The Rogue State Called Israel

I believe the state of Israel has a right to exist. That is the last positive thing I'm going to say about Israel for the rest of this column. Israel is murdering Lebananese civilians as I write this. Hundreds are dead and thousands are homeless because of Israel's ill-conceived effort to show strength and "resolve."

The last round of bloodshed was started when the Shiite militia (or terrorist group if you prefer) Hezbollah attacked Israeli troops, killing eight and capturing two others. Hezbollah is based in Lebanon, and the Lebanonese Army is too weak to disarm this powerful non-state military force from its borders. All of that is indisputable. What I find interesting is that Israel chooses to attack Lebanonese civilian targets in an effort to ... what exactly? Lebanon is too weak to defeat Hezbollah, and they certainly can't defeat Israel. The Lebanonese population is being ruthlessly attacked by a foreign invader with total air superiority, and the United States talks about Israel's right to self defense. What about Lebanon's? Of course the United States is the last country to lecture Israel on unprovoked invasions.

This is a complicated situation, and I'm not saying there are easy answers to the problem of Hezbollah extremism (and the democratically elected Hamas extremists in the Palestinian state). One thing I am sure of: bombing the shit out of defenseless civilians is not the way to improve the situation. Indiscriminant slaughter of unarmed non-military personnel sends the message that Israel does not value Arab lives, and more broadly that it will not be restrained by international standards of human decency.

I can't believe the stupidity of the Israeli leadership right now. I cannot conceive of a course of action more likely to create new terrorists and more hatred of Israel in the Arab world. Ten years from now when Tel Aviv is a radioactive slagheap, we will recall the old adage that you reap what you sow.