Tensions rise as deadly border clash,

[Skybird]

Even the anything but neutral UNIFIL confirms that the Israelis were on their side of the border (which is not marked by the fence, but a blue line north of it) when a lebanese officer ordered a sniper to open fire at the group. Israel removes trees and bushes at the fence regularly, to ensure unblocked sight.

UNIFIL also confirms that the reinforcements the Israelis have sent, including bulldozers and tanks, all did not leave Israeli territory, and stayed south of the border.

That puts the blame very exclusively on the Lebanese. The Lebanese officer maybe is a sympathiser of Hezbollah, which has driven itself like cancer deep into the lebanese country, society and administration. I would not be surprised if the provoking of such an incident has been ordered by Nasrallah himself. There are mounting hints and indices that Hezbollah really wants a new war, feeling strong enough to deliver the Israelis an even greater defeat than last time. they are deeply dug in, and armed to the teeth with even better missiles and weapons, than last time. I think that north of the area that is observed by UNIFIL, Hezbollah is so strong now that Israel has no chance to win in a ground war. Which leaves the air option only - and what that means can easily be imagined.

[Oberon]

Well, south Lebanon is virtually run by Hezbollah anyway, the Lebanese government can't stop them.

[Skybird]

Indeed. Lebanon does not exist anymore. It is the Iranian province of Hezbollistan now.

Nothing particularly unusual about tensions between Israel and Lebanon.

yep , violations by both sides are an everyday occurance.

Indeed. Lebanon does not exist anymore. It is the Iranian province of Hezbollistan now.

But its President is a Catholic and its Prime minister is sunni, how can the crazy fundamentalist Shia in Iran be allowing such unbelievers and heretics to live in one of its provinces.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

But its President is a Catholic and its Prime minister is sunni, how can the crazy fundamentalist Shia in Iran be allowing such unbelievers and heretics to live in one of its provinces.

Believe me, they're trying!
But usually it's more fun to fire rockets at Israel than to blow up your own government.

[Gerald]

using a bulldozer seen here the next day at the same location.What a beginning to start something .... a tractor in the game





http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/me...ex.html?hpt=T1










Note: Update,August 4, 2010 -- Updated 1527 GMT

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Believe me, they're trying!
But usually it's more fun to fire rockets at Israel than to blow up your own government.

They can take care of Lebanon'S christians when they have taken care of Israel first.

BTW, persecution of Christians in iran is a constant phenomenon, seeing ups and downs only in intensity. It saw an obvious spike at the time of Khomenei, then a low in late 90s, and now since ahmadinejadh's raise a drastic increase again. Laws that discriminate against christians get enforced more stringent again, arbitary acts of imprisonment, torture and rape against Christians have seen a steep rise. Like in all Muhammeddan countries, Chrstians and Jews are under high pressure in Iran. That there are qualitative differences in discrimination between muslim states doe snot mean that there is no discirmination in some. Discriminatory behavior against Jews and Christians is mandatory by Quranic demand. Since centuries christians and Jews leave muslim countries - but only rarely in the past 300 years in such intensity than today. the Muslim countries become purified that way since centuries, while Western multicultures get turned into islamic ones, in the long run. At the same time, islam is not only strengthening its stand in Wetsern countries, but even violently takes over mixed countries in Africa, also in the SE and especially Malaysia where Islam seems to be a safe bet in taking over undisputed control due to extremely unscrupelous bullying and violent brutality shown against still not converted locals. On my roadmap Malaysiya is the next foreign culture falling victim to Islam. but Nigeria and NE Africa also are hotspots. europe and the US are different in that here other methods than violence are being used now.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Skybird

They can take care of Lebanon'S christians when they have taken care of Israel first.

BTW, persecution of Christians in iran is a constant phenomenon, seeing ups and downs only in intensity. It saw an obvious spike at the time of Khomenei, then a low in late 90s, and now since ahmadinejadh's raise a drastic increase again.

I guess it's part religion, part politics. Want to rally your people against the enemy, clamp down on the religion of the enemy. "It could be worse, you could be a Christian." That kinda thing. It's kinda like that old game where you guess what cup the pea is under, keep moving the pea, keep the people guessing and their minds off the fact that their country is about as popular as the DPRK and probably has as much foreign trade.