Lebanon / Israel

[Anonymous]

I care about foreign policy, but I am honestly so exhausted by the Middle East issue that I'm that Ken Watanabe Let Them Fight meme.

I feel bad for the normal, regular Israeli and Lebanese people just trying to live their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is only one group of good guys: the sovereign nation of Israel; the Jewish state.

Opposing them are only terrorists:

- Hamas: a designated terrorist organization
- Hezbollah, also a designated terrorist organization.

This could not be a more stark contrast. I support Israel.

Terrorists? They should be wiped out.

Casualties of war/civilians/women/children be damned right??

Yeah because Hezbollah and Hamas never kill innocent people.

Spoken like a true terrorist. Ew.

What?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of people who take a terrorist group at their word is unbelievable.

“But Hezbollah promised they’d stop! Why won’t you just believe them?!”

Americans have the luxury of naïveté. We are insulated by two oceans and friendly neighbors. People would think very differently if we shared multiple land borders with a population full of Muslim extremists who sympathize with the 9/11 attackers.

No, American naïveté comes from thinking 9/11 happened in a vacuum and they “hated us for ar’ freedom” rather than generations of belligerent US foreign policy leading to it. You’re the one who’s naïve. What year is it that you still think you can sell the BS you just wrote?

No, American naïveté is from not understanding that people like you support terrorism in order to achieve your policy aims. But hey, it’s all good since we’ll be greeted with virgins in eternal paradise, right?

Wait... you're going with like every cartoonish stereotype to then claim I support terrorism? What an unserious person you are. So you think me simply explaining why 9/11 actually happened, NOT defend it, I'm supporting what happened? Is that what you're reduced to at this point? Just thinking that if people don't go along with the propaganda surrounding why it happened and going along with your bigoted tropes, it's a defense of it? Should I buy freedom fries for you to prove my patriotism? Put a big ol' yellow ribbon on a gas guzzler for freedom...oh and "support the troops" because that's what the war was REALLY about.

Invading the homes of civilians and kidnapping and murdering them is terrorism.

I understand that you like to call it decolonization in order to appeal to gullible college students.

And Lebanon and Hezbollah didn’t do any of that.

Hamas did. Israel is not serious about ending Hamas, their proxy to keep King Netanyahu and Likud in power in perpetuity

Hezbollah has been sending missiles to hit Israeli civilian population centers nonstop from 10/8.

Israel killed over 500 Lebanese this year before these recent events. This is actually low in terms of yearly kills by Israel in Lebanon. Hezbollah actually was created to fight Israel the last time they invaded and occupied Lebanon.

This is a total fabrication. Like completely made up. Do better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of people who take a terrorist group at their word is unbelievable.

“But Hezbollah promised they’d stop! Why won’t you just believe them?!”

Americans have the luxury of naïveté. We are insulated by two oceans and friendly neighbors. People would think very differently if we shared multiple land borders with a population full of Muslim extremists who sympathize with the 9/11 attackers.

No, American naïveté comes from thinking 9/11 happened in a vacuum and they “hated us for ar’ freedom” rather than generations of belligerent US foreign policy leading to it. You’re the one who’s naïve. What year is it that you still think you can sell the BS you just wrote?

No, American naïveté is from not understanding that people like you support terrorism in order to achieve your policy aims. But hey, it’s all good since we’ll be greeted with virgins in eternal paradise, right?

Wait... you're going with like every cartoonish stereotype to then claim I support terrorism? What an unserious person you are. So you think me simply explaining why 9/11 actually happened, NOT defend it, I'm supporting what happened? Is that what you're reduced to at this point? Just thinking that if people don't go along with the propaganda surrounding why it happened and going along with your bigoted tropes, it's a defense of it? Should I buy freedom fries for you to prove my patriotism? Put a big ol' yellow ribbon on a gas guzzler for freedom...oh and "support the troops" because that's what the war was REALLY about.

Invading the homes of civilians and kidnapping and murdering them is terrorism.

I understand that you like to call it decolonization in order to appeal to gullible college students.

And Lebanon and Hezbollah didn’t do any of that.

Hamas did. Israel is not serious about ending Hamas, their proxy to keep King Netanyahu and Likud in power in perpetuity

Hezbollah has been sending missiles to hit Israeli civilian population centers nonstop from 10/8.

Israel killed over 500 Lebanese this year before these recent events. This is actually low in terms of yearly kills by Israel in Lebanon. Hezbollah actually was created to fight Israel the last time they invaded and occupied Lebanon.

