Limed for the Truth

Explaining Israel’s present course of action in Lebanon and Gaza, many tell me that Israel only has a myriad of bad options to choose from. And if we view Israel’s actions only through that lens then they do seem right, or at the very least a necessary evil. I disagree. Now gather ’round while I make shit up, and tell you about the little war that could. And unlike the previous author, I’m never wrong.

Hamas and Hezbollah’s recklessness precipitated the war/conflict/extensive security operation with no end in sight, but the stupidity of Israel and America was also needed. In the opening days of the war, the anti-Israeli forces made a run at winning the hubris prize with Iran warning Israel of “unimaginable losses” if it attacks Syria. But the Israeli government would not be left far behind. They promised that they would, more or less, wipe out Hezbollah; all they needed was a bit of time. “10 to 14 more days” was what they needed to wipe out a guerilla army they fought before for 20 years. Coming out fresh from a short and uncomplicated war in Iraq, where they quelled a much less organized insurgency in a shorter time, the American government approved.

By making the disarmament or destruction of Hezbollah its objective, Israel has guaranteed itself no victory. Nasrallah took to the airwaves, and promised that his fighters would, well, fight the Israelis. He promised resistance until the Israelis leave. With such a narrow definition of winning, it’s hard to see how they could lose. The Israeli military certainly looked impressive in the first days of the war, just like the Israeli army looked impressive early in 1982, and the American army was unstoppable in March 2003.
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