Who links to me?
**Update*** Welcome Instapundit readers. /thank you to Mr. Reynolds. Welcome Hugh Hewitt readers as well.Â
As per Kevin Drum at the Washington Monthly:
1. It sparks unusually vicious comment threads
Completely understand Kevin No reason to rile up the natives.
2. The fight between Israel and the Palestinians is over half a century old and seems intractable.”Both sides need to ratchet down the rhetoric and rein in their own extremists.” Aside from being pointless, there are only just so many ways you can say this.
You are absolutely right Kevin. You could instead try the truth for once; like Israel pulled out of Gaza unconditionally and in return got hundreds of rockets launched from Gaza into Israel, incursions from Gaza and Lebanon where Israeli soldiers were killed and kidnapped.
This is not a case of both sides being equally guilty. Hamas is guilty, Hezbollah is guilty, The Lebanese government and the UN are guilty of not disarming Hezbollah 6 years after Israels withdrawal from Lebanon (honoring their part in a UN resolution) and after said UN resolution called for Hezbollah to disarm. And of course Syria and Iran are guilty of supporting Hamas and Hezbollah.
3. The conflict is fantastically complex, and the partisans on both sides are mostly people who have been following events with fanatical attention to detail for many decades.
Actually it is quite simple as I explained above. In all fairness yes if you wish to go back to 1967, or 1948, or before the birth of Christ it gets very complex. We don’t apply those standards anywhere else in the world. Only in this case is the world guilty of applying such twisted logic and nonsensical arguments.
4. As with the conflict itself, punditry is heavily dominated by extremists on both sides.
That hasn’t ever stopped you before.
5. Related to 1 and 3, posts that display any sense of sympathy for the Palestinians run the risk of provoking a shitstorm of accusations of anti-semitism.
No doubt some hardline supporters of Israel are guilty of this. In my experience more often than not the anti-Semites are the ones who get accused of anti-Semitism.
Although I find your explanations severely lacking you certainly did a much better job than anyone else on the left, so I guess you should be commended for it.
Just curious, when exactly do you think you might be ready to talk about this war?
After Israel bombs Syria? After Iran attacks Israel? After one side or the other employees some form of WMD? Would any of those events rise to a level of importance worthy of the left’s attention?
Unfogged Agrees with Kevin’s rationale, and cites Hugh Hewitt as one of the right wing extremists.
Kevin’s first commentor isn’t very kind.
A political blog will be pretty lame without an opinion on an active war.
My thoughts exactly.
**update Sunday July 15**
If this post has you riled, then this one will make your head explode. Concerning the NYT’s publishing a close up photo of a terrorist sniper targeting US Troops. Left of Center blogger Glenn Greenwald says he would do exactly the same thing.
**Update**
While the left side of the blogosphere buries it’s head, and the MSM is running their standard weekend programing, Tim Russert on CNBC, Nancy Grace on CNN, and Big Story Prime Time on FOX (at least Fox is discussing the conflict during part of the program) the center right is talking about this active war.
Dan Riehl has several must read posts including detailed maps he has created showing the locations of Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Then this round up of analysis and reaction.
Gateway Pundit has a great round up, and again unlike the MSM continues to report important news from Iraq.
Iraq approved this week the transition of its second province from the Multi-National Forces to full provincial control.
and some touching words from an Iraqi:
It has been only three years since Iraqis lived under the iron fist of a brutal dictator. This dictator and his cronies are sitting in prison facing charges for their atrocities to the Iraqi people. He can no longer terrorize his neighbors, support terrorist or oppress the Iraqis. More Iraqis died from his brutality and wars every year than are being killed by terrorist activities in the last three years. Regards,
Haider Ajina
All Things Beautiful points out the obvious.
Why is the world shocked that the US is not getting involved in any negotiations with the Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists? Our law, in no uncertain terms, prohibits any and all contact with terrorist entities, which means, that US officials are not allowed to hold discussions with representatives of such groups. “American military liaison General Keith Dayton, for example, is only permitted to talk with PA President Mahmoud Abbas’s people - not with any Palestinian belonging to Hamas”.
Betsy is angry at the world leaders condemning Israel for it’s “disproportionate response”
war is not a game of golf. And leveling the playing field doesn’t make for more fun. It makes for the emboldenment of tyrants in the third world. It makes for lengthy, drawn-out conflicts that never seem to end or be resolved. It buys time for countries such as Iran to gain power and become contenders by acquiring the most disproportionate weaponry of all, the nuclear variety.