This is a total fabrication. Like completely made up. Do better.

DP

Maybe conflating with the shocking Lebanese death toll in just one day this week (right around 500, splashed across the news for all to see)?

Regardless, the comparative civilian death toll since 10/7 is around 150 dead in Lebanon to what? 12 dead in Israel? Are we even settled on the cause of the 12 in Israel? Best case for Israel, a disproportionate 10:1 or worse response.

At this point, F Israel and F anyone who stands with Israel. There's no walking back the evil of this country, its leadership, and any of its blind, unconditional supporters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I care about foreign policy, but I am honestly so exhausted by the Middle East issue that I'm that Ken Watanabe Let Them Fight meme.

I feel bad for the normal, regular Israeli and Lebanese people just trying to live their lives.

The Lebanese Christians want nothing more than Hezbollah to be eradicated. Terrorists have effectively taken over the country. It is very sad, but Hezbollah terrorists are not stepping down until Israel is erased from the map, and they have deep pockets thanks to Iran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s suppose that there was an impartial poll, whose side would majority of Americans be on?
Israel or Lebanon?

If they’re over 35, Israel

Yeah, pretty much.

Anyone trying to "explain" 9/11 and why Americans had it coming obviously wasn't a sentient human being in 2001.

I also think progressives over the past 20 years have been trying to frame everything into a racism/colonialism narrative. Whereas those who were alive in the 80s/90s and obviously older have a much more complicated and nuanced take on contemporary events.

They'd know, for instance, that most Lebanese despise Hezbollah. That Hezbollah is a militant Shi'a organization that exists to advance the interests of Iran. And that most Lebanese are either Sunni or Maronite Christian.

TBH, I think most Lebanese would be a-ok with the destruction of Hezbollah.

The original ask - "whose side would majority Americans be on? Israel or Lebanon? - just betrays a profound level of ignorance and awareness of the dynamics of the region. 99 percent of Sunni Arabs would be for the destruction of Hezbollah. A lot of Shi'a too. And definitely Maronite Christians.

And that's within Lebanon.

The entire premise of the question is wrong.

But the answer is Israel. The US will support Israel. Everyone hates Netanyahu - even the Israelis. But if you think Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, US, UAE, and Kuwait are simply going to cede the region to Iran - not happening.

To Lebanese people, Hezbollah and Israel may as well be the same entity.

Yeah, pretty much.

And then 10/7 happened, and I was like, yeah, done with the false equivalency.

Destroy these animals.

A year on - 0h goodie, Hezbollah is losing their dicks because their terrorism pagers are blowing up. And then a day later - the walkie-talkies.

Say what you will about Mossad - it's effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of people who take a terrorist group at their word is unbelievable.

“But Hezbollah promised they’d stop! Why won’t you just believe them?!”

Americans have the luxury of naïveté. We are insulated by two oceans and friendly neighbors. People would think very differently if we shared multiple land borders with a population full of Muslim extremists who sympathize with the 9/11 attackers.

No, American naïveté comes from thinking 9/11 happened in a vacuum and they “hated us for ar’ freedom” rather than generations of belligerent US foreign policy leading to it. You’re the one who’s naïve. What year is it that you still think you can sell the BS you just wrote?

No, American naïveté is from not understanding that people like you support terrorism in order to achieve your policy aims. But hey, it’s all good since we’ll be greeted with virgins in eternal paradise, right?

Wait... you're going with like every cartoonish stereotype to then claim I support terrorism? What an unserious person you are. So you think me simply explaining why 9/11 actually happened, NOT defend it, I'm supporting what happened? Is that what you're reduced to at this point? Just thinking that if people don't go along with the propaganda surrounding why it happened and going along with your bigoted tropes, it's a defense of it? Should I buy freedom fries for you to prove my patriotism? Put a big ol' yellow ribbon on a gas guzzler for freedom...oh and "support the troops" because that's what the war was REALLY about.

Invading the homes of civilians and kidnapping and murdering them is terrorism.

I understand that you like to call it decolonization in order to appeal to gullible college students.

And Lebanon and Hezbollah didn’t do any of that.

Hamas did. Israel is not serious about ending Hamas, their proxy to keep King Netanyahu and Likud in power in perpetuity

Hezbollah has been sending missiles to hit Israeli civilian population centers nonstop from 10/8.

