liberalogic
Member
While Israel certainly has a right to defend itself, here are some reasons why their actions are wrong:
1) The crime does not fit the punishment. This entire war began with the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. They were being held as hostages in a failed attempt to exchange them for Hezbollah supporters imprisoned in Israel. If we think back to the late 70s, when Iran invaded the US embassy and took hundreds of hostages, the US did not resort to total warfare. We realized the consequences of such actions, and exerted as much diplomatic strength as possible.
2) Israel has exposed the depth of its arsenal to the more dangerous enemy--Iran and Syria. Because of this, Iran will be better prepared to combat Israel in this inevitable showdown.
3) Israel has finally alienated the entire Arab world. While most of Lebanon was obviously not fond of Israel, the strongest opposition was Hezbollah. Yet, Israeli attacks have killed, injured, and displaced countless Lebanese citizens. When they look to their homes and businesses, which have been reduced to debris, they will always remember that Israel is responsible. They do not see this as a casualty of war; instead, this only fuels their hatred to a new level.
Besides Lebanon, the rest of the Islamic world turns on the tv to see the lifeless bodies of innocent children. They realize that their blood is worthless and are degraded as human beings. They instinctively demand revenge. Plus, they see Israel's ground-war as an imperial threat (even though this is not Israel's intention).
This animosity plays right into the hands of Iran, whose goal it is to unite the Islamic world under its leadership to recapture the Middle East. Initially, this goal would've been more difficult because Iran is overwhelmingly Shiite, while the rest of the Islamic world favors the Sunni sect. This difference, though, becomes minimal after Israel's latest attacks. Thus, most of the Middle East will strongly support Iran, which creates a tremendous problem for the Jewish nation due to its location on the map.
4) Israel has destroyed not just Hezbollah, but Lebanon itself. This was a potential partner in peace (as it was fairly democratic), but Israel has obliterated the capital, which will scare tourists for years to come and, therefore, deplete the Lebanese economy. This creates a breedingground for instability and invites the same radical insurgencies that we see in Iraq.
Israel is not vulnerable to a military encounter with Hezbollah. Their resources dwarf any attack that the terrorist organization can make. It is the suicide bombing which will forever plague Israel. The peace and security that they hope for on their own land cannot be achieved by adding fuel to the fire. Yes, they can weaken Hezbollah, but no matter what, there will ALWAYS be countless martyrs waiting to meet their virgins.
1) The crime does not fit the punishment. This entire war began with the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. They were being held as hostages in a failed attempt to exchange them for Hezbollah supporters imprisoned in Israel. If we think back to the late 70s, when Iran invaded the US embassy and took hundreds of hostages, the US did not resort to total warfare. We realized the consequences of such actions, and exerted as much diplomatic strength as possible.
2) Israel has exposed the depth of its arsenal to the more dangerous enemy--Iran and Syria. Because of this, Iran will be better prepared to combat Israel in this inevitable showdown.
3) Israel has finally alienated the entire Arab world. While most of Lebanon was obviously not fond of Israel, the strongest opposition was Hezbollah. Yet, Israeli attacks have killed, injured, and displaced countless Lebanese citizens. When they look to their homes and businesses, which have been reduced to debris, they will always remember that Israel is responsible. They do not see this as a casualty of war; instead, this only fuels their hatred to a new level.
Besides Lebanon, the rest of the Islamic world turns on the tv to see the lifeless bodies of innocent children. They realize that their blood is worthless and are degraded as human beings. They instinctively demand revenge. Plus, they see Israel's ground-war as an imperial threat (even though this is not Israel's intention).
This animosity plays right into the hands of Iran, whose goal it is to unite the Islamic world under its leadership to recapture the Middle East. Initially, this goal would've been more difficult because Iran is overwhelmingly Shiite, while the rest of the Islamic world favors the Sunni sect. This difference, though, becomes minimal after Israel's latest attacks. Thus, most of the Middle East will strongly support Iran, which creates a tremendous problem for the Jewish nation due to its location on the map.
4) Israel has destroyed not just Hezbollah, but Lebanon itself. This was a potential partner in peace (as it was fairly democratic), but Israel has obliterated the capital, which will scare tourists for years to come and, therefore, deplete the Lebanese economy. This creates a breedingground for instability and invites the same radical insurgencies that we see in Iraq.
Israel is not vulnerable to a military encounter with Hezbollah. Their resources dwarf any attack that the terrorist organization can make. It is the suicide bombing which will forever plague Israel. The peace and security that they hope for on their own land cannot be achieved by adding fuel to the fire. Yes, they can weaken Hezbollah, but no matter what, there will ALWAYS be countless martyrs waiting to meet their virgins.
