Report: Israel requests U.S. expedite delivery of cluster munitions rockets

All war is terrorism. How can we have a lasting peace when we as humans have no idea what that would look like? We are as spoiled children give new and dangerous toys with no supervision. Would you give your three year old a new shiny loaded gun? Our leaders have all betrayed us to our deaths. We hide behind our religions and blame our brothers for atrocities while we kill self righteously in the name of a god we don't even know. History repeats itself while we quickly forget all we have ever known about the past. Blame, Segregate, ghetto-ise, conquer, destroy...Seems this happened to the jews when Hitler was in power in Germany. Now in Gaza this repeats. Sins of the father repeats to the sons.

Ilani when you scream it does not make you right. It also does not change the fact that it is still one god for christians moslems jews and a lot of others. I strongly beleive that the war in Lebanon is to create a bigger rift between Moslems. The comming war is between Iran and Saudi Arabia. remenber oil is at $75.Barrel and Iran did not go to war since Iran/Irak war. The petro dollar has to flow back west. You are a small player in a very large board game. Now go and pray again untill you are needed.

Read my comment and review the link I provided on response 136

To J.S. Cohen I tip my hat for you.

Igor, It is not a Lion, the number is ONE BILLION [Moslem] I like the book "By Way of Deception" read the first paragraph on this link [Beirut Chapter] and tell everyone who knew what and did not tell http://www.popasmoke.com/notam2/showthread.php?t=4962

Have you ever watched the documentary video "Peace propaganda and the Promised Land" It reveals in actual footing how the media, Tv, Newspapers, Radio and internet is controlled. How every word, every statement, every scenario is controlled to justify Israeli actions and condemn everyone else's.

"This will be the plague the Lord strikes all the peoples with, who have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they stand on thier feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and thier toungues will rot in their mouths" You better watch out what you ask for. May the Lord of host save us all who love Him from the day of wrath. Lord let you kingdom come and thy will be done.

Wow, J.S. Cohen! Finally someone has the guts to tell the truth!! THANK YOU!!

The answer lady is that you are an idiot and should have been standing at ground zero on 9-11-01. Living in NYC you probably have no problem with murdering over a million unborn babies every year.

I don't think the U.S. should be supplying Israel with anything. Certainly not my tax money. If Israel uses such weapons they should be required after the conflict to go in and remove every last unexploded bomblet or if not the Hezbollah should be authorized to fire one missile on Haifa for every Lebanese civilian killed or wounded after the conflict. Fair is fair. Sounds crazy doen't it. Well the whole situation is crazy.

to you and your hardend fighters,i say,i agree,i hope this conflict last longer so your scumbag buddies hiding in iran and syria will come out and play to.well finish this once and for all!

from you description in your post of cluster bombs=firing massive amounts of inaccurate ordinance in hopes of hitting something,does that ring a bell dumbass?its exactly what hesbullah has been doing for a month!geese calig,some of you people are so stupid!

Mr.Cohen is either a pretend Jew (the kind by the way the Koran and its angry God destests for sedition and betrayal in not following the Covenant he made with the Children of Israel through their "Book" ,the Torah) --OR he is a Haredi Jew of the ilk of Jews Against Zionism who mistakenly believe their can be no State of Israel until the Messiah comes to set up a"legitimate" one under his rule...in either case Cohen is wrong...Israel was prophesied to exist and go through a time of trouble such as never existed in history--this little skirmish with Hezbollah is not that time--the TIME of THE END --as foretold to Daniel by GABRIEL (ironically miscast by the Koranic inventors as the Angel of God who recited the Koran to Mohammed--but they neither understood Gabriel was no Angel--nor that Daniel was given the coded messages foretelling when Israel would be reinstituted in 1948 and the codes for the End Time date -- this was approx. 800-1000 years before Mohamed). Isreal is in THE SCRIPT!

Israel fights with people who want to see America destroyed. Israel fights with those who give whatever support they can to America's enemies. Israel fights with people who celebrate in the streets and hand out candy to children whenever there is mass killings of Americans, as in the World Trade Center massacare. That is why most Americans are very much OK with America supplying arms to Israel. By the way, America sell arms to most countries. You can probably count on one hand the countries that America does not sell arms to.

This is a joke isn't it? If it isn't the US had better ensure in-flight refuelling of the planes that delivere these munitions, becuase if they try to stop off in Scotland again there'll be more anti-US-anti-Israel-anti-Blair demonstrations.

Thank you for stating the truth, Igor. During our last "visit" from the IDF, many Lebanese children mistook unexploded clusters from these bombs to be toys (they kind of look like butterflies). My 10 year old relative was among them. Mercifully his brother died. After many abdominal operations and the loss of 2 limbs, he is still suffering from it's effects. Thank you Israel and thank you American taxpayers for thinking about winning our hearts and minds with these kinds of cruel weapons.

It is a violation of Geneva Convention to hide behind civilians when engaged in battle. Hezbollah has set up human shields of woman and children, corraling them in buildings, and then firing their rockets near these buildings. When Israel responds, Hezbollah sends media out to show the carnage. Why is our man in San Francisco not outraged by this? He is living in a dream world. You have seen the enemy in Islamic fundamentalists bent on destroying anyone who does not bow to their beliefs. Hezbollah leader, Sheik Nasrallah, recently stated (WSJ): "Our motto, which we are not afraid to repeat year after year, is: "Death to America." If Hezbollah lays down their arms, there will be peace. If Israel does this alone, a nation will be destroyed, and the next stop may well be San Francisco, as Hezbollah and Al Quaeda are embedded here in this city they detest. The fruits of their labor are smiled upon by Iran, the center of terrorism. This is a war against Western civilzation.

The US is not a true friend!!They want to weaken Israel.