Milblogger Tim Boggs (currently serving in Mosul Iraq) shares some of the hate mail he receives. This one for example:
“I pity you. You are as brainwashed as a suicide bomber who thinks the best way to support his cause is to blow strangers up. Found any connection to 9/11 in Iraq, soldier? Found any WMD yet, sir? Found Jenna or Barbara Bush serving next to you, soldier? Go home now then!!! There’s no honor killing in the name of the Liar in Chief.â€
Buck Sargent (also serving in Iraq) shares some of his poetry:
Combatants in street clothes seeking cover behind women,
Still asserting all the protections of the Geneva Convention.
Fomenting chaos is the thrust of their aim,
Planting bombs on the corners, unconcerned who they maim.
The aged… young children… to them all the same,
For cowing of the masses through death in His name.
It is very long and very good. Please read the whole thing.
**Update**
The Scratching Post has some excellent analysis, and concludes all of Israel’s airstrikes are evidence that Israel is preparing for an invasion.
The Israeli campaign to date is a classic prelude to invasion. They’ve gone after sensors and transportation. Knocking out radar installations, bridges, power plants and the rest effectively blinds and paralyzes the people on the ground. Hezbollah had better be ready to fight with what they’ve got right now because there isn’t much new stuff on the way.
I highly recomend you read the whole thing.
Linking Posts
[…] My friend Rick over at The Real Ugly American has a bit of a fisking for a post by Kevin Drum that explains the silence of the left (for the most part) over the war currently raging in the Middle East. […]
Pingback by Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » The Left And The War In The Middle East � July 15, 2006 @ 5:56 pm
Why the Left is Ignoring the War…
As per Kevin Drum at the Washington Monthly: 1. It sparks unusually vicious comment threads Completely understand Kevin No reason to rile up the natives. 2. The fight between Israel……
Trackback by GM's Corner � July 15, 2006 @ 6:36 pm
Real Ugly? Real Dishonest!…
Another right-wing blogger gets caught lying. The "Real Ugly American" pretends that a recent post by Kevin Drum at the Washington Monthly explains "Why the Left is Ignoring the War". One problem: Drum never claims to be explaining…
Trackback by ThinkingMeat � July 15, 2006 @ 7:58 pm
[…] Why, then, are so many on the left reacting with ignorant cheerleading for the terrorists of Hezbollah, or feigned indifference (hat tip: The Real Ugly American), or even ridiculous conspiracy theories to explain how it’s really Israel’s fault? […]
Pingback by Decision ‘08 » Blog Archive » Draw Your Own Conclusions � July 15, 2006 @ 8:24 pm
Draw Your Own Conclusions…
In the last week, Israel has seen three of its soldiers kidnapped and several murdered in invasions of its sovereign territory by radical Islamists. Israel is one of our strongest allies, and it has been fighting off attacks on its very existence sinc…
Trackback by Decision '08 � July 15, 2006 @ 8:24 pm
Israel good. All others bad. Even Coni was begging Israel to show some restraint. Yes, they must defend themselves. It’s the extent of their “defense” that is so troubling.
Kevin Drum was exactly right, as your post proves. The topic is fantastically complex, and too many try to make it a black and white issue in which any criticism of Israel is seen as antisemitic. I’m a Jew and a supporter of Israel (usually). In this instance, Israel is playing with dynamite unnecessarily. I am thoroughly depressed, because in the end, Israel will win (a given) but it will also lose.
Comment by richard � July 15, 2006 @ 9:11 pm
Perhaps the Israelis should try to be less skilled, and miss more often when they shoot, to give Hamas and Hezbollah a better chance.
Comment by Assistant Village Idiot � July 15, 2006 @ 9:14 pm
But Richard, Israel is using restraint. If they weren’t, there would be no building or person still standing in Gaza.
I agree with you that in this instance, Israel is good, and Hamas and Hezbollah are bad. There is nothing complicated about it. The bad guys want to own Israel, Israelis want the exact opposite. One side has to go. I vote that it’s Hamas and Hezbollah.
Comment by Kevin � July 15, 2006 @ 10:39 pm
Go to Daily Kos — the diaries there have contained very heated discussions with raging arguments between supporters of Israel, and supporters of the Arabs. This post is simply a lie.
Comment by Joe � July 15, 2006 @ 11:35 pm
While Israel is not above violence, it always seems to come as a response to arabic terrorism; Joe, you’re an idiot.
Comment by Rik Fairbanks � July 16, 2006 @ 12:22 am
In this instance, Israel is playing with dynamite unnecessarily.
