Killed 300 - here's 10,000 more

[Denver Dave]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/04/iraq.main/index.html

"BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Baghdad on Friday, enthusiastically voicing support for Lebanon's Hezbollah militia."

I understand that Israel feels it has no choice with an armed militia on it's northern border, gaining strength, that has the stated intention that Israel should not exist.

But how is the current conflict helping Israel? I read about mostly civilians killed and injured. I read Hezbollah has 2,000 troops, maybe 300 have been killed, by now 10,000 troups from Israel in Lebanon.

I read about civilian infrastucture being destroyed - not much about Hezbollah killed:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/04/mideast.main/index.html

"BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Israeli aircraft blasted main roadways north of Beirut for the first time in the three-week conflict on Friday, knocking out four key bridges."

Is our world really better off when nations that perceive a threat, are "justified" in proactively and unilaterally attempting to kill the threat and destroying countries without regard to collateral damage? Kill one suspected terrorist - may or may not apologize for killing 10 civilians near by. This has been going on in Gaza for the last 35 years - will be Lebanon be included for the next 35 years?

How often have we heard this about Lebanon and situations in other countries: "we don't target civilians", while not hearing an explanation of why the vast majority of casualties are civilian.

Maybe in addition to the question of whether proactive and unilateral action is it "morally justified", is the question about does the action really work and produce the results we want? It did seem to work in Chechnya, but Russia pretty much leveled the country and took it over:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/10/russia10298.htm

The above discussion sure sounds like another county where many people are wishing we had acted differently and the "cake walk" turned out differently than was thought (or at least expressed).

[Turbineguy]

1. One of the things is

that Hezbollah has been more efficient at getting civilians killed. Usually the ratio for the Palestinians is around 1:1. Hezbollah seems to have improved that to around 4 civilians for every militant.

The Isaelis are doing the killing, but has the Hezbollah done much to protect civilians?

Dead civilians are good propaganda material for these guys as it gets the outside world on their side. I would not make the mistake that the extended Bush gang are the only cynics in this thing.

[4dsc]

2. Yes the Israeli's are doing the killing

but I have no idea why you would make the statement "but has the Hezbollah done much to protect civilians?

You're talking about the worlds 4th largest army(israel) versus a small cadre of people of around 2000.. Now how is the Hezbollah going to protect anyone against the US taxpayer supported Israeli army??

[n2doc]

3. The thing is, no matter what Israel wishes

They will get blamed for all the deaths. No matter what Hesbollah does. Such is the illogic of hatred. Until that is ratcheted down and not fed by more violence then nothing will change. Ghandi understood this.