The Stout Republican

There’s little to contribute from a professional or analytical point of view with my skill set, especially in light of the numerous websites out there that are pulling more than their own weight and documenting the ongoing media fraud in regard to the facts of the Middle East.  Zombie time has the best summary, and HotAir has been covering the recent developments, and some of the recurring characters in this never-ending soap opera.

What gets me is how quickly the people here eat it up as truth.  I was listening to the Ron and Fez show on XM radio, and they had one of their fans in studio, and he was commenting on his recent trip to Israel, and his perceptions of the situation there in regard to Hezbollah and Lebanon.  He sounded pretty rational and rooted, but the calls as a response were ridiculous.  Thinly veiled anti-Israel, pro-Hezbollah statements hidden in a ”What about the children,” mantra.  If there’s even a chance that a child is injured, or repositioned in several different pictures to increase the perception of the impact about the loss of civilian life, it doesn’t matter to them.  The fact a child could be injured by Israel (as they try to kill those who hide behind women and children), in this unfair war where they target civilians, shows that they are no better than the people that they face.  While the hosts did a decent job of moderating, the effort that is made by many in their position to stay neutral offends the intellect.  You cannot morally equate Israel and the US to Hezbollah and Al’Qaeda, and refusing to call Hezbollah out as what they are is cowardice.

Why is their this urge by the media, Time Magazine, National Geographic, New York Times, etc to draw comparisons between the two as if they were similar entities at all?  Other than the obvious fact that based on motivations alone, the two cannot be compared.  Their “soldiers” cannot be compared to ours, and those rare incidents where our soldiers do drop the ball, or violate policy, they are punished.  What the international community decries Israel and the US for, is the policy of those who we fight against…and where does the media stand on all of this?  In the name of information, they forsake country, morality, honor, and personal ethics (maybe?) to get camera shots of people shooting rockets at American soldiers, or innocent men, women, and children. 

Does the AP know that they’re one of the well-trained arms of the Islamic-Fascists?  Do they know that they’re the eyes and ears of those who would torture and kill us because we don’t accept their religion?  Are they aware that blood is on their hands…or is that something that a Pulitzer can clean, like some sort of disinfectant for the soul…

Hezbollah, Israel

Thomas Sowell writes in his new column:

What will this latest cease-fire do? It will give Hezbollah a breather from Israeli retaliation and allow them time to get new shipments of military equipment from Iran, rebuild their military infrastructure and prepare for the next round of attacks on Israel.

It’s reassuring when one of the great modern minds agrees with you…at least that’s what Thomas Sowell must think (hahaha….sigh). All kidding aside, Sowell puts in words what I can only manage to mumble and gesticulate monosyllabically (comparatively).

No one in his right mind believes that either the Lebanese army or the U.N. “peacekeepers” will disarm Hezbollah. The track record of both is virtually a guarantee that Hezbollah will be able to resume war against Israel at whatever time and place it chooses. Most people have no idea how small Israel is — and therefore how vulnerable every part of it is to its surrounding enemies.

I don’t think anyone truly does believe that a ceasefire will keep, and I don’t think anyone in their right mind thinks there will ever be peace in the middle east sans a Israeli military presence. I’ve never understood pacifism…the whole idea in itself seems dishonest. Even in grade school, the kids who refused to stand up for themselves, and who were picked on for one reason or another waited for someone else to step in and “save them”. That’s where the dishonesty is. Pacifists claim to hold the moral high ground, but when push comes to shove, someone else does the fighting for them, either literally or figuratively. It’s like waiting for the janitor because you refuse to get your hands dirty…refuse to lower oneself to the level of the brute. Ideas without the ability to fight for or defend those ideas are useless.

