I am disturbed that this site does not place any diaries relating to the Israel-Lebanon war on the front page. More than 900 Lebanese and nearly 100 Israelis have died in this conflict.
The Democratic Party is not well served by silence on this issue. This bloody, brutal war is not only a human tragedy of epic dimensions. It also poses severe threats to our national interests in the Middle East. As I predicted in a diary posted here several weeks ago, the war in Lebanon will undermine the governments of friendly Arab allies as the public in those countries becomes increasingly sympathetic to Hezbollah. It strengthens Iran's claim to be a regional hegemon as a check against Israeli, and American, power and it weakens Israel as Arab nations who have tried to co-exist with it find that position less tenable. The war will strengthen the insurgency in Iraq as anti-American feelings grow, will be exploited by al-Qaeda to recruit new terrorists, and will result in the destruction of the moderate, pro-Western Siniora government in Beirut as the Lebanese population rallies around a stronger anti-Israeli and anti-American position.
The Daily Kos should not be ignoring this issue. This is not about "offending" interest groups important to the Democratic Party. It is about the most basic issue facing mankind: will we resolve our differences peacefully or will we have yet another bloody century of warfare?
This war in Lebanon threatens to cause nearly unbelievable tumult and instability in the Middle East. It has already exposed a noticeable lack of compassion toward its victims present both here in the United States and in Israel. And it is, as Iraq did, dividing us from our European allies. There is much to talk about here. Please stop avoiding the issue.