issue of the 34-day war.
When Saddam Hussain entered Kuwait, he was blamed for all the damage done and for many years Iraq paid heavily to Kuwait and other friends of the U.S. The same principle should be enforced now. MAKE ISRAEL PAY for the damage to Lebanon!
Also interesting is the activity of the Muslim Brotherhood movement [Ikhwan]. They have linked up with one of the Syrian ruler's former devotees, Khaddam. Through him, they hope to work with the U.S. with the support of Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan, one of the worst bootlickers in the Middle East. If Israel's offensive had succeeded, these Ikhwan would have fitted right into America's plan for the attack on Syria.
Many Muslims still do not know that the "Brotherhood" betrayed their own principles long ago. They gave up Syed Qutb and Hasan al-Banna [both were martyrs] and instead chose to work with the Egyptian dictator. Wherever they are active, America's moves against Islam go unchallenged.
Meanwhile in GAZA, the conditions are very bad. Israeli tank columns move in and kill at will. The people seem helpless. There has been no counterattack in 42 days; knly one Israeli was killed on the West Bank. Saudi Arabia is pouring in money to help the pro-Israeli Palestinian Authority of Abbas.
Israel's Verdict: We Lost the War,"
The Israeli military failures in Lebanon made international headlines on Tuesday.
"Israel's Verdict: We Lost the War," said the Independent's lead story.
"Olmert Accepts Blame for 'Failings'" and "Olmert Admits Tactical Deficiencies" read the headlines of The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Israeli experts and analysts said that the war on Lebanon has proved a fiasco and left doubt hanging over the political career of Olmert and the future his nascent Kadima party.
The Lebanese Hizbullah resistance group has proved a foe to be reckoned with, inflicting heavy losses on the armed-to-the-teeth Israeli army.
Except for Israel's ongoing conflict with the Palestinians, Israel suffered heavier civilian casualties in the Lebanon conflict than in any fighting since it was established at the rubble of Palestine in 1948.
At least 123 Israeli soldiers have been killed and thousands others wounded in fierce battle with well-trained and armed Hizbullah fighters.
Hizbullah also shot down at least four Apache helicopters and destroyed one warship, a fast-speed patrol in addition to around 124 of Israel's pride Merkava tanks, each costing 4.4 million dollars. (Total loose in tanks only: 5,456,000,000 dollars)
At least twelve armored vehicle and personnel carriers have also been damaged during the war, according to a tally prepared by IslamOnline.net based on Israeli media and official reports.
Disappointed Israelis
Olmert's failure admission in a stormy Knesset session came in the face of poll figures showing a majority of the Israeli public believing that none or only a very small part of the goals of the war had been achieved.
A Globes Smith poll showed that 52 per cent of electors believed the Israeli army had been unsuccessful in its Lebanon offensive as opposed to 44 percent who believed it did well.
"The polls showing that Israelis do not believe Israel is winning the war won't impress Bush," Israel's leading Haaretz newspaper commented in its editorial.
It said that both Bush and Olmert are "united now in a dreadful situation familiar to Bush and new to Olmert: favorable ratings barely scraping 40 percent."
Israeli opposition leader and former premier Benjamin Netanyahu had harsh words for Olmert on Monday.
"There were many failures, failures in identifying the threat, failures in preparing to meet the threat, failures in the management of the war, failures in the management of the home front."
1. "Hizbullah attacked Israel. Hizbullah started the crisis. And Hizbullah suffered a defeat," Bush said. (Reuters)
2. Veteran American journalist Syemour Hersh revealed on Sunday, August 13, in his new investigative report that Israel had devised a plan for attacking Hizbullah and shared it with Bush administration officials well before the resistance group took prisoner two Israeli soldiers.
3. Olmert vowed to investigate the "errors" of the Lebanon war. (Reuters)
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