Isreal needs to fight with the same tenacity and vigor that it fought with in '48 and '67. Vietnam and Iraq have proven that "measured" responses in war do not work and only prolong the agony of the conflict for all involved. The UN is a corrupt bunch who sit and do nothing as the arabs and persians fund and supply terrorist groups who murder for their cause... Dhimmitude. People, start looking at the big picture. The problem is much bigger than just this one conflict. And if you do not know what Dhimmitude is, look it up.

let's wait and see what happens, that is, wether Hezbollah pulls back and stops firing rockets per the UN resolution and then, if they don't, then send the new munitions...I'd say a two-week delay at the least. If Hezbollah keeps up its terrorist ways after 14 days, send the munitions to Israel; if a cease fire is arranged, then send them within the quarter (4 months) or 1/2 year. The diplomatic appearance of sending these munitions now are detrimental to U.S. interests and they won't be that effective against the Hezbollah rockets anyways, when compared to the diplomatic fallout we will get here in America. The risk of civilian casualties is too high-a method needs to be developed to destroy the rockets in flight as well-a sure-fire, "fire and forget" method-then, the terrorists will then understand that firing their Iranian rockets is futile-they will get shot down and inflict no damage. My two shekels.

First i would like to extend my deepest feelings of condulences to the families of Labnes and Israelies for the lose of their loves ones in this conflict. I hope the recent security concel resolution will put an end to this conflict. Second i would like to ask my fellow Americans this following question. How can you justify the action of your recent goverment of standing against stopping 30 days of attacking civilans in Lebanon and supplying Israel by all means of American weapons including the cluster munitions rockets and at the same time rejecting the supply of Iranian rockets to Labnes.

4 billions USD a year for the past 2 generations. the latest technology in all weaponry for free and yet you loose against 100 Millions USD a year. hand held weapons. We're going to miss you

...your credibility when you lie or exaggerate, or whatever it is that you are doing when you post this kind of garbage. " Destroying Beirut" Or is Michael Behe lying too? E1 lies but you? I don't think so... "As for the destruction caused by the Israelis? that is another imposture : look at the satellite map! I have situated, as best I could, BUT IN THEIR CORRECT PROPORTIONS, the parts of my capital that have been destroyed by Israel. They are Haret Hreik ? in its totality ? and the dwellings of Hezbollah?s leaders, situated in the large Shi?a suburb of Dayaa (as they spell it) and that I have circled in blue." And "Beirut, all the rest of Beirut, 95% of Beirut, lives and breathes better than a fortnight ago. All those who have not sided with terrorism know they have strictly nothing to fear from the Israeli planes, on the contrary! One example: last night the restaurant where I went to eat was jammed full and I had to wait until 9:30 pm to get a table.Everyone was smiling, relaxed, but no one filmed them: a strange destruction of Beirut, is it not? http://www.menapress.com/article.php?sid=1479

You probably know more about this particular issue than I do. I realize that Israel cannot manufacture all of its weaponry. Nevertheless, it is just possible that she could do more. What she cannot manufacture, she should definitely order before she is in the middle of a war. That has to do with strategy, and unfortunately there has been a failure regarding that.

You want Israel to "make" a Pal homeland, but they have to consult Pals to do it. Please explain how they are supposed to do that when Arafat turned down 92%/97% of The West Bank/Gaza and imploded the Oslo Accords? When they had no one w/ whom they could discuss giving back Gaza and still the Pals were whining get out get out, Israel GOT and now they're whining again. And so are you. During Oslo the US trained the PA "police" who started the next uprising by murdering their Israeli partners. Reminds me of Sharon in Lebanon; the world screamed turn them over to Lebanese, and he did. And people like you, who apparently get their view of the world from soundbites are still screaming about it.

Y'all have perfected growing hate, and it certainly doesn't seem to have gotten you much except the promise of a bunch of virgins after you die. Not being reunited with a person you loved, a bunch of strangers to do your bidding. Icky. Y'all have hated the west since the crusades, and the US wasn't around then. Y'all have hated Jews since you broke away from them and tried to claim monotheism for your very own. HATE, HATE, HATE.....time to try something else other than hate/revenge. About those virgins. If y'all are such holy men, why do even elderly ladies have to wrap themselves up head to toe so y'all can "resist temptation?"

i understand your concern but quite impossible for israel to manufacture everything.not realistic.a country of our size does not have the industrial base. israel has too many problems to take care of and far more pressing matters.

few thousand guerillas AREMED WITH FAITH AND with not unusual weaponry, forced the unconquerable????army screem for help from the murderous MOM usa. they had the "dumb" bombs, it was not enough now they SCREAM for cluster muninition. YOU WILL BE DEFEATED ZIONISTS. AND YOU WILL END UP IN MOM'S LAP, OVERSEAS, YOU DEMOLISHED ANY CHANCE OF GETTING ACCEPTED IN THIS LAND. NO ONE WANTS YOU AROUND, EVEN THE TRAITORS YOU FORCED TO YOUR SIDE HATE YOU.

Cluster bombs not made for Israel intended targets. Will kill wound large numbers of innocent. Israel stated many times it will exact unthinkable, cruel painful, vengeance. Military named war on Lebanon ?MAD DOG DOCTRINE? picked up by US media by Israelis (former IDF,Mossad, etc. and Fellows) working at various think tanks, invited by pro Israeli TV and radio talk shows, and reported on web. I believe Israeli true intention is to ?punish? the helpless, which have killed or harmed none. They are easy targets. Especially if they are wounded, hungry no food, water, meds for many days Over 1,120 dead, 3,900 plus wounded ? innocent.? Israel continues to refuse to let food, water, meds into Lebanon after giving word to US-world on camera! When aid workers put tree trunks in rivers to cross with wounded on stretchers, IAF bombs large tree trunks or make shift bridges make by aide workers. It is unforgivable, Crimes against humanity, war crimes. An act of a depraved immoral society. And, bombing Red Cross-UN, other aide workers trucks, and aids workers. Bombing-killing UN aid workers in observation post on Blue Line, a clear day. NO mistake, UN logged 10 documented calls to Israel, jet fighter were getting to close, stop! Israel proven to world, by its vile deeds (which it will reap), it has lost all morals and standing in world. Israel has only one friend. It lies to them too. Israeli Refusenicks are moral souls. Look at most of (not all) responses to Israel request US expedite delivery of cluster munitions rockets!

