The Fighting in Lebanon

A mixed bag in the news related to the war in Lebanon including, dare I say it, an instance where I actually agree with the Bush administration about something. Do you suppose after that admission the stars are beginning to blink off?

What I agree about is the administration’s position that Prime Minister Maliki has the right to have his own opinions about Hezbollah as well as the right to voice them publicly or not voice them publicly as he chooses. However I disagree with the interpretation that the Democratic Party’s criticism of Maliki is a free speech issue. They’re not saying he’s not entitled to his own opinion, they’re saying they don’t care for his opinion and therefore don’t want to extend to him the privilege of addressing a joint session of congress as a result.

Just because I recognize you’re entitled to your own opinion doesn’t mean I can’t criticize that opinion nor does it mean I have to associate with you if I think your opinion stinks.

In Rome Condolizza Rice has declared the talks on Lebanon not a failure even though the joint diplomatic resolution issued didn’t call for a cease fire. It called for working toward a cease fire with the “utmost urgency.” What a load of crap. How hard is it to say “STOP KILLING EACH OTHER AND LET’S TALK!”

To my mind, any diplomatic resolution related to a shooting war where innocent people, including children, are at risk every day which doesn’t DEMAND a ceasefire is the very definition of failure.

Four U.N. Observers were killed in an Israeli air strike yesterday and the AP is reporting that more than a dozen Israeli troops have been killed in heavy fighting for a hilltop in southern Lebanon. Apparently Hezbollah is turning out to be better equipped, better prepared and a much tougher nut to crack than the Israeli’s expected.

Israeli jets are also reported to have attacked Hezbollah offices in the city of Tyre. Tyre? Didn’t the bible say that Tyre would be destroyed and “never again be found” in Ezekiel 26? Do you suppose this is the beginning of the fulfillment of that prophecy some 2,500 years after it was made? Nah, Tyre has been sacked by the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Turks and just about everyone else but it’s still there, and I suspect it will always be there.

I don’t see an end to this fighting soon. I’ll be happy if it doesn’t spread.