"Israel will Whine when something similar is done to them."

How do you know Israel did it?

...

These type of actions never stay exclusive to one party in a conflict.

#4 | POSTED BY EFFETEPOSER

They do if one only party is stupid enough to use explodable pagers as their primary means of communication.

As of this writing, 2800 injured/ 9 dead

#6 | POSTED BY KARABEKIAN

Ouch!

9 dead? There was something else in those "pagers" besides tiny batteries.

It was a Monstrous Crime against random people just living their lives.

These were apparently pagers purchased by Hezbolla for Hezbolla. Not "random people".

Hezbolla is a terrorist organization.

So they "were just living their lives" terrorizing Israelis for a terrorist organization.

They knew what they signed up for.

"And none went to a family member or child?"

Good question. Are terrorists that dumb? Probably. If I was a terrorist I would never give my cool spy stuff to my kids. But I am sure it happens in terror land. Also if I was a terrorist I probably would refrain from having kids ... or loved ones ... or pets ... if I was a terrorist. They are way too clingy and needy and as you noted vulnerable to unintended collateral damage.

I forgot the most important thing. My advice for effenpuffer!

My advice is don't be a terrorist if you don't want random ---- blowing up around you.

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

#36 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

The US State Department designated Hizballah as a foreign terrorist organization in October 1997. More than 60 other countries and organizations, including the EU, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, have also designated Hizballah"either in part or in its entirety"as a terrorist group.

If anyone did this to Israel, it would be called a second October 7th.

#63 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT

Gotta love our armchair generals.

And it WAS called October 7th and on that day they partnered with Hamas to terrorize Israel while Hamas killed thousands and took hundreds of hostages and are still holding them. And hezbollah have aided the terrorists by continuing to attack Israel.

Is hezbollah attacking Israel?

Yes.

Then Israel has the right to defend itself.

Israel's stated goal was to stop or make it more difficult for hezbollah to attack them.

I would say that they accomplished that mission.

I bet it caused a lot less "collateral damage" than rolling in the tanks and bombing the city into rubble like in Gaza.

"You are also attacking political leaders and anyone randomly affiliated with the Hezbollah political party."

Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. Members of terrorist organizations are subject to arrest capture or being killed at any time or any place. When you join a terrorist organization you don't get to hide behind "politics".

October 7th, indescriminate killing in Gaza and the Pager attack are all wrong.

#77 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT

Of course it's "wrong". It's war. A lot of wrong things will be done. On each side.

It's wonderful that you can sit back safe and smug and tell Israel how to defeat the terrorists who are threatening their very existence.

The terrorists that swear they will not negotiate and will not stop attacking you until you are dead or gone.

From the inception of Hezbollah to the present, the elimination of the State of Israel has been one of Hezbollah's primary goals. Some translations of Hezbollah's 1985 Arabic-language manifesto state that "our struggle will end only when this entity [Israel] is obliterated".

"Will Israel get listed as a Terrorist Organization now?"

Countries that accuse Israel of engaging in state-sponsored terrorism, include Bolivia, Iran, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and Yemen.

Friends of yours?

Your argument literally just says everything is fair game.

#83 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT

No. I am not saying that.

But I also don't think this is a "war crime" either. Just as I didn't think us going into Afghanistan after terrorists and Obama droning the crap out of terrorists that attacked the U.S. and taking Osama from Pakistan and turning him into fish food was a war crime. I did not like the collateral damage then either. But when fighting terrorism you do have to take the gloves off and take chances and get your hands dirty.

It's no denying this was a major attack. This was amazing spy craft and impressive and probably saved thousands of lives if they had had to bomb Lebanon into rubble again. Which still may happen. But they have humiliated hezbollah destroyed their confidence and seriously damaged their communications networks and their ability to stage coordinated attacks. So maybe it won't.

Maybe Hezbolla will wise up and stop attacking and negotiate. I wouldn't hold my breath tho.

Now we have to worry about whether we're going to be killed by our devices.

#48 | POSTED BY CBOB

You should have already been worried.

Fast or slow your "devices" are already killing you.

They went after political leaders and civilians not taking direct part in the direct hostilities as well. MOSSAD put explosive material in the phones, they weren't sure who was getting the phones, and they knew they would be exploding in civilian areas with collateral damage.

They went after hezbollah. Terrorists. And anyone directly associated with terrorist.

They were not phones. They were pagers used exclusively by hezbollah. terrorists. In a war on terror it's never a good idea to pal around with terrorists.

And them exploding in civilian areas would still be less collateral damage than bombing Lebanon into rubble. With 500 pounders. All bombs cause casualties.

"If Hamas or Hezbollah did this, you'd be freaking the hell out."

Well they are terrorists so I am glad they did not think of it first. You know that they would have if they could have.

What makes you think I am not "freaking out". Just because I am calm and understanding doesn't mean i don't know what this means and the implications for the future. But now we know it can be done so now we can take appropriate actions to prevent it being used against us.

Just like when drones became a tool of terror this is now another way to kill humans.

I also understand that humans whose sole purpose in life is to kill you may need to be killed first.

