Israelis step up attacks against Lebanon: Death toll from attacks rises to 57
Hezbollah, Israel trade attacks
I suppose I should begin by saying that violence is NEVER the answer. War begets war, which only begets more suffering, dying, and heartache. Gandhi was right when he said that an eye for an eye only leaves the whole world blind. Killing more Arabs or Israelis only makes for what the late Yitzhak Rabin described as “more blood and tears.”
Having said that, though, I can understand, even if I’m not wholeheartedly behind, Israel’s push into Gaza and Lebanon. How many provocations, how many kidnapped soldiers, how many bus and pizza parlor bombings must Israel endure before it is allowed to stand up and fight? While the UN and the rest of the “civilized” world appeals for restraint, radical Islamofascists continue the indiscriminate murder of Israeli civilians. When do we allow Israel to defend itself? It’s not as if Israel is asking for anything unreasonable. After all, if a country cannot defend itself for senseless violence, how long do you think it will survive.
Let’s consider the reality here: Israel is a tiny country- roughly the same size as New Jersey and 12 miles wide at it’s narrowest point. It’s surrounded on three sides by Arab countries (and water on the fourth), most of whom still officially hate Isreal and are sworn to it’s destruction. Look at this map, and tell me if you can see the “threat” Israel poses to the rest of the Middle East:
If you faced an enemy directtly beyond (and sometimes within) your borders, wouldn’t you expect to be able to take action to defend your country and your people when necessary? I may not always agree with the methods Israel uses to defend itself, but I do firmly believe that she needs to be allowed to do what she thinks is necessary to protect her people. The US did the same thing by invading Afghanistan after 9.11 (and, boy, didn’t THAT turn out well, eh??). We were attacked, and we responded by going after those we felt were responsible. This is probably as it should be.
In a perfect world, adversaries would be able to talk their way through issues. In this something-less-than-perfect world, though, terrorists kill innocent civilians as a means of bringing attention to their political agenda and their religion. In doing this, they lose sight of the fact that a just and righteous God does not advocate the senseless murder of innocent civilians, nor does He advocate conducting warfare by any means available.
If you cannot live by the rules of civlized nations, you cannot expect to be treated in a civilized manner. If your idea of a just act of war is to blow yourself up in a crowded mall or on a crowded bus, you deserve to be hunted down and killed like the animal you are. Americans feel that way- and justifiably so- about the 9.11 terrorists. We should be able to recognize that Israel deserves the same leeway.
It’s doubtful that Israel’s incursions into Gaza or Lebanon will solve their problems or defeat the terrorist threat they’ve faced since 1948. Nonetheless, if we grant ourselves permission to wage war against terrorists, then we owe the same consideration to Israel.
And what about Lebanon? Well, for the Lebanese government, it’s a pretty simple proposition. Stop giving Hezbollah over the southern part of your country, and Israel will retreat within it’s borders. If you are going to provide safe haven to an organization sworn to the destruction of Israel, they you’re going to have to get used to being viewed as an enemy- because that’s in fact what you are. Reign in Hezbollah, act like a good neighbor, and I’d be willing to bet that Israel will respect your sovereignty and leave you alone.
The question, of course, is whether or not the Lebanese government has the political will to do the right thing. From where I sit, it’s difficult to see that happening any time soon.
And so the violence, the death, and the suffering continues- on both sides. Same as it ever was.
