Israel mum on Hezbollah leader as target at rally

[bemildred]

(CBC) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would not rule out the possibility that Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah could be a target for assassination if he attends the militant group's "victory" rally in Beirut on Friday.

Supporters of Hezbollah are already heading to Beirut for Friday's massive rally to celebrate what Nasrallah has referred to as its"divine and historic" victory over Israel in the recent 34-day conflict.

Hezbollah officials would not say if Nasrallah, who has not been seen in public since the start of the conflict with Israel, would attend.

But when asked by the Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv whether Nasrallah is still a target for assassination, Olmert said: "There is no reason for me to notify Nasrallah through the media how we will act. We will not give him advance notice. He is holding a victory march because he has lost."

myTelus

[The Magistrate]

1. He Is Certainly A Legitimate Target, Sir

[bemildred]

2. As are we all, I suppose.

I thought this was a bit juvenile.

[The Magistrate]

4. There Is This Difference, Sir

The man has set himself up, and rather loudly, as the chief of Arab and Islamic combat against Israel, declaring, indeed, there is no better or more holy deed for a good Moslem than to give up his or her life in that struggle. There would be an undeniable satisfaction in seeing an honest man made of him, and before a sizeable audience should the opportunity be seizeable....

[bemildred]

6. There was no need to bandy it about in the press. nt

[The Magistrate]

7. That Is Certainly True, Sir

The best course would be shocked denial and indignation at even being asked, and then proceeding as planned....

"Strike number four...with disgust it was even brought up...."

[bemildred]

8. Yes.

I tend to think that the appearance of the story is no coincidence, either.

[The Magistrate]

9. Well, The Reporter Asked, After All, Sir

Hard to say if anyone put him up to it or no, beyond the editor: most journalists seem quite capable of thinking up their own foolishness without need of assistance, and expecting a straight answer to a question like this would be about as dumb as it gets....

[bemildred]

10. Hard to say, true.

Perhaps I am too cynical about these things.

[breakaleg]

3. It's amazing how they can publicly announce their willingness to murder

another human being. I say keep it up Israel! The international community will tire of your methods soon enough.

[The Magistrate]

5. That Is An Odd Statement, Sir

This man himself has made frequent statements of intent to kill, or murder if you prefer, human beings,a nd even of the desireablity of others immolating themselves in the act of killing other human beings. One-sided condemnations in these circu,mstances make no sense, and can do no good.

Further, the man is undeniably th chief of a combatant organization, and decapitation of command structures is standard doctrine. He is a wholly legitimate target for action by the Israeli military, and at any time or place he can be found.