Israel killed over 500 Lebanese this year before these recent events. This is actually low in terms of yearly kills by Israel in Lebanon. Hezbollah actually was created to fight Israel the last time they invaded and occupied Lebanon.

This is a total fabrication. Like completely made up. Do better.

DP

Maybe conflating with the shocking Lebanese death toll in just one day this week (right around 500, splashed across the news for all to see)?

Regardless, the comparative civilian death toll since 10/7 is around 150 dead in Lebanon to what? 12 dead in Israel? Are we even settled on the cause of the 12 in Israel? Best case for Israel, a disproportionate 10:1 or worse response.

At this point, F Israel and F anyone who stands with Israel. There's no walking back the evil of this country, its leadership, and any of its blind, unconditional supporters.

Sure, Yahya, sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of people who take a terrorist group at their word is unbelievable.

“But Hezbollah promised they’d stop! Why won’t you just believe them?!”

Americans have the luxury of naïveté. We are insulated by two oceans and friendly neighbors. People would think very differently if we shared multiple land borders with a population full of Muslim extremists who sympathize with the 9/11 attackers.

No, American naïveté comes from thinking 9/11 happened in a vacuum and they “hated us for ar’ freedom” rather than generations of belligerent US foreign policy leading to it. You’re the one who’s naïve. What year is it that you still think you can sell the BS you just wrote?

No, American naïveté is from not understanding that people like you support terrorism in order to achieve your policy aims. But hey, it’s all good since we’ll be greeted with virgins in eternal paradise, right?

Wait... you're going with like every cartoonish stereotype to then claim I support terrorism? What an unserious person you are. So you think me simply explaining why 9/11 actually happened, NOT defend it, I'm supporting what happened? Is that what you're reduced to at this point? Just thinking that if people don't go along with the propaganda surrounding why it happened and going along with your bigoted tropes, it's a defense of it? Should I buy freedom fries for you to prove my patriotism? Put a big ol' yellow ribbon on a gas guzzler for freedom...oh and "support the troops" because that's what the war was REALLY about.

Invading the homes of civilians and kidnapping and murdering them is terrorism.

I understand that you like to call it decolonization in order to appeal to gullible college students.

And Lebanon and Hezbollah didn’t do any of that.

Hamas did. Israel is not serious about ending Hamas, their proxy to keep King Netanyahu and Likud in power in perpetuity

Hezbollah has been sending missiles to hit Israeli civilian population centers nonstop from 10/8.

Israel killed over 500 Lebanese this year before these recent events. This is actually low in terms of yearly kills by Israel in Lebanon. Hezbollah actually was created to fight Israel the last time they invaded and occupied Lebanon.

This is a total fabrication. Like completely made up. Do better.

Why do you persist with your Israeli propaganda? Do you really not know how many people Israel kills in neighbors countries? Maybe we should make Israeli bury the people they kill. So people like you can not deny it never happened.

These numbers are easily found. Israel reported in March of this year 4,500 strikes in Lebanon killing 250 and wounding 1,278. Included in that number were UN observers and doctors. Israel is a pariah state.

[Anonymous]

Washington, DC – A week before the Israeli government unleashed a barrage of attacks on Lebanon — killing nearly 500 people in a single day — the United States sent a diplomat to Israel with the stated goal of promoting de-escalation.

Amos Hochstein, US President Joe Biden’s envoy, landed in the region on September 16 with the aim of preventing daily exchanges of fire at the Israel-Lebanon border between Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces from leading to all-out war.

But a day after Hochstein’s arrival, booby-trapped communication devices linked to Hezbollah were detonated across Lebanon, killing and injuring thousands in an attack widely believed to have been carried out by Israel. Further assaults would follow.

Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank, said the timing of Hochstein’s visit and the ensuing Israeli attacks on Lebanon highlight a pattern of Israeli leaders defying what the Biden administration says it wants its top ally to do.

“It’s exactly what’s happened for the last 12 months: They [the Israelis] know every single warning from the administration has been ignored — explicitly and emphatically, repeatedly — and there’s never been a consequence,” he told Al Jazeera.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/24/disastrous-failure-how-biden-emboldened-israel-to-attack-lebanon

What the f? Israel sent a message to Old Joe and uncle sucker. I will say Biden really blew Israel and the Ukraine. It seems he just wants the fighting to continue indefinitely. Biden should have cut weapons for from Israel and given Ukraine everything with no restrictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of people who take a terrorist group at their word is unbelievable.

