Hizbollah's tactics denounced as war crimes

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Hesbollah is a terrorist organization ... Israel is not, therefore, their actions are inexcusable.

This statement implicitly condones Hizbollah's actions -- even Amnesty International (not exactly fans of Israel) didn't do that.

Keep in mind the weaponry as well, the Katyusha is unreliable and imprecise, it scatters it's load pretty much randomly ... Israeli weapons are high-precision that can hit a target two meters large.

So we have are supposed to judge Hizbollah by WW2 targeting standards and the IDF by USA media standards?

Hesbollah used pretty much standard guerilla and terrorist tactics ... but that is expected, they are a terrorist organization.

Again, your phrasing implies approval -- I assume that was not your intent.

Israeli bombing of civilian areas qualifies as a war crime ... and it should be treated as such. The commanding officers and politicans responsible (or even in a position of knowing and not stopping such outright illegal targets) should be tried as they deserve.

So any bombing of a civilian area is a war-crime, regardless of intent or the presence of enemy forces firing at you? If that truly is your position, I have little empathy for it.

Try this analogous and hypothetical example on for size:

A Norfolk, Virginia police officer, on foot patrol, observes a burglary in progress, calling on the alleged criminals to stop. They turn and fire their weapons at her and she responds in kind. They miss, as does she. Unfortunately, her bullet travels past her target, through the front window of a nearby home, and kills a child watching TV. Your approach to war crimes would have her on trial for manslaughter as though she had purposely targeted the child!

Even in a police situation -- normally viewed as being under TIGHTER rules of engagement constraints than actual combat -- the shooter is unlikely to be brought up on charges, yet you would hold combat soldiers to this virtually impossible higher standard. I can't agree.


Did the IDF kill Lebanese civilians -- yes.
Did the IDF attack damage Hamas enough to be worth the cost in lives and general "agitation" on the Arab street -- very debatable.
Could the IDF have done a better job of minimizing civilian casualties even in difficult circumstances -- quite possibly.

That does not rise to the level of war crimes.