"We in the US have it easy we have canada as our neighbor. big bad crazy canada! lol." Be happy, Israel is not your neighbor! Otherwise you have to live in a refugee camp, in Israel jail, your house and farmland destoyed, can not visit your mother in Canada, No water, no school and hospital for the kids, Your father get killed by missiles. you do not have to hurl stones at tanks, you dont hav to work like a slave .......

...while evolution might be the truth, it is banned in several states in the US!

Israel IS out of Lebanon. Israel is operating in no-man's land since Lebanon refuses to or is unable to assert its sovereignty in the border areas where Hezbollah is operating. You can't claim on Monday that you are not sovereign, and then on Tuesday say you are. The problem isn't getting Israel out of Lebanon, it's getting Lebanon into Lebanon!

While it's true you can't run from a cluster bomb, it is also true that many of the Katyushas are fired by remote control or timer. The crews are long gone before the rockets fly. Perhaps some sort of cell phone jamming may stop some remote control firings and expose more crews to cluster bomb attacks. Also, can't the tunnels be detected by ground-penetrating radar?

gives the US such intelligence on military goods and terrorist information than Israel That's a really interesting statement. The Israelis have spies and moles all over the USA including the upper echelons of the White House. Wake up and smell the coffee

"Israel has every right in the world to this defensive war". This destruction of infastructure and killing of civilians was well thought out. The only thing that went wrong,drawing Syria and Iran into it didn't work out.

Make a viable Palestine already and deprive some of the Arabs of the excuse of why you are putzes. It won't stop all terrorist killing but it will lessen it. You didn't do the Gaza withdrawal with agreement and coordination from the Pals and THAT's why it became a problem. Deprive the world as much as possible of the excuse of no Palestinian homeland and Hezbollah will be weakened.

This request by Israel is simply shameful. Israel's civilian death toll in Lebanon is atrocious. People will be in the streets of America over this. Many are already screaming and swearing in cyberspace. Enough of this killing & destruction. Get out of Lebanon! Dutch

Oh Yes, please send more. They will only be used on military targets. . . Of course we know that Hezzis and hamass, they store rockets in mosques and hospitals and schools. We will only use them when the moment is opportune . . . Trust us. We most moral.

Your exclamation is exactly why the Palestinians hate Israel. Think about it. "THERE CAN BE NO NEGOTIATING WITH A MURDERER THAT HAS ENTERED YOUR HOUSE AND HAS STARTED KILLING MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY AND TRYING TO KILL YOU PERSONALLY ? NEGOTIATE WHAT ? A DELAY IN GETTING YOURSELF MURDERED?"

"The US gives money to Israel in the form of aid to the tune of $2 billion more or less. Israel is obliged to buy US arms with that money." - Minerva's Owl That's how it works for other countries the US provides aid to. Israel has a better deal: it may spend 25% of the military aid outside the US - so typically in Israel itself.

Of course Israel doesn't want to build some of its military equipement if they can get it free from USA taxpayers. I am ashamed I am one of those tax payers. STOP support to Israel, there are many other deserving and needy countries we should help.

Igor... Can you also tell them that When you seek revenge you dig two graves, one for you and one for your enemy. They think that it is a video game and you can make evryone go away. In the real world HATE grows day by day. Hey boys ... there is a Billion around by now

YOu were "done" with Israel a long time ago. You and others like you sit in luxury in US, far removed from Israel, the Jewish people and Judaism. NOTE: being a Jew does not always = being Jewish. YOu make me sick! Your Israel - your "promised" land is the US. You just write out a check and send it to some Jewish charity to ease your mind and buy your place in what you call Judaism. Real Jews know what is in Torah. Those who do not defend G-d's land are in fact participating in destroying it. I am very thankful you are "done" with all of it. Sit there smugly while Israel is destroyed. I hope you don't get the fall out. May you return to the G-d of Israel and leave the g0d many of you serve in the good american life - money!

The current conflict is merely another battle in the war which started in 1948. The reason Lebanon is in such a mess is because of the 500,000 Palestinian Refugees who have NO right of return.

When we speak of "Terrorism" do we not remember Menachem Begin & the jewish underground? Do we remember what happened to captured British soldiers by these "Terrorists"? Let's stop talking like little children - terrorism is a tactic of war not war itself. I don't care what Israel does except when it involves US tax dollars. I say NO!

The only way that it would be even remotely fair for the US mto add to the volatility of the situation by sending in more terror weapons (which is exactly what cluter munitions are) would be if it were to provide the same weapons to the Lebanese Army as well. With the Lebanese Army preparing to deploy in South Lebanon, these munitions would prove a quite effective deterrent to those desiring to illegally occupy it's territory. As Bush has so astutely regocnised, ALL nations have a right to defense and no nation should put up with the unwanted foriegn occupation of it's legal territory.

These were purchased from USA a long time ago...never delivered. People try to find something synical in everything Israel does. Sorry, no BIG story here. Just bad government organization in US and Israel.

Murray, if we use your logic for payback of acts of more than 1/4 century ago by an organization seeking to expel outsiders from it's land (and theres been ample proof provided that US Marines were indeed training personnel to fight against the soveirgn nation of Lebanon while on their soil) then America should be shaking in it's boots about a Japanese payback of two American gifts delivered to it 3/4 of a century ago. In your book, when does the payback due expire? You can make a humanitarian argument about Hiroshima, but the Nagasaki bomb was pushed up two days, when it became apparent that Japan was going to surrender, simply as a point of emphasis establishing American might, not for a strategic military purpose.

