| "Re: Character of Middle East Violence Questioned" by Nate Speers, Letters, July 20 – 26, 2006.
"Invading a sovereign nation"? I think the use of "sovereign" by Mr. Speers is highly debatable. When the Lebanese PM begs for international assistance so the legitimate authority of the Lebanese government can be exercised to remove a foreign-supported, illegitimate militia from its occupation of half the country the very notion of sovereignty is suspect. Israel's response to Hezbollah's attacks seems disproportionate, but I suppose if someone threw stones at your glass house every other day and the authorities did nothing to assist you, your frustrated response might be equally severe.
Reader Nate Speers asks "How can violently invading a sovereign nation be considered defense?" Easily, when the other guy starts it. Israel invaded Lebanon in the same sense that the Allies invaded Nazi Germany, which was also a sovereign nation. Israel only did so after months of Lebanese government inaction on Hezbollah terrorists operating out of South Lebanon firing missiles at civilian Israeli targets, and after these same terrorists invaded Israel, killed several Israeli citizens, and kidnapped two others. This was a clear act of war, and the Lebanese government has done nothing either to prevent it or to deal with it after the fact.
Mr. Speers says that Israel's actions are state-sponsored terrorism. They are not. Terrorists such as Hezbollah do not wear uniforms that clearly identify them as military personnel but Israeli soldiers do. Terrorists such as Hezbollah attempt to blend into the civilian population, and use civilians as human shields while Israeli soldiers do not. Terrorists such as Hezbollah routinely attack defenseless civilian targets. The Israeli army does not.
All of the Israeli attacks have been against military targets or against infrastructure that could be used by the Hezbollah to prolong the war. The fact that there are a large number of civilian casualties on the Lebanese side is an unavoidable consequence of the Hezbollah policy of using their own civilians as shields.
I would like to compliment our prime minister on lending out his jet for the evacuation of our citizens from the embattled areas of Lebanon but, quite frankly, that would be like complimenting a fellow that witnesses a car crash and rather than aiding the victims of the crash he starts to clean the roadway of debris so motorists can continue their commute. He should be our example – an example for all Canadians to emulate and be proud of. I don't feel that.
I am ashamed as a person who firmly believes in peace, as a Canadian and as a human being.
There have been almost 30 Israelis killed and ten times as many Lebanese. Both sides are committing these crimes and they need to be stopped.
Our prime minister needs to take a stand. I yearn for the time when our country can stand tall on the world stage and say with pride that we are a people that oppose the wrongdoings of the world.
I will protest. I will help elect people that oppose war.
Please, bring peace to the Middle East. One person cannot stop the fighting. An entire nation of free and proud people driven by a moral initiative can end the fighting. We are just the nation to do it.
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