Lebanon has the misfortune
of bordering Israel. The IDF attacked its northern neighbor in 1978,
1982, 1996, and 2006. More on the most recent war below.
Israel still illegally occupies Sheba Farms and Ghajar Lebanese territory.
Since at least the 1960s, it conducted repeated violations of its territory.
Its warplanes overfly Lebanon provocatively. It committed thousands
of terrorist attacks. It remains unaccountable for all of them.
Hezbollah was born out of Israel's 1982 war. It's a legitimate part
of Lebanon's government. It's not a terrorist organization. It's repeatedly
accused of attacks it didn't commit. The July 19 Bulgarian false flag
is the latest. More on the aftermath below.
Hezbollah threatens no one. It's fully prepared and committed to defend
itself and its territory if attacked. International law supports it.
In contrast, Israel is a serial war criminal. It's a regional menace.
Its nuclear, chemical and biological arsenals threaten humanity.
In July 2006, Israel committed naked aggression. Lebanon was preemptively
attacked. Thinly veiled pretexts were used as justification. Israel
lies about all its belligerence.
Crimes of war and against humanity were committed. Doing so is official
Israeli policy.
Against Lebanon, Israeli strategy revealed its "Dahiya Doctrine." Named
after the destroyed Beirut suburb, it's how all Israeli wars are waged.
Collective punishment/disproportionate force against civilians and non-military
infrastructure is policy. Israel's 2006 blitzkrieg killed over 1,000,
injured thousands more, and displaced one-fourth of Lebanon's four million
people.
Beirut, Tyre, Sidon, and other Lebanon cities and towns were attacked.
Targets destroyed or damaged included major ports, Beirut International
Airport, 70 bridges, dozens of key roads, electrical power plants, gas
and fuel stations, factories, schools, radio and TV stations, mosques,
churches, hospitals, dams, civil defense centers, Sidon's refugee camp,
an orphanage, and civilian neighborhoods.
Jiyeh's utility plant south of Beirut was also struck. Doing so caused
a massive oil spill. It affected over 90 miles of coastal waters. It
threatened biodiversity and heightened the risk of cancer for many thousands
of Lebanese.
A land, sea and air siege was imposed. Illegal weapons were used. They
included depleted uranium, chemical agents, white phosphorous bombs
and shells that burns flesh to the bone, and so-called thermobaric bombs.
They contain polymer-bonded or solid fuel-air explosives. They're able
to penetrate buildings, underground shelters and tunnels. Its blast
pressure sucks oxygen out of affected areas and people in them. It's
a terror weapon designed to kill and destroy horrifically.
On July 19, a bus carrying Israeli tourists and others was attacked.
Eight deaths were reported. Israel spuriously blamed Hezbollah and Iran.
The New York Times regurgitated baseless Israeli/US accusations saying
"American officials on Thursday identified the suicide bomber responsible
for a deadly attack on Israeli vacationers here as a member of a Hezbollah
cell that was operating in Bulgaria and looking for such targets, corroborating
Israel’s assertions and making the bombing a new source of tension with
Iran."
An unnamed "senior American official" said "the bomber 'act(ed) under
broad guidance' to hit Israeli targets when opportunities presented
themselves...."
Two other unnamed US officials blamed Hezbollah. They called Iran "its
primary sponsor." They claimed the motive was in retaliation for assassinating
Iranian nuclear scientists.
As always when these type accusations are made, no evidence whatever
is cited. Charges without clear corroboration are baseless. The identity
of a so-called bomber remains unknown.
Clearly one or more bombs exploded. Whether suicide was involved remains
pure speculation. Most likely a Mossad operative safely distant from
its detonation bore responsibility.
Hezbollah and Iran categorically denied involvement. Repeatedly they've
said they don't target civilians. They respond only when militarily
attacked. International law permits it.
On July 19, Press TV said Tehran's Sofia embassy dismissed spurious
Israeli/US charges, saying:
"The Islamic Republic of Iran regards terrorism as an anti-human phenomenon
and condemns acts of terror by whomever, for whatever purposes and deems
it unacceptable."