The munitions should be delivered ASAP. This nation can not afford tit-for-tat. For those who may have forgotten the numbers, they are outgunned 500+ to 1 who wish them dead. Nuff said, Ralph

Mustafa, Sorry, buddy, but Americans know where their interests lie and it is with the only true democracy in the middle east. It is with the only people who don't lie through their teeth every time they open their mouths. It is with people who don't feel free to blow themselves up in the missle of a grammar school because the children are a different religion than they are. I would remind you Egypt attacked Israel twice with no provocation simply because they didn't want a state that was freer, smarter and more self suficiant than they were. Nice try, buddy, but no American is buying the idea that Israel is causing our problems - we know where the problems come from. By the way, Mustafa, I've always wondered: what if these 72 young girl virgins don't want to spend eternity being the sex slaves of some sweaty, uneducated bomb blaster ?

No cluster bombs for Israel from the US. Not for sale. Not for giveaway. Not for interest free loans. Not for your dirty war. We have our own.

Weren't the Israeli's whining about the use of IDF with Katushas loaded with pellets that are designed for "maximum civilian damage"!!! If pellets do this, what are "grenade-like bomblets" expected to do? Another proof of how much "IDF cares about civilian life". On top of all the civilian casualties they inflicted withOUT such M-26 bombs, they want to do more damage. I am sure the request was done from the beginning, but people in the US are worried, and still worried. But Israel's AIPAC dogs are hard at work threatening law makers from losing their support in next election and it looks like they are close to getting the deal. Some PEACE LOVING NATION!

"THERE CAN BE NO NEGOTIATING WITH A MURDERER THAT HAS ENTERED YOUR HOUSE AND HAS STARTED KILLING MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY AND TRYING TO KILL YOU PERSONALLY ? NEGOTIATE WHAT ? A DELAY IN GETTING YOURSELF MURDERED?"... Philo Philo, Does your statement apply to Israel's 1948 and pre 48 when the Zionists used terrorism to kill and scare Palestinians away to switch the roles of who is minority and who is majority? Does it apply to 1967 when they invaded and occupied land till form several neighbors; 39 years to date? Does it apply to 2000 when Sharon invaded killed 100's and jailed thousands? Should the Palestinians not negotiate with Israel? Or do you only have logic that applies for Israel but not against it?

Ronald Regan was right to stop shipments. They should never have been restarted. Ad given the fragility of the situation now they definately should not be used. Not with my tax dollars I hope.

same token maybe North korea and pakistan should supply their fellow lebaness with some long range small range nuclear head weapons and some fighter jets so when the terrorist occupy other pepole land the lebaness can go direct to tel aviv with their massage

LIKE THE BIG SPENDER YOU ARE I'D BET YOUR TAX DOLLARS WON'T ADD UP TO $10.00 AND THE ONLY BIG THING YOU HAVE IS YOUR BLABBER-MOUTH!

Israel must be careful with choosing targets. Hitting civilians and civilian infrastructure would not do any good but creating more and more enemies as well as sowing the seeds of hatred and future wars. And dont forget that if you believe in the life hereafter, killing innocents will be a liability. Both in this world and hell.

This is not your TAX money. This is a purchase from Israel to the US. Please read carefully before making this forum roll out eyes to your existence.

What is your choice, Sammy, brother?

"The F-16`s and munitions you refer to are not given to Israel, and cost the American taxpayer absolutely nothing. They are SOLD to the IDF by private manufacturers..." - Zaphod here's how it works, Zaphod. The US gives money to Israel in the form of aid to the tune of $2 billion more or less. Israel is obliged to buy US arms with that money. The US taxpayer is footing the bill, not the Israelis. And, yes, it is a form of corporate welfare for US arms manufacturers, and yes, it keeps US defense workers employed. But the money comes from Americans, not Israelis.

I have a better suggestion than giving cars. More people would benefit if free flights were given out! The only problem with that is Muslim extremist terrorists, the same type of people that were all prepared to murder as many as 4,300 people in flights from London to the US. Hesbollah is a Muslim extremist terrorist organization as are the Taliban, Al Qaeda, Hamas, etc. In 1983 Hesbollah murdered 299 US Marines and French paratroopers who were part of a peacekeeping force. Israel is now paying back Hesbollah for the US and France deaths.

send me more anti tank misile and more rockets?? would u mind??? hum

Sam, your statements are obviously those of a very ignorant and/or biased person. The F-16's and munitions you refer to are not given to Israel, and cost the American taxpayer absolutely nothing. They are SOLD to the IDF by private manufacturers, although the transactions require governmental approval to protect the movement of sensitive technologies to foreign governments. But it is clear you are not interested in facts. If you're really in the US right now it's only a matter of time before the FBI tracks down your Islamofascist ass and hauls you off to Guitmo.

Miguel, Please do not take your anger towards America out on me. I know too well the damage the US has done to the world. It is terrible. However, US relations with Israel are so strong not because of any war on terror, or the cold war, or to protect our oil interests in the region, or to test our weapons. It is so strong because approximately 20% of American Jews (neo-conservatives) lobby for Israel on a regular basis. They keep the other 80% of American Jews at bay by guilting them into believing that anything but unequivical support of Israel is anti-semitic. Furthermore, they convince that 80% that they are unsafe in America and Israel represents an insurance policy for them in the event of a need to evacuate. Prior to the creation of the state of Israel, the Zionists represented a small sect of the Diaspora. Zionists were single minded in their desire to create a Jewish State, that they even thought they could allign themselves with Hitler to achieve their goals.

Funny why you dont understand that Hizbollah is a terrorist organization which should have been disarmed years ago, by resolution 1559. And because it was not disarmed, Hizbollah has been able to attack Israel.

Hi Alex, are you a cyber soldier?