"Nobody with any humanity at all finds joy in killing non combatants"

Thank you Captain Obvious.

Because Israel said so?

#113 | POSTED BY ONEIRONAUT

American sources.

"Hezbollah is a terrorist group but also a political party."

The Taliban also call themselves a "political party".

ISIS considers themselves a "political party".

Being a part of a designated terrorist organization (because of your documented acts of terror) and then claiming you are a political party does not magically give you some kind of immunity.

Those pagers were used by literally anyone even remotely associated with Hezbollah...which is basically everyone.

Not true. They were purchased by hezbolla and delivered to hezbolla.

...

DEVICES BOUGHT FIVE MONTHS AGO

The hand-held radios were purchased by Hezbollah five months ago, around the same time as the pagers, a security source said.

Israel's spy agency Mossad, which has a long history of sophisticated operations on foreign soil, planted explosives inside pagers imported by Hezbollah months before Tuesday's detonations, a senior Lebanese security source and another source told Reuters.

"Guess who uses those quite a bit? AMBULANCE DRIVERS"

Ambulance drivers that take instructions from Hezbollah. Apparently.

How do we know this?
Because Israel said so?

#113 | Posted by oneironaut

----. I hate agreeing with you but this...

...

You should.

I am not denying it was a major attack and that people were killed and injured.

How do you know who was killed and injured? And how many? Let me guess. Videos and images from inside Lebanon. Guess who is providing those videos and images and stories to you. How many were actually noncombatants? Some obviously were not. But how many? And how do you know that?

The first casualty in any war is the truth.

Oh I know. They aren't people to you. Just admit it. You just call ALL OF THEM terrorists so they don't count as human beings to you. And anyone associated with them or even in proximity is no longer count as human.

#120 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT

Humans can also be terrorists.

Anyone associated with terrorists are risking their lives. They always were. And now it's painfully obvious isn't it? Maybe they will reconsider associating and supporting terrorist organizations?

And. You are wrong. I don't want any of them to die. I wish they would change their policy and try to work with Israel instead of trying to obliterate them. I would rather not hear of all the death and destruction in that part of the world. I would rather they all live I peace and sing kumbaya and have concerts and dance together. In peace.

But obviously they will not. They still insist on being terrorists. Apparently. They shoot rockets daily into Israel terrorizing them and threatening and provoking them.

And obviously Israel is not going to get "obliterated" or threatened and terrorized that easily.

Get Hezbollah to change their declared policy and negotiate diplomatically instead of with rockets and bombs. And I bet Israel will stop figuring out ways to kill them back or kill them even more.

And then if Israel doesn't stop killing them and negotiate like a civilized nation then you may have a case against them. And me too if I still support them.

Yes, we literally have the videos of these things going off in funerals, stores, markets, and ------- hospital services.

WTF is wrong with you? Seriously?

#124 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT

They were provided to you by hezbollah. With no verification by independent neutral sources. Do you understand what that means?

Trying to make you understand war propaganda is wrong?

Well ok then. Figure it out yourself.

Wring your hands and cry foul! Whine about how unfair war is in one hand and crap in the other and see how many lives you can save.

Meanwhile Hamas is still holding 7 Americans hostage.

Did you seriously just suggest ambulance drivers deserve to die because Hezbollah was the one who provided EMERGENCY SERVICES WORKERS with walkie talkies?

If you took equipment from ISIS after we found out they just killed 3000 Americans (and they were bombing us daily after that) do you really think I should be upset if you die because it exploded on you and killed you?

WTF is wrong with you bro.

"Russia gets attacked for bombing civilians but they call the Ukrainians terrorists."

You do know what's really going on in Ukraine right? Russia is in the wrong no matter what they say now. The Russians invaded a sovereign nation and are bombing civilian targets directly. Not even close to the same thing. What Russians say matter as much to me as what Hezbolla or Hamas says.

"You want to invade? Fine."

They invaded Gaza and have been criticized for how they did it almost every day. And 10s of thousands have died. Gaza is in ruins. So not so fine.

"YOU CAN'T BLOW UP PAGERS AND WALKIE TALKIES THAT YOU PACKED WITH EXPLOSIVES especially WHEN THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE IN THE HANDS OF NON-COMBATANTS, IN THE VICINITY OF NON-COMBATANTS, OR IN THE HANDS OF POTENTIAL COMBATANTS NOT DIRECTLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD"

Pretty sure that's not a rule. All of Lebanon is a battlefield. Especially if Israel is forced to attack it with tanks and bombs. Like Gaza became a battlefield.

Once again. Those pagers and walkie talkies were purchased by terrorists for terrorists. And obviously you can blow them up. Israel just did. Apparently.
...

I'm literally out of crayons trying to explain these super basic principles to you.

#132 | POSTED BY SYCOPHANT

World leaders are waiting anxiously for your sage advice on how to combat terrorism and terrorists who are attacking you daily on your doorsteps and declare openly that they will kill every one of you. No matter what you say or do.

Who gets to decide who's a terrorist and who's a freedom fighter.

You should smoke a couple joints and give it some thought.