"The baseless remarks by the Israeli regime’s officials and the accusations
against Iran regarding its alleged participation in the bus explosion
are a known Israeli approach with political purposes, which shows the
desperation of the accusers."
Iran and Bulgaria maintain friendly relations was explained, adding:
"The enemies’ threadbare plots will never damage the strong cordial
relations between Tehran and Sofia."
On July 19, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov called it "wrong
and a mistake to point fingers at this stage of the investigation at
any country and organization."
It's "wrong to jump to conclusions....At this stage," very little is
known, he added.
The Bulgarian false flag bears classic Mossad fingerprints. Car bombs
are a favorite tactic. Netanyahu adds more lawlessness to his criminal
legacy. He deflected attention saying:
"We will pursue the attackers and extract a heavy price from those who
sent them. We will continue fighting Iranian terror, we will act against
it with great force."
"For over a year, Iran, along with its protege Hezbollah, has been waging
an international terror campaign. (It's) the world’s number one exporter
of terror (along with its) Hezbollah 'long arm.' "
"A terrorist state must not have a nuclear weapon," he added.
Israeli officials spuriously claim the Iranian Quds Force and Hezbollah
conduct numerous terrorist attacks. An unnamed Israeli official said
"(t)hey work together when necessary and separately" otherwise.
He added that he couldn't confirm if an alleged bomber intended to blow
himself up or if he suffered a "work accident." We'll never know, he
added. Conveniently that leaves a crime without an identifiable suspect
by name.
Bulgarian authorities are trying to blame someone. They're working with
Israeli, US and Interpol operatives. DNA was taken from an alleged bomber.
How he was selected remains unknown. Everyone on the bus looked like
tourists.
The suspect wore plaid shorts, an Adidas T-shirt, and a baseball cap.
Allegedly he had a fake driver's license. Who can know what's true and
what's not.
On July 19, Haaretz headlined "Netanyahu wants to turn the Israeli intelligence
failure over Bulgaria into an excuse to strike Iran," saying:
Before the dust settled in Bulgaria, he said "all signs lead to Iran."
Without proof, no suspect exists. Nonetheless, "Netanyahu and Barak
are eager to deploy IDF forces on an attack mission targeting facilities
in Iran."
"They lack a convincing excuse," and Obama is preoccupied until after
November elections.
Israel also wants revenge for Hezbollah's effectiveness in 2006. It
embarrassed the vaunted IDF. It proved a formidable adversary no matter
how much death and destruction it inflicted.
It's likely better equipped, armed, and ready now than then. Nonetheless,
Israel likely wants a longstanding grievance resolved.
It also covets Lebanon's 20-mile stretch from its border to the Litani
River. At issue are considerable water resources and offshore oil and
gas.
The Tamar and Leviathan gas fields contain an estimated 25 trillion
cubic feet supply as well as four billion or more barrels of oil. A
prize this great exceeds any revenge benefit, but in a nation addicted
to militarism and belligerence, both issues matter.
Official reports leave another issue unaddressed. Israel faces internal
unrest. Most Israelis have longstanding social injustice grievances.
Nationwide protests persist. People demand relief from unaffordable
housing prices and eroding benefits.
Promises made were broken. Public rage grows. What better way to diffuse
it than by hyping an alleged terrorist threat.
Expect a continued drumbeat to heighten fear, blame Iran and Hezbollah,
and perhaps use the Bulgarian incident to attack Lebanon ahead of a
possible war on Iran.
Who can know for sure what Israel plans. Given its history, anything
is possible.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time
and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
Likud, Kadima, Labor, or new centrist party leadership hardly matters.
Israel remains hardline, belligerent, and repressive. Arab citizens
have no rights.
They and most Jews chafe under neoliberal harshness. Instead of improving
conditions, they're worsening.
Malcolm X once said "I see America through the eyes of the victim. I
don't see any American dream - I see an American nightmare."
Israelis face similar harshness. Remaining rights are eroding en route
to being lost altogether. Populist change demands sustained public rage.
Nothing else can work.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time
and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
|