Assad backs terror, wants to talk - IDF

[Kayla]

Syrian President Bashar Assad continues to assist Hizbullah and host Palestinian terrorist headquarters in Damascus, but is very serious about trying to renew negotiations with Israel, the head of Military Intelligence said Sunday.

snip

Ze'evi told the cabinet that continuous US diplomatic pressure on Syria, including the recently passed Syrian Accountability Act, as well as Israel's attack on a terrorist base deep inside Syria in October, have combined to bring about Assad's recent overtures.

snip

"Even now, according to my knowledge, in the last few days, Syria is involved in conveying weapons from Iran to Hizbullah," said Boim.

snip

Should Syria show a bona fide effort and take steps to stop terrorism, a window of opportunity could open for the two countries to reach an agreement that could have a positive influence on the conflict with the Palestinians, said Boim.

snip

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1073189811856

[aneerkoinos]

1. Repeating don't make it so

Hizb Allah is not terrorist organization by any definition (unless terrorist is defined as enemy of Israel), it fought succesfully against foreign occupying army, and is also political party represented at the democratically elected Lebanese Parliament.

[Muddleoftheroad]

2. Not any definition, EVERY definition

They attack Israeli civilians inside Israel from Lebanon.

[vierundzwanzig]

3. Give me a break

They are the best organized resistance organization but ill-equipped with arms. Who are they going to take on?

As far as I am concerned all of the Arab countiries ought to disarm, hand everybody a Kalashnikov and then see whether the U.S. or Israel is still willing to occupy this country.

It is regrettable that civilian lives are lost but I just witnessed a family's son of a friend being blasted to pieces in Gaza by the targeted assassination of an Islamic Jihad leader.

So don't give me this crap about civilians. Collateral damage.

Did you know that all the guys that got nuked in Tel Aviv were members of the IDF? Or did this not make it into the mainstream media.

Ought to listen to Al-Jazeerah (a reputable source of info and the most watched news station on the planet) more often.

[Resistance]

4. the mainstream media

all had big headlines about suicide attack in Tel Aviv (of course describing it as an end to the "lull" in violence, a period in which 117 Palestinians were killed which were mostly civilians - but somehow forgetting that detail on Palestinian deaths), then when you go to the story most did mention the IDF part. Even so, they did get their nice big headline about a suicide bombing.

[bluesoul]

5. Apparently killing IDF members

is now considered terrorism among some...

[GabysPoppy]

7. For argument purposes

Let's put two female IDF members whose main activity is sending faxes and getting coffe for some officer is placed on a bus with 10 or 20 civilians, men, women and children. Now let us suppose a suicidal person with a 2 pound belly bomb decides to detonate himself.

What do you propose calling that?

[Forkboy]

11. a hypothetical strawman?

:shrug:

[GabysPoppy]

12. nope

A direct question - feel free to stick in your two cents and toss out an answer.

Latest DU definition of "strawman"

noun: something to ante into the pot when trying to not answer a question.

[Forkboy]

13. I did answer it

you just didn't like it.

[GabysPoppy]

17. I guessed I missed it

Please point it out to me.

I may need new reading glasses.

[Forkboy]

19. I guess you did

[GabysPoppy]

20. Yet you still haven't pointed it out

Why could that be?

[Forkboy]

21. Cuz I'm amused by you trying to figure it out

[Forkboy]

14. Let's say

that two Palestinian children are playing near a checkpoint.One picks up a rock and both are shot dead.What would you call it,murder or self-defense.

Just asking since you're so keen on hypotheticals and all.Hell,we can do this all night!

[MikeGalos]

15. I'd call it an attempt to change the subject

because, unlike the bus scenario, it isn't on topic.

[Forkboy]

16. Change the subject?

gee,no one down here EVER does that Mike.

[Kayla]

6. Terrorist Organization:

Hizballah (Party of God) a.k.a. Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad Organization, Revolutionary Justice Organization, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine, Organization of Right Against Wrong, Ansar Allah, Followers of the Prophet Muhammed


Description: Radical Shia group formed in Lebanon; dedicated to creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon and removal of all non-Islamic influences from the area. Strongly anti-West and anti-Israel. Closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran but may have conducted operations that were not approved by Tehran.
Activities: Known or suspected to have been involved in numerous anti-US terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck bombing of the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Beirut in October 1983 and the US Embassy annex in Beirut in September 1984. Elements of the group were responsible for the kidnapping and detention of US and other Western hostages in Lebanon. The group also attacked the Israeli Embassy in Argentina in 1992.

Strength: Several thousand.

Location/Area of Operation: Operates in the Bekaa Valley, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon. Has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and elsewhere.

External Aid: Receives substantial amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran and Syria.


http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/fto1999.htm#09

[MikeGalos]

10. But amazingly

there are actually people here saying this right-wing religious fanatic group of terrorists are really a peaceful political organization...

And a new low in revisionist history takes shape.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Aidoneus]

18. and their word matters because..?

I'm very familiar with their history and context, and aneerkoinos put it quite accurately. That Israel's local fanclub then falls on him like a pack of wolves for it just confirms the other point being made.

[MikeGalos]

9. Wow

OK. That rates as one of the silliest posts I've ever seen.

Note, people, for the record that there really is somebody posting here defending the Party of God and declaring that they are not terrorist by any definition and that they're only classified that way because Israel says so.

I'm just amazed. Seriously amazed.
:tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat:

[bemildred]

8. Syria wants the Golan back.

I expect they would be willing to talk about that anytime.

This piece seems like it's mostly political spin, designed to
give the impression that something is going on when nothing
is going on.

I doubt that Syria gives much of a crap about the "threats",
although it's possible that little Assad is as dumb as he looks
and is scared. But I don't really see it, Syria stopped being
circumspect about the offices in Damascus of various "terrorist
organizations" again.