Quick letter from my friend in Lebanon about the current situation

[Polish3d]

I asked him whether he was worried that sending the Lebanese army against Hezbollah would cause civil war. He is in his early 20s like me and works for the United Nations.


--

Hey Rob.

Thanks for the concern man.

Dude, i don't know what's going on. Our government is useless to begin with and Hizbullah are ****** hooligans.

Civil war....i don't really think so. But if we don't do anything about hizbullah, then it's gonna get much worse.

I blame hizbullah and our government for this ******. They are responsible for what is happening to the Lebanese.

Israel is teaching them a very harsh lesson......and unfortunately, the citizens are getting ****** for it.

Israel over did it...i won't say it didnt. But what the hell can we do against them. Plus, Hizbullah ****** didn't mind their own damn business.

Lebanon is being stubburn and idiotic. And i hope this ends soon. We are totally isolated and people are getting desperate.

I'm safe up north, but you never know what might happen. This is war and it can spread.

Don't worry though, things might get better sooner or later. I hope.

N***

--

 

[Polish3d]

PS, I was expecting him to be more pissed at Israel. Even I am pissed at Israel to some extent due to civilian deaths, although I think they are generally in the right in their actions in this.

 

[JackStorm]

I've been known to be critical of Israels land grabbing and other actions/behaviors in the past. But in this conflict I find myself supporting Israels actions. It's a shame that civilians are getting killed. But ultimately the ones that are to blame are Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. The governments unwillingness to deal with Hezbollah is the reason why this ****** keeps happening.

 

[chcarnage]

Another Lebanese has posted his point of view of the first days of the war here:

http://www.warbucket.com/site/news/


Some photos of both Israel and Lebanon can be found here (image #11 and #16 NSFW):

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/0,5538,PB64-SUQ9MTUwOTUmbnI9MQ_3_3,00.html

 

[brandonbull]

I'm pissed about the US government. They told US college students they would have to pay to be evacuated. US tax payers hand Israel billions a year and they destroyed the means for people to leave and now they have to pay to leave a war zone????? WTF??

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: JackStorm
I've been known to be critical of Israels land grabbing and other actions/behaviors in the past. But in this conflict I find myself supporting Israels actions. It's a shame that civilians are getting killed. But ultimately the ones that are to blame are Hezbollah and the Lebanese government. The governments unwillingness to deal with Hezbollah is the reason why this ****** keeps happening.

I agree that Lebanon should be stepping up the plate here, and because they aren't...well, some sort of response is bound to happen. But I'm not sure I can totally support Israel's wild and (seemingly) random bombings, actions that have ended up killing a lot of civilians. This is not, however they try to spin it, a campaign against Hezbollah...it's punishment for the Lebanese government. Which is fine, as far as that goes, but it seems like that point could be made without killing so many innocent people.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: brandonbull
I'm pissed about the US government. They told US college students they would have to pay to be evacuated. US tax payers hand Israel billions a year and they destroyed the means for people to leave and now they have to pay to leave a war zone????? WTF??

link this "fact" please.

 

[Termagant]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: brandonbull
I'm pissed about the US government. They told US college students they would have to pay to be evacuated. US tax payers hand Israel billions a year and they destroyed the means for people to leave and now they have to pay to leave a war zone????? WTF??

link this "fact" please.

CNN Link

"A week into this conflict, and I am still waiting to hear back from the American Embassy," wrote Natalie Kerlakian of Denver, Colorado.

Before being evacuated, Americans are being asked to sign promissory notes to repay the U.S. government for their journey.

That demand outraged House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who said the United States has an obligation to get citizens out of harm's way "quickly and safely."

Has a nation ever demanded its citizens pay to be evacuated before?

Is Michael Brown the ambassador to Lebanon?

 

[Ferocious]

Originally posted by: brandonbull
I'm pissed about the US government. They told US college students they would have to pay to be evacuated. US tax payers hand Israel billions a year and they destroyed the means for people to leave and now they have to pay to leave a war zone????? WTF??

Yeah I read that a couple of days ago, but I don't remember it being limited to students.

Reminds me of how we give out BILLIONS in medical and foreign aid every year, but when it comes to America helping Americans....the Bushbots get on a fired frenzy.

 

[jrenz]

Has a nation ever demanded its citizens pay to be evacuated before?

I recall hearing that that is how it has been for every war zone evacuation in the past. Don't quote me though.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: jrenz

Has a nation ever demanded its citizens pay to be evacuated before?

I recall hearing that that is how it has been for every war zone evacuation in the past. Don't quote me though.

It's the law. Congress actually toughened the law a few years ago. Seems like there might be action on it coming soon, and it's doubtful that the evacuess will actually have to pay anything.

 

[robphelan]

I don't think some of those civilians are completely inculpable though..

if i live on the 3rd floor of a building an I know what some dumbo is shooting a rocket from the roof at Israel, i should know i need to get out of that building before I get blown up.

 

[rchiu]

Originally posted by: jrenz

Has a nation ever demanded its citizens pay to be evacuated before?

I recall hearing that that is how it has been for every war zone evacuation in the past. Don't quote me though.

Nope, from the same Quote few posts above, this is a new Act signed by this very President just a few of years ago.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Tuesday that the payments -- or "reimbursements" -- to the State Department were mandated under the 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act passed by Congress.

 

[robphelan]

nm

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: rchiu

Originally posted by: jrenz

Has a nation ever demanded its citizens pay to be evacuated before?

I recall hearing that that is how it has been for every war zone evacuation in the past. Don't quote me though.

Nope, from the same Quote few posts above, this is a new Act signed by this very President just a few of years ago.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Tuesday that the payments -- or "reimbursements" -- to the State Department were mandated under the 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act passed by Congress.

It's an act of congress. Stop trying to blame Bush for it.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: rchiu

Originally posted by: jrenz

Has a nation ever demanded its citizens pay to be evacuated before?

I recall hearing that that is how it has been for every war zone evacuation in the past. Don't quote me though.

Nope, from the same Quote few posts above, this is a new Act signed by this very President just a few of years ago.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Tuesday that the payments -- or "reimbursements" -- to the State Department were mandated under the 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act passed by Congress.

It's an act of congress. Stop trying to blame Bush for it.

Yes, you can't blame the guy who sighed the bill into law. Are you always this clear in your thinking?

 

[PandaBear]

I am glad that your friend has no ill feeling (or not complete blame) on Israel. If this is the public opinion, then there is still hope for peace.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: rchiu

Originally posted by: jrenz

Has a nation ever demanded its citizens pay to be evacuated before?

I recall hearing that that is how it has been for every war zone evacuation in the past. Don't quote me though.

Nope, from the same Quote few posts above, this is a new Act signed by this very President just a few of years ago.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Tuesday that the payments -- or "reimbursements" -- to the State Department were mandated under the 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act passed by Congress.

It's an act of congress. Stop trying to blame Bush for it.

Yes, you can't blame the guy who sighed the bill into law. Are you always this clear in your thinking?

I'd first blame the tens of congressmen who introduced it and that voted for it into law.