The current war in the mideast has not been a suprise.
We all knew it was coming for a long time. You have Israel adjacent to nations who either shelter terror groups dedicated to the destruction of Israel(Syria, Lebanon) and nations who's constitution makes the eradication of Israel on of their national agendas (Palestine).
Now a bit of recent background...
Over the last 6 years Israel has met or exceeded all UN brokered peace talks, including the requrement that all Israeli troops be pulled back to within the borders of Israel. So they did. They abandoned all ground presence in Lebanon and Palestine...their most frequent aggressors. Another part of these UN resolutions required a cessation of hostilities from Lebanon and Palestine, the disbanding of Hezbula and that Syria and Iran (the country that FOUNDED Hezbula) must stop funding and training terrorists.
We can see how well that worked. Hezbula took the opportunity this UN cease-fire created for them to recruit and train new members. Hezbula also stockpiled weapons and rockets throughout Lebanon. Remember, Hezbula was supposed to disband when Israel withdrew, remember? Iran funneled weapons and money to the Hezbula for a future confrontation.
Last year Yassar Arafat died, but his political party became the majority party in Palestine. Not a comfortable situation when a publicly declared terror organization is elected to head a county.
There was a popular revolution in Lebanon, and the people rose up as we had always hoped and installed a democratically elected government. Good for them. Unfortunately, the military of the legitimate Lebanese govenrment is small, and unable to controll or contain Hezbula. Also, Hezbula is cunning enough to have spent some of its Iranian money on good works and cheritable actions, especially in southern Lebanon. This has garnered them tremendous support from the locals, especially in the face of the weak and disorganized central government, essentially giving Lebanon two governments, elected and Hezbula. In recent days the Lebanese prime minster has declared the government's support of Hezbula, even as they launch hundreds of missiles a day into Israel.
With the U.S. having removed Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq, the region was lacking a 'big boy'. No one was standing up to percieved western tyrany. Enter Iran, with a recently disclosed uranium enrichment program, now drawing immense international censure. As a UN imposed deadline for cessation of uranium enrichment approached, the leadership of Iran encouraged Hezbula to become more active. The hope was that trouble elsewhere would draw world attention away from Iran quietly trying to become a nuclear power. It even worked to some degree.
About the Current Violence...
The day before the UN deadline for Iran came, Hezbula fighters penetrated Israel and ambushed a group of troops. They killed 8 and captured 2 Isreili soldiers. Rocket attacks against Isreili civilian centers began.
Israel's reaction was predictable, even if it was on a smaller scale than they usually operate. Israel invaded Lebanon and began a massive air campaign to cripple the supply of weapon and missiles to Hezbula. Isreili ground troops have been raiding into Lebanon and holding what ground they have to to prosecute the war against Hezbula on Lebanese soil. Hezula has aquired Iranian made mid-range missiles that can strike Isreili targets at a distance of 125-150 miles, allowing rocket attacks on targets traditionally far behind the Isreili lines, deep into Israel.
Inverted Morality...
It is rediculous that in the media you see the Hezbula fighters portrayed as noble defenders of their land. They began this conflict by invading Israel and killing/capturing Isreili soldiers.
Hezbula hides among the population of Lebanon, keeping its weapons stockpiles in mosques and residential houses, yet Israel is criticized for attacking 'non-military' targets. The truth is that any place sheltering Hezbula is a military target, since Hezbula is pursuing military action against Israel.
Over and over we see the images of devastation and death in Lebanon, designed to evoke sympathy for Hezbula and create anger towards Israel. What we don't see is the images of the death and destruction the thousands of Hezbula rockets have caused in Israel. Israel is not using its peoples' suffereing as a propagana tool, whereas Hezbula is.
Why is it that Israel is recieving such condemnation, when Hezbula is the aggressor. Hezbula hides among civilians. Hezbula initiated hostilities. Hezbula's greatest mistake to me was picking on a target that could defeat them. I hope they do. I hope Hezbula is eradicated by the Isrelis. I have no sympaty for organizations who use terror as a tactic, and I have no condemnation for a nation that acts to protect is citizens.
Do you?