LEBANON , JULY / AUGUST , 2006
There is no doubt that parts of Lebanon are being reduced to rubble in an alleged attempt by Israel to remove Hezbollah from its positions in southern Lebanon . The wanton destruction of infrastructure can not be justified , let alone the civilian deaths that have occurred * .
If Israel wants a lasting peace in the region , it must not destroy the infrastructure of elected governments , or try to dictate their composition .
If anything , we are pro Israeli in general , but this has it's limits . What Israel is doing now is a strategic mistake , it has lost world opinion by falling for deliberate Hezbollah provocation . Who is thinking about Iran at present ? By over reacting , both in Lebanon and in Gaza , Israel is running a great long term risk and is further discrediting the Bush administration in the region .
Terrorist organisations , such as Hezbollah and their backers , do not give a damn about the civilian populations they hide amongst . In fact , they increase support ( and recruiting ) by appearing to be the only organisations fighting for the locals against the foreign aggressor(s) , even though they are losing ten to one in the " body count " .
For some reason , Israel seems to want to present a common external voice on internal politics , which is another mistake . There is significant internal dissent , which is freely and openly expressed . Israel is the only real democracy in the region , yet they do not project this . Actions speak louder than words and Israel will never have peace with it's neighbours if it continues along it's present path .
As for the actions of the Bush administration in this business , they have just about lost the last of their foreign policy creditability .
If we are going to stop terrorism , it has to be attacked at it's roots and this is not the way to do it . A workable strategy is to fund public education in areas where radical fundamentalists run Islamic schools . Parents thinking that Islamic madrases are the only way they can educate their children have been knowingly misled by these brain washers . Radical Islamists rely on shaky arguments and are unwilling to engage in philosophical debate at any sort of intellectual level . Training children not to think for themselves provides a supply of unthinking adult followers to be further moulded into terrorists .
We have to support moderate Muslims , not offend them . What is being created now is an anti western , in general , and an anti US ( and it's proxies ) , in particular , collation of Iran , North Korea and assorted terrorists .
May we have a ceasefire NOW!
* Israel's justification of destroying infrastructure to prevent rocket attacks is specious . Firstly , no doubt a significant number of these weapons are already stockpiled in Lebanon and cutting supply lines will not stop the attack for some time . The most effective way of dealing with this threat is what is known as " counter battery fire " , which Israel is effectively employing along with ground attack aircraft sorties . If Hezbollah & Co choose to hide in civilian areas , there is a risk of civilian deaths , but not on the scale of what is occurring , AND the local population sees Hezbollah as the cowards they are . ( Note : Hezbollah does provide local humanitarian etc. aid , it is not all bad . )
Needless to say , we hope the current ceasefire holds .
May Israel now reflect upon it's strategy and the quality of it's Intelligence in this " War " .
CONVENTION I
For the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field , Geneva , 12 August 1949 .
Art. 46. Reprisals against the wounded , sick , personnel , buildings or equipment protected by the Convention are prohibited .
( This relates to the Red Cross etc. . )
From : genevaconventions.org
( UN Observers likewise are protected by international law . )
Junoon is a progressive Pakistani rock band which is an example of moderate Islam . ( Their music is pretty good too . )
On a lighter note :
Page 1 of 355 results containing spankoz lebanon (0.03 seconds)
OR
USE YOUR ' BACK " BUTTON TO RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE
This page was last updated : Monday, 14 August 2006
© 2006 SPANKOZ AUSTRALIA / SILVERSTREAM MARKETING
( please copy and acknowledge the source )