“The League of Nations was not a mess in the 1920s. It became a mess when, in the 1930s, it could not handle Mussolini or Hitler, and failed.”

Hugh Fitzgerald:

The League of Nations was not a mess in the 1920s. It became a mess when, in the 1930s, it could not handle Mussolini or Hitler, and failed. The U.N. was not originally a mess when founded, with such tutelary spirits as Rene Cassin and Eleanor Roosevelt. It became a mess sometime after Bandung, when more and more “countries” that were primitive despotisms became members. The only two blocs that came to matter were first the Soviet bloc (where Ukraine and Byelorussia also had votes) of the captive or subjugated (by Communism, backed up by the Red Army) nations of Eastern and Central Europe, and the Arab bloc which in turn manipulated and directed a larger Muslim bloc. That Muslim bloc bullied or threatened or inveigled even non-Muslim states (such as those of black Africa after the Six-Day War) into doing the Muslim bidding, under the guise of fake “third-world” solidarity. Thus did the fabulously rich plutocrats of Arabia present themselves, dripping with gold, as representatives of the “Third-World” — a Halloween joke, a Ballo-in-Maschera fantasia.

Read it all.

Proceed Immediately

Read Maxed Out Mama’s Haq Of Seattle And Hizbollah. Her post is a clear, cogent and methodical look at the days events- you know, like she always does.

The entire post is a must read.

She also links to Ouwet Front, a blog written by members of the Lebanese Forces.

In particular, see this and this. Be sure to read the comments left by readers.

Lastly, see this- the Photos That Damn Hizbollah, to understand what hiding behind civilians, women and children really means.

As usual, Mamma delivers.

Qana’s Tragic Karma

The events at Qana this morning are nothing less than tragic. About 50 civilians, many of them children, were killed by an Israeli missile.

The magnitude of the tragedy at Qana is magnified by the reality that it was an event that need not have happened.

Still, the images being broadcast won’t go away. The Israelis, as has been noted, have lost the PR war. That is nothing new. The Israelis have been at the short of the media stick for decades. In a way, that has worked in Israel’s favor, because they do not have to overly concern themselves with an endeavor they cannot win.

Notwithstanding that, Israel has the ‘goods.’ There are videos from drones that show Hizbollah rocket launchers adjacent to civilian occupied buildings.

In fact, the missile that knocked down the apartment building today did not actually hit the building- it landed adjacent to the building. Hizbollah fire missiles from mobile rocket launchers- in this instance, those launchers we set up less than 30 yards from the building that was hit.

Hizbollah, Hamas and like  Saddam not so long ago, all have a long history of shielding themselves behind civilians- women, children, mosques and hospitals. Hezbollah bases itself in residential areas, places arms depots in urban areas, and has missile launch sites that are backyards- literally.

Hizbollah is not the noble, long suffering Arab ‘victim.’  Nor is Hizbollah a political, social or military organization. From it’s inception, the principles that the organizations claim to follow, are religious. The Hizbollah political, social or military ideologies are an extension of what they claim to be religious principles. It is important to understand that the schools and social services provided by Hezbollah first and foremost serve to promote and expand Hizbollah ideology. Simply stated, that is like the Nazi Party establishing schools, nurseries and providing other services. Hizbollah, like Hamas, have never bothered to hide their bigotry, hatred and racist ideologies.

Further, Hizbollah is not an organization of guerrillas- they are terrorists. Guerrillas are irregular soldiers- that is, not a part of a regular army, fighting against an opposing army. For decades, the vast majority of Hizbollah ‘operations’ have been directed at civilians. That makes them terrorists.

Clearly, any negotiations with a terror organization are a waste of time. They are not bound by the same rules and regulations that govern civilized society. Hezbollah actions, stated ideologies and long held beliefs, undermine every Hizbollah claim to legitimacy.

Despite their political influence, Hizbollah refuses to identify itself as a political entity, in the same way as other legitimate political organizations. Instead, Hizbollah continues to define itself, by actions and words, as a terrorist organization. By definition, terrorist organization are not bound by civilized convention and the established rule of law. By definition, terrorist organizations operate outside those conventions and outside the rule of law.

Qana’s bad karma proved one thing: much of the Arab world remains deluded by the serenades that equate terror and slaughter to dignity. In the end, after after the smoke clears and the bluster and concocted hysteria of the day dies down, the Lebanese, Hizbollah and the Palestinians will have learned two very important lessons.

First, neither Israel or the western world will tolerate another Arafat like era- 40 years of no movement and doublespeak leading to more hostilities, all designed to preserve te status quo. The west will not tolerate billions upon billions of dollars in aid, to be sucked up by corrupt regimes. Those days are over.

Secondly, Hizbollah and the Palestinians have learned that there are consequences to bad behavior and from now on, there will be accountability. Playtime is over.

Time to grow up.