They say ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’.  I doubt that’s what Hezbollah leaders had in mind when they made up a deck of cards featuring Israeli Military leaders they want to assassinate. Of course, the military deck of cards goes back to at least World War II when the Allies gave soldiers decks with German airplanes or other military knowledge to learn.    More recently, the US Army gave soldiers during Iraqi freedom cards with the ‘Most Wanted’ including Saddam (the ace of spades) and his men on them.  During news reports, it was common for correspondents and anchors to refer to the hunt or capture of certain high-ranking targets by their card value. When the US killed Saddam’s sons pictures of the ace of clubs and hearts showed up on TV.

Now a Kuwaiti newspaper reports that Hezbollah, the Iran backed group that virtually controls Lebanon, has their own deck of cards. Leaders of the group blame Israel for the assassination of two of its leaders and now want revenge.  What better way to let everybody know who they are looking for than the deck of cards.    According to the Al Rai newspaper, a Kuwaiti Arabic language paper, “Hezbollah sources did not mention all the names on the cards but only said that the cards include for example Meir Dagan, the Mossad Chief, Ehud Olmert, Dan Halouts, Gabby Ashkinazi and Amos Yielden.”

Its unclear how they came up with their list or how they are distributing the cards. At some level though, one must wonder if they know about the compliment paid to American military thinkers who figured out the deck of cards more than six decades ago.