How can Bush say Israel has defeated Hezbollah?

Question

When they have only killed about 35 Hezbollah soldiers. I think they have defeated Lebanon whom they werent even fighting.

Answer 1

I would disagree with Bush's belief that Israel has defeated Hezbollah. It is true that Hezbollah (and their state supporters Syria and Iran) failed to destroy Israel... so far. But the fact remains that Hezbollah still survives, which is the objective of any non-state and state actor.

Secondly, it proved that its militia can hold off the mighty Israeli Defense Force, despite all its high-tech equipment and excellent training. This is not attrition warfare... it is guerilla warfare; therefore the amount of territory captured or the body counts do not matter. What matters is that Hezbollah, without a single aircraft or tank, was able to inflict casualties upon the Israeli forces through booby traps, ambushes, and whatever other tactic the guerilla likes to use and slow down the Israeli advance (they can hold their own due to willpower, even with less weaponry or training).

Thrid, Hezbollah has won the moral high ground (strange I know considering that they targetted civilians with their rockets, which I consider a terrorist act) by maintaining an image of "David vs Goliath" throughout the world. Israel has foolishly caused much damage through their superior firepower and as a result become the "bully" when they are actually the victim. This is the best recruitment device Hezbollah has. All they need to point out to the Lebanese is: "Hey look, the Israelis blew up your home, your business, and killed some of your family. Join us for pay back and we will help you rebuild you life while earning back your honor." Honestly, if I had my home destroyed and my family killed, I would have taken up arms against the foreign invader, regardless of the reason why they invaded in the first place.

Fourth, the cease-fire allows Hezbollah to rearm and recover from the casualties it has taken. A battle-hardened Hezbollah has the experience and still has the capability to regroup, grow, and continue on its mission. The presence of an international peacekeeping force will have little effect on Hezbollah if taking in account the little success of peacekeeping forces in the past. Also, the moment that a peacekeeper fires a single shot, they no longer become peacekeepers. There is no forseeable solution to disarm Hezbollah without a level of violence. It is a lose-lose situation for us.

Israel, on the other hand, has not to my knowledge saved the two soldiers they came for nor have they destroyed Hezbollah (but no doubt they did kick some butt). While in military terms Israel may have won the battle, they still lose the war. Late US Air Force Colonel John Boyd once stated, "When I was a young officer, I was taught that if you have air superiority, land superiority, and sea superiority, you win. Well, in Vietnam, we had air superiority, land superiority, and sea superiority, but we lost. So I realized there is something more to it." That "something more" is the political and social factors that are not normally taught about through a solely military perspective. Karl von Clausewitz once said that "War is an extension of politics by other means." But the other way around is true as well. Politics is an extension of war and all politics is local.

Answer 2

What President Bush means is that Hezbollah did not achieve their goals and neither did Iran or Syria, the sponsors of Hezbollah. The goal of Hezbollah, Syria, and Iran is the destruction of Israel as a state. Their rockets were demonstrated to be little more than random acts of violence against innocent civilians, no military targets were struck or even aimed at. Hezbollah sought to create terror in Israel and failed.

Hezbollah, in military terms, has been shown to be ineffectual and impotent. In military terms that is defeat.

Hezbollah was acting like a state within a state. That simply means that Lebanon is a country that doesn't have the ability to control its own citizens, especially when they are financed and controlled by Syria and Iran.

When the UN Peace Forces move into southern Lebanon, Hezbollah will cease to exist as any threat to Israel. This is a major victory for Israel, and for peace in the world. And any victory for peace is a defeat for terrorists and terrorist states such as Syria and Iran.

Answer 3

Hezbollah honestly replaced into responsible for each thing. The Israelites gave them land for peace and what did Hezbollah do yet start up a conflict returned of direction because of the fact the Muslims at the instant are not chuffed until eventually they're killing Jews and Christians. The Lebanese electorate have been caught contained in the crossfire. If somebody broke into your domicile, what could you basically do stand there and don't something???? Hezbollah replaced into consistently throwing missiles into Israel so as that they fought back. Israel would have complete them off in the event that they weren't made to sense undesirable approximately protecting themselves. for my section i've got faith that Hezbollah would desire to have been taken out, because of the fact now they're going to in hassle-free terms do it as quickly as greater as quickly as they might. They consistently have.

Answer 4

Well if Bush's lips are moving hes lying.
Did he really say that,in a cease fire agreement there are no winners or loosers,its a time to rest and restock each of their supplies,for the next big push,this is far from being over and will never be resolved in a peaceful way. There is far too much hate on both sides,unless one side is conquered there are no winners,but then war only produces pain,death and destruction on all sides.

Answer 5

Victory is not determined by body count. We proved that in Vietnam. If you have achieved your stated goals then you can legitimately claim victory. But it seems to me that Hezbollah (or however you spell it) has just as much ability to inflict casualties on Israel as it had before the fighting which would make Bush's statement extremely moronic.

Answer 6

Where did you hear about this 35 soldier BS?? the mainstream media will not post the number of Hezbollah soldiers that have died because then it will look like Isreal did infact win the war. The fact is that Hezbhollah now knows that Isreal will stand up for herself. That was the main goal of the war, and it was accomplished by Isreal. In that sense, they won.

Answer 7

They probably killed more than that. Both sides tend to play down the numbers on their side.

But the point is Hezbollah is still there in their bunkers and villages holding their turf and armed to the teeth.

I dont see how Bush can say that except for political reasons.

Answer 8

His comments are inflamatory and could damage the fragile cease fire that the UN helped to negotiate. This man needs to learn when to shut his mouth and stop being biased. He has done more to damage foreign policy gains over the last three decades in this region more than any other president. Is it 2008 yet?? Sit down George and let Condi do the talking.

Answer 9

How can Hezbollah say that they have won, their leaders have declared victory over Israel.

So you win if someone stops beating the crap out of you, looks like the Hezz won the publicity war and will lay in wait until they can strike again. If you think they will honor any treaty or resolution your just ignorant, they are probably wiping their azzes with anything they have signed recently if they have signed anything or ever will.

Answer 10

They did. Hezbollah won nothing, but death to their own people. Also I'm not buying that 35 number declared by Nezrallah. Israelis say it was more like 500.