Thursday, August 10, 2006
In so many ways the urgency and complexity of the Middle East issue today belies the fact that in essence, the entire situation is caused by a lack of communication between the Israeli and Arab fractions. If not for the severity of the situation, and the potential for escalation into a regional conflict, the whole fiasco seems to be comical. Which country will stand back and allow its troops to be kidnapped on its own soil and not be expected to retaliate. Which country will allow long range rockets to strike its largest cities and not at least attempt to take out the enemy. These are the questions that Lebanon should be asking when they suggest that Israel take the blame for everything.
On the flip side, the Israelis are not doing themselves any favors by attacking areas that are perceived to be civilian areas. Daily reports of children dying do not make for an especially strong case for the continued use of force to control the Hezbollah. It is difficult to claim that every civilian building that is destroy, accidentally or otherwise contain terror suspects, and the stance that the Hezbollah is using human shields simply do not have any evidence to support it.
Over and over we see that the root of the problem is neither the Israeli nor the Lebanese government. Instead, the purported terror groups that are sheltered by Lebanon seem to be causing all the trouble. Just a year ago, the road map seems to be on schedule to a smooth completion, with Israeli unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank, and promises of a crease fire discussed. But the situation has just gone down hill from there. It will be disingenuous to suggest that Israel is not committed to peace, just as it is impossible to suggest that the Arabs are deliberately stomping on Israel’s toes. Quick fixes are always present, simply stop the fighting and let the UN come in. But this blog asserts that the US is not pushing for this is precisely because a quick fix is really just that, a short term solution to a very protracted problem. It will help if both sides are willing to come to the negotiating table, but that possibility seems to be at best remote. Discussions is the key to resolution in this particular instance more than ever, and unfortunately there is no power in the world that can strong arm both sides to do just that. The US will not want to antagonize its long term allies, nor will it want to rock the Arab boat given the shortage of oil today.
There are solutions, but none are easy. So perhaps it will help to come back to diplomacy, in the meantime it will help if the missiles are not fired into Haifa.
2:15 AM