So who are the anointed this time? The anointed are the members of the UN, who talk about what’s best for the region, but again only focus on the now now now…

Blogs and Alternative Media, Israel, Terrorism

CNN and Fox News are reporting that 10 rockets have been fired inside Southern Lebanon after the ceasefire:

Highlighting the fragility of the peace, Hezbollah guerrillas fired at least 10 Katyusha rockets that landed in southern Lebanon early Tuesday, the Israeli army said, adding that nobody was injured. The army said that none of the rockets, which were fired over a two-hour period, had crossed the border and so it had not responded.

It’s not like their aim has been that good anyways, considering Katyusha rockets have no guidance system …but it’s the thought that counts…

Hot Air Covers the misleading headlines…what would a story be by the MSM without the slant.

Hezbollah, Israel, Terrorism

I’ve been thinking about the logical conclusion to this “ceasefire”, and I’m conflicted.  I feel the Defiant Infidel sentiments sneaking into my brain…but the sins of the leaders shouldn’t extend to the Israeli people…and they’re big sins right now.

As Hezbollah declares victory…after being bailed out of a war where they were outgunned, out-thought (obviously), and outmanned in general, all I can do is sit here slack jawed.  Israel agreed to defeat…the teacher stepped in, and pulled Israel off of the battered and bloody bully, who finally got his comeuppance for the years of picking and picking while the rest of the apologetic “parent” community said “boys will be boys.”   

Powerline has an analysis of two sides of the story:

Israel the winner.

Israel the loser.

The question I have…what now? 

Regroup and rearm. 

While Israel and Lebanon have their cities in ruin, Hezbollah claims victory, and they’re not responsible for picking up the tab for any of it.  They lost men who were willing to kill themselves anyways…they gained legitimacy.  I don’t think the UN really knows what they’ve managed to achieve by giving credence to this terrorist organization like they’re a mature government that needs to be reasoned with.  Now they wait, they regroup and stockpile more and better weapons, and continue to strengthen relationships with those groups and governments that have a common cause.  By Israel retaliating, as they should have, and not finishing the job, they gave Iran and Syria the excuse that they needed to fund, and send soldiers to, Hezbollah.  Lebanon loses as well…crippled by the enemy within, their broken cities are going to remain the homes of the worst of the worst, the Islamic Fascists who have no problem hiding behind their children.

Israel, Terrorism

Here’s the link to the story on LittleGreenFootballs.  I’m a bit behind the curve right now…probably beating a dead horse…but in case any of you out there haven’t caught it yet.

Blogs and Alternative Media, Israel, msm

They came first for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,
and by that time no one was left to speak up.

- New England Holocaust Memorial, Boston Massachusetts

Allow me to be blunt, “Same Shit, Different Day.” But hey…I’m not a Jew, and I’m not a Muslim yearning to live in a democratic country, free from fear…so let’s get the hell out of there.

“They have no boundaries, limits, or taboos when it comes to killing human beings. Who are they? Where did they come from? Are they human beings? ‘They are like cattle, nay, more misguided.’ A bunch of bloodthirsty barbarians. Next to them, all the criminals of the world seem righteous.”

“I hereby declare: The world must know that America and England are accomplices to each and every one of the crimes of the regime that has occupied Jerusalem. They must be held accountable.”

“Today, the Iranian people is the owner of nuclear technology. Those who want to talk with our people should know what people they are talking to. If some believe they can keep talking to the Iranian people in the language of threats and aggressiveness, they should know that they are making a bitter mistake. If they have not realized this by now, they soon will, but then it will be too late. Then they will realize that they are facing a vigilant, proud people.”

Hattip: Hugh Hewitt who posted this quote made Monday by President Ahmadinejad of Iran. Hugh makes the point “At least Hitler pretended to be appeasable.” Maybe that’s why we didn’t break out of our Isolationism until years after WWII started when we signed the Lend Lease act on March 11, 1941, which at least allowed us to give financial assistance to the Britains…we were so afraid after WWI that we believed the promises of a fascist, and wouldn’t hold him accountable to his actions. We have a fascist now…a real one…not one based on the liberal cheapening of the word. We didn’t see the writing on the wall until a million Jews were lost, all in the name of “non-interventionism”. Are we doomed to repeat it?
A quote from the great Franklin D. Rooselvelt:

“What do I do in such a crisis? I don’t say……, ‘Neighbor, my garden hose cost me $15; you have to pay me $15 for it.’ …I don’t want $15 — I want my garden hose back after the fire is over.”