#136 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

Done. It did not change a thing. Hezbollah are still designated as terrorists.

In the United States, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, has the authority to designate foreign individuals or entities as terrorists. The State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism monitors the activities of terrorist groups around the world to identify potential targets for designation.

It has been said that "what one person considers a terrorist, another may consider a freedom fighter".

Civilized countries decide which entities are acting like terrorists. My country decides who is terrorizing us.

I believe that Hezbollah are terrorists because the leaders of my country has declared that they are and I still believe in my country. And 60 other countries also believe my country. Right or wrong I am on my country's side. I will criticized my country for the dumb things my leaders do but in the end I will still support it. But in this case I believe they are correct. Would you like a list of all their many terrorist activities? (Google will happily provide.) [one that stands out to me is the U.S. embassy bombing in 1983 killing 305 French and American troops. ]

The US State Department designated Hizballah as a foreign terrorist organization in October 1997. More than 60 other countries and organizations, including the EU, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, have also designated Hizballah"either in part or in its entirety"as a terrorist group.

Maybe you should google all their terrorist activities and smoke a joint and think about it.

You already follow an AI, or a fascist or a traitor and not realize it.

#155 | POSTED BY REDLIGHTROBOT

I am not sure what that, insulting me or my "Good Guy AI", has to do with hezbollah being designated as a terrorist organization by America and 60 countries.

Re 157

Because it meets the definition of a terrorist organization.

Johnson was a traitor.

#160 | POSTED BY REDLIGHTROBOT

Perhaps. And a worthy discussion.

But it doesn't do anything to justify hezbollah's long list of terror activities.

Including the bombing of the marine barracks in Lebanon which killed 305 French and American troops.

The Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon were bombed by Hezbollah on October 23, 1983. The attack killed 241 U.S. military personnel, 58 French paratroopers, and six Lebanese civilian

The bombing of the marine barracks was only one incident and not the decisive factor but just added to the long list.

Americans considered the Vietcong, the enemy.

The Vietnamese considered the Vietcong to be liberators and freedom fighters.

Same situation

Not the same. Not even close.

Hezbollah is designated as a terror organization because of ALL their terrorist activities. Not just one incident.

...

You've proven numerous times you're an idiot.

#167 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

An idiot is someone who gives aid and comfort to and feels sorry for the very terrorists that who would happily torture and kill them given half a chance.

Womp womp.

#168 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

All I have to say to that is GFY.

The Vietcong wasn't?

How did we sell the war?

Different war different times.

Only relevant in that American leaders can make mistakes.

You cannot say that because America made a big mistake in Vietnam .. which we all pretty much admit now though many of us at the time already knew (and we helped that country recover from the mistakes we made) that everything we do now is the result of a corrupt action or a mistake. Or as I think you are suggesting an act of terror.

Well obviously YOU can. But that doesn't make it true.

The United States agreed to provide $3.3 billion over five years to help rebuild Vietnam's infrastructure in the Paris Peace Accords ...

From 1993 to 2004, the United States pledged $29 billion in ODA to Vietnam, with about $14 billion disbursed.

The United States and Vietnam have a strong economic partnership, with the United States as Vietnam's largest export destination. In 2022, trade between the two countries was $114.6 billion.

American veterans and the U.S. government have helped clear unexploded land mines and other weaponry left over from the war.

The United States, along with other countries, helped resettle refugees fleeing the war in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

Unlike Lebanon or its Arab neighbors Americans are quite welcome in Vietnam now.

Vietnamese people are very friendly to the tourists and expats. There are alot of American veterans going back to Vietnam to revisit old battle fields, see the changes of Vietnam after many years.

It's just lazy and easy to say they're all bad and we're all good.

#178 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

Especially if you don't bother to check.

Which you obviously haven't.

It's just lazy and easy to say they're all bad and we're all good.

#178 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

And by the way I have never said that. And never would.

I am only saying that right here right now hezbollah is terrorist organization that has been designated a terrorist organization by over 60 countries.

And considering the documented history of Hezbollah I agree with those all country's assessments.

"Oh man, who should I check with?"

Well ok you could start with the family's of their victims.

Maybe start with the families of the marines who were killed in the marine barracks while on a peacekeeping mission.

That should keep you busy for a while.

"Didn't mean to side track this thread into a whole conversation about Vietnam."

Yes you did.

You might as well go ahead and list all of Americas mistakes and Israel's (like the USS Liberty) and get it over with while you are trying to prove that we (and the Israelis by the transitive property) are actually the terrorists here and not hezbollah.

"The event back in 1983? You justify current events based on what happened 40 years ago? Get over it."

Seriously? YOU brought up Vietnam for Christs sake. That was 49 years ago bro.

Holding on to decades old grudges isn't a solution.

#184 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

Sure! Tell that to hezbollah bro.

I dare you. Go over there and tell them that right now.

Before you go ... Where do you want your body shipped to?

Only as an example about how propaganda can mislead you

#187 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

You do seem to be a bit confused as to what is real and what isn't. As apparently 40-50% of us are these days.

So how exactly do you know that it isn't YOU that's being misled this time?