Hezbollah hiding behind civilians - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum Archives

Goddess · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Christians Fleeing Lebanon Denounce Hezbollah

TYRE, Lebanon, July 27 — The refugees from southern Lebanon spilled out of packed cars into the dark street here Thursday evening, gulping bottles of water and squinting in the glare of the headlights to find family members and friends. Many had not eaten in days. Most had not had clean drinking water for some time. There were wounded swathed in makeshift dressings, and a baby just 16 days old.

But for some of the Christians who had made it out in this convoy, it was not just privations they wanted to talk about, but their ordeal at the hands of Hezbollah — a contrast to the Shiites, who make up a vast majority of the population in southern Lebanon and broadly support the militia.

“Hezbollah came to Ain Ebel to shoot its rockets," said Fayad Hanna Amar, a young Christian man, referring to his village. “They are shooting from between our houses."

“Please,’’ he added, “write that in your newspaper."

The evacuation — more than 100 cars that followed an International Committee for the Red Cross rescue convoy to Tyre — included Lebanese from several Christian villages. In past wars, Christian militias were close to Israelis, and animosity between Christians and Shiites lingers.

Throngs of refugees are now common in this southern coastal town, the gateway to the war that is booming just miles away. The United Nations has estimated that 700,000 Lebanese, mostly from the southern third of the country, have been displaced by the war.

But thousands of people have been left behind, residents and the Red Cross say.

What has prevented many from fleeing is a critical shortage of fuel. Roland Huguenin-Benjamin, a spokesman for the Red Cross who accompanied the convoy to Tyre, said Red Cross officials had offered to lead out any people who wanted to drive behind, but many did not have enough gasoline for the trip.

Those who did get out were visibly upset. Some carried sick children. A number broke down it tears when they emerged from their cars here.

“People are dying under bombs and crushed under houses," Nahab Aman said, sobbing and hugging her young son. “We’re not dogs! Why aren’t they taking the people out?"

Many Christians from Ramesh and Ain Ebel considered Hezbollah’s fighting methods as much of an outrage as the Israeli strikes. Mr. Amar said Hezbollah fighters in groups of two and three had come into Ain Ebel, less than a mile from Bint Jbail, where most of the fighting has occurred. They were using it as a base to shoot rockets, he said, and the Israelis fired back.

One woman, who would not give her name because she had a government job and feared retribution, said Hezbollah fighters had killed a man who was trying to leave Bint Jbail.

“This is what’s happening, but no one wants to say it" for fear of Hezbollah, she said.

American citizens remain in some southern villages. Mohamed Elreda, a father of three from New Jersey, was visiting relatives in Yaroun with his family when two missiles narrowly missed his car, while he was parking it in front of his family’s house. His 16-year-old son Ali was sprayed with shrapnel and is now in a hospital in Tyre.

“I have never seen anything like this in my life," said Mr. Elreda, who arrived here on Thursday morning. “They see civilians, they bomb them," he said, referring to the Israelis.

“We had to move underground like raccoons."

He said a person affiliated with the United States Embassy arrived in Yaroun and shouted for everyone to join a convoy that the Israelis had promised safe passage.

He left in such haste, he said, that he had pulled on his wife’s sweatpants (they had a pink stripe running down the length of each leg). His son’s blood still stained his shoes.

He said Yaroun had been without electricity and clean water for more than a week, and he had stirred dirty clothes in a pail of water and bleach to make bandages for his son’s wounds.

The village is largely Christian, but has Muslim pockets, and Mr. Elreda said he walked at night among houses to the Christian section, where a friend risked his life to drive his son to Tyre, while Mr. Elreda stayed with the rest of the family.

On Thursday he joined his son at the hospital.

“He’s my son," he said, standing at the foot of the boy’s bed. “I just can’t see him like this."

See article.

Hezbollah fighters hiding heavy weapons in the residential areas of southern Lebanon.

What I don't understand is how some people can still defend Hezbollah's tactics when we know that they endanger civilians on purpose. Hiding behind the very civilians they claim to be defending. Talk about hypocrisy!

I'm sure people have talked about this already, but I felt it was important to start a thread dealing with Hezbollah tactics since it is an important aspect of this conflict.