Resorting to clusterbombing civilians... a sure sign of IDF defeat. No matter what happens now, even if they kill hundreds of hezbollah soldiers and Nasrallah himself, the IDF looks defeated in the eyes of the world. Perhaps in 10 years, Syria and Iran, armed with nukes, and huge armies won't be shy about attacking Israel. By the way, I think Haaretz mischaracterized the Iranian presidents' comments in Malaysis recently. He did not call for the destruction of Israel, I think he called for the end of zionism. Israel could likely continue with Jews living in peace, but in concert with Palestinian refugees newly returned and their kin. Ultimately this is where its going.

He does not even know how to spell in English, this lousy terrorist

Yes, Israel has had MLRS for a long time. They are running out of rockets, that's all. The M-26 is the main rocket used in the system (along with the M-28 training round). Israel has been using large numbers of them and it seems is running out.

The cluster bombs won't do much to enhance Israel's image. They were used in Viet Nam. I remember Kent State when we killed our own college kids that rioted against that war. Can you imagine what repercussions will occur when Jews are seen killing Lebanese civilians with these satanic weapons. Personally, I have become a supporter of any fighter who will give his life for freedom. The occupation of another man's home is the lowest. I can no longer stomach the word holocaust because it has been over-used (daily.) I hope Justice prevails. Forget Mercy. Fight on Jews and Arab. You deserve each other.

Funny how Isreal and the US do not give HizbAllah the right to be supplied weapons by other countries, while it is ok for Israel to be supplied weapons from the USA. Israelis and American are such hypocrites.

I strongly condemn the crimes Darfur against any regardless of their race or religion. I also condemn the indiscriminant shelling by Hizbuallah which is killing innocent civilians in Israel. I also condemn the suicide bombing that kills Innocent Israelis. But I also equally condemn the Israeli crimes. Destroying Beirut, killing over a 1000 Lebanese, shelling Gaza, killing families on the beach, and kidnapping members of parliament are much worse. Will you condemn any of Israel’s crimes? Of course not, because you are a hypocrite.

Aaaaaaaaaaah bless....the poor little IDF can't fight and beat a supposedly rag-tag bunch of bandits with it's already overwhelming armoury of the very latest weaponry and numerical supertiority. Better run to Uncle Sam to ask for some flashy upgrades. How pathetic. The IDF Paratroops - real fighters - who took East Jerusalem in 1967 must be disgusted with the pathetic state of the current Israeli military: an armed group of soft bellied college boys who are better at killing civilians than enemy combatants. Hezbollah, for all their nasty - even fascistic - ideology, are clearly the better fighting force on the ground. Your reputation as the best army in the region is gone now and it'll be near impossible to get it back.

Igor why did not you tell Vova Putin not to use "Grad" in Checnia? Is it OK for russians to kill anybody they want? Afganistan still remembers russian bobers 1000 flights per day. People are defending their land, families and lifes. Let them deside how to do that. You tell your goverment what to do.

GUYS, LETS BE A LITLE REALISTC NEVER IN ITS ENTIRE EXISTANCE ISRAEL WAS SO MUCH HUMILIATED MILATARELY. TODAY ISRAEL IS FIGHTING FOR ITS REPUTATION AND SURVIVAL

"Much lesser civilian casualties than if you drop a 500 ton bomb on the place, which seems to be a standard operating procedure for IAF these days." - Alex I hope it isn't IAF SOP. A half kiloton bomb would make quite a mess. You did mean a "500 lb." bomb.

George says: We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. That is truly and absolutely sick. Enough coming up with excuses for your murderess history. To say that you are forced to kill children is to the same as saying a raped the girl because she was wearing a short skirt. Enough with the bullshit and start admitting that you love killing others. That is why you will never have peace until you change this sick attitude.

THE RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT I PAY IN TAXES SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE ISRAELIS TO DESTROY THE TERRORISTS THAT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD SUFFERS FROM. ANYONE THAT FIGHTS TERRORISTS IS A FRIEND OF THE U.S. AND ISRAEL IS NO EXCEPTION. IT'S CONVENIENT FOR US IN THE U.S. TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM WHICH IS ISLAMIC FASCISTS HOWEVER THE ISRAELIS ARE DOING THE JOBS THAT THE AMERICANS SHOULD BE DOING, AND DOING IT WELL!!

Wrong Mark Kienan. Hezbollah/Hamas aim at civilian targets. Israel's military bases & airfields are large enough and easy to find but not one has been targeted, with the terrorists preferring to aim at Israel's towns and cities instead. Israel is targeting terrorist assets, if civilians are being put in danger by their erstwhile heroes then it is the Lebanese government's responsibility to provide the level of civil defense provided to Israelis by their government. If the Mexicans started firing rockets at L.A & San Francisco and then hid behind the skirts of their women, somehow I don't think you'd be too bothered if the USAF took the necessary measures to try to stop such attacks.

From the very first day of this war, I read and hear that Israel is to blame for its disproporcionate attacks. OK, let them be proportioned. I understand that about 3000 rockets were fired from Lebanon and landed within the northen part of Israel in an area inhabitated by about one million persons. So, in order to be proportioned, have the IDF shoot 3000 rockets (let us say in the next 3 days just to catch up)into Beirut. This way they cannot complain about this war being uneven. I would even allow that the IAF drop some leaflets, one hour before the barrage starts, with warnings for the civilians since, by doing that, we become the good guys. But, this is just an idea, do not take it too seriously.

First of all, Hezbollah is not firing rockets exactly from the border. M-26 is a short range weapon if you have not read carefully enough. I.E. Israelis would have to get very close to fire those (where there ground troops are nowhere in range). Or which would be much effective use, would be fire suppression of short range anti-tank rocket launchers and pocket size 'infiltration' squads of Hezbollah. M-26 damage would be contained on a small area, but anything within that area would be annihilated. Which would make sense against defensive positions and small squads. Much lesser civilian casualties than if you drop a 500 ton bomb on the place, which seems to be a standard operating procedure for IAF these days. So all those advocating lesser civilian casualties, better get a grip with the reality than shout empty slogans.