“But Hezbollah promised they’d stop! Why won’t you just believe them?!”

Americans have the luxury of naïveté. We are insulated by two oceans and friendly neighbors. People would think very differently if we shared multiple land borders with a population full of Muslim extremists who sympathize with the 9/11 attackers.

No, American naïveté comes from thinking 9/11 happened in a vacuum and they “hated us for ar’ freedom” rather than generations of belligerent US foreign policy leading to it. You’re the one who’s naïve. What year is it that you still think you can sell the BS you just wrote?

No, American naïveté is from not understanding that people like you support terrorism in order to achieve your policy aims. But hey, it’s all good since we’ll be greeted with virgins in eternal paradise, right?

Wait... you're going with like every cartoonish stereotype to then claim I support terrorism? What an unserious person you are. So you think me simply explaining why 9/11 actually happened, NOT defend it, I'm supporting what happened? Is that what you're reduced to at this point? Just thinking that if people don't go along with the propaganda surrounding why it happened and going along with your bigoted tropes, it's a defense of it? Should I buy freedom fries for you to prove my patriotism? Put a big ol' yellow ribbon on a gas guzzler for freedom...oh and "support the troops" because that's what the war was REALLY about.

Invading the homes of civilians and kidnapping and murdering them is terrorism.

I understand that you like to call it decolonization in order to appeal to gullible college students.

And Lebanon and Hezbollah didn’t do any of that.

Hamas did. Israel is not serious about ending Hamas, their proxy to keep King Netanyahu and Likud in power in perpetuity

Hezbollah has been sending missiles to hit Israeli civilian population centers nonstop from 10/8.

Israel killed over 500 Lebanese this year before these recent events. This is actually low in terms of yearly kills by Israel in Lebanon. Hezbollah actually was created to fight Israel the last time they invaded and occupied Lebanon.

This is a total fabrication. Like completely made up. Do better.

Why do you persist with your Israeli propaganda? Do you really not know how many people Israel kills in neighbors countries? Maybe we should make Israeli bury the people they kill. So people like you can not deny it never happened.

These numbers are easily found. Israel reported in March of this year 4,500 strikes in Lebanon killing 250 and wounding 1,278. Included in that number were UN observers and doctors. Israel is a pariah state.

Source? Citation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of people who take a terrorist group at their word is unbelievable.

“But Hezbollah promised they’d stop! Why won’t you just believe them?!”

Americans have the luxury of naïveté. We are insulated by two oceans and friendly neighbors. People would think very differently if we shared multiple land borders with a population full of Muslim extremists who sympathize with the 9/11 attackers.

No, American naïveté comes from thinking 9/11 happened in a vacuum and they “hated us for ar’ freedom” rather than generations of belligerent US foreign policy leading to it. You’re the one who’s naïve. What year is it that you still think you can sell the BS you just wrote?

No, American naïveté is from not understanding that people like you support terrorism in order to achieve your policy aims. But hey, it’s all good since we’ll be greeted with virgins in eternal paradise, right?

Wait... you're going with like every cartoonish stereotype to then claim I support terrorism? What an unserious person you are. So you think me simply explaining why 9/11 actually happened, NOT defend it, I'm supporting what happened? Is that what you're reduced to at this point? Just thinking that if people don't go along with the propaganda surrounding why it happened and going along with your bigoted tropes, it's a defense of it? Should I buy freedom fries for you to prove my patriotism? Put a big ol' yellow ribbon on a gas guzzler for freedom...oh and "support the troops" because that's what the war was REALLY about.

Invading the homes of civilians and kidnapping and murdering them is terrorism.

I understand that you like to call it decolonization in order to appeal to gullible college students.

And Lebanon and Hezbollah didn’t do any of that.

Hamas did. Israel is not serious about ending Hamas, their proxy to keep King Netanyahu and Likud in power in perpetuity

Hezbollah has been sending missiles to hit Israeli civilian population centers nonstop from 10/8.

Israel killed over 500 Lebanese this year before these recent events. This is actually low in terms of yearly kills by Israel in Lebanon. Hezbollah actually was created to fight Israel the last time they invaded and occupied Lebanon.

This is a total fabrication. Like completely made up. Do better.

DP

Maybe conflating with the shocking Lebanese death toll in just one day this week (right around 500, splashed across the news for all to see)?

