Aug. 19, 2006 - 19:35 MDT

CAN COUNT ON IT

The Denver Post has an Editorial and Commentary in Saturday's Rocky Mountain News every week. Todays has a hum-dinger. Herewith quoted in full, Bolds and Italics mine:

SURREAL CEASE-FIRE

The absurdity of the Mideast cease-fire was exemplified by Hezbollah officials giving out stacks of $100 bills to residents

"Scenes of sorrow vied with absurdity in Lebanon this week as the fragile cease-fire between Israel and the Iranian-controlled Hezbollah forces entered its sixth day."

"The sorrow was evident in mass funerals in communities such as Qana, where 29 peope killed in an Israeli airstrike were buried Friday. The absurdity was exemplified by Hezbollah officials abandoning their military role to pose as relief administrators -- handing out stacks of $100 bills totaling $12,000 to Lebanese residents who lost homes in the war."

"The cash, like the thousands of rockets Hezbollah fired at Israel during the bitter and bloody struggle, was provided by Hezbollah's IRANIAN sponsors."

"On the Israeli side of the border, the victims of those rocket attacks have already been buried because Jewish law calls for interment within 24 hours of death. Israel began withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon Tuesday, but chief of staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz said some Israeli fores will remain until a multinational force is deployed there, even if it takes months."

"Halutz's statement reflects a realistic view of the staying power Hezbollah displayed in its 34-day duel with Israel. While Leanese soldiers began moving south of the Litani River Thursday, they did so only after agreeing not to search for Hezbollah weapons, a concession that underscored the Iranian-backed militia's status as a state within a state. Israeli intelligence sources Friday reported Iran and Syria were already restocking the depleted Hezbollah arsenals. SOME CEASE-FIRE"

"Meanwhile some sporadic fighting continued. Israel reported killing three Hezbollah fighters inside Lebanon on Tuesday and Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli positions."

"At the United Nations, it's been tough sledding to assemble an international peacekeeping force. U.N. officials hope for an intitial deployment of up to 3,500 troops within 10 to 15 days, ultimately rising to 15,000. But Friday, U.N. officials still had no firm date for such a deployment and had pledges for only 3,500 troops, with a 2,000 strong contingent from Bangladesh making the largest component. French President Jacques Chirac Thursday dismissed reports that his country would supply only a token contingent and said France would assume command of the peacekeeping force.

"If nothing else, the mass funerals and scenes of refugees returning to their shattered homes combined to mock the duelling claims of Israel and Hezbollah to have "WON" the conflict."

"The only clear truth is that the people of Lebanon were the losers and their future, aside from cash payoffs, is uncertain."

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It has been so long ago that I can't really remember the source, I am sure it wasn't me - - but the gist of it is: "Nobody wins a war. There may be a victor, but everybody on both sides loses - deeply."

I continue to be amazed that a country will allow something like this within its borders. Harboring terrorists makes scum of the leaders of that country to my way of looking at it. How free actually ae the Lebanese soldiers if they are held to the rule of not searching out Hezbollah's arsenals ? Doesn't this imply behind the scenes cooperation with Iran and Syria ?

Guess it is easy to wage war, when all you and your country have to do is to contribute money, ammunition, machinery and fight the war with citizens of another country, from another country. Seems those who specialize in suicide bombers and have made it plain that the only satisfaction they will ever have is to wipe the Jews off the face of the earth - - - so that they can ferociously get back to fighting among themselves.

So, after the bell rings and the new round is announced, fighting will be resumed, you CAN COUNT ON IT . . . . . . . . .

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