RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT THE WAR
In a previous article I thought there might be a glimmer of hope that rational heads might prevail. I think I was overly optimistic. Events of the last 24 hours suggest a much more ominous cast to the likely tides of this tragic war.
The following is a list of facts that taken individually or collectively do not portend a good ending for anyone concerned - meaning the whole world.
- Our so called allies appear to be siding with the Hezbollah/Syrian, Iranian axis. They are now insisting that Israel pull its troops out before a cease fire. Have they been blackmailed by the threat of the oil card from Iran?
- There is a report on Drudge and Debka that Syria {via Iran} is orchestrating the rocket attack from a town just across the border from Lebanon. This puts them smack in the middle.
- There is a report that Iran has sent big and powerful enough rockets to reach and penetrate the Israeli nuclear facility at Samona. If that were to occur I would imagine Israel would retaliate in kind. Bomb Syria and or Iran?
- There was a commentary about the war on NPR this mornng that ended with the following grim assessment concrning Israel's stalled progress: "Not winning looks too much like defeat." This is what is motivatng the new all out war initiative by Israel to crush Hezbolla.
- Hezbollah is not so easily crushed. They have equal weaponry thanks to Iran and Russia and equal training for the last 6 years. Additionally they are apparently unafraid to die and even welcome it. Additionally they are fighting an unconventional asymetrical war where there are no rules at all. They are like hoards of ants - kill one and they scurry around, hide, and then swarm all over you when you least expect it.
- There is an increasing humanitarian crisis growing in Lebanon as many roads are blocked preventing needed supplies of basics like food and medicine reaching those who are becoming increasingly more desperate. Apparently those who are suffering the most are not those wounded from being bombed. Rather it is those people who already have had a need for treatments such as dialysis, heart medicine and the likes. Imagine the after effects of a huge Katrina affecting the whole state of Connecticut and you will accurately appreciate the horror show going on in Lebanon.
- The above is not to overlook the fact that a million or so Israeli's have been living in uncomforable bomb shelters for a month unable to work and concut business as usual. War is an equal opportunity disaster for all involved.
- The good part of the Israeli value system is a healthy respect for each human life. Witness they plunged the country into war due to the kidnapping of only two soldiers. When there have been prisoner exchanges the numbers returned to each side have been widely dispproportionate. Something like 500 to one. That is the good news. The bad news is that in an all out use of the reserves there will inevitably be a large increase in Israeli wounded and dead. It will be a great test of Israeli resolve as to how many casualties they will be able to tolerate.
- Adding to the increase of tension and alarm is a report that 10 Egyptain exchange students faled to show up for their classes in a Westen US college. No word of their whereabouts to date. The FBI says no need to be alarmed but also admits to be conducting background checks and have indicated that if and whe they are found they willl be kcked out of the US. {Don't you feel relieved?}
- There is an omnous report (speculation) from yesterday's Wall Street Journal that August 21 and 22 are symbolic prophetic days especially for the leader of Iran. It is speculated that he may launch a major terror attack the equivalent of 911 at some unspecified location.
- There are persistent speculations that 911 was more compex than the commision report would have us believe. I will not even mention the details of this unthinkable speculation only to say that given the lies, incompetence, arrogance, poor planning, deceit, corruption, magical thinking, perpetuated by our own government who knows who can really trust who?
- The jihad seems real and growing daily. Those who wish to simplify reality truly believing that God is on their exclusive side and willing to martyr themselves for it are clearly on the rise.
- And we were lulled into believing there could never be another Hitler.
I hate to end on such a negative and pessimistic note but the facts appear to be warning all of us that the times are as reaistically troubling as any time I remember in my nearly 70 years on this planet.
The only parallel time when the world was truly on the brink of equivalnt serious mass destruction was when we learned - after the fact - that cuba via Russia was actively prepared to bomb Miami with a neuclear attack. If JFK had not intervened with a compomise to take our atom bombs out of Turkey we might have blown each other to smithereens.
I truly hope these facts are counter weighted with a more positive and hopeful list. Perhaps one might be that an all out attack by Israel may indeed sufficiently crush the Hezbollah military party that there will indeed be an actual 'peace'.
Perhaps after the disarming of Hezbollah there might be a world wide effort to rebuild Lebanon by an outporuring of idealists led and orchestrated and managed by Israel.
Perhaps too, once this madness plays it self out we may see reason prevail after all. I hope so but right at the moment it is hard not to feel tense and hyper alert.
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