Governments around the world have been quick to issue statements condemning the latest fighting between Israel and Hamas and called for a cease-fire between the two sides.
A CEASE-FIRE??!
Hamas is responsible for most of the civilian casualties. They're positioning their military hardware next to schools, apartment buildings and houses, and not allowing the residents to flee for their lives when they know that Israel is destroying Hamas hardware whenever and wherever they find it. Hamas knows full well what will happen when their hardware is hit by Israeli bombs while sitting next to an occupied building: noncombatants die.
Israel was content to leave Gaza alone, until Hamas broke the cease-fire and began firing rockets into southern Israel, which provoked the Israelis to fire back.
As far as this talk of a cease-fire goes, it would be like asking the United States to negotiate a cease-fire with al-Qaeda. Why should Israel be made to agree to a cease-fire with a terror group bent on it's destruction?
Hamas has proven it can't run a picnic, let alone the Palestinian government. Yet the Palestinian people voted for Hamas and got exactly the type of government that they wanted. All that Hamas has brought is death and destruction to the Palestinian people. I wonder if the majority of Palestinians will be thinking about that the next time they have an election.
Showing posts with label war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label war. Show all posts
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Georgia and Russia Are Both to Blame for Their War: Both Sides Targeted Civilians
You know, as bad as Russia's behavior has been in the last two weeks with their use of disproportionate force against Georgia, Georgia is also to blame for the current state of affairs.
The Georgians attacked civilians in South Ossetia first, starting with their rocket bombardment of Tskhinvali, followed up by a ground offensive. They used a sledge hammer to kill a mosquito, which gave the Russians all the reason that they needed to wage a war of aggression and occupation against Georgia.
So while we're screaming at the Russians to get the hell out of Georgia, we should also be condemning Georgia for it's conduct before the Russian "intervention." If Russia is being accused of using disproportionate levels of force, the Georgians have also done the same thing in South Ossetia. They went into South Ossetia to stop separatist forces from shelling Georgians on both sides of the border; it should have stopped there, but they turned a minor border skirmish into a major international conflict.
I think the U.N. needs to conduct two investigations to determine if war crimes were committed: the first one is to determine if Russia's invasion and occupation of Georgia violated the rules of war, and the second one is to determine if the Georgians did the same thing in South Ossetia during their bombardment of Tskhinvali. Everything needs to be looked at.
Both Russia and Georgia are signees of the Geneva Conventions; both are bound to not to deliberately target civilians in a war, whether declared or undeclared. This is considered a grave breach of the Geneva Convention. Neither side went out of their way to insure that civilians weren't getting hurt. In fact, both sides targeted civilians, both inside and outside the zone of conflict.
And before NATO membership is offered to Georgia, they need to be reminded that they have a responsibility to safeguard civilians in the conflict zone.
The Georgians attacked civilians in South Ossetia first, starting with their rocket bombardment of Tskhinvali, followed up by a ground offensive. They used a sledge hammer to kill a mosquito, which gave the Russians all the reason that they needed to wage a war of aggression and occupation against Georgia.
So while we're screaming at the Russians to get the hell out of Georgia, we should also be condemning Georgia for it's conduct before the Russian "intervention." If Russia is being accused of using disproportionate levels of force, the Georgians have also done the same thing in South Ossetia. They went into South Ossetia to stop separatist forces from shelling Georgians on both sides of the border; it should have stopped there, but they turned a minor border skirmish into a major international conflict.
I think the U.N. needs to conduct two investigations to determine if war crimes were committed: the first one is to determine if Russia's invasion and occupation of Georgia violated the rules of war, and the second one is to determine if the Georgians did the same thing in South Ossetia during their bombardment of Tskhinvali. Everything needs to be looked at.
Both Russia and Georgia are signees of the Geneva Conventions; both are bound to not to deliberately target civilians in a war, whether declared or undeclared. This is considered a grave breach of the Geneva Convention. Neither side went out of their way to insure that civilians weren't getting hurt. In fact, both sides targeted civilians, both inside and outside the zone of conflict.
And before NATO membership is offered to Georgia, they need to be reminded that they have a responsibility to safeguard civilians in the conflict zone.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Russia's Attack on Georgia: When Will They Stop?
The former Soviet state of Georgia has been making moves toward re-establishing peace since war broke out two days ago, but Russia seems to be ignoring them, continuing their large-scale offensive against the Georgian military and state. Georgia pulled their troops out of the South Ossetian capitol and offered a cease-fire, but Russia rejected it and unleashed it's air force, sending fighters and bombers over the border to attack targets all over Georgia, and not just in South Ossetia.
In addition, the Russians have employed the use of ballistic missiles with non-nuclear warheads. The United States hasn't used a ballistic missile in Iraq or Afghanistan; it was thought the use of those weapons would alarm the Russians. In addition, the sheer collatoral damage caused by the impact of a ballistic missile would be unpaletable.
The question I have is this: if Georgia pulls completely out of South Ossetia, will the Russians stop, or will their offensive continue against Georgia? Russia claims that they aren't out to get Georgia, but if they achieve their stated goals and absorb South Ossetia into Russia, but keep advancing their army through Georgia and continue the bombing far from the actual combat zone, when WILL they stop? After they've occupied all of Georgia?
And will Georgia begin attacking targets inside Russia itself? So far their military has been in action on their own territory, including inside South Ossetia (which isn't part of Russia unless Georgia and Russia agree that it is). And since the Russians have invaded, Georgia seems to be focused on defensive action, but if this thing doesn't stop soon, that may change and Russia will tear Georgia apart, limb from limb.
