1. BobW said:

Re: WT's "Defanging Hezbollah"

Agree the WT editors offered no solution - although there is one.

This editorial, along with the numerous additional articles and editorials on this same subject and region, reminds me of identifying the ancient groups such as the Sons of Light, the Sons of Thuth, the Sons of Zadok (Zaddikim [Zadokites]), the Melchizedek, the Ebionim, the Hassidim (the Essenes), the Nozrim (Nazareans). The list continues. Is Hezbollah unique?

Hezbollah is being identified as a distinct and unique political organization with a military component. This is technically correct although serving no purpose because the response to all existential threats have common denominators. How much does it matter whether the threat maintains a secular ideology or an Islamic one? To defang Hezbollah requires the fielding of a modern military establishment. Israel lacks this - tracable to the lack of a modern government.

Can Hezbollah be defanged? Was the Japanese Imperial Army allowed to exist? There are problems in closing down Hezbollah but they're not impossible to meet.

Operation Grapes of Wrath was a nominal military operation with planned limited (repeat: limited) targets. This operation did not hurt Hezbollah on purpose. Zahal was given the assignment needing a civilian political foundation to really address. This is called a government. Israel did not want to provoke a terrorist offensive by Hezbollah. The blame gets attached to Zahal but the fingerprints should be those of what passes for a government in Israel. A terrorist offensive by Hezbollah would not be in northern Israel but rather Israeli and Jewish (repeat: and Jewish) targets globally, eg Buernos Aires.

Can the US defeat Hezbollah? Does the US want to?

The editorial's flaw is distinguishing between short range and long range rockets. Modern governments prepare similiar responses to any hostile military forces near their frontiers or placing the country's territorial integrity at risk. Israel is not modern.

I question the accuracy and import of the phrase that Hezbollah "managed to drive Israel,...,out of Southern Lebanon.". Israel made a strategic decision to withdraw, along with Pat Robertson's funded South Lebanese Army.

What the heck does the Washington Institute for Near East Policy have to do with the safety of Israel?!

In large organizations only 2 elements need be looked at; personnel and finance. This relates to Hezbollah's supplies and Israel's antique government.

Kol tuv,
BobW