The fire is still going on…and when it’s over, then we can move on to something else, but not until it’s over.

Iran, Iraq, Israel

Listening to the musings of Hugh Hewitt on the prolonged drive home today, and he read an excerpt from Major Mike from My Sandmen that I think is worth reading…here’s a preview, click through for the full link.

It has occurred to me over the past couple of weeks, with the Middle East and Afghanistan in turmoil, because of the likes of Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Iraqi Insurgents, Hamas and Hezbollah; that we now live in a world where governments, borders, diplomatic protocols, and indeed, civilizations are on the brink of becoming extinct and obsolete.

These groups, some quasi-governmental entities, (Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah), others simply terror organizations (AQ, and the AQ led Iraqi insurgents) are on the verge of collapsing the existing, and long recognized, international conventions of government, and governmental interactions. Operating outside the frameworks of established political systems, these groups are capable of destroying the very essence of our existing, global, civilization. [MORE]

Al Qaeda, Blogs and Alternative Media, Hezbollah, Iran, Iraq, Israel

Browsing the websites, and reading the blogs, news, etc addictively enough to get the eye rolling from the wife…just a reminder for anyone out there who feels that networks like CNN are in it to be informative…

CNN Iraq Coverup

H/T Michelle Malkin for the reminder.

Here’s another interesting post for all you conspriacy nuts out there…yes yes, I know the west is the great Satan, and everything is a neocon cover up to try to exploit Israel, Wolfowitz, World Bank…”my Pet Goat” …controlled..d..e..m…..o..l.i.ti….o.n….Carlylse Group….we’re the real terrorists…

There’s a video out there that the Palestinian groups are actually using movie production staging to fabricate videos where people are being slaughtered. Don’t just read the article…see the video. Of course the interpretation is up to the viewer…but I’ve just been watching it slack jawed. I never would have considered such a possibility, but…well…watch it.

Israel, Palestine

Women and children are casualties of war. In the current conflict between Hizbollah and Israel, the Media has been covering the loss of civilian life very closely. Many blogs are commenting on the details who are far more eloquent and educated than I am on this issue…so I won’t get into it too much…this weekend has been far too busy for me to follow it as closely as Euphoric Reality. My point is this…in a war, we know there are going to be civilian casualties, and we lament them when they happen. To the credit of Israel, they have done as much as possible to alert all those in the danger areas of possible strikes, and sincerely regret the loss of civilian life. The problem lies in the fact that you’re dealing with an enemy who has no problem hiding behind woman and children. How do you reconcile such a thing militarily? I’m reminded of a picture I once saw on Protest Warrior the was a leaflet that has been circulated throughout the Middle East and Afghanistan:

As sad as the loss of life is…what are our options when presented with an enemy who shoots rockets from behind a human shield?

Israel

Al Qaeda issued a Jihad on Israel earlier this week. Stating:

“The shells and rockets ripping apart Muslim bodies in Gaza and Lebanon are not only Israeli (weapons), but are supplied by all the countries of the crusader coalition. Therefore, every participant in the crime will pay the price,”

Just a reminder that the Al Qaida network isn’t exclusive to Afghanistan, they’re worldwide, and have their fingers in everything, from Hezbollah, to Iran, to Iraq….as al-Zawahiri himself says:

“It is a Jihad for the sake of God and will last until (our) religion prevails … from Spain to Iraq…We will attack everywhere.”

I take him seriously…and do not believe that he can be negotiated with.

Al Qaeda, Iraq, Israel