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In other news
Sunni gunmen rampage against Shia civilians in Mahmudiya, Iraq, killing up to 48. You know things are bad when that’s not the day’s biggest news, not even close. The mass media gaze is drifting away from Iraq, but the ongoing bloodbath must not be forgotten. Both Sunni and Shia death squads are now operating in police or security uniform, engaging
What instead?
Gene at HP insists that those who criticize Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon should stop griping and offer concrete suggestions on how to repel Hezbollah. Here are some words from Michael Totten, a Westerner who has lived in Lebanon and actually knows something about the place:What should the Israelis have done instead? They should have treated Hezbollahland as a country, which
More fog
Cian in the comments asks: Does this principle of civilian immunity only apply to Israelis, then? Not only has Israel has killed far more civilians in Lebannon, but their response to the military kidnap of a soldier was to bomb civillians. Or do you think that all Lebanese civilians are somehow not civilians? Really amazing — in the posts of
Fog of war commentary
Unsurprisingly, Marc Cooper is taking heat for condemning Hezbollah. “Angry Arab” apparently has no problem with Hez launching rockets indiscriminately at Israeli cities, in flagrant violation of the principle of civilian immunity. Again, the very existence of an armed Hez violates a standing UN resolution. Even more amazingly, people are attacking Marc for lacking the “courage” to criticize Israel. The
Chomsky PS
Since I’ve commented on Chomsky’s May 2006 meet-and-greet with Hezbollah, I should link to this Amy Goodman interview on Democracy Now! To his credit, Chomsky calls the Hezbollah incursion “a very irresponsible act.” Of course, Goodman doesn’t ask him about his professed support for Hezbollah’s right to bear arms in clear violation of UN Resolution 1559. Lots of talk, however,
Jazz & Bach: A reply to Norm
Norm Geras asks: It struck me that of the great composers, J.S. Bach is closest to the spirit of jazz. I don’t know enough about the technical side of music, or music theory, to be able to say why it strikes me so. That’s just how it sounds. Bach as forbear of John Coltrane? Can anyone explain? Oh yes —
Today in world meltdown
It seems every Jewish organization in America is lining up in support of Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon; so are the Christian fundies. I’ve argued that blaming the Lebanese gov’t for the Hezbollah incursion is crazy, and it bears repeating. I’m grateful to Marc Cooper for linking to yesterday’s post, and I echo his assessment: The current Lebanese government is a
Mideast war?
Events are unfolding rapidly. Not sure where to begin, but I think Jonathan Edelstein’s comments are useful. Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza is deplorable. The attempted killing of Hamas’s Muhammad Deif resulted in the deaths of innocent children, much like the 2002 killing of Salah Shehada. Johann Hari alleges that Israel is pummeling Gaza not to rescue Gilad