Quite right, Doc Tater

Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), Feb 13, 2008 at 04:49

It is not perhaps correct to describe Israel's northern border as "blissfully quiet". But comparatively, it's been at least "quiet"; from what I've searched, much of the conflict is within Lebanon, now the result of an internal power struggle, albeit with additional influence from Syria. Who's to say how much of Lebanon's current pro-western leadership against Hezbollah is motivated by the consequence of Hezbollah's attempt against Israel in 2006 and the resulting damage to Lebanon, estimated in the billions of dollars.

You are quite right in stating the importance of source information. All one has to do is type in "Hezbollah - Lebanon" and do a search on "news", and differing views of Lebanon's predicament are revealed.

I do remember President Bush stating, repeatedly, "Israel has the right to defend herself.", during the 2006 war. Music to my ears. Casualty wise, Lebanon was the loser. Monitarily, Lebanon was the loser. I've read articles trying to state Israel as the loser. I just don't see it, and I haven't seen any evidence of Hezbollah's rockets flying into Israel ever since. I also have not seen humanitarian efforts flowing out of Syria.

Mubarrak saw billions of dollars of damage done by IDF to Lebanon. Money transends culture, race, and religion. Mubarrak is also observing the aftermath of Islamism being forced inward against it's own country, in the example of Lebanon.

I agree that UNIFIL is practically worthless. But I don't think Israel's offensive in 2006 is getting the credit it deserves. "Dispraportionate use of military force", a phrase used by many to criticize Israel during that war, has, in my opinion, had lasting benefit for Israel. U.N. opinion be damned, world-wide opinion be damned. It was the last time Israel acted militarily without "consent", and I think it was admirable. And regardless of anyone's opinion, it can't be denied that Israel has not been attacked by Hezbollah since. Not because UNIFIL "stepped in". Because Israel "stomped on".

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".