Middle East

[Belson17]

I think Israel is totally justified in taking the action the have so far. What about you guys?

[OneofaKind]

I'm not to sure. Hesbolah doesn't seem to be affected by this while innocent people are bearing the brunt of their actions

[vicki2]

I'm mixed on the whole thing ...and not certain. The only thing I'm certain of is that with this current conflict there, I'm not certain peace will ever be achieved between them without an all out war with a clearly defined winner.

[Belson17]

Originally Posted by OneofaKind

I'm not to sure. Hesbolah doesn't seem to be affected by this while innocent people are bearing the brunt of their actions

What should Israel do? Just let Hesbollah kidnap their soldiers unprovoked? Unfortunately in war, innocent people die. How about the A-Bomb in WWII? Hundreds of thousand innocent people died but few criticize Truman's decision to drop it. Unfortunately, Hesbollah doesn't want peace. They want to wipe Israel off the face of the map.

[Belson17]

It amazes me how many people in the world protest against Israel but not against terrorist groups like Hezballah

[brian]

Personally I think the Israeli action is too heavy handed. Can you think of *any* anti-terror situation where shelling settlements and killing hundreds of civilians could be justified?

For decades Britain was routinely targeted by the IRA, and they had plenty of support among the Catholic population in Northern Ireland - but whatever responses the British made, at least they didn't send in tanks and fighter jets to destroy the Belfast housing estates, in the hope of hitting a few IRA terrorists and their supporters.

At present Israel is talking about flattening entire villages, and justifying it by saying that anyone who has remained there can only be treated as a terrorist.

Would that sort of attitude be tolerated in the US - if the Federal government wanted to clear out a few potential McVey's in Colarado by shelling Boulder and surorunding towns?

I know it's a complex and heated discussion topic, though. Just my personal 2c.

[brian]

ADDED: It's worth considering what the long term outcomes of this will be. BBC World Affairs editor, John Simpson, suggests that the only long term winner in the current situation is militant Islam, and further demonisation of the West in the eyes of Muslims.

[vicki2]

Simpson has a point, but through this whole conflict, I'm being quite careful to balance BBC coverage and commentary with opposing views too. But I will admit I think Israel is looking pretty bad at the moment!

[OneofaKind]

Originally Posted by Belson17

What should Israel do? Just let Hesbollah kidnap their soldiers unprovoked? Unfortunately in war, innocent people die. How about the A-Bomb in WWII? Hundreds of thousand innocent people died but few criticize Truman's decision to drop it. Unfortunately, Hesbollah doesn't want peace. They want to wipe Israel off the face of the map.

Israel must definitely defend itself. I would never say otherwise.

However, like Brian I believe their response is to heavy handed.

Yes hesbollah may have no desire for peace, but must the whole of Lebanon suffer for it.

[vicki2]

As this situation continues, I can't help but wonder what will happen even if they do sit down for peace talks. Do terrorists, like Hezbollah, even want peace?