Should Hezbollah be blamed for sparking the latest violence in the region or Israel for excessive use of force?
All these acts of violence against civilians in Lebanon forces more Muslims in middle east into believing Bin Laden's assertion that the West considers Muslim lives cheap and expendable. This would make them see in a way that three kidnapped Israeli soldiers and several dozen dead Israelis are worth infinitely more to the West than the thousands of Muslims held for years in Israel's prisons, the hundreds already killed in Lebanon, and the eradication of Lebanon's modern infrastructure.
Noticing the numbers of Israeli bombs that have fallen on Lebanese homes, roads, bridges, ports, broadcasting towers, it overshadows Israel's strikes on the offices and rocket launchers of Hezbollah guerrillas, whose capture of two Israeli soldiers triggered the attacks.
Iran can be blamed for so-called promoting instability throughout the region like supporting Hezbollah militias, but is it Hezbollah that is using U.S.-built F-16s, with precision-guided bombs, and 155-mm artillery pieces to cause death and destruction on Lebanon?
This week-old Israeli-Hezbollah conflict is likely to increase the chances of U.S. military action against Iran. This is the beginning of what was a very similar process in the period, between terrorist attacks against New York and the Pentagon and the Iraq war. When neo-cons led the formation of the public opinion after the 11th September attacks that war with Iraq was a necessary part of remaking the Middle East to prevent future 9/11s, it is very possible that a similar consensus to war with Iraq could develop over the next few years, if not the next few months, about the necessity to confront Iran.
All these acts of violence against civilians in Lebanon forces more Muslims in middle east into believing Bin Laden's assertion that the West considers Muslim lives cheap and expendable. This would make them see in a way that three kidnapped Israeli soldiers and several dozen dead Israelis are worth infinitely more to the West than the thousands of Muslims held for years in Israel's prisons, the hundreds already killed in Lebanon, and the eradication of Lebanon's modern infrastructure.
Noticing the numbers of Israeli bombs that have fallen on Lebanese homes, roads, bridges, ports, broadcasting towers, it overshadows Israel's strikes on the offices and rocket launchers of Hezbollah guerrillas, whose capture of two Israeli soldiers triggered the attacks.
Iran can be blamed for so-called promoting instability throughout the region like supporting Hezbollah militias, but is it Hezbollah that is using U.S.-built F-16s, with precision-guided bombs, and 155-mm artillery pieces to cause death and destruction on Lebanon?
This week-old Israeli-Hezbollah conflict is likely to increase the chances of U.S. military action against Iran. This is the beginning of what was a very similar process in the period, between terrorist attacks against New York and the Pentagon and the Iraq war. When neo-cons led the formation of the public opinion after the 11th September attacks that war with Iraq was a necessary part of remaking the Middle East to prevent future 9/11s, it is very possible that a similar consensus to war with Iraq could develop over the next few years, if not the next few months, about the necessity to confront Iran.
posted by Spooky Witch at 4:19 PM
17 Comments:
Nice and concise, well put.
I'd like to meet you some day.
i think the violence will continue..but i hope not to!
That is well said. I understand what you are saying, and I want to be sensitive to the threat of violence many people are experiencing a varying degrees - from violence between states to domestic violence in individual homes and to psychological violence we do to oursleves.
I was wondering, though, about the West and the value of Muslim lives. On the one hand, I want to resist "essentializing" a plurality of cultures and claiming that they are all "the West." For instance, many agriculture workers in the Midwestern US would not claim Israel is Western, To them, Israel is as foreign as Sri Lanka. I think there may be too many relevant differences to be able to categorize all these people as the same. Why do we label such a plurality "the West"?
And this leads me to my second question: I think that there have been and are Muslims living in the US who are very highly valued citizens of their communities. There are Muslim college professor's and business owners all contributing to communities. So, at least for these particular Muslims, "the West" really does value their lives. Malcolm X is celebrated regularly in the US and his autobiography and obituary is one of the nation's best-selling books ever. The point is, there are a lot of relevant differences between Muslims - not all of them live in the Middle East, for instance. Why do we feel the need to categorize such a diverse set of groups of people in such a clear-cut way?
It seems to me that Bin Laden's point is not very clear and I have a difficult time understanding it without clear answers to the above questions. It seems to be a lot more about geography than whether or not the people are Muslim.
I apologize for such long set-ups for my questions. I want to express my sincere concern about the current tragedies currently happening. And I hope that improving our communication will contribute to resolving crises.
I apologize for writing so much, but I thought of one more important question to go with Nedric's two:
In your post you wrote that the vilence in Lebanon "forces more Muslims in middle east into believing" that the West doesn't care about Muslim lives, that their lives are cheap and expendable. I find this very sad that they, or anyone for that matter, are forced into believing that - I don't want them to believe that.
But this exact line of thought is a slippery slope, it's like walking on ice, because anyone can say this to anyone one else who stands by and does nothing. And so, it seems to me, that an Israeli sympathizer could claim, on the same line of thinking, that the Lebanese government doesn't care about Iraelis because it stood by and watched Hezzbollah.
If the line of thinking is fine for "Muslims" (I am using quotation marks because there are more Muslims than just Middle Eastern Muslims), then it is fine for Israel. And so, Israel must be justified in using excessive force - since the Lebanese government believes Jews are cheap and expendable. (I am just trying to think through the line of thinking; I am not trying to make any claims about reality, though it may not be too far off!).
My apologies again for writing so much.
Who is to blame? I think both sides are to blame. This is only the latest escalation in the violence of what is essentially a blood feud that is more than 50 years old (at least between Israelis and Palestinians). I am not an expert on the history of the region, but it seems to me that Lebanese Shia did not always hate Israel. The PLO occupied southern Lebanon for many years. From what I have read, many Shia in Lebanon were at first happy when Israel invaded to drive the PLO out. However, the Israelis mistreated and killed the Shia just as badly as their PLO enemies. There are also the outside forces that manipulate the situation. The U.S. has always sided too closely with Israel and the government of Iran has its own reasons for stiring up trouble to deflect attention away from itself.