Yeah, they shoulda just been happy with those fireworks getting lobbed their way every day. No need to fuss about with this dynamite.
Comment by Sortelli � July 16, 2006 @ 12:30 am
Wow, what a post!
When I scoured Kos and the related websites, every lefty I found used the conflict as a stick to beat George Bush. Strategic analysis was nonexistent.
Comment by K T Cat � July 16, 2006 @ 6:39 am
Wingnut Roundup…
A quick report on some choice wingnuts ’round the blogosphere: American Thinker - the Reality-Based Community sees an outed spy, but we see a CIA plot to overthrow the Dear Leaker. Atlas Shrugs (Darwin edition) - note to Pam: never…
Trackback by AGITPROP: Version 3.0, Featuring Blogenfreude � July 16, 2006 @ 7:25 am
Richard what is so complex about it?
Hamas and Hezbollah both committed acts of war against Israel.
Many people have offered the analogy already. What if 3 American soldiers were kidnapped from the Canadien or Mexican borders, while at the same time hundreds of rockets were landing in San Diego, or Chicago coming across those borders?
We would be opening up a serious can of whoopass.
By the way for those who arguing “yeah but Israel stole the palestinians land”. I grew up and lived most of my life in San Diego. Spent several years right on the border. Still live in Southern California. There is a significant minority of Mexicans who feel the same way about CA,NM,TX,AZ.
No way in hell would we tolerate these kinds of attacks.
The only explanation I can come up with for someone like you not supporting Israel’s actions Richard is that you really haven’t thought it through as it isn’t in your back yard, or your family, your country.
The alternative is you would tolerate these kinds of attacks in the USA. In that case we really have no need to continue the discussion.
Comment by The Ugly American � July 16, 2006 @ 7:26 am
One important thing that has changed: Hamas is now the Palestinian government, and Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese government. There is no excuse any more that they are simply uncontrolled terrorist groups.
They committed acts of war against Israel. If you don’t want to start a war, then you’d be better off… not starting a war.
The reason that the left is ducking this one is that they have no defensible position. The serious loonies are coming out in favour of the terrorists, and the saner parts of the left are smacking them down, which is good to see. Part apart from that, what can they say?
“It’s complex! It’s complex!!”
No. It’s simple. Israel is entirely in the right here. Hamas and Hezbollah are entirely in the wrong.
Lebanon loses because they never took action: not choosing sides is also a choice. I have a great deal of sympathy for Lebanon; they’ve been thoroughly screwed over the past thirty years. But they are responsible for a lot of that themselves.
Comment by Pixy Misa � July 16, 2006 @ 7:55 am
great point Pixy. I told a lebanese blogger exactly that moments ago. They must bare some responsibility for this war. If they truly wanted to show good faith they would give the Israelis the positions of Hezbollah bases and their leadership and allow the Iraelis to kill them.
Better yet they could offer to form a joint force to rid Lebanon of Hezbollah for good.
Comment by The Ugly American � July 16, 2006 @ 8:46 am
Yglesias is naive. The UN has always been quite chummy and supportive Of Hezbollah.A UN ceasefire would certainly hold back Israel, but,would it hold back Hezbollah for long and will it bring Israel’s captured soldiers back. Oh sure, it will, but they would have to free 1000 prisoners for to get their soldiers back. Its ludicrous to ask the UN to solve the Hezbollah problem, when they themselves are fervent Hezbollah supporters.
Comment by ken � July 16, 2006 @ 10:13 am
agreed Ken.
Comment by The Ugly American � July 16, 2006 @ 10:22 am
“Why’s the Left ignoring the war?” It’s simple. They’d rather stab America in the back. There isn’t time for anything else.
Note to Pam: Godspeed, and Semper Fi.
Question for the wingnut collector: your favorite panties, pink or yellow?
Comment by Al Pyne Crowe � July 16, 2006 @ 10:44 am
Sunday Funnies…
image courtesy of faithmouse inspired by Tounge Tied.
Murtha Must Go has the must see photo of the day!
The Real Ugly American explains why the left are ignoring the war.
Point Five’s 6th Grade Principal solves the current middle east conflict…
Trackback by Stop The ACLU � July 16, 2006 @ 11:32 am
“it’s” and “its” are not the same.
Very annoying to see this error again and again and again, even if I agree with your main points.
“It’s” not that hard.
Comment by Chester White � July 16, 2006 @ 2:38 pm
Ugly American, I will allow one of your own, Michael Totten, to explain why Israel’s response was inappropriate and bad for the region. Of course they must defend themselves. It’s all a matter of how they do it.
