Here are some interesting points.
The 8 IDF men were not killed during the kidnappings as the ISraeli propaganda machine would have you believe. They were killed after an embarrassed IDF commander ordered a pursuit of the kidnappers, this resulted int eh obliteration of a Merkava (and instant death for its 4 crew members) and the destruction of a couple of other vehicles incurring more casualties.
Israel did no damage whatsoever to Hezbollah's infrastructure, its tactic was to destroy Lebanon and hope that the Sunnis and Christians would turn against them.
The two kidnapped soldiers were not in the sight of any covering fire (HIGHLY CONTRARY TO IDF PROTOCOL ON THE LEBANESE BORDER) - in other words this kidnapping was anticipated given that:
Hezbollah soldiers are under orders to "exploit" any weaknesses in the Israeli line and to kidnap soldiers on an indefinite basis. There was no "Green light" from Iran. Iran had nothing to do with it. HEzbollah declared its intentions to carry out kidnappings after Ariel Sharon pulled out of a plan for prisoner exchange three years ago. ANOTHER LIE perpetuated by the Israeli propaganda machine, both in Israel and in the US, where any criticism of ISrael's policies can well lead to you losing your job, as exemplified in this analysis.
This analysis comes in three parts, it is very good reading. Enjoy.
HOW HEZBOLLAH DEFEATED ISRAEL
PART 2: Winning the ground war
PART 3: The political war
By Alastair Crooke and Mark Perry
Edited by Zagros - 27-Oct-2006 at 08:54