The Middle East crisis
I don’t ever voice international concerns in this blog of mine, yet I am really passionate by what is happening in the Middle East these past couple of weeks.
As we all know, Israel has launched an attack into Lebanon, its neighbouring country. This was in response to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers allegedly by Hezbollah guerrillas. According to Israel, the attacks were an act of ‘defending itself’ from the threat of the ‘millatant group’ Hezbollah. So far, almost 400 Lebanese have died, compared to the 40 from Israel as a result of the conflict.
There are some moral wars. Battles that needed to be fought, attacks that needed to launched as it is it is ‘morally right’ to do so. Yes, war sure is hell, but sometimes it is needed. The Second World War can be considered to be a moral one, the Allied forces needed to stop Nazi Germany and its allies from advancing further.
Yet, the war that Israel is waging against Lebanon has no moral grounds whatsoever. How can attacking a sovereign state, bombing cities and villages just for the sake of two soldiers can ever be morally justified? Are the Israelis saying that the lives of two soldiers, whose fate we must add is unknown, more valuable that the lives of 400 Lebanese? And these 400 are just those who have lost their lives, what about the thousands of others whose livelihood has been destroyed by the bombings. Israel has said that the bombings were tactical, that they have targeted areas where Hezbollah fighters are based in, yet from what the world witnesses, only ordinary civilians have emerged from the rubbles. And recently, Israeli forces attacked the Sidon, a city swelled with tens of thousands of refugees.
And in a typical show of American hypocrisy, the White House has unanimously backed the actions of Israel. Mr. Bush has blamed the crises on Hezbollah, Syria and Iran, deliberately turning a blind eye to the atrocities committed by Israel. In a week when Mr. Bush vetoed a Bill that would have allowed federal funding for stem cell research, his endorsement of Israel’s actions smacks of outrageous double standards. By opposing stem cell research, Mr. Bush is saying that embryos are humans, and should be treated as such, it would seem however, Lebanese lives are worth less than these embryos that he so values.
The United Nations, for all its worth, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, voiced by Secretary General Mr. Annan. And UN’s Emergency Relief Chief, Mr. Egeland, has condemned the attacks on Beirut, describing the destruction to the city as ‘horrific’. A few days ago, a local UK newspaper divided its front page into two, the left half displaying the flags of the countries calling for and immediate ceasefire, while the other half the countries who do not support this ceasefire. Suffice to say, all the countries in the world, save two, are on the left hand side of the page. Which two countries are the odd ones out? The United Kingdom, and of course, the US.
It is a pity that Mr. Blair has made the UK into America’s ‘yes’ man. I consider Mr. Blair to be a very capable, very intelligent man, seeing him in action in the House of Commons (UK Parliament) is a joy to behold. The way he answers questions directed at him is an example of a leader who knows what is happening in his country, a leader who is not just an empty vessel making a lot of noise. Yet, for whatever reasons he has chosen to back Mr. Bush to a hilt, a flaw that damages his credibility. Make no mistake about the general feeling here in UK though, if the local press is to be a barometer of public opinion, then most here are appalled with what is happening in Lebanon, regardless of what their prime minister say or do. There is such a thing as freedom of the press here in the UK.
I remember in the 90s when Saddam Hussein’s Iraq invaded Kuwait, a multi-national task force headed by the US was deployed almost immediately in response. Attacking another sovereign state should not be tolerated, it would seem. Yet when Israel is doing exactly the same thing, America has done nothing, and even backed Israel’s actions. Could it be because Kuwait is an oil-rich country? Or because Israel is a staunch ally of the US? Or, if conspiracy theorists are to be believed, it is another step towards what is known as ‘neo-colonisation’, the establishing of a new world order in the region that would be lap dogs to America and its allies. If so, then the two ‘rogue nations’ of Iran and Syria would certainly follow.
Whatever the reasons, Israel needs to be stopped. Fears of a humanitarian crisis are mounting, so is the fear of an all-out war engulfing the region. And while pushing for a ceasefire is a good first step, the international community needs to do something before it is too late. Already Lebanon is faced with a refugee crisis, coupled with the wanton destruction of its buildings and roads. In my opinion, now is the time for other global powers to start taking some action. The European Union, if it ever wants to be regarded as a power rivaling the United States, need to take steps immediately. So too countries like Russia and especially China, far too long has the actions of America and its allies gone unchecked. And the Arab countries littering the Middle East need to wake up from its long malaise, their governments need to stop being stooges for the US and start acting like they care about their own people. Of course, the fear is if other nations start interfering, it would lead to the oft-predicted third world war, and of course nobody would want that. An all out global war would certainly lead to the use of nuclear weapons and it is a fact that only about 7 nuclear explosions are needed to destroy the world.
