Middle East Crisis

Are they officially at war? The BBC are still calling it 'Middle East Crisis' on their website. Surely it would be 'Middle East War'?

Well it's hardly a Middle East War, but it is certainly an Israel-Hezbollah (or Lebanon if you want to stir up some controversy) war.

This is why critics of Israel have been suggesting that they have broken the international rules of engagement that cover wars- the idea of proportionate response to an aggressive act etc.

If god-forbid Syria and/or Iran get directly dragged into the conflict (again, the controversial viewpoint is that they indirectly control Hezbollah), then I think we are looking at a Middle East War that frankly has catastrophic consequences for Western Europe.

Such as....?

Is it just me or has Huw been pretty poor so far?

I think it's his lack of experience in the field showing. Yes he's from a journalistic background, but unfortunately that background didn't involve him getting much further from TVC than Whitehall.

Ben Brown has actually been a better anchor.

Perhaps Huw will settle in, but if not he should be sent off on holiday and the anchoring left to those with foreign experience.

The BBC's Chris Eakin is now also in Beirut...

What happened to Caroline Hawley? She's just vanished - I haven't heard or seen her anywhere.

A very good point! When you think, trouble seems to follow her around! Let's hope she's not been made Wales correspondent...

Wasn't she sent to kabul?

Agree that Huw Edwards is not at all suited to this current story.

Because?

Sorry for not expanding on this previously. This perhaps isn't the best forum to get into a political debate, but suffice it to say that if Iran and Syria get dragged into a Middle East war, you start getting into the territory of endangering the new Europe's Eastern border. Turkey will find themselves in almost impossible situation- split between their new Western obligations and their muslim population. In these days of collective protection, this could result in further escalations and widening of the war zone. It would be likely to further endanger Western troops currently deployed in muslim countries- Iraq and Afghanistan for starters. It would also be likely to create a mass movement of refugees heading West, which will put extra pressure on resources.

That's a very simple argument that really requires great expansion.

Yes, but Iran and Syria have no intention of getting involved.

Erm... right.

a) Turkey isn't even in the EU yet, and won't be for a long, long time.

b) Why on Earth do you think they would get involved? Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia all have predominantly Muslim populations but I doubt they would be clamouring over each other to get involved in any war. As it stands, they have done all they can to distance themselves.

c) In your comments is the implict suggestion that West + Muslim = incompatible.

d) IF Syria and Iran get involved? Sorry, do you not understand what is happening in the middle east at all? Do you think this is just an independent faction in the Lebanon firing rockets they've made themselves at Israel?