Is There A Plan B?

If there isn't a back up plan to put into effect in Lebanon, then Olmert and Bush have likely presided over our greatest International failure in decades and launched the next radical Islamist state.

Hezbollah has already said it will not disarm, it wishes to now negotiate this point? Excuse me, but what was this UN resolution for? If it was for the purposes we were told, then Hezbollah is already out of compliance. Yet, I don't hear a word about that.

Does anyone believe for a minute that an International force, let alone the one being speculated about, is going to disarm Hezbollah? Of course it won't. The Lebanese Army has a solution. Do you see anything missing from this announcement after a meeting among the three would be commands?

The deal is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, unanimously adopted Friday, and which calls for a full cessation of hostilities, the deployment of Lebanese and UN forces in south Lebanon and a simultaneous Israeli troop withdrawal from the area.(AFP)

Is anyone reading this?

According to the London Arabic newspaper, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Hizbullah has agreed to the Lebanese army demand to conceal its weapons. Hizbullah also said it would cooperate fully with the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon.

And if you read this at lgf, you'll know that the Lebanese Army is already half Hezbollah. Have you read in the Jerusalem Post that one Lebanese minister suggests allowing Hezbollah to simply join the army?

Lebanon's industry minister, Pierre Jemayel, a member of a majority anti-Syrian bloc in parliament, told Al-Siyassah daily, "Hizbullah has to deliver its weapons to the Lebanese army, and its light weapons to the police."

"Its fighters are welcome to join the military force and the state will then quickly regain control of all Lebanese territories."

So, let's see. Nasrallah's stock is soaring, the Lebanese Army is going to get an influx of Hezbollah terrorists - and Bush is foolish enough to be talking about how we won? Here's a thought, if you have the superior force, as do both the US and Israel, and you have to give press statements to try and convince people you won? Guess what? You didn't.

You turned your back on the war on terror, appeased Europe and a dangerous enemy, and have probably contributed to the greatest set back in the war on terror we've seen since Jimmy Carter bailed on the Shah of Iran.

So, someone please tell me what plan B is, if only to save me from feeling so embarrassed for having voted for our President twice. At this rate Lebanon will be in Islamo-fascist hands in less than a year and we'll have a Democrat in the White House, primarily because of Bush's legacy of incompetence and, ultimately, defeat.

Comments

[Hector Vex]

Plan B? We don't even have a plan A. We spend so much time worrying about who's feelings might be hurt when we are thinking about taking action, we haven't even come up with a plan A. This country needs to wake up and realize that there is a serious theat here, and that these "cease-fires" are bullcrap because these people WANT TO KILL US.

And you are right. Bush is doomed. If he takes the right actions (carpet bombing Iran and whacking that loon of a president over there) he's damned. If he sits by and does nothing, he's damned. So we might as well take some freaking action already.

And as I'm writing this, Hezbollah is already breaking the cease fire by firing more rockets. Surprise, surprise.

At least War gives us plenty to write about.

[Stormy70]

Plan B is to continue the war. Israel is controlling everything south of the Litani River, which seemed to be everyone's armchair analysis that they would have to control. I don't get it, why do you think Israel will leave that area without a legitimate force in place? They are not stupid. Hezz has been pushed back, and is already blowing the ceasefire. Bush and Rice will say they warned everyone what would happen if the ceasefire is not upheld by Lebanon. Israel will continue with what they were doing before the ceasefire went into effect. Israeli troops are getting some rest in Lebanon right now, so they will be fresh for the fighting when it resumes. The US is shipping weapons to Israel as we speak.
Nasrallah has lost, he will never admit it, but he has.

[Dan Riehl]

I wish I could buy that. But the Lebanese Army will head South. The "dilpomats" will tell Israel to leave, it's in control. And Israel will be painted as non-compliant if it refuses. They will take the position that if Israel would just leave, peace will be at hand. Which UN have you been watching, anyway?

[Jeb]

Nope, no plan B. In fact, you all *were* just asshats.

[Carol Herman]

Yes, there is! I'm so glad you asked. Because Michael Totten, posting from the very tipping point of Metulla clued me in. He said his friend, Noah, got so HOT he ran outside in his underwear. And, he didn't care. Of course, IF a Kayushka, Noah would have been an "embarassed journalist's corpse; dead in his underpants, because he was too stupid to put on his helmet. And, his flak jacket.

If it's hot for journalists, you can just imagine what it's like living 33 days underground, in a bomb shelter. Though not in Metulla. Metulla is UNTOUCHED. Because the Hezbollies knew that anything they launched, lacking accuracy, would probably dump onto Lebanon. Causing fires. And, much, much worse.