The possibility of a Georgian military victory against the Russians is remote (wouldn't it be something if Georgia was able to defeat the Russians?), and the longer it goes on, the worse off Georgia is going to be. Forget about the U.N. Security Council; Russia is facing down the other 14 members with their super-veto (that is also enjoyed by China, France, Great Britain and the United States).
Hopefully one of the peace delegations being sent to Russia and Georgia will get the two sides to compromise and to get the Russians to back off of their disproportionate military response.
In addition, the Russians have employed the use of ballistic missiles with non-nuclear warheads. The United States hasn't used a ballistic missile in Iraq or Afghanistan; it was thought the use of those weapons would alarm the Russians. In addition, the sheer collatoral damage caused by the impact of a ballistic missile would be unpaletable.
The question I have is this: if Georgia pulls completely out of South Ossetia, will the Russians stop, or will their offensive continue against Georgia? Russia claims that they aren't out to get Georgia, but if they achieve their stated goals and absorb South Ossetia into Russia, but keep advancing their army through Georgia and continue the bombing far from the actual combat zone, when WILL they stop? After they've occupied all of Georgia?
And will Georgia begin attacking targets inside Russia itself? So far their military has been in action on their own territory, including inside South Ossetia (which isn't part of Russia unless Georgia and Russia agree that it is). And since the Russians have invaded, Georgia seems to be focused on defensive action, but if this thing doesn't stop soon, that may change and Russia will tear Georgia apart, limb from limb.
The possibility of a Georgian military victory against the Russians is remote (wouldn't it be something if Georgia was able to defeat the Russians?), and the longer it goes on, the worse off Georgia is going to be. Forget about the U.N. Security Council; Russia is facing down the other 14 members with their super-veto (that is also enjoyed by China, France, Great Britain and the United States).
Hopefully one of the peace delegations being sent to Russia and Georgia will get the two sides to compromise and to get the Russians to back off of their disproportionate military response.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
South America Unsettled as Three Nations Mobilize Troops and Break Diplomatic Relations: Chavez on the Move
Over the weekend, armed forces of Columbia crossed over the border into Ecuador and killed a Marxist rebel leader who was seeking to overthrow the government of Columbia.
In direct response, both Ecuador and Venezuela rushed troops and military equipment to their border regions and are threatening to attack Columbia if it crosses the border again. Mouth of the South Hugo Chavez got onto his Venezuelan state radio and directed his Minister of Defense to mobilize Venezuela's army and air force. Showoff. Grand-stander.
As I wrote on Feburary 19th: Today the Mouth of the South and the region's most dangerous man is Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has turned Venezuela into a communist training camp and arms supply depot for insurgents looking to overthrow neighboring governments who do not hold Marxism in the same high regard as Chavez. Too bad he isn't following Castro out the door.
That last sentence rings truer today than it did just two weeks ago. Venezuela's embarked on a massive arms build-up and now he's taking advantage of a problem between Ecuador and Columbia to play with his new guns, subs and arms, which Russia supplied to Venezuela in vast quantities.
Chavez ought to shut up, order his military back to their bases and keep his nose out of other the affairs of other nations. If a war starts now, it'll be because the Mouth starts it.
In direct response, both Ecuador and Venezuela rushed troops and military equipment to their border regions and are threatening to attack Columbia if it crosses the border again. Mouth of the South Hugo Chavez got onto his Venezuelan state radio and directed his Minister of Defense to mobilize Venezuela's army and air force. Showoff. Grand-stander.
As I wrote on Feburary 19th: Today the Mouth of the South and the region's most dangerous man is Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who has turned Venezuela into a communist training camp and arms supply depot for insurgents looking to overthrow neighboring governments who do not hold Marxism in the same high regard as Chavez. Too bad he isn't following Castro out the door.
That last sentence rings truer today than it did just two weeks ago. Venezuela's embarked on a massive arms build-up and now he's taking advantage of a problem between Ecuador and Columbia to play with his new guns, subs and arms, which Russia supplied to Venezuela in vast quantities.
Chavez ought to shut up, order his military back to their bases and keep his nose out of other the affairs of other nations. If a war starts now, it'll be because the Mouth starts it.
Monday, September 17, 2007
France Tells the World to Prepare for War Against Iran: Believes Force Will Be Required to Stop Iran's Renegade Nuclear Program
France's foreign minister told the world that a war with Iran may be necessary to put a stop to Iran's nuclear program once and for all.
Oh, really?
And how many troops, aircraft and ships will France and the rest of the world be contributing toward fighting this war? And is France willing to duke it out with Russia and China in the U.N. Security Council? And how many minesweepers will it send to the Persian Gulf to help clear the minefields that Iran is sure to deploy if fighting does break out?
Let France and its allies lead the fight against Iran, and we'll support them for a change instead of us carrying the workload and begging the world for help. We have two wars to wrap up before we mix it up with Iran.
Oh, really?
And how many troops, aircraft and ships will France and the rest of the world be contributing toward fighting this war? And is France willing to duke it out with Russia and China in the U.N. Security Council? And how many minesweepers will it send to the Persian Gulf to help clear the minefields that Iran is sure to deploy if fighting does break out?
Let France and its allies lead the fight against Iran, and we'll support them for a change instead of us carrying the workload and begging the world for help. We have two wars to wrap up before we mix it up with Iran.
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