[Arktwo] Unforgivable

[Bruce Beach]

Israel dropped cluster bombs in Lebanon.

I strongly support Israel 
about many things - 
but this was totally unforgivable.

Cluster bombs turn into nothing less 
than air delivered landmines. 
Children will continue to be killed by these - 
for who knows however how long.

Every time one of these goes off 
is no better in my eyes 
than an Islamist bomb carrying terrorist 
having gone into a school or pizzeria.

It was not 'illegal' protest the Israelis.
No - it was immoral. 

All is fair in love and war - 
say some.
Not true at all.
When there are no limits -
when there is complete alienation 
between actions and perceived consequences -
then humanity and the function of the human soul 
is defunct 
and there is no "rightness" to the fighting.

That can be the very argument 
against the use of airpower itself.
Pilots who would not walk down the streets 
and personally slit the throats 
of each child that they meet -
still drop bombs of any sort 
on civilian neighbourhoods,
in effect killing many children. 

The Israeli's claim that 
the other side is more evil - 
using civilian neighbourhoods 
and civilian targets like hospitals 
from which to launch their attacks 
and in which to keep their military caches.

Well maybe. 
Not even maybe. 
That is certainly true. 
But two wrongs don't make a right. 
And that is still no reason 
for dropping cluster bombs on those neighbourhoods. 

"We gave warning" 
for the civilians to get out of those areas,
say the Israelis.

Okay, true - 
but at the same time 
it was well known that Hezbollah blocked the roads 
and wouldn't let them leave, 
so as to retain them as human shields. 
Many times these were Christian Lebanese 
and not Muslim supporters of Hezbollah. 
At one time Christians made up more than 
sixty percent of Lebanon.

War is hell. 
Absolutely true. 
The actions of the devil himself -
and ever reasonable effort should be made  
to avoid it.
Nevertheless - 
sometimes it is necessary 
and the lesser of two evils. 
Both sides will see it that way - 
and that is the reason 
that it can only be prevented 
by a stronger third party - 
and ultimately - a world government. 

In the interim -
one cannot really take sides. 
While there are injustices on one side - 
there are also injustices on the other. 

One can talk all they wish 
about how past events have created 
the present situation. 
How the Jews forced the Muslims 
out of Israel - 
or how the Muslim countries 
refused to take them as refugees. 

How Israel still has 
a substantial Muslim population 
along with Muslims in its parliament (Knesset)
and opposition protests in its streets 
while Muslim countries are intolerant 
of other religions.

Whatever the past causes -
given the present circumstances - 
it is possible to see 
what the end results will be.

Muslim anger - 
justified in Western eyes or not - 
is very real 
and arises in circumstances 
with cultural differences 
incomprehensible to us in the West.

Curious report today - 
and while I cannot verify it - 
it would be ironic if true. 
Seems that Hezbollah is compensating Lebanese
who had their homes destroyed - 
with (get this) 'counterfeit' US dollars.

Whatever,
international efforts to find a solution 
are totally inadequate. 

Israel's reason for invading Lebanon 
(the capturing of two Israeli soldiers aside -
and the so-called non-proportionate response) 
was the growing Iranian arsenal being supplied 
to Iran's Shiite Hezbollah arm through Syria 
into Lebanon.
It had already reached a level 
of 13,000 rockets on hand. 
Those who fault Israel for attacking 
when it did -
should be asked - 
how many rockets should Israel have allowed there
before attacking. 
Sufficient that it would have wiped Israel out?

The International Peace Force (UNIFIL) 
is supposed to prevent such an arms build-up 
from happening again. 
However, it says that it will NOT disarm Hezbollah.  
Neither does it appear possible 
that it will be able to prevent Hezbollah 
from being resupplied. 

Syria has said that it would consider 
placing UNIFIL on its border in Lebanon 
an act of war.
As in Vietnam with the Ho Chi Minh trail - 
the border will remain porous 
and arms will continue to pour into Lebanon 
to rearm Hezbollah.

The arms come from many sources. 
Serial numbers and markings on weapon remains 
in Israel and Lebanon
have identified them as having been made in 
Syria
China 
and predominately Iran.

However, 
the most effective weapon against Israeli tanks 
came from Russia.
And it was discovered that 
Hezbollah even had night binoculars 
that came from Britain -
no matter how unintentional that may have been 
on the part of the UK.

So we can conclude that 
the UN is not going to prevent Hezbollah 
from being resupplied. 
However - 
it is interesting to note today that Europe 
(the main power behind the UN action) 
is creating obstacles to Israel being resupplied.

Headline:
Europe nixes landing rights for El Al planes with IDF cargo 

	http://tinyurl.com/lqv85
 
Today also, Muslim troops 
are joining the UNIFIL force.
That is fine with me - 
but I want to know where are the 
words and actions 
that the security of Israel is going 
to be guaranteed. 

If those words and ACTIONS 
are not forthcoming from 
China 
Russia 
Europe 
and Muslim nations 
then what other choice is there 
but for Israel to act for itself -
and that is my conclusion 
of what is about to occur.

The Sunday Times September 03, 2006 
Headline:

Israel plans for war with Iran and Syria

	http://tinyurl.com/lt8fz

Peace and love,
Bruce
DawnSayer@webpal.org