Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Triumph of Evil

The Triumph of Evil

A "new" look at what the problem is, and how to solve it.

By Kierstyn P

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"-Edmund Burke. Thankfully, in this case, the good men will not let evil triumph, even if the world pressures them too.


20 days ago marked the start of a war. The Hezbolla captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight. In retaliation, Israel fired into suspected Hezbollah bases. It is interesting to note, that only when Israel retaliated did the world speak out. At that, it has taken on a mostly anti-Israel bias. The question posed, "is Israel justified?" was what everyone was asking. The answer is simple. The best way to grasp it is to bring it home.


In 2001 American planes were hijacked by terrorists and run into buildings, killing thousands. We knew immediately that we would fight back; were we justified? Yes.


Likewise, terrorists have attacked Israel, and Lebanon has been "hijacked". In response to a terrorist attack, was Israel justified in striking the Hezbollah in Lebanon? The answer to that question is "yes"; we (and any other nation) have a right to protect our nation and ourselves. It is also understood that the government's role is traditionally to punish evil, defend the nation's population, and protect national sovereignty.


It is not surprising then, that Lebanon retaliated and struck Israel. This back and forth fighting got us to where we are today. As of July 31 2006 a 48 hour "cease fire" was declared by Israel. This cease-fire was defined as a 48 hour halt on offensive air strikes. They did fire in order to protect their troops on the ground once, which didn't violate the cease fire since it was defensive.


We have been asking the wrong question from the start, the question is not "were they justified?" the question that should be asked is "what can be done to stop this terrorist organization from harming more innocent people?" Currently, Rice and other leaders are trying to get a long-term cease-fire resolution passed by the United Nations.


While that may seem, and is believed by many to be the perfect solution, we must ask ourselves, are UN resolutions successful? Patrick Henry once stated, "The only way to judge the future is by the past" That is exactly what we have to do now. In the history since the United Nations was created, they have passed MANY resolutions. However, the results weren't worth the paper they were written on.


What needs to happen is not a cease-fire. For until Hezbollah is eliminated Israel will not cease to fire; Lebanon will not cease until Israel does. However, the problem we are facing is that Lebanon is not taking care of the threat inside; therefore, Israel took the initiative.


While observing the situation, I have noticed that we are skirting the problem. If my great grandparents had not immigrated and my family and I were Lebanese citizens, my first reaction would not be "kill Israel". It would be, "Let's solve the problem and stop the people that started this in the first place". That is the answer to the problem, the question now is "will it be followed through?"


Terrorists have hijacked Lebanon, the strikes against Israel are not from the Lebanese government; it is from a terrorist organization. What needs to happen now is for the governments and the Lebanese populace to work to stop the terrorists from harming more civilians. The courage exemplified by the flight 93 passengers on 9/11 shows that civilians do have the ability, whether they realize it or not, to take back the plane, or in Lebanon's case, the Nation.



Albert Einstein once said, " The world is a dangerous place. Not because of the people who are evil; but because of the people who don't do anything about it. " Complacency and fear are the biggest problems we face, and now it is up to Lebanon to take the initiative and stop the terrorists in their own Nation.

9 comments:

Matt Ahearn said...

The real question is who are hte bigger terrorists?

Kinda funny that you don't acknowledge the stastistics of what Hezbollah is doing. Hezbollah has launched more than 900 rockets into Israel injuring over 400 civilians and 14 soldiers. (Source, Fox)
Additionally, Hezbollah has sent suicide bombers into Israel for years killing many people. Israel is not using terror as its weaponry. Have you heard of any Israeli suicide bombers? NO. Israel is using normal warfare, just like the United States or any other civilized country would. Hezbollah uses terror. Israel does not.

They have killed foreigners.

The article you state never says Israel killed the foreigners. You have no proof in this article that Israel killed any foreigners. Also, think of all the foreigners killed by Hezbollah in the last few years. Give me a break.

They have killed UN observers.

You seem to forget this quote from the article:

He said Israel would investigate the bombing. ``We do not have yet information what caused this death: it could be the IDF (Israel's military) it could be Hezbollah,'' he said.

Even if it was Israel, you ought to condemn Hezbollah all the same. Did they need to kidnap an Israeli Soldier. That is terror.

They have killed women and children.

The building the women and children were in was right next to a building where Hezbollah was firing rockets from. Here are some things we know about that incident:

• Israel has both satellite and drone aircraft videos unmistakably showing Hizbollah trucks pulling into civilian buildings in Qana loaded with katyusha rockets
• Israel also has videos of many katyusha rockets being launched from the particular building containing civilians that was bombed
• Israel had pleaded with all non-combatants to leave the Qana area for several days through leaflets and radio announcements
• Israel had no idea that there were any civilians in the targeted building
• However, Hizbollah knew they were there and continued to launch missiles at Israeli cities from there
• Hizbollah also knew that Israel was tracking those missiles from their launch site. Source: Hal Lindsey


So...with all this, some important questions are:

1. Why were those approximately sixty women and children in that building when the rest of the city was virtually empty of civilians?
2. Why did Hizbollah launch multiple missiles from next to the building?
3. Why was there no civilian men found dead there?
4. Why did it take Hizbollah seven hours after the guided bomb hit the building to report it?
5. Did the single Israeli bomb cause the building to totally collapse, or did secondary explosions from rockets stored there contribute to the disaster? Source: Hal Lindsey


Interesting. Is it possible Hezbollah would not allow the civilians to leave?

