Courtesy Of The CBS Propaganda Authority

The CBS News Website opted to reprint a troubling bit of propaganda from The Nation and Juan Cole today. I realize it's marked as opinion but I didn't think that was the same thing as fiction. Apparently, it is at CBS.

This collective punishment of the Palestinian and Lebanese people is not only inhumane and should be condemned but also leads to more radicalization and to more chaos.

If I'm not mistaken, Israel pulled back from Lebanon years ago. Not only have Lebanon and Hezbollah failed to meet their responsibilities under the pertinent UN Resolutions, Hezbollah managed to acquire over 11,000 rockets, according to MSM reports. It doesn't sound to me as though the reasonable approach was getting Israel anywhere. And that's not including all of the less significant provocations over the years.

the most likely casualty of the latest case of Israel's massive retaliation will be the fragile social peace and the democratically elected government in Lebanon. Ironically, the much-trumpeted Cedar Revolution, the only example of the success of the Bush doctrine that neoconservatives can still point to

Excuse me? Yes, I realize there is still much fighting going on, but how is it that the millions of people who have now voted - more than once - in Iraq and Afghanistan suddenly don't amount to anything? Of course, if one doesn't value little D democracy it's possible to dismiss such things as unimportant; however, some people actually do think it's quite an accomplishment when so many people have voted in free elections in nations within regions of the world where democracy had never before existed. I'd argue, no small success for the Bush doctrine, that.

It is now clear that the American and Israeli strategy of trying to isolate Hamas and Hezbollah, on the one hand, and Syria and Iran on the other, has backfired.

It has? Why? Because Hezbollah decided to cross an International border and start a war? Perhaps we should give them all seats as permanent members on the UN Security Council, each with full veto powers. Why is it I'm thinking we'd not only end up seeing a larger war, it would be much more difficult for free democratic states to prevail. Why is it always our fault when despicable groups or nations act despicably? It occurs to me that their behaviors result from precisely who they are and what they represent, not from some imagined slight brought about by Israel simply existing.

As Juan Cole points out today on Informed Comment: "A Lebanon with no Syrian troops and Hizbullah in the government was inherently unstable. With Syria gone, Hizbullah filled a security vacuum and also was less restrained."

A Hezbollah less restrained with their benefactor Syria gone from Lebanon? Does that position actually warrant dissemination by one of the big three news networks on its website? And they filled a security vacuum? Security from what? Iranian and Syrian missiles piling up at the border with no place to go? You must be kidding.

Certainly, everyone is entitled to their opinions. But by putting up what amounts to nonsense on its website, CBS isn't showing signs of a network interested in re-gaining credibility, or viewership after the debacle they experienced during the last Presidential election cycle.

Comments

[Michael Pugliese]

You have a good blog. I say that as one on the Left, though a rascally revisionist social democrat anti-Stalinist.
Note that CBS News opinion website ALWAYS has The Nation, and ALWAYS has The Weekly Standard and National Review.

[Michael Pugliese]

See below,
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/opinion/main215.shtml
Weekly Standard: Federal Judge Says No To Prison Ministries
Weekly Standard: Hezbollah Is Just As Bad As Al Qaeda
National Review Online: Female-Only Classes Should Be An Option
Weekly Standard: Hezbollah Is Just As Bad As Al Qaeda
Weekly Standard: Kim Jong Il Needs To Go Up In Smoke
Weekly Standard: The Court Hasn't Crippled The War On Terror

[Dan]

See below

Thanks, I did believe you. Still, some of the items in the Nation piece I pointed out don't strike me as a matter of "opinion."

[Heli Pilot]

When I saw this piece earlier today I was left fuming. Apparently Dan Rather does have a replacement at CBS... it's 'The Nation'

[Even Steven]

How DARE a news organization question the actions of the Israelis.They must be ant semetic.Israel can and never has done 1 thing wrong.The Palestinian and Lebanese people had everything coming to them.

[Willie from Western Washington]

Michael,

Thank you. *I* had always noticed the pieces from Weekly Standard and from the National Review, and figured it was to atone for the whole Rather thing and prove that they were taking a rightward tack. I guess that they figure that the only valid "opinions" out there are from mouthpieces like the Nation and the National Review. Oh, well. I wouldn't expect a true alternative POV from the MSM.

[Carol Herman]

DEBKA reports that nasrallah's hightailed it out of Southern Lebanon. ANd, headed to the hills. Close to the syrian border. Where the drug lords carry on their business; which includes transport of drugs, and arms. Through tunnels.

It also said that this area is "new" ... sort'a. Since the drug lords were forced to move their business operations from the syrian border with iraq.

Nasrallah doesn't know much about military matters. But he's now surrounded with 150 or so iranian super-duper guards. IF saber rattling WAS nasrallah's business; now it looks like he's getting a hand from the drug lords. Since when do they fight out in the open? I thought they usually ran from confrontations with police. And, moved their products in secret.

IF the drug lords are now involved; and Assad as yet hasn't shown his cards. Will he or won't he send conscripts up the Golan? Will he, or won't he send up his jet planes?

It seems its possible in this can of worms to attack way more than one problem, NOW! Lebanon will never be the same if the drug lords are dealt a blow! And, assad? If he's alive it's because he decides to cooperate. And, cut his ties to the iranians. There's more than one way he can lose in this battle, ahead. I'll guess he plays it safe.

And, I'll bet the french are fuming mad! Since the drug business is up there with the oil business, in terms of profits. Real geniuses at war. Ya know? I can't wait.