July 16, 2006

The Attack on the Hanit

Hezbollah's attack on the Hanit raises quite a number of questions, and makes it increasingly difficult to see how a peaceful resolution of this crisis can be achieved - especially if the Lebanese military is giving Hezbollah vital intelligence.

The Israeli Navy has become accustomed to absolute freedom of action in the Mediterranean. But on Friday the Hanit missile ship, fitted with what was supposed to be a peerless defense system, was hit, and four sailors killed, by a sophisticated Iranian-made missile that Israeli intelligence didn't know Hizbullah had.

The attack was facilitated in part by the Lebanese Army, which apparently gave Hizbullah precise information relating to the Hanit - the same Lebanese Army that Israel, in its stated aims for this conflict, has said it insists on seeing deployed in the south as a barrier to a continued Hizbullah threat. With a protective force like that, one might ask, who needs enemies?

But as we think about the geopolitical implications (and what was going on tactically that allowed this ship's defenses to be penetrated), let's not forget those who are being hurt in the crossfire. I've seen very little coverage of the fact that an Egyptian ship was also hit, and subsequently abandoned, in this attack.

Posted by armand at July 16, 2006 02:00 PM | TrackBack | Posted to War


Comments

If the Lebanese armed forces are giving Hezbollah intel, the Lebanese government (or some faction thereof) OK'd it. And that goes a long way to explain why Israel is widening its attacks in Lebanon.

More and more, I get the feeling that, after every peace initiative has gone nowhere, after two intifadas and innumerable suicide bombers, AND after watching the Bush Administration completely bollux its Grand Mid-East Realignment strategy... after all that, I think Isreal's leadership said "Screw this. We're taking the lead, and all bets are off."

It doesn't comfort me to think that. I feel awful for the civilians caught in this wildfire - I esp. feel awful for the Lebanese, who had done so much to rebuild after their long civil war - but I can also understand Israel's decision.

Posted by: CaseyL at July 16, 2006 10:33 PM | PERMALINK

Casey,
I think most of your analysis fits, but I can't help wonder if it isn't easier for Israel to strike back considering we have so many troops, planes, ships, etc not far away at all. Who's to say, for instance, if Israel and Iran get into it on one front, that we won't attack Iran on another front? After all, they've been supporting the insurgency in its attacks on our forces for years, and the Iraqis aren't exactly they're best pals even if they are Shia, what with the scars from the Iran-Iraq war. This is probably Israel's best opportunity in years to realign the Middle East.

Posted by: Morris at July 17, 2006 08:22 AM | PERMALINK

I see it just the opposite way - b/c of Iraq we've made Iran a great deal stronger, which it makes it much more threatening, and thereby something that (along with its allies) Israel thinks it has to deal with now, instead of holding out and hoping a peace deal (to de-nuje Iran) gets established between now and when Iran gets a nuke (which is still some years away). And perhaps more importantly the utter ineptitude of Bush foreign policy might well think that 1) the US shouldn't be trusted to carry out a military operation to de-nuke Iran (at least for a tiny bit of time until they rebuild) and 2) there seems little chance that diplomacy can possibly work to stop Iran while Bush and friends are in the White House.

And since Bush has basically said he'll support anything Israel does, well they feel they have a free hand - and Bush's actions have contributed to why they have to use it now.

And of course there could be all sorts of machinations and helpful intel and more flowing between the US and Israel, which wouldn't surprise me in the least - but I really don't think Israel feels safer just b/c of our giant troop presence in the region. Our endless-no-matter-what political support is more valuable to them.

Posted by: Armand at July 17, 2006 10:47 AM | PERMALINK
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