Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Winner and Losers - Lebanon War

Biggest Winner - Iran
At the start of the war Iran was under intense pressure for its nuclear program. Because of this war, that pressure has substantially shrunk. Their support for Hezbollah, at almost no cost, has been seen as decisive in aiding a small terrorist organization to fight the most powerful army in the Middle East to at worst a draw.

Other Winners - Hezbollah, Syria
Surviving to fight another day is often a victory (see Dunkirk). Hezbollah survived. All Syria had to do was stand on the sidelines and watch and they have seen their influence grow exponentially.
every hand's a winner
And every hand's a loser
And the best you can hope for
Is to die in your sleep. ~ Kenny Rogers, The Gambler
Biggest Losers - Civilians on both sides
Women, children, non-combatants died by the hundreds. Tens of thousands were driven from their homes on both sides for a hellish month. For what?

Other Losers - Israel
When you are supposed to win by a knockout in the third round, getting beaten bloody while going the distance to take a narrow split decision feels a whole lot like losing. Ask Apollo Creed. Does anyone remember why Israel started the war? They wanted to force the return of two soldiers captured by Hezbollah. What is the fate of those two men? I don't know, but they haven't been returned.

Art is Winners and Losers by Arnold Friberg.

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