I'm as shocked as anyone when I see civilian casualties (on both sides), but I can't help but notice that Hezbollah is actively trying to increase the number of civilian casualties. They should stop hiding behind their wives' and their sisters' skirts!

iamwhatiseem · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 05:34 AM

Everyone not ducking their head in the sand knows Hezbollah uses civilians as both cover and political gain when civilians die in return fire.
This is both cowardice and despicable....and the world media plays right into Hezbollah's plan when they blast Isreal for civilian death, when it is Hezbollah that created the target.
Every time the world media broadcasts photos it rewards and encourages Hezbollah to continue this political tactic.

Rakkasan · #3 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 05:38 AM

its amazing how this is not being covered in the media

and its sad

WPK · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rakkasan

its amazing how this is not being covered in the media

and its sad

When Mike Wallace a major U.S. news network anchor can recently refer to his interview with the President of Iran as a "rational man", one can see why Hezbollah purposefully hiding within civilian communities is not reported by the main stream media.

Fox News has mentioned Hezbollah's tactics repeatedly though.

WPK · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:04 AM

Hezbollah could care less about Lebanonese civilians, infracstructure or even the total destruction of Lebanon. It's a win/win situation for them. The more innocent casualties the more they become popular, as "the freedom fighters", & the more international pressure gets put on Isreal. Isreal has been accused of "over-reacting".

Umm. I wonder how long the United States would tolerate over 2000 missles being launched into Miami from a terrorist group in Cuba, without paving it?
My guess is not long.

I hope that Isreal does not back down, & settle for Lebanese troops being sent to the south. This would be a disaster, as the Lebanese regular army is not only rag-tag, but are also full of Hezbollah supporters.

The only way Isreal wins is to insist upon an international force, "with teeth", or go into Lebanon & occupy it until Hezbollah is no longer a viable power force within Lebanon.

Any other choice would just give Hezbollah the win, & would be looked upon by Islamic radicals as a victory against Isreal & the United States.

doniston · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goddess

Hezbollah fighters hiding heavy weapons in the residential areas of southern Lebanon.

What I don't understand is how some people can still defend Hezbollah's tactics when we know that they endanger civilians on purpose. Hiding behind the very civilians they claim to be defending. Talk about hypocrisy!

I'm sure people have talked about this already, but I felt it was important to start a thread dealing with Hezbollah tactics since it is an important aspect of this conflict.

I'm as shocked as anyone when I see civilian casualties (on both sides), but I can't help but notice that Hezbollah is actively trying to increase the number of civilian casualties. They should stop hiding behind their wives' and their sisters' skirts!

Tell me please, Are you a reincarnation of "Lillith" She's the only Jewish Goddess I can think of.

chassisman · #7 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doniston

Tell me please, Are you a reincarnation of "Lillith" She's the only Jewish Goddess I can think of.

Good post! Your best yet!

doniston · #8 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamwhatiseem

Everyone not ducking their head in the sand knows Hezbollah uses civilians as both cover and political gain when civilians die in return fire.
This is both cowardice and despicable....and the world media plays right into Hezbollah's plan when they blast Isreal for civilian death, when it is Hezbollah that created the target.
Every time the world media broadcasts photos it rewards and encourages Hezbollah to continue this political tactic.

Iam, suddenly you appear to have become Israeli. Funny, I never noticed that before about you.

iamwhatiseem · #9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doniston

Iam, suddenly you appear to have become Israeli. Funny, I never noticed that before about you.

I don't understand your point.
Facts are facts, and they do not choose sides.

Fact 1 - Hezbollah fires rockets from populated areas
Fact 2 - This creates a MAJOR hazard to those citizens if/when there is return fire.
Fact 3 - Hezbollah whether pourposely or not gets considerable political support from the world when those citizen deaths are broadcasted 500 times by world media.
Fact 4 - This certainly encourages people not concerened about citizen death to continue the practice because of that VERY important support.

What is your beef?

moon · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-2006, 06:31 AM

Ah. A link to a minor Australian paper dated July 29th which has already been squashed so flat it's amazing that Goddess could still peel it off the floor.
The rest of the Adelaide news contains graphic detail of Zionist atrocity.

Each to his own trough.

Israeli go home.

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