I find it shameful and see in all this the rise of a new fascism, a new Nazism. A fascism, a nazism, that much more grim and revolting because it is conducted and nourished by those who hypocritically pose as do-gooders, progressives, communists, pacifists, Catholics or rather Christians, and who have the gall to label a warmonger anyone like me who screams the truth. I see it, yes, and I say the following. I have never been tender with the tragic and Shakespearean figure Sharon. (“I know you’ve come to add another scalp to your necklace,” he murmured almost with sadness when I went to interview him in 1982.) I have often had disagreements with the Israelis, ugly ones, and in the past I have defended the Palestinians a great deal. Maybe more than they deserved.
But I stand with Israel, I stand with the Jews. I stand just as I stood as a young girl during the time when I fought with them, and when the Anna Marias were shot. I defend their right to exist, to defend themselves, to not let themselves be exterminated a second time. And disgusted by the anti-Semitism of many Italians, of many Europeans, I am ashamed of this shame that dishonors my Country and Europe. At best, it is not a community of States, but a pit of Pontius Pilates. And even if all the inhabitants of this planet were to think otherwise, I would continue to think so – Oriana Fallaci, (2002)
Update – Michelle Malkin has reprinted the essay with links imbedded. She also points to speculation about the Vatican statement – be sure to check it out (and thanks, Michelle, for the link).
Already we see 7 Canadians are dead and only the “left” seems to care.
What happened to those Lebanese-Canadians is terrible. No one is happy about it, right or left.
The left “cares” inasmuch as they can use the deaths to demonize Israel. The left shows an appalling inability to “care” when Jews are killed. Katuyshas have been falling on their heads for some time, and when Israel decides that enough’s enough, all we get from the left is this dopey “disproportionate response” meme, with no suggestion of what would constitute a proportionate response, and all the while leaving unsaid that the Israeli’s should just take it.
From the Voice of America website
“On Sunday, Israeli forces hit the house where the Canadians were staying in southern Lebanon, near the Israeli border.”
Looking the other way?? What concern would you like expressed?
Is “vacationing” in Hezbollah controlled areas a smart thing to do? Am I to beleive they didn’t know what the situation was before they left Canada?
If only the terrorists would all wear a common uniform and organize in clearly recognizable military units and encampments. Yes?
If it was 1944 I would advise people not to vacation in Berlin.
“The Israeli Army issued a statement saying it had warned civilians to get out of the area because it was used by Hezbollah to fire missiles into Israel.”
All you folks who “condemn the violence”, what are your thoughts on the Lebanese government ceding control of parts of its country to terrorists to be used as a base of operations for attacks on a neighbouring country?
Any practical comments out there?
Cynapse, I already posted my feelings about the killed Canadians prior to your post so that is a lie along with your other insinuations. Plenty of people are upset and have said so on many sites, what the hell is wrong with you?? Be decent or leave.
Robert,
Would you advise people to move to Berlin in 1944? Israel is still welcoming immigrants, some of whom settle directly in the war zones. Should any of them die, you and many others won’t be content with a dispassionate headline in the voice of America.
Israel’s attacks hit civilians that were following their orders to flee.
And as I recall, Robert, the Lebanese just won a long campaign to get Syria (one of the financiers of Hezbollah) out of the country. Your question (which suggests the Lebanese are strictly part of the terrorist conspiracy) negates this fact. As one Druse woman put it to me, “we try to stay out of it”. Is it worth rationalizing bombing these people?
But you will get a “practical” answer anyway. If Israel wanted to get rid of Hezbollah without wiping out masses of civilians then they could put boots on the ground and TKO Hezbollah strong points via guerilla warfare. The IDF is expertly trained at this and know very well they can take out Hezbollah military assets (which are scattered around suburbs) while causing less damage than airstrikes. It would seem nearly obvious to do in the only neighbouring country that is not universally hostile (exception: Egypt) and in the absence of any confirmed IDF casualties in the region.
