Hizbullah 'severely damages' IDF ship.

[Simon Darkshade]

Two things: Firstly, that should put an end to going into a combat zone without your defensive systems active. It also raises some questions over the viability of stealth design.
Secondly, the casualty rate, and particularly that of civilians, has been remarkably low so far. I am always intrigued in the change in perceptions of and reactions to this phenomenon; picturing some reactions to a real air campaign is priceless.

 

[jonatas]

Secondly, the casualty rate, and particularly that of civilians, has been remarkably low so far. I am always intrigued in the change in perceptions of and reactions to this phenomenon; picturing some reactions to a real air campaign is priceless.

Last I checked it was about 10 Lebanese civilians to 1 Lebanese soldier (220 to 20 or something like that). That is not to mention Hesbollah guerillahs, of which apparently very few have been hit. A real air campaign on Lebanon would be priceless indeed; who are they going to bomb, Maronite Christians?

 

[Gothmog]

Little Raven wrote:

That's a fine idea, but it won't stop Hezbollah from attacking Israel.

No argument there, certainly Israel understands that too.

I was not kidding, I was asking. Lebanon is... complicated.

You are saying that provoking Israel was a calculated move to make them bomb southern Lebanon in order to increase popular support there?

I think it's more complicated than that. Certainly the move was to support the Hamas, and I think we will see more about the aims as this plays out.

This action will increase support for the Hezbollah in some circles, but not all. There are various pieces moving about on the board still and Lebanon is not the west bank.

@Sidhe - I'm not interested in discussing Iran's nuclear program atm but if you think that Iran is not a player in this act you are wrong.

It is not a conspiracy theory to suggest that the motives for this display go beyond a couple kidnappings or prisoner releases.

 

[Little Raven]

I was not kidding, I was asking. Lebanon is... complicated.

Apologies, Gothmog. My intention was not to belittle. I hope you understand that I have only the highest respect for you.

You are saying that provoking Israel was a calculated move to make them bomb southern Lebanon in order to increase popular support there?

No. Provoking Israel was the result of confluence of factors, combined with a bit of a gamble, as such things often are. However, I do believe that the primary reason Nasrallah was willing to unleash the dogs of war was because he needed Israel to destroy the one thing that had the power to end his organization for good: The democratic government of Lebanon.

There were other reasons, of course. He’s hoping to bulk up his street cred by ‘coming to the aid’ of his Palestinian brothers. (nevermind that Hezbollah is a Shia organization and Hamas distinctly Sunni) His Iranian paymasters were interested in a distraction, and keeping the guy with the money happy is always important. And, let’s face it, it’s always nice to spit in Israel’s eye.

But at the end of the day, fighting Israeli incursion and occupation was and is the raison d'être for Hezbollah. Remove it, and the faithful begin to drift away. Unfortunately for them, Nasrallah is more than willing to sacrifice their children in order to restore their devotion.

This action will increase support for the Hezbollah in some circles, but not all. There are various pieces moving about on the board still and Lebanon is not the west bank.

Give it time. Let the bodies pile up a bit. We’re off to such a good start.