I've been reading all the various diaries on the latest Israel-Lebanon conflict with great interest. As someone who admittedly doesn't have much background or knowledge of all the intricate pieces of this imbroglio, I'm reading everything there is to find online, either on cnn.com or msnbc.com or dailykos.com or americablog.org, to learn more.
I don't have a "side" in this fight. I'm looking at it from the perspective of someone who won't even "feel it at the pump," as the Daily Show appropriately pointed out was the media's lame way of making this conflict relevant to Americans. I'm looking at it from the perspective of someone who generally prefers diplomatic and non-violent means to violent means, but understands that not all conflicts can necessarily be resolved without firing a shot.
And, I'm sorry, I just don't get it.
My understanding of this "latest" conflict is that Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers. As a result, Israel engaged Hezbollah in fighting, losing eight of its soldiers, including four to a landmine.
Then, Israel bombed Lebanon's (not Hezbollah's, per se) infrastructure, including the major airport and several major roads in Beirut, along the border, and elsewhere. Then, Hezbollah started firing bombs at innocent civilians in Haifa and other Israeli cities. And Israel continued bombing Lebanon, including what appears to be its own intentional targeting of innocent civilians.
And, meanwhile, Bush says that Syria needs to tell Hezbollah to "stop this shit" and, here in San Francisco, Senator Feinstein and Mayor Newsom participate in a rally over the weekend supporting Israel.
Can anyone explain to me how its rational in any way whatsoever to take a side in this struggle? Honestly, I'm looking for an answer for why I should say, "oh, now I see why Israel is right!" And, no, giving me the litany of past events won't make bombing hundreds of innocent civilians justified. If it ain't right for the U.S. to engage in "targeted bombing" of specific sites in Iraq that results in the accidental loss of thousands of Iraqi lives, then, imho, it is no more justified that Israel can bomb at will.
I find myself empathising with Lebanon, who seems to be incapable of tamping down Hezbollah, much less an Israeli invasion. Meanwhile, the country's infrastructure is being gutted. I also find myself trying to hold Israel to a "higher standard" than Hezbollah since Hezbollah, after all, is a terrorist organization. I expect terrorists to try and kill innocent civilians. That's what makes them terrorists. Israel is not a terrorist organization, nor should it act like one.
I'm honestly soliciting feedback from the DKos community because so far I find myself wholly unsatisfied with the level of information and justification - particularly given our regular dumping on the President for the invasion of Iraq.
What am I missing? What else should I consider? What is the reason that all of this fighting makes sense? Or does it?