Anne,
Your outrage about the Canadians was followed by a very long justification for the action (“This is WAR, Hezballah even said so, haven’t you noticed?”). Rarely do people feel the need to slap this disclaimer on when criticizing civilian attacks on Israelis. If I have to “leave” for pointing that out then is this really a fair discussion? I understand this is a highly emotional topic, but can we please keep it civil?
correction: the point about casualties was incorrect. There were casualties in the initial Hezbollah strike
Civility it is then.
I don’t see myself as justifying it but more like pointing out the facts which seem to be getting lost now that Canadians have actually died in this conflict.
Hezbollah has been pushing for a while now, just what is Israel supposed to do? They are surrounded by other nations which are committed to their destruction, they make that VERY CLEAR. Please don’t suggest that all of Israel should just pack up and leave, not going to happen. They should make peace with Israel, such as Egypt has, and leave them alone.
All nationals on both sides should get out as fast as they can, pending help of course. If any choose to stay then there is not much to be done about it.
Fair enough. Canada is on its way with some boats to accomplish just that.
Peace? Well we can hope … peace means different things to different people though. Some forms of “peace” you wouldn’t want. Have to go, take care.
TBB – was it “history”, or personal bias? I’d say that you seem to have a pretty serious animus against the Pope and the RC Church, judging from your insistence on these points.
Once again, the statements made by Sodano are not to be taken as papal pronouncements, and it remains to be seen what Benedict actually has to say. Sodano is not a favorite of the Holy See, and has been disciplined in the past.
And you’re presuming a remarkably familiar knowledge of just what a 15-yr. old German would know and think over 60 years ago – obviously you’re unwilling to take what he has to say at face value, preferring your own imagined version of events. Fine – just stop pretending this is anything but your own bias talking, and spare us the jerry-built sanctimony.
Robert in Calgary :
Excellent post.
Perhaps I am wrong in why these individuals stayed.Here goes.
I can only conclude 4 options. Since all groups issued warnings to leave, even before the conflict.
1) There either Morons who got caught in a cross fire, because they where to stupid to heed the warnings.
2) Some had family or other related business, that they where willing to gamble there life’s on.
3) They where being forced to be human shields.
4) They stayed in support of this band of maniacs.
No matter what the reason, they should have let but made a decision (the wrong one it proved ) to stay in a war zone.
If you can think of other let me know (O:]
As far as I am concerned they made a bad choice. Why blame Israel for personnel individuals actions? They knew the score.
This changes Nothing. It was not premeditated or malicious. Its an accident of war. I stand by my word. Israel has every right to fight this. After all there concessions. Not only that but to use the very land they gave back to use in the assaults.
By the way where can a rag tag band of poor goat herders, as the MSM are calling them. Get such sophisticated missiles? Even robot drones. No way, unless there in league with a greater power. With plenty of money. I wonder who? We all outta think on that for a while, long & hard.
This groups is Iran’s little mobsters stirring up the ante.
I love reading the crap spewing out of leftoid mouths – smells like – victory.
If I ever think an idea or opinion is wrong, I just listen to the leftoids, and all is well again. Really, if you want a good recipe to live life without having to think so darn much, listen to the moonbats, and do (or think) the opposite.
Works great.
uuuuh, mr synapse:
the difference here is unlike vacation spots the world over free of civil war, if you want to go to a jewish nation you have to go to Israel. its the only one.
on the other hand there are lots of arab nations. some infested with hezbollah.
get it? try to be a tad more encompassing in the facts and realities of this conflict. agenda agenda agenda. just *cant* admit there’s more to it than you want there to be.
blame Israel blame Israel. do you think if not another rocket zinged into haifa that the jews would still agitate years from now to keep up the conflict ?? do you deep down truly think the y*want* this going on ??? dont answer the question, just think about it and when you do have the answer keep it to yourself. it might allow you to be more honest about it.
Anne: I’m sure your FIL is a good person…..my comment was not directed to him, or those like him; however, it is an unfortunate FACT that there are many ‘Canadians of convenience’, and, if the estimate of 40,000 Canadian citizens currently in Lebanon is even close to being correct, one cannot but wonder how many might share the Khadar’s sympathies.