Regardless, the comparative civilian death toll since 10/7 is around 150 dead in Lebanon to what? 12 dead in Israel? Are we even settled on the cause of the 12 in Israel? Best case for Israel, a disproportionate 10:1 or worse response.

At this point, F Israel and F anyone who stands with Israel. There's no walking back the evil of this country, its leadership, and any of its blind, unconditional supporters.

Sure, Yahya, sure.

Can’t hear you through your Krav Maga grunting, Shlomo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s suppose that there was an impartial poll, whose side would majority of Americans be on?
Israel or Lebanon?

If they’re over 35, Israel

Yeah, pretty much.

Anyone trying to "explain" 9/11 and why Americans had it coming obviously wasn't a sentient human being in 2001.

I also think progressives over the past 20 years have been trying to frame everything into a racism/colonialism narrative. Whereas those who were alive in the 80s/90s and obviously older have a much more complicated and nuanced take on contemporary events.

They'd know, for instance, that most Lebanese despise Hezbollah. That Hezbollah is a militant Shi'a organization that exists to advance the interests of Iran. And that most Lebanese are either Sunni or Maronite Christian.

What? The Shi'a make up, according to various estimates, from 27% to 32% of the Lebanese population.

If you think no one supports them, explain how you think they win parliamentary seats in elections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s suppose that there was an impartial poll, whose side would majority of Americans be on?
Israel or Lebanon?

If they’re over 35, Israel

Yeah, pretty much.

Anyone trying to "explain" 9/11 and why Americans had it coming obviously wasn't a sentient human being in 2001.

I also think progressives over the past 20 years have been trying to frame everything into a racism/colonialism narrative. Whereas those who were alive in the 80s/90s and obviously older have a much more complicated and nuanced take on contemporary events.

They'd know, for instance, that most Lebanese despise Hezbollah. That Hezbollah is a militant Shi'a organization that exists to advance the interests of Iran. And that most Lebanese are either Sunni or Maronite Christian.

What? The Shi'a make up, according to various estimates, from 27% to 32% of the Lebanese population.

If you think no one supports them, explain how you think they win parliamentary seats in elections.

They got 15% of the seats in the last election.

So yes, people support them. But it’s not even close to the majority of Lebanese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I care about foreign policy, but I am honestly so exhausted by the Middle East issue that I'm that Ken Watanabe Let Them Fight meme.

I feel bad for the normal, regular Israeli and Lebanese people just trying to live their lives.

The Lebanese Christians want nothing more than Hezbollah to be eradicated. Terrorists have effectively taken over the country. It is very sad, but Hezbollah terrorists are not stepping down until Israel is erased from the map, and they have deep pockets thanks to Iran.

The Lebanese Christians appreciate Hezbollah for destroying ISIS. Hezbollah are not bombing churches or killing Christians. ISIS and Israel have.

If they had to pick their poison, Hezbollah is 100x better than Israeli settler or ISIS in Southern Lebanon. Hezbollah is from a minority religious sect (Shia) that’s smaller than Christianity or Druze in Lebanon. The prime minister and president of Lebanon always flips between Christian and Muslim without issue and Hezbollah has not shown any designs on changing
That or remaining anything other than the unofficial Lebanese military.

Lebanon is a very tiny country about the size of Rhode Island and has an almost non existent military but war all around them. What Hezbollah does is erase the need for Lebanon to have a mandatory military draft, and that’s something Lebanese people appreciate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I care about foreign policy, but I am honestly so exhausted by the Middle East issue that I'm that Ken Watanabe Let Them Fight meme.

I feel bad for the normal, regular Israeli and Lebanese people just trying to live their lives.

The Lebanese Christians want nothing more than Hezbollah to be eradicated. Terrorists have effectively taken over the country. It is very sad, but Hezbollah terrorists are not stepping down until Israel is erased from the map, and they have deep pockets thanks to Iran.

People said west bankers hate Gazans, neighboring Arabs hate Palestinians, Lebanese Christian’s hate the Lebanese Muslims or hezbollah or even that Muslims hate Jews. None of this is true and if you’re perpetuating these myths I don’t think you actually know people from these groups. Sure, refugees and people in need are shunned around the world but by and large these groups are sympathetic to each other. They interact and relate to pain, struggle, and loss. I suppose drawing lines of division and making fun of the weakest is more fun. Nobody in the region is normal and regular anymore. There is fear, resentment, and trauma, stoked by impunity and propaganda.