Dear Sama, before you fling accusations of racism at other people.. Lets see what Arab militias have been doing in Darfur against black muslims for the past 3 years. Mass rape, mass murder. I see you, nowhere, speaking up against that. Please stop the hypocrisy. Covering antisemitism and proterrorism in policitally correctly charged slogans fools no one. As for taxes, I rather doubt you salary is that much higher of someone working in the Silicon Valley in the similar field, where btw Palo Alto is located FYI.

"We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. We will only have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us." - Golda Meir

You are right. The US sent 48 MLR systems to Israel in the late 90's. Earlier in this war with Lebanon, an MLR rocket was suspected of having downed an IAF Apache. Perhaps the IDF used up their supply which included the "submunition" cluster bomblets. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/742749.html

Don't use my tax dollars to exterminate civilians. Work on ways to find peace instead. Everyone has the right to live in peace including the forgotten Palestinians.

You're partially right, the M-26 is the rocket fired by the MLRS system. Israel already has it, though (look for videos at youtube). IDF probably just needs more ammunition, because it's the perfect counter-battery weapon. Use a fire-finder radar to pinpoint the location of the katyusha launcher, type in the coordinates for the MLRS, shoot - and one or two minutes after the first katyusha launches the whole place gets showered with 640 bomblets half as big as a hand grenade.

Mr. Blum, You say that Israel painstakingly avoids bombing civilians. What planet are you on??? Israel has KILLED over 1000 Lebonese, 30 -40% are children. Israel has killed far and away more civilians than Hizbolla. Israel also continues to target civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.

That will get them out of there, only thing is, it will get lots of civilians too.

More than willing to allow my tax money to be used to put a dent in the Holy War that has been declared on Israel and the West. You Betcha!

No, your tax money is helping Israel to defend its Northern cities and population.

I totally agree. To the extent possible, Israel should be as independent as possible in the manufacture of arms, even if it costs more. The United States is a great ally, but there might come a time, unfortunately, when Israel will be forced to be more self-sufficient. Israel should always be prepared for the worst.

Reminds me of the closing days of the U.S. air offensive in Vietnam, when the munitions makers and US government rushed all the experimental and new weaponry to try them out on living human beings before the 'turkey shoot' ended.... Nothing like aiming new weaponry at live folks to check out their 'battlefield effectiveness', and for determining how to build more 'lethality' into the next generation of flesh-and-bone-shredders... Women and babies, RUN!!!

while Condy was in Beirut she arrived with 2 shipements: 1- to Israel: special Bombs (arrived through the UK) 2- to Lebanon : a few thouthands blankets both used them the first to kill civilians the others to cover the deads... CANT YOU ALL SEE THAT THE US IS PUSHING ISRAEL TO ESCALATE THE VIOLENCE? DIDNT YOU SEE CONDY DECIDING THAT ISRAEL WONT CEASE FIRE? DONT YOU FEEL THAT ISRAELI YOUTH IS DYING JUST SO THE US PASSES A MESSAGE TO IRAN?

It seems like you only mind about your home... It's true that the US send money to Israel... but why? Just because of the american jews? No, realize that your country needs Israel!!! Your country wants to dominate all the world, to be the largest empire, and Israel is its best friend in the middle east and needs to keep it as the strongest nation there, of course. Also, i can remind you that your country has taken many other countries in the world to the poverty and has supported dictatorships all over southamerica, resulting in thousands of killings. Also your government and other american institutions and banks are producing more and more poverty in the world. And why must we pay this price so that you american have a wealthy life? No more suffer for You! And my best wishes for Israel!

This is a war agianst terror. What happened inEngland is directly related what is happening in Israel. The US should help Israel every way it can. There is no doubt that the US will be attacked to.

In WW the allies bombed civilian targets (ball-bearing plants, etc) and fire-bombed entire Japanesse cities under 2 premises: #1 they wanted to win and #2 ultimately the number of dead would be less (if the war were brought to an end earlier than later). Same thing now - this is just a battle in the bigger scheme. Shame that the Russians seem to want to align with the loosers/fascists even though our enemy is also their enemy - which should make us friends. I do not want to live under islamic anything and will live free or die. Freedom will prevail. I will fight against any religous organized violence whether christian (e.g. Pat Robertson calling for Chavez's assasination), muslim (e.g. fanatical islamics who think they should rule the world), or jews (the ulta-orthodox jews actin like the islamic radicals). The world should ban religion given it is really about men attempting to control earth under the premise of some super-natural backer when evolution is truth!

My comments are not intended for the clowns who want the State of Israel eliminated. For these individuals-who Haaretz never censors and lets spew their venom in these forums-do not want a 2 State solution. The Jewish State of Israel is in their eyes illegal, the land stolen, and must not exist. To the people who do not want Israel exterminated I say how amazing that Israel can request from the US such sophisticated munitions-and demand expedition of delivery! This is why Israel's warriors take so many casualties. Israel always has to act in a way to placate the USA for American military and political assistance. The US will take out Iran-not Israel. The price will be the "Mizkaynim" who are victims of Israel refusing to inflict more necessary collateral damage.

this is a proof that you are loosing battles after battles we have hardened fighters your soldiers are shelled by our rockets 122 israeli so far our hopes is the conflict to last for long time

PhiloEvraios, are you just visiting America or do you simple hate it? Perhaps you're a hippy happy with the anonymity of the internet. Get a mind!

