The photos of Israeli children writing messages on shells destined for Lebanon provoked a flood of condemnation. It is great, however, that at least the children are not yet brainwashed. They know the enemy, and they hate him. They feel no compassion for the Lebanese. And why should they? The Lebanese willingly host Hezbollah and cheer its attacks on Israel.
The Americans, Russians, and British who bombed Germany during World War II made no attempt to distinguish between soldiers and non-combatants, between Nazis and their few opponents. Americans expressed no official regret over the millions they killed in Vietnam, and scores of other nations have been similarly unconcerned with enemy civilian casualties.
Americans cheered the bombing of Tokyo and Dresden, and the Russians felt great about shelling Berlin. It’s nice to see your enemies dead.
The line between soldiers and civilians is entirely artificial and has never never been observed in war. Hezbollah exists only because Lebanese civilians welcome and hide it, provide logistics and moral support, even finance it now since it joined the Lebanese government.
Hezbollah is not a group of bandits that holds the population hostage. The Lebanese freely elected Hezbollah. Israel fights not criminals but a regular, official army sent by a duly elected government. Hezbollah remains a major part of the Lebanese government and parliament after it started the war. Lebanese officials keep good working relations with Hezbollah staff. Hezbollah is not ousted from government, nor are its actions denounced. Israel is fighting the state of Lebanon, not a bunch of insurgents. And so the people of Lebanon, the source of its government’s legitimacy, funds, and military capability, are a proper target for Israeli attacks.
Targeting the home front would be acceptable even if it were entirely vindictive, since vengeance can be just. Recall a 1927 French court decision that acquitted Schlomo Schwartzbard—who killed Petlyura. Targeting the home front, however, is a proper military tactic. It efficiently breaks up support for the enemy army. Such popular support is especially indispensable for a guerilla army like Hezbollah. All armies during all popular wars have targeted the supporting population, generally without restraint. Israel cannot fight a Hezbollah that is indistinguishable from the Lebanese people. Israel should fight the Lebanese spearheaded by Hezbollah.
Learn from your children. Know your enemy.
Hamas, Hezbollah, you're right, they are also politcal problems, and have much domestic support, are mass-based etc.What to do?Disputed territories like Gaza are murky, at least to me, but Lebanon is somewhat clear in that there seems to be some room for internal opposition to Hezbollah policies, the murderous/militant ones that are pushing the country to destruction.The Christian Science Monitor had an editorial cartoon some days ago, it was a boy whose shirt read "LEBANON" with an apple atop his head a la William Tell, reading "HEZBOLLAH". I ask: Hey, kid, how did that rotten apple get on your head?
Agreed. Let them rid themselves of Hezbollah if they do not wish this to continue. The Lebanese must stop allowing, even encouraging, Hezbollah to fire rockets into Israel to kill civilians and finally to send militia onto Israeli soil to kill and capture Israeli soldiers.These are acts of war condoned by the legitimate government of Lebanon. Though the Lebanese have taken civilian losses in spite of Israeli restraint, it is deserved. If you lie down with dogs, you may die with them.
One Man's Terrorist is another Man's Freedom Fighter———————————————————–Amazing blog. I totally agree. This present situation has been provoked by hezbollah and its up to them to stop firing their rockets. I believe Israel must give al civilians 2 days to evacuate responding only to destroy active rocket launchers.After 2 days blast the living hell out of everything in sight. The lebanese PM is equally responsible for the current state of affairs. Israel does not need to apologise to anyone. I am sure that after this all parties in the MiddleEast will think twice before trying to blackmail Israel.Violence is not a way to solve things but people have to understand that if you throw a stone at someone they might throw a few bricks back.All non-Islamic nations are at threat here. If the message goes out that you can kidnap a few soldiers and get your prisoners released then we will have UN / NATO / Aliied soldiers being kidnapped left-right and centre with entire countries being held to ransom by Islamic militants.Another interesting point is that Hezbollah tells its fighters that their families will be cared for if they die. I think now these people will not buy that as much because they can see that their leaders/ protectors have put their families more at risk by such miscalculated operations. Disclaimer:All opinions expressed are my own
To Lambert Fernandes: I mostly agree with everything you've said, but I'll quibble somewhat with your quote of the old idiocy, 'v*iolence is not a way to solve anything'; in fact, * solves lots of things definitively, and is perfectly appropriate in many circumstances.
Sorry for the gap in the previous post; my censoring software is ferocious. The * refers to the word * * * * * * * .
Ok…so that didn't work either; the word is sort of a homonym for 'violins'; how's that?
Indeed, it is quite the opposite - the children have clearly been "brainwashed". What a sad state humanity is in when our children are encouraged to support violence. Doc, violence doesn't solve anything and your cavalier attitude is disturbing. In the case of the ongoing violence in the Middle East, it has only over-shadowed the underlying issues of conflict. Violence continues indefinitely, thus the problem has not been solved. If one party to a conflict is successful in completely wiping out its opponent, total genocide, I suppose you could say that the problem was "solved" in a sickingly, distorted, inhuman perspective. But then, that would make you a supporter of genocide. How do you plead?
SRS,"Indeed, it is quite the opposite - the children have clearly been 'brainwashed'."Indeed, the children have clearly been brainwashed by missiles landing in their living rooms. Don't worry, I have every confidence that YOU would still be a hippie, even after living in a bomb shelter for two months straight.
I understand that anger arising out of fear towards someone who poses a threat to your well being and even your life is a natural reaction. If a missile landed in my living room, I'd be pissed (if not dead). If I had to live in a bomb shelter for months, I'd be pissed. But I'd also maintain my basic moral principle that two wrongs don't make a right. The Israeli children, and people, have every right to be upset…so do the Lebanese. They all have bombs in their livingrooms, they are all living in bomb shelters. So now what? What's gonna give here? I'm not saying I have an answer. Not even sure there is one. But, I do know that when children are encouraged to support violence, we have a serious problem.
A wrong that extinguishes another wrong is not a wrong
I wish that more people would look to God's word for the answers. He has much to say concerning the last days and these conflicts in Isaiah, Jeremiah,and Ezekiel as well as minor prophets. Anyway know this. In the end His Kingdom will prevail.