I'm sorry; both sides should put down their arms now.

Qana, 10 miles east of the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre, was the location of an attack by Israeli forces 10 years ago in which more than 100 Lebanese refugees were killed. On April 18, 1996, Israeli artillery pounded a U.N. center crowded with civilians. Israel later said the attack was a mistake. At that time, Israel accused Hezbollah militants of hiding behind civilians.

from -

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/...east.main/index.html

When Israeli children are killed by Hezbollah rockets, the Hezbollah leadership say "Some events like that happen. At any event, those who were killed in Nazareth, we consider them martyrs for Palestine and martyrs for the nation. I pay my condolences to them."

www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/20/nasra...interview/index.html

Victims are victims, whether young or old. They are a consequences of modern warfare. Personally I'd say "Give peace a chance", but I know that certain terrorist movements have vowed not to stop attacking Israel until all it's citizens are dead. It's difficult to make peace with such people. That doesn't mean no attempt should be made, but the chances of success are very slim.

The peace does not necessarily have to be made with the actual terrorists. Despite doing relatively well in elections, Hezbollah has always been the object of deep distrust in Lebanon. Unfortunately, they have been put in the driving seat by Israel in this unwinnable war. However, I'm sure Syria could be talked into cutting the arms shipments by giving them back the Golan Heights and a few other gestures. It would be wrong to try and play to Hezbollah's agenda. They don't represent the majority of Lebanese and were (until today) not welcome in many Arab states such as Jordan and Egypt. They should have been cornered politically rather than fought on their own backyard. Big mistake, and an absolute tragedy for the fledgling democracy in Lebanon.

Hexbollah was formed specifically to repulse the Jews from Lebanon after their last invasions (remember when Arial Sharon let the melitias into the Shatilla and Shabilla refugee camps to slaughter thousands do you?)

Hexbollah would not exist were it not for Israeli actions.

70% of the Lebanese support Hezbollah and they are already part of the government. As they are the only ones protecting the Lebanese from further assaults (and massacres) its likely that they will WIN the next election.

Then, the Israelis (and the Yankers) will refuse to deal with them, just as they refuse to deal with the democratically elected government of Palestine. They are only interested in people who will be subservient.

They didn't have anything like 70% of the votes prior to the bombings, and there were plenty of Lebanese people that resented them - despite being heroes of the resistance.

It's obvious Israel and consequently the US have missed an opportunity to sideline them or integrate them into more normal political relations over time. I'm not too sure what they can expect, apart from a further radicalisation of relations in the Middle East. That is good news for no-one, as it pushes the loonies into power (imagine the UVF or BNP being the dominant party in the UK).

but it's by allowing the current attacks against the Lebanese that has boosted Hezbollah's popularity. Its another massive miscalculation by the Israelis and their paymasters.

I bet Al Quaeda have run out of membership application forms by now ! (Still it's all good business for Dodgy Dick's Halliburton Corp - and I bet the other neo-cons all get a cut !)

Dodgy Dick's Halliburton Corp was dropped by us army ten days ago for over charging ( now who never knew that was coming),don't tell me that never made UK news.

that thread was from me about dodgy dick.