What should the Israelis have done instead? They should have treated Hezbollahland as a country, which it basically is, and attacked it. They should have treated Lebanon as a separate country, which it basically is, and left it alone. Mainstream Lebanese have no problem when Israel hammers Hezbollah in its little enclave. Somebody has to do it, and it cannot be them. If you want to embolden Lebanese to work with Israelis against Hezbollah, or at least move in to Hezbollah’s bombed out positions, don’t attack all of Lebanon.
Israel should not have bombed Central Beirut, which was almost monolithically anti-Hezbollah. They should not have bombed my old neighborhood, which was almost monolithically anti-Hezbollah. They should not have bombed the Maronite city of Jounieh, which was not merely anti-Hezbollah but also somewhat pro-Israel.
Israelis thinks everyone hates them. It isn’t true, especially not in Lebanon. But they will make it so if they do not pay more attention to the internal characteristics of neighboring countries. “The Arabs” do not exist as a bloc except in the feverish dreams of the Nasserists and the Baath.
It should be clear: declaring war on Hezbolla shouldn’t have meant going to war with Lebanon. Once Israel erased this distinction, it lost a lot of support and left it open to much-deserved criticism.
Comment by richard � July 16, 2006 @ 5:35 pm
The fact that you think the Syrians are supporting Hezbollah when it is more of a Lebanese nationalist group than anything else, shows just how complicated the issue is. You are one of the many extremists who needs to be relegated to the fringe of the debate before any serious progress can be made.
Comment by Sam L. � July 16, 2006 @ 7:58 pm
Just a couple of points I’ve been thinking about:
Pixy Misa, you’re spot on, and I’ve been sending the same message around the web on pages left, right, palestinian, lebanese and so on. I think it’s high time everyone moved on from the Blame Game. Let’s all take a Bold Look Forward.
Hezb’ullah is definitely not a Lebanese nationalist group, Sam. What kind of crack do you smoke anyway? Maybe it’s time to switch to something a little milder - this stuff is obviously impairing your ability to think. Hezb’ullah has always been and still is a tool of Iranian and Syrian policy (Iran provides the money and training, Syria provides the local coordination and support).
Unfortunately, going to war against H’bullah does mean going to war in Lebanon, not against Lebanon, but in it. H’bullah has woven themselves very tightly in among the population so they can use them not only as shields of a sort, but to allow them closer access to targets in Israel. Whether the local people want them there or not, who can tell them no? We’re talking about armed thugs and bullies here, guys like the Sopranos only without all the culture and class, men trained not to hesitate in the use of overwhelming force to accomplish their desires. If the Lebanese want to avoid the worst of the destruction and bloodshed (of Lebanese at least), the smartest thing they could do would be to start making maps and reports of H’bullah troop concentrations, armaments and movements and pass them straight to the IDF; the sooner this thing is over with the better.
Comment by Katje � July 17, 2006 @ 2:06 pm
[…] I’ve tried and tried to avoid answering this one, not because it’s a tough question, but because it should be OBVIOUS to anybody with a brain larger than the size of a pea. I mean no offense whatsoever to our right wing neocon liberal buddy Rick, of The Real Ugly American; to Forbes’ Rich Karlgaard, or to anybody else on the right who has posed this same question, but the answer is as plain as the noses on your faces. […]
Pingback by The Gun Toting Liberal » Blog Archive » ‘Why the silence from the left on Isreal?’ question starting to really annoy me, so here’s your answer… � July 18, 2006 @ 12:11 am
Clearly, Israel may suffer ignominous defeat if the blogosphere doesn’t marshall its forces.
*rolls eyes*
Comment by jpe � July 18, 2006 @ 4:44 am
[…] Okay, you know what? I’m getting pissed off at the question floating around the “right” side of the bloggosphere lately that is being asked by smug right wingers about the left’s stance (or lack of) on the whole “WWIII” thing going on in the Middle East and I’m ready to step up to the plate. I’ve tried and tried to avoid answering this one, not because it’s a tough question, but because it should be OBVIOUS to anybody with a brain larger than the size of a pea. I mean no offense whatsoever to our right wing neocon liberal buddy Rick, of The Real Ugly American; to Forbes’ Rich Karlgaard, or to anybody else on the right who has posed this same question, but the answer is as plain as the noses on your faces. […]
Pingback by Bring it On! » Blog Archive » ‘Why the silence from the left on Israel?’ question starting to really annoy me, so here’s your answer… � July 18, 2006 @ 10:10 am