Up at this front, Israelis just cut through to Lebanon with wire cutters. Which they used on the separation fence.

But everybody was sweating. And, the tanks, some ten years old, were beginning to rust from all the sweating soldiers.

So now there's a "cease fire." I think it holds. Oddly enough what nasrallah says always sounds the same. "A donkey farted, and so he won."

But for the propaganda value, nothing's changed, either. Israel won't get any breaks.

Meanwhile, if you been to DRUDGE, you've seen the various photos of CASTRO, the VINYL DUMMY. (Just like Jaws. Also a very realistic hollywood creation.) And, the prosthetic hands? That's the marvel of science. Thiese days injured soldiers can at least walk around with replacement parts that look real.

ANd, Chavez, from Venezuela, has come in to pose. SO he shakes hand with the duumy. While the dummy lies in bed. No IV's. Nothing that would indicate he's alive. Or had a recent serious operation. But then again why would vinyl need this?

You call him CASTRO? I call him GROMMET.

You believe what you read or see on TV? I wouldn't ever go to see JAWS, because even though I know the shark is fake, I scare easily.

[Stormy70]

I am watching a UN where all rules can be violated by everyone. Hezzbollah is already violating the ceasefire, and Israel will not leave while they are firing rockets. I don't think the international force will deploy until things are calmer. I am just stating an opinion, but it seems that militarily Israel has the upper hand. War or Peace is Lebanon's choice.

[Stormy70]

With noone believing in the ceasefire working, then the resumption of hostilities will come as no surprise. If Hezzbollah is holding the upper hand, then why continue fighting? They do not have the upper hand.

[Stormy70]

With noone believing in the ceasefire working, then the resumption of hostilities will come as no surprise. If Hezzbollah is holding the upper hand, then why continue fighting? They do not have the upper hand.

[mr man]

"If there isn't a back up plan to put into effect in Lebanon, then Olmert and Bush have likely presided over our greatest International failure in decades and launched the next radical Islamist state."

What happened to "Stand behind our president and don't criticize in a time of war"?

I'm sure "W" has a plan, just like with Iraq. We're supposed to just trust him, right?

[mr man]

"If there isn't a back up plan to put into effect in Lebanon, then Olmert and Bush have likely presided over our greatest International failure in decades and launched the next radical Islamist state."

What happened to "Stand behind our president and don't criticize in a time of war"?

I'm sure "W" has a plan, just like with Iraq. We're supposed to just trust him, right?

You people are amazing!

[F. Rottles]

The buffer zone is the new status quo.

If the Hezbollah join the Lebanese Military, then, expect a fullout war between Lebanon and Israel -- no pretence of negotiating with a state trying to win its sovereignty. No, the war would be between Israel and a government that sponsors terror right on the doorstep.

But the problem is that the territory that the Hezbollah had occupied was really just an annex of Iran. Syria and Iran had signed a mutual defence pact a month before this fighting broke-out. But they are not best buddies. Syria would not hold together if a regional war burst upon its borders with Israel. The three-part alliance of Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria is going to become fractured as groups within each will waiver.

As for the pockets of Hezbollah left behind in the buffer zone, they will be disarmed or killed by the IDF.

As for the longer-range rocket unit north of the Litani, they will be chased by the IAF and hit by commando raids. Operational bases are closer and will become much more lethal and effective.

Hostilities have paused. There is no ceasefire.

[rwilymz]

"I'm sure "W" has a plan, just like with Iraq. We're supposed to just trust him, right?"

Who would you rather trust?

The options are:
1] our own leaders
2] the leaders of the folks we're fighting

That's it; that's all there is.

You wanna choose "neither"? strike out on your own? resign from civilization? all because you believe the instantaneous internet and the 1stAm gives you the right to know the details of everything that goes on, everywhere, as it's going on, and by extension gives you some form of last-second veto power over things done in your name?

That is not the case.

I personally have never claimed that the country's leaders were immune from criticism at any time, even during war; just that IF you're going to criticize, make it relevant and valid, and not delve into petulant, panty-soaked, bitching tirades.

Having a valid criticism means that you had better learn the facts available, and not just those which support your philosophy, but those which support the opposing view as well. Further, you need to be able to concede that the guy you're criticizing has a reason for doing what he did based upon those facts.

In my experience, there aren't many American critics of American politicians who have valid criticisms... that they can articulate, anyway. And not just during the "W" years, either.