Hezbollah leader a hero to many Arabs

[PA Democrat]

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Despite the terrible toll in death and destruction in Lebanon, even enemies and critics say the stature of Hezbollah's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, has risen dramatically from his guerrillas fighting toe-to-toe with the Israeli army.

Some have even taken to comparing the radical Shiite Muslim cleric to the late Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, who enjoyed wide popularity in the Middle East for standing up to the West and pushing for Arab unity.

<snip>

Beirut's leading newspaper, An-Nahar, has long been critical of Hezbollah — especially its harassing rocket attacks on Israel before the war began — but it urged all Lebanese to stand behind Nasrallah's group to achieve victory against the Jewish state.

<snip>

Some of the fiercest sentiment in support of the militant Shiite cleric has erupted during anti-Israel and anti-U.S. protests in predominantly Sunni countries like Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait — all key U.S. allies in the region. Demonstrators have voiced outrage at their leaders for failing to back Hezbollah and Lebanon.

More at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060813/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_nasrallah_s_rise

[Selatius]

1. Israel has made Hezbollah stronger

Israel was better off not targeting so much civilian infrastructure.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[PA Democrat]

3. Well, it's not just members of Hezbollah who love him now

He has become a hero to many who have criticized him and his tactics in the past.

[Kagemusha]

4. He's no hero of mine, that's for sure. The problem is...

...Olmert's made him look like Saladin by comparison. That's sad, really. But compared to Olmert...

[PA Democrat]

6. Yes, it is sad.

This whole mess has done nothing to make Israel safer and has strengthened the very organization that they set out to destroy.

I think that hatred against the US is stronger than ever in the Arab world as well.

Olmert's career as a politician is pretty much done, but that doesn't change the damage he's done. Just like we will have to live with the destruction wrought by Bush's ill-advised military fiasco as well.

[Kagemusha]

11. Why the hell is Olmert done. Seriously.

Yes, people say he's done, but what tangible evidence is there to support it? Who would replace him, Bibi? (Netanyahu, that is) The public doesn't exactly think that man would get it done any better than Olmert did. Frankly the problem's a lot deeper than the leadership. It's not as if sending in the IDF in this kind of force on Day 2 rather than Day Whatever It Is Now would've resulted in LESS casualties from a not quite as beat up Hezbollah. It's not just a political leadership problem.

You know what's really funny?

Now it's the IDF saying Jews stabbed them in the back instead of the German Army.

[PA Democrat]

12. Check out this article.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1331921.htm

[Kagemusha]

13. Read it already last night. Yes, there's a history of it...

but remember who Olmert's defense minister is: he's the leader of the Labour Party of Israel. Olmert's kept his friends close and his rivals closer, and Peretz can't possibly run on Olmert's mishandling of the war. Not while he was defense minister himself!

That's why I don't think it'll be that simple.

[DireStrike]

5. When a country gets attacked, the reactionaries and extremists take over.

Just look what happened in the U.S.

[BooScout]

7. none of them are heros to me.....

Neither Hezbollah or Israel.

[PA Democrat]

8. Blessed are the peacemakers

for they shall be called the children of God.

[Selatius]

9. I think the real heroes are groups like Doctors Without Borders or

Human Rights Watch or any of the Red Cross workers including those who were blown up in the air raids. NGOs shined in this bloody hour.

[PA Democrat]

10. Doctors without Borders is one of my favorite charities.

I agree, those rescue and aid workers who are risking their lives to help the victims of this war are the real heroes.