Yet it need not lead to such an extreme. Perhaps a show of solidarity from the international community, a stern warning backed by threat of sanctions to Israel would be enough. America might not like it, and while it is indeed the global superpower right now, it cannot possibly go against the might of the whole world.
And even if, God-forbid, this does lead to a global war, then at least, at the very least, those opposing America and Israel are able to claim the moral high ground. Let us pray, however, that it does not lead to that.
July 24th, 2006 at 8:16 am
The question is also now…where are the so called Islamic nations, OIC even. Why doesn’t the OIC or Arab Nations call an emergency meeting. This step will make the US take notice, as World War III has to be averted at all cost by the US. All it take is for teh major OIC states to send in 1000 peacekeepers for the time being and then we will see a staus check by the UN and agreed to reluctantly by the US. If this fails to get a US reaction, well World War III it is (at least Hollywood can get more ideas on better war movies, as the ones based after World War II have been crap!).
July 25th, 2006 at 4:47 am
1. Why Do you bring the US into this mess? The fight is between Israel and Hizbullah. When the US intervenes in matters, people complain. When they don’t intervene. People still complain.
2. Israel has no choice but to attack Hizbullah. Every other week suicide bombs go off in Israel. Because they are not muslim we don’t condemn their deaths? Israel has always asked the Lebanese Govt to act on such militants but the fact is that the Lebanese govt is not working, not providing for the people and Hizbullah are. Although they are only a so-called unofficial militant group, They pretty much run the country. But due to this unofficialness, they hide among the population, they are part of the population. Ie they hide like cowards with the women and children who in the end get bombed unfortunately.
What Taufiq says is true. It should be the Arab nations, OIC who steps in. They have the money, they have the resources. But they always depend on the western states to provide aid to provide peacekeeping forces which at the end of the day, they condemn. Palestine is falling apart because of the US’ withdrawal of $50 billion in aid. they depend on american taxpayers? really now.
nobody likes to see innocent people die. but at the end of the day, i think its between israel and lebanon.i take neither side. If hizbullah really want to protect its citizens, it will stop attacking israel. simple as that. remember, israel was provoked.
July 25th, 2006 at 4:48 pm
1. It’s not just a matter of the US not intervening. It’s one thing doing nothing, its a another thing endorsing/supporting the actions of Israel. In law, for example, you won’t punished for doing nothing when you see a crime being committed, yet when you start cheering them on/supporting them, you’d be aiding and abetting wouldn’t you? Everyone wouldn’t be so angry if the US does nothing at all. But the US has gone further than that and basically given Israel a ‘license to bomb’. This is what makes people so angry.
2. Israel being provoked? You make as if Israel is the innocent party here. I must say that I strongly disagree. Right from the start, the foundation of the state of Israel itself is an injustice done to the Palestinians. Why do you think that until now they are still fighting? Is it because of the simple reason that they are Arabs and the Israelis are Jews? Of course not, the Palestinians are fighting up to this day because they feel that their land has been unlawfully taken away from them. Sure, one can question the method of some of their execution, but they’re motives are very legitimate.
Yes, Israel has suffered a number of suicide bomb attacks that resulted in civilians being killed. But at the same time, we simply cannot ignore the fact that Israel has also attacked Palestinian civilians. Nothing could be further from the truth than to say that Israel is the only one in the receiving end of the conflict. In fact, one could argue that with its American-made weapons, Israel is the bigger aggressor. Why do you think certain Palestinians resorted to blowing themselves up? Because of desperation, because compared to Israel’s military might, the Palestinians have nothing.
You say that Hezbollah hides amongst the population. Now if we are to follow America’s description of the group, Hezbollah is a ‘militant group’. It is not an army. It does not have army bunkers and military installations and other such things that a proper army would have. Of course it would be within the population, the people of southern Lebanon themselves are the people who make up/support Hezbollah. Are you blaming Hezbollah for not having an isolated base in some far off hills somewhere? They are not ‘hiding amongst the women and children’, they are basically living in those cities and villages.
Let’s even take it a step further. Let’s say that Hezbollah indeed are ‘hiding amongst civilians’ as you say. Now let’s transport the current situation into a smaller scale representation. Say there’s this serial killer who’s wanted by the FBI. This serial killer has killed more than 20 people, he’s a danger to everyone. One day, he’s spotted sipping coffee in Starbucks in the middle of New York’s Times Square. He’s amongst throngs of people, innocent people going about their daily lives. Now is it right for the FBI to lob a single piece of grenade at his direction in order to eliminate this threat to national security?
Of course not. Magnify that into the current conflict and you get the same thing: however you want to view Hezbollah, Israel’s actions in bombing Lebenon is grossly disproportionate. That’s why everyone is telling Israel to stop, that’s why there is increasing pressure for a ceasefire.
