With the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah (Lebanon/Iran/Syria?) I wanted to discuss my thoughts from a non-theistic point of view. I know that this, coming from Orange County, may seem like a big deal but I think some of us need to step back and look at whats going on.
First, let's look at what started the current conflict in the first place. The kidnapping of an Israeli solider on Israeli soil. Some may say at this point that Israel started this conflict way before the kidnapping but what stands out is the tunnel that was built by members of Hezbollah to go grab the Israeli solider and to use him as a bargaining chip for the release of prisoners. Thus, what some may call an act of terrorism, was conducted by Hezbollah (which could be deemed a "Political Army," I'll explain later) and led Israel to react to get their solider back. Sure, this has been done before by groups in the region, an Israeli business man was kidnapped and Israel released military prisoners for his safe return. But when a solider is kidnapped, that is an act of terror/war no matter how one looks at it.
At a recent meeting that I attended a furor broke out over an emergency resolution calling for the end of the war in the middle east. I agreed in principle with the resolution, but I voted against it as it was submitted in violation of the bylaws. Yes, there is bloodshed and innocent civilians have been killed, but as one member pointed out we would be setting a double standard if Israel is asked to stop fighting over an act of terrorism while we continue to fight in Afghanistan (notice, I didn't connect Iraq with 9/11 - there is no connection). Yes, war is awful and should only be a last resort. Israel asked for their solider to be returned, he wasn't, thus the incursion into southern Lebanon.
How does one justify the killing of Innocent civilians during war? You can't, there is no excuse for the deaths of women and children. 9/11 saw the deaths of innocent civilians in both of the Trade Towers, many didn't even have a chance. They got up and went to work, but by 10am their deaths were being beamed around the world. Hezbollah launches rockets into northern Israel, not at military targets, but at civilian ones - a train station, a women on her balcony, schools, etc... And these are not ordinary rockets, these are ones with ball-barrings essentially high flying claymore mines which pierce metal and skin. Israel launches cruise missiles targeting hezbolla positions and ends up killing innocent women, children, and UN observers. In all of those cases Israel reports that Hezbollah had enemy positions right next to emergency shelters and the UN outposts (effectively using them as cover from attacks).
I'm against war but I'm also for the right of a sovereign nation to defend itself. This is an odd position, I know that, but that's why it's called "Defense" not offense. On Sunday, I was in Westwood and I saw about a hundred protesters, maybe more, out in-front of the Federal Building protesting Israel and waving Lebanese flags. As we watched the protesters, my passenger in the car said "All Hezbolla has to do is hand over the solider and this will all be over." That's my thought on the conflict, but I believe the clerics and their followers don't see this as black and white, to them this is the "End Game." How do you achieve a ceasefire with a non-sovereign state, a "Political Army" (a group, faction, idea, philosophy, etc..) or others when this is essentially a proxy war.
So how does this end? Do we place peace keepers in between two sides that essentially want to wipe each other off the face of the earth? Which countries will provide troops? Is Bush prepared to send US troops to serve as peacekeepers?
The answers to these questions are all "no" with an exception. American troops as peace keepers (armed or unarmed seems to be the million dollar question) would just become instant targets for hezbollah forces seeking to extract revenge. So far no middle eastern country is willing to send troops as Egypt, Iran, Iraq (still under construction by Haliburton), and Saudi Arabia have all sided with Hezbolla more "In principle" then supporting their current military action. The major "exception" in this case is the return of the Israel solider.
But who knows if he is still alive at this point. The fighting may be continuing because Hezbollah does not have the solider to turn over and they have lost their only bargaining chip. The only thing both sides have left is open war.
A few friends of mine sent me this picture today, and I do find the irony quite ironic. 