The use of cluster bombs is a desperate measure. It's a shotgun effect. They can't pinpoint the enemy, so they fire massive amounts of inaccurate ordinance in hopes of hitting something. Carpet bombing from B-52's and Katisha rockets use the same strategy. It's surprising that the Israelis are resorting to this, which will result in more civilian casualites. They might as well use tactical nukes and be done with it. Would the world hate them anymore?

or they will question you... ISRAEL has the right to defend herslef, NATO BOMBED BELGRADE TO PIECES killing thousands of civilians, while BELGRADE never even sent one katyuhas on PARIS, ROME , LONDON OR NEW YORK. who amongst you were worried about your taxe money then?

What`s good for Lebanese is good for Israelis and vice versa. I do not believe this applies to Katiushas, zamliak.

What's good for Lebanese is good for Israelis and vice versa. I do not believe this applies to cluster bombs.

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If Israel doesn't get these Cluster Bombs, While they already had a order for them. I will realize that yes too many are asleep at the wheel in Washington. Bush says hes tough on terrorism. Well the best way to show he is, is with a Israeli jet dropping these cluster bombs as a way to send a message to Hezbollah saying were back. Everyone that writes in should remember Hezbollah is a Terrorist orgination. THEY NEED TO B E DESTROYED.

right on! tell lebanon to control the terrorist faction within there midst and our brothers in arms in israel won't have to do it for them.

israel is at war. they are at war with those who are exclusively targeting civilians. i don't know when people started looking at this as an offesive and stopped considering that israel is the one who was attacked.

Israel has killed 18 000 Lebanese during their occupation. You have a pretty short or selective memory.

The question is, how many people must die before there is a lull in total violence (the optimal outcome)?

ALL the difficulties the Americans found in their relations with the Arab and Muslim world is mostly attributed to the wrong acts of Israel. It is high time for the Americans to realize where their interests lies; With Israel or with the Others.

coming from a person who saw his own army turn the city of Grozny into a parking lot. cluster munitions were designed to hit a wide geographic area, and are apparently good to use against camaflauged launchers. It's interesting that you complain of "specific" use of weapons. Hizballah seems to be doing quite well with the Russian anti-tank missiles that they were never supposed to have, against Israeli infantry. But as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

The legality of use of cluster bombs or rockets in the battle field depends totally on the situation. These cluster missiles are absolutely banned if the battle field involves a populated area. South Lebanon is by no means at present a depopulated area. Huge number of Lebanese civilians could not make their way to the north. This is because of lack of roads, bridges -destroyed by Israel- or vehicles. Another thing is that some civilians insist on staying in their properties because they had similar former bad experience with the Israeli occupation in the 80s & 90s. After more than one month of the hardship imposed on the Lebanese civilians, Israel still have not let the International Humanitarian Aid to reach them; neither has Israel accepted a temporary truce of 72 hours. What appeared to be the Remedy will turn out to be the Poison for Israel.

July 24, 2006 - Israel has used artillery-fired cluster munitions in populated areas of Lebanon, Human Rights Watch said today. Researchers on the ground in Lebanon confirmed that a cluster munitions attack on the village of Blida on July 19 killed one and wounded at least 12 civilians, including seven children. Human Rights Watch researchers also photographed cluster munitions in the arsenal of Israeli artillery teams on the Israel-Lebanon border. See pictures at http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/07/24/isrlpa13798.htm ?Human Rights Watch research in Iraq and Kosovo shows that cluster munitions cannot be used in populated areas without huge loss of civilian life,? Roth said. ?Israel must stop using cluster bombs in Lebanon at once.? Human Rights Watch called upon the Israel Defense Forces to immediately cease the use of indiscriminate weapons like cluster munitions in Lebanon. Israel is a major producer and exporter of cluster munitions, primarily artillery projectiles an

Little wonder that a solution to the problems in the Middle East cannot be reached when the two major players keep thinking more weapons, or more advanced ones are the answer. Collateral damage has now become acceptable - to those not directly affected by it. The assignment of blame for injuries and deaths no longer rests on the firer, but on the targets and everyone else in the vicinity. Enjoy the mayhem some of the politicians seem to want so bad...and remember our Vietnam and Russia's Afghan adventures.

I actually have a PHD in Data Management Systems, and work for a software company headquartered in downtown Chicago. I probably make a heck of a lot more money than you will ever dream of getting. Therefore, I pay a lot of taxes, and I feel bad that the money goes for war. But, you wouldn’t care, because it is obvious from your message that you are a racist man. You probably want the blacks to go back to Africa, and the native Indians to go back to where they came from, right?

The answer is the same :NO!

What news are you listinning to? Have your facts right!!! there is 1100 lebanese civilians dead and 3000 injured..more than 10 genocide: Qana(50 dead), Marwaheen (20 dead), Shiah (50 dead), ...

It is misleading for you to say that Hizbullah had no reason to bomb the marines. The days and weeks prior to that, the marines were helping one of the fighting factions, instead of being peace keepers. I think it is justified to fight someone on your land if you perceive a threat from them, and that is what they did. Hizbullah never tried to harm Americans in the US, and is not exporting terrorists. Hizbullah won’t even be interested in fighting the Israelis if they get the hell out of Lebanon and release the prisoners.

gives the US such intelligence on military goods and terrorist information than Israel Israel has battle tested most American weapons and allowed our country to better defend itself. Thanks to Israel. Israel lives amidst a sea of hate, dictatorships, and fundamentalist islam. We in the US have it easy we have canada as our neighbor. big bad crazy canada! lol. What our army is experiencing in Iraq out of our countries choice is what Israel endures every day without choice. GOD BLESS ISRAEL.

Hizbollah targets Jews, in and out of Israel. Nashrallah says that his gang will kill the Jews everywhere, not just in Israel.

i am an american jew and not a zionist. there are millions like me. we are done with this stupid experiment. face it, israel does not represent world jewry, rather it endangers it. just like bush hijacked the tragic events of 9/11, the zionists hijacked the tragic event of the holocaust despite a less than stellar record of representing european jewry during the third reich. no more of my tax dollars for You.!