I am not prepared to justify any sort of civilian deaths, for whatever reasons. Not in New York, not in London, not in Mumbai, not in Madrid, not in Gaza, not in Jerusalem, not in Beirut. That’s why I’m against the attacks of the World Trade Centre in New York. That’s why I’m against the London Tube Bombings. And for the very same reason, that is why I am against the war in Iraq, the situation in Palestine and most recently, the attacks in Lebanon.
Try and justify Israel’s actions to the boy who lost his arms. Or the mother who lost her child. Or the father who had to be separated from his family. Tell the families of the 400 killed that, in less that 10 words, they have paid because of the actions of others. Tell the thousands fleeing the bombings, “Oh it’s sad what happened, but this is necessary you see? Some of the people in your country has provoked Israel, and well someone’s gotta pay, right?”
July 26th, 2006 at 3:45 am
1. My idea about the US is people will find fault with them no matter whether they intervene or not. They still get flack when they stay out of things. Get flack when they still do. Doesn’t matter whether it looks as if the states support such actions. I believe whatever they do, they will still be the ‘Western Devils’. get my drift?
2. Israel was provoked. I stand by that. Because this fight is between Lebanon’s Hizbullah and Israel. Nothing to do with Palestine. Israel has reiterated that. So has Lebanon. They still claim Hizbullah have no ties with Syria and Iran. So therefore Officially this matter is nothing to do with Palestine.
I definately do not condone the bombing of civilians. But tell that to Israeli deaths every other week. Due to this ‘decentness’ we are supposed to exercise, Israel is supposed to stand by and watch as its people get bombed every other week, its soldiers get kidnapped. Israel is supposed to do things properly. Ie: request the lebanese govt to act. but the thing is lebanon’s govt is helpless. it’s army refuses to stop hizbullah. go figure. Israel is supposed to ask palestine’s govt for peace? when its govt now is hamas(a known militant organisation) and its previous govt a corrupt entity? There’s no peace due to both sides of the coin. but only Israel has the guts to do things officially. which is why they get the flack. The others hide as guerrilas.
It is a tactic that hizbullah hides among the population. they have the funds to buy rockets to last for months and runs Lebanon but not proper installations? i think not.
I am quite skeptical on any thing i see about the middle east nowadays. We constantly see pictures of lebanon bombed. but never much about Israel who also get bombed upside down. why? better protection? defences? maybe.
check this out. might open a few ideas.
http://www.seconddraft.org/
July 26th, 2006 at 6:58 am
1. Still be known as ‘Western Devils’ to some, yes, but at least to those who profess a more objective frame of thought, a positive move by the US to try to end the conflict will be greatly lauded. Not everyone is a gun waving fanatic burning flags in the street.
2. Again, Israel isn’t the only one in the receiving end of all this. You might not think it’s the guilty party, yet I don’t think you can argue with a straight face that it is innocent either. Israel has killed civilians and had its civilians killed before the Lebanon crisis. Death, on all sides is an almost daily occurrence in the Middle East. Israel hasn’t been doing things ‘officially’ either.
3. As for media coverage of the Middle East, well the reason they keep showing Lebanon bombed is because the country is the one hit most by the conflict. 400 deaths compared to 40, its not hard to see where everyone is coming from. I suggest watching CNN as opposed to the BBC if you want to see more coverage on Israel’s ’sufferings’.
July 27th, 2006 at 4:57 am
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5220162.stm
read this.
then read this.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5219526.stm
why aren’t you commenting on this? or even the person from the first article? ( i mean al qaeda on the iraqi muslims killing other muslims)
its allright for muslims to bomb other denominations of muslims?
i really don’t support any group in this. but just that i think its fair play to both sides. hizbullah knew what they were getting into.
July 27th, 2006 at 6:10 am
I don’t comment on every single thing that happens in the world. An al-Qaeda video promising ‘revenge’ and ‘death to the infidels’ is nothing new, they rarely make front page news nowadays.
But if you want my view on al-Qaeda, then I personally think if its true that they did what they did (i.e those terrorist acts) then truly they have manipulated my religion to serve whatever needs they have. There is nothing holy, heroic or noble to what they are doing.
As for Iraq, it is now a county in chaos. People die there every single day, Sunnis killing Shiites and vice versa. Why? I have no idea, but it a very, very sad state of affairs. No one can help the Iraqis except the Iraqis themselves. I don’t think they even have a reason to fight each other anymore except for simply going in a merry-go-round of death and revenge.
And one can certainly argue that the current state of affairs in Iraq is due to the vacuum left in the country after the US and its allies invaded it, can’t you? But that’s commentary for another time, another place