snapped shot

From an (cr)AP article, comes this bit of news...

[...] Israel [...] militants [...] attacks [...] blockade ...

Hmm, dang, that didn't come out right. Let me try again...

Gaza militants [...] bruising [...] people ...

Shoot. Nope. That ain't it.

Intense [...] air [...] underscored [...] navy...

Dang it!! I can't seem to get this right. Ok, one more time...

Gaza [...] pulls [...] out [...] Gaza...

[...] militants [...] raid [...] snapped [...] shot...

THAT'S IT!! Yeah, that one got the gist of the article perfectly. I am so glad I can use up to four words now free of charge. I can now perfectly express what the writers of this (cr)AP article were intent on saying and sharing with us their readers. So, AMY TEIBEL, how does it feel to be quoted saying these things? And did you really see militants raid SnappedShot central?

It would appear that Jeff Swanson of Open Fire has found some examples of Hezbullah militants launching rockets from inside of residential buildings. Nothing explains the destruction seen throughout southern Lebanon more than the referenced video.

UPDATE 16:30 EST: It appears that Victor Davis Hanson has mentioned that Qana was a "favored missile-launching site against Israel" prior to it being bombed by the IDF. In light of this, all of the posturing of the dead afterwards does seem rather cynical, does it not?

I've said that Israel is fighting an enemy which wears no uniform, one which takes comfort in hiding its martial forces behind civilians. I've run across a couple of photographs on Getty Images which illustrate that point very well. (Click on the picture for a clearer view.) Notice this man in the foreground. He appears to have just gotten off of a scooter, and is clearly carrying weapons. Fortunately, the photographer has cleared up his identity in the caption, which reads,

Beirut, LEBANON: A Hezbollah militant stands underneath a picture of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following the UN-brokered ceasefire 14 August 2006 in Beirut's Shiite stronghold southern suburbs, an area frequently targeted by Israeli bombardment. Hezbollah activists today handed out posters claiming victory in the Shiite militant group's conflict against Israel, hours after both sides ended hostilities. AFP PHOTO/Haitham MUSSAWI (Photo credit should read HAITHAM MUSSAWI/AFP/Getty Images)

Ok, so it's now clear: This is a Hezbullah militant. The only sign of a uniform is the camouflage pants he's wearing, and the ammunition belt around his waist.

It's worth mentioning that we have seen very few photographs of dead male "civilians" between the ages of 16 and 40 on the wires. I can't even point to a single example of a photograph showing an adult male body, that hasn't been covered by a sheet! While I don't think the press is hiding these pictures overtly, I'm sure someone at Hezbullah is doing their best to keep images like that off of the wires. First of all, it wouldn't behoove them to have images of men in civilian clothes with war-inflicted wounds. It also helps their cause to know that the press prefers heart-rendering pictures of little, dead children, rather than illustrating for us the nature of the Hezbullah guerilla forces.

Nevertheless, when "civilians" such as the gentleman above are killed by Israel, you can bet that they'll end up on the list of "innocent" civilians murdered by the evil Zionist pigs.

It would seem that Reuters might be working to improve their image, or at least, that's the best explanantion I can come up with for their latest photo highlight.

ATTENTION EDITORS - REUTERS PICTURE HIGHLIGHT TRANSMITTED BY 1153 GMT ON AUGUST 10, 2006. FROM TOP

EAT 03
Women mourn after a rocket hit a house in the northern Israeli town of Deir al-Assad.

JER 101D
An Israeli soldier rests before a mission into Lebanon at a gathering point near the Israel-Lebanon border. REUTERS NEWS PICTURES, SINGAPORE

Highlighting a photograph sympathetic towards the Israelis? I'm impressed! Now, how about we humanize it a bit more by clarifying that Hezbullah hit a house, instead of leaving it as a lifeless, unconnected "rocket" in the minds of the reader? (link pending)

Catcing up on what we missed while sleeping overnight.

It seems that LGF has discovered that the Red Cross might be actively helping Hezbullah. Not a bad goal for a "peaceful" organization, right?

Richard North, from EUReferendum, seems to have some colorful commentary on the latest foiled terrorist plot in the UK. It also appears that LGF is on the story.

And, browsing the wires, I came acros this gem, which is apparently trying to cement the Israel-United States connection in the minds of Arabs worldwide. Hint to David: They have all the help they need already.

An Israeli soldier, wearing an United States bandana, has camouflage make up applied to his face as troops gather along the Lebanon border preparing to enter southern Lebanon in northern Israel Thursday Aug. 10, 2006. Israel has put plans for a new ground offensive in Lebanon on hold to give a chance to cease-fire efforts, senior government officials said Thursday, a day after Israel's Security Cabinet approved a major expansion of the monthlong war. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

I'm sure we're in for yet another fun day.

Israeli soldiers stand on their tank with a poster picturing a Jewish Rabbi as troops gather in northern Israel near the Israeli-Lebanon border August 9, 2006. REUTERS/Petr Josek (ISRAEL)

I'm sure the point of this picture is to equate the Israeli "conquerors" with Islamists who carry around large banners of their leaders, as well. Anyone out there know what this is really a picture of? And what the caption says?

I can't stress enough the difference between the way Hezbullah (and Lebanon) acts, and the way that the IDF (and Israel) does.

I mean, let's consider this:



These people are obviously upset over the dead. That's understandable, though the press still doesn't give us any clues as to whether the bodies being bandied about here are really innocent civilians, or whether they're Hezbullah combatants.

Now, compare it with this:



Let me just say once again that the biggest difference between Israel and Lebanon in this conflict is that Israel, in a defensive manner, helps its citizens move away from the falling Katyusha rockets, in order to help prevent casualties.

Lebanon, on the other hand, has shown a gross negligence towards its citizens, presumably at the suggestion of Hezbullah, which has shown a mastery at manipulating the press which can hardly be surpassed. Dead civilians, according to Hezbullah, make for better press, so every effort is made to ensure that military operations are performed from within civilian areas.



I think that difference alone illustrates who is behaving honorably in this conflict. What do you think?