Hi Sama, I bet every tax paying "American" as yourself brought 10 relatives on averege from a friendly Arab country that ALL sit on a welfare and free medical services and wait until our patience runs out.

I am also fed up with the EU always supporting terrorism against Israel.

Vicky said: I for one do not agree with my tax dollars going to more weapons to murder people . ------ War is war and murder is murder and they are not the same thing. Things would get a lot better if people used language accurately. Lebanon and Hezbollah asked for war. They got it and lots of collateral damage besides. Maybe next time they won't start a war.

Is that why you want to leave the Israelis defenceless? As a European tax payer, I am fed up with my tax Euro going to terrorists for them to murder Israelis.

This can't be right. According to many sources, Israel has had in inventory the track-mounted MLRS system for many years, sale approved by Congress. I assume this is the rocket system being referenced. It was designed to be used against SAM and other anti-aircraft installations. Delivery was a LONG time ago (supposedly). Questionable it would be effective against Katyusha launchers with no delicate components or crews in the open, anyway. Multi-tube Katyusha launcher trucks were detected and destroyed in WWII and in Korea by conventional aircraft strafing (guns and rockets) at low level. If the MLRS approved by Congress ages ago was never delivered, Israel for some reason never complained. Whats going on? Or...why wasn't it used if it was in inventory? Or...did the IDF quietly decide it didn't need the MLRS. This sale was (supposedly) many, many YEARS ago. Some politicking going on here IFF the Times report is true -- a much bigger story here, Haaretz.

And what about the likelihood of civilian casualties in Israel?

Israel has already contracted to receive these. They are needed to take out rocket launchers and stop Hezbollah from firing into Israel. Into towns, villages, cities, etc. Israel has every right in the world to this defensive war.

you need to rememeber one vital thing , its that Hizbullah is not exactly frineds with the US. When they killed close to 400 us servicemen they did not need a reason like the Shaba Farms or if any moslem murders are in US prison , they simply apply their terrorist ideology. Now as far as your tax money, Israel is in the Forefront of this war for the US as well, they are protecting US interest in the middle east as well, with blood and tears ...and there is no real price tag for this. know somtehing if it wasnot for ISRAEL that keeps them busy , hizbullah would have made alqaeda plots look like child's play.

Cluster munition rockets were never designed to hit Katiusha launchers. They are desidned to kill as many human beings as possible. In your case, to kill as many civilians as possible. You will drop them on Beirout, Sidon, Tyre, and many other Lebanese villages such as Qana. Your enemy hates your guts already, why are you making it worse? Don't you understand that you are awakenning a lion that was asleep for a very long time? when you wake him up, do you know what will happen to you? This is the most stupid Israel Government history had ever known. The way to peace is far shorter, but all through history you never found one willingly.

Why can't we make our own cluster bombs? NU?

Tell that to the hundreds of innocent people whom have been murdered by Israelis bombs. Israelis, will bomb a crowd of people just to kill one person.

I for one do not agree with my tax dollars going to more weapons to murder people . We have the blood of innocent Iraquis and usa soldiers in our hands. I do not want the blood of Lebanese nor Israelis in my hands. NO!

Its about time Israel requested these bombs. These bombs are very effective and very powerfull. Look out below you cant run or hide from these bombs.

Israel's American slaves will build what it needs, and give it away for free. I wish the US would give me a car for free. Just imagine, for each F16 the US gave Israel, 10s of thousands of tax paying Americans could have gotten a free car. Instaed, we give it to Israel so it can kill people who will end up hating us!

Hezbollah specifically targets Israeli civilians. Israel painstakingly avoids targeting civilians, announcing in advance where they will attack, so that even the terrorist enemies of Israel can flee with Muslim civilians and hide or re-locate their rocket launchers. Israel needs the cluster bombs to defeat the weaponry aimed at killing Israels civilians. Muslim populations should suffer instead of Israeli civilians, since they do nothing to curtail the attacks of Hezbolla and even encourage and support them!

Of course, everything's allowed in its war with Iraq, but to fight fire with fire to protect its own borders effectively and deal with the threat in equal measure with an ennemy that specifically targets Israel's civilians with BARRAGES of its own rockets is not. Double standard?

I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT ISRAEL HAS THE ABILITY TO MANUFACTURE ITS OWN VERSION OF SUCH WEAPONS. AFTER ALL ISRAEL VERY WISELY HAS BUILD NUCLEAR WEAPONS. HOWEVER, THE POINT IS THAT ISRAEL MUST HAVE THE KIND OF CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT THAT WILL NOT HESITATE TO USE ANY AND ALL KINDS OF WEAPONS NEEDED TO CRUSH THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL BECAUSE, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, ONLY ISRAEL CAN DEFEND ISRAEL. ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WHEN THE USA HAS A COMPLETE MORON AND COWARD AS PRESIDENT LIKE BUSH. HOW IN THE NAME OF GOD CAN THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT BE NEGOTIATING FOR A CEASEFIRE WITH HEZBALLAH? THERE CAN BE NO NEGOTIATING WITH A MURDERER THAT HAS ENTERED YOUR HOUSE AND HAS STARTED KILLING MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY AND TRYING TO KILL YOU PERSONALLY ? NEGOTIATE WHAT ? A DELAY IN GETTING YOURSELF MURDERED? THE ACTIONS OF THE CURRENT ISRAELI GOVERNMENT ARE VERY "AMERICAN" IN THE WORST POSSIBLE SENSE AND MEANING OF THE WORD "AMERICAN".

Are real good at locating launchers, they also destroy those who fire them. Plus you cant hide from them as they pretty well cover a large area with small bomblets. So the terrorists who fire them would not be able to flee after shooting off their rockets and maybe that will make them think before they fire. Bunkers also arent much cover for them if they manage to get to one.

and we think we have a coice in America.