Back here in the U.S., I am sure that Bush is looking to beat the war drums once again and chant 9/11 as loud as he can to try and keep his Republican majority in the House and Senate after the November elections. Nicolo Machievelli must be spinning with glee in his grave!
Brayan ,Thanks so much.Who knows maybe one day we'll meet!
Deci,I hope so but future for the peace in Middle east doesn't seem very promising.
Nerdic,I have to emphasize again on the "Bin Laden's assertions" and Muslims' validations of such statements of Islamist leaders like Bin Laden. While this question raised here by the word "West" I try my best to make it more clear that where in middle east that Islamists gain their popularity through leveraging nationalist and religious pride, expanding on romantic notions within the Arab and Islamic culture, capitalizing on unmet expectations of the general population in the Middle East that has not benefited from globalization, and promising salvation and reward through increased holiness. Here is no place to discuss the roots of fundamentalism or Islamism but I wanted to point out that USA's indifference to the whole Lebanon crisis might push more Muslims from Morocco to Pakistan to the arms of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. In many ways, the biggest risk is that this sudden, violent little war will tip the balance toward extremists and away from moderates across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, where the government has been dramatically weakened by the fighting.It's OK. Thanks Mighty Blogger's free web space!
Eric, I have to highlight that Bin Laden or other groups of fundamentalists in Middle East would benefit the most from these acts of violence against civilians in Lebanon. In addition I cited it was Bin Laden's allegation not my standpoint. Needless to say that the "crime" of the Lebanese government is that it is weak and cannot control Hezbollah. Another reason Lebanese Government never could disarm Hezbollah is because its members are considered heroes by the Lebanese Shi'ites. They were the ones who made Israel's occupation of Lebanon so costly that the Israeli people demanded that it be ended. They also provide a wide range of welfare services to the Lebanese people and it enjoys popular support in southern and eastern Lebanon.
Rasko,. The images of death and devastation are so appalling, the destruction seems so senseless, that it is not difficult to understand the emotional impulse behind the call for the international community to "do something" about the fighting between Israel and the forces of Hezbollah. Unfortunately what we are witnessing is a disaster in the making; the United States has resisted international pressure to lean on Israel to halt the fighting and other countries of influence didn't do any better. I am not sure if Mr. Bush is fairly educated of teachings of old George Washington (I hope he didn't own slave farms!)
David, There are always numerous causes for an event so complex as a war – and what's going on now between Israel and Hezbollah fighters based in Lebanon has gone well beyond the conflict phase. It's difficult to tell for sure just how heavy are the hands of Syria and Iran in all this. It seems more like a power play between regional military powers in the Middle East.
I have to read "The Prince" once more!
Thank you for your compassionate response. I think I understand (on an intellectual level - though emotionally I can't even comprehend it!). What a tragedy it will be if extremism benefits and becomes the status quo!
I'm still not sure about the double-standard that Eric raised: Is weakness (Lebanese Gov't) any more of an excuse than ignorance (USA/West)?
I apologize for socketpuppeting: Nedric and Eric are one person. Although my comments and questions were sincere, Paul informed me my behavior was wrong. Sorry - it will not happen again.
I didn't even know the word Socketpuppet existed. At least wrong doing of nedric taught me something. So for my part, I forgive him. Of course it is to Luciddream blog and it's all up to her.
Hi,
Would you please change my address to http://kamangir.wordpress.com/? Thanks.
Nerdic,It is ok. There was no need to apologize.I take it as you just had two very distinct questions .I wonder how Paul figured out about you socketpuppeting over here?Also I am impressed by your honesty .
Rubarzan,I didn't know either. In my book, he didn't do anything wrong for the reason that he was polite and his questions were sincere.
Arash,thanks for informing me
CNN yesterday reported that showing casualities by Arab networks is agnst Jounalism & Arab media as are dependent to Hezbollah are not reporting correctly!!!
P.S: Sorry I had forgotten CNN was the only TOTALLY INDEPENDENT media around censoring the casualty pictures.
arab media? try reuters. they're as pro-terrorist as anyone.
I think that it is interesting that you blame israel for the deaths of the Lebanese wheareas Israel is not the one who views arabic lives as a dime a dozen, i.e. Hezbollah's use of civillians as human shields. Even in Qana there are videos showing Hezbollah's presence nearby. It is also interesting that israel does all it can to avoid civillian casualties (dropping leaflets with warnings, etc) whereas Hezbollah targets areas that are exclusively populated by civillians, and in this has killed even more [Israeli] Arabs.
It indeed is sad that the Lebanese are the ones who are being exploited by their own shadow government.
DrO2, any side we back or sympathize with is other side's enemy and it seems impossible to stay unbiased in this crazy world.
Paul, are you referring to that sham photo of Reuters? It is good that war is over now. They want to have some news that sells.That is all I think.
Anonymous, did I actually sound like a Hezbollah sympathizer?
Hi Spooky,
The cease-fire is a good thing, but I am not sure the war is over. Both sides are claiming victory. That does not bode well for the future. However, at least now aid and relief supplies can flow into Lebanon to help the nearly one million refugees. I really hope there will be a lasting peace, but I am doubtful.
I have a new post that you might like. It is for adults only! ;)
About the Lucid Dreaming, I have a few but the clodest one I ever had was sort of being in George W Bush's head KNOWING and LETTING Sept 11, 2001 happen.
I truly hope this one isn't true although about 70% of my LDs do either come true or were true.
That day went down as someone planned!
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