everyone knows i'm in over my head
I won't claim to be an expert on the numerous conflicts in the Middle East. This is just one person's opinion...
I do know that taking out an entire airport, not to mention everything else, seems to be a bit of an over-reaction.
On the other hand though, what is the right degree of reaction? If you comply with demands to release prisoners, you appear weak...and you open yourself up to similar attacks and demands. Until, one day, you can't take it any more and you don't give in and you take a stand...and you, presumably, end up right where we are now anyway.
If you don't comply, but don't retaliate, it appears that you don't care. And, it's hard forego military action and use diplomatic channels when the offending parties are terroristic groups.
Partly, I feel badly for the Palestinians and the Lebanese, as they are pawns in a much larger strategy, orchestrated by the powers that be in Syria and Iran. Yet, my sympathy has a hard time stretching too far, as these countries and these people have their own minds, and could opt not to stoke the fires of war.
Plus, it's instinctual to be defensive of Israel's actions when someone you care about is there while parts of Israel are being attacked.
But, my instincts also tell me that one column I read today was right. Hezbollah may have overplayed its hand this time. Although some Arabs celebrated in the streets when Hezbollah attacked and then captured Israeli soldiers, I don't know that this will turn out well at all for them in the end. Olmert is new, and he is likely wanting to prove himself as a strong leader. Israel doesn't seem likely to back down.
posted by Jenni @ 11:37 PM
2 comments:
I don't think anybody has the higher moral ground over there anymore. They've all done terrible things. The Arab nations are overrun with terrorists who will stop at nothing. On the other hand just a couple of weeks ago one Israeli soldier was kidnapped and the Israeli army invaded the Gaza strip in grand retaliation. For myself I don't defend either side as a whole at this point, preferring instead to go on a case-by-case basis. There's just too much hatred and intolerance in the Middle East. Even as I wrote that, I had to mentally amend that to too much hatred and intolerance everywhere, period.
My thoughts and prayers go out to David, and his safe return. My heart goes out to you, too. I can only guess how terrifying this is for you and you have my whole-hearted support, always. *hug*
We certainly haven't had any high moral ground over there, that's for damned sure, and we made certain of that back in 1948, when we decided to rip the Palestinians out of their land just to give it to the Israelis. That's what much of the terrorism has been about over the decades, going all the way back to when terrorism amounted to nothing more than a hijacked plane, to when Israeli athletes were killed in the Munich Olympics, and all the way up to 9/11.
In part (and I know this is going to sound terribly conspiratorial), I can't help but feel that the U.S. Government, regardless of the party in power, wants to keep the Middle East unstable. It has helped to continually inflate the prices of oil, and, I think, it has also helped to manipulate the opinions and feelings of the American public and thereby influence their support, or the lack thereof (depending on what was needed), for the policies implemented in that part of the world.
Nonetheless, I hope those you care for in Israel remain safe.
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