Israel is committing war crimes.

Site one that might have credibility. Show me how Hezbollah is not committing war crimes. And give me a break!

In Christ,

Matt

Matt Ahearn said...

"in christ" -- oh yes, you support Israel's destruction of the nation of Lebanon. that's so "christian" of you.

I support the destruction of a terrorist organization that uses women and children as shields. You can read about Hezbollah using women and children by clicking on the link below:

http://news.bostonherald.com/editorial/view.bg?articleid=150985&srvc=home

Of course Hezbollah has committed atrocities, and of course they should be quashed, but to indiscriminately bomb the nation of LEBANON killing women, children, and anyone in the way is wrong. THAT is a terrorist act.

Show me some evidence that Israel is indiscriminately bombing. Allow me to point out that Israel is not bombing Lebanon itself. This is not an invasion of Lebanon, rather it is an invasion of Hezbollah. Once again, don't just tell me, show me some evidence. Give me a reason to believe what you say.

Israel's right to exist, does not give it a right to terrorize the region.

Evidence? Do you even have any?



Yes, it is VERY Christian of me to support Israel especially now. The God of Israel, which is the only God, for there is no other, has said that those who bless Israel, He will bless, and He who curses Israel, those He will curse.

He has promised to protect Israel. They will when, they will survive.

In CHRIST, the God of Israel,

Matt

Anonymous said...

i did give you evidence. i referred you to three specific articles showing the "collateral damage" caused by Israel's bombing campaign.

The NATION of LEBANON is different than HEZBOLLAH. They are two different things....Lebanon, a soveriegn nation....Hezbollah, a terrorist organization.

How exactly is bombing the airport in Beirut appropriate? How exactly is threatening to bomb every car on the road, appropriate?? give me a break.

read this website....you might learn something: www.juancole.com

and no, I don't think supporting the killing of innocent women and children is lebanon is very "christian" of you. but then again, you Christians are only "christian" when its convenient for you.

Matt Ahearn said...

i did give you evidence. i referred you to three specific articles showing the "collateral damage" caused by Israel's bombing campaign.

None of those articles cited Israel as the actual cause, remember? I already explained this. In fact, your third one was mainly any argument against Hezbollah by the Boston Herald. :)

The NATION of LEBANON is different than HEZBOLLAH. They are two different things....Lebanon, a soveriegn nation....Hezbollah, a terrorist organization.

Well yeah, that is obvious. However, even though most of the fighting is in Lebanon, the war is against Hezbollah, not Lebanon. Why do civilians die? Maybe look at how Hezbollah uses them as shields.

And, your link in your post about the bombing of cars, is what was on a leaflet that was given to the PEOPLE of Lebanon! Israel is just not bombing, they are doing all they can to make sure than no civilians are in the area! Try reading the entire article. Give me a break...

As we see, Israel has dropped leaflets so that civilians know where NOT to go. This is what the United States did in Iraq during its main campaign years ago. Israel is doing all it can.


Like I said, I support the taking down of a terrorist organization. You said yourself you thought Hezbollah should be "quashed." So I ask again, how do go about accomplishing that? Diplomacy? Cease Fires?


In Christ,

Matt

Anonymous said...

You DO NOT accomplish it by indiscriminately bombing the entire nation of Lebanon. Do you know how many women and children and innocent civilans are being affected?

Did you even bother to read Professor Cole?
www.juancole.com - there, i'll give the address to you again. He is a middle east scholar who teaches at the University of Michigan.

Look at what happened in London yesterday??!! Thankfully, teh British were able to stop this attack before it happened, but it was such a larger scale than 9/11. Do you think that our war in Iraq and our debacle in Afghanistan "stopped" terrorism? clearly, it did not.

Matt Ahearn said...

You DO NOT accomplish it by indiscriminately bombing the entire nation of Lebanon.

Show me how they are indiscriminately bombing. You haven't done this yet and you have no proof of this. In most the articles you cited, the bombing was done after leaflets and radio announcements were made about their intentions. Give me some proof.

Oh, I read him all right, but that doesn't mean I believe a thing he says. Go to levitt.com . Read the blog entries. You might learn something.

Do you think that our war in Iraq and our debacle in Afghanistan "stopped" terrorism? clearly, it did not.

Have I ever made the claim that we have stopped terrorism. I have simply asked how you think we should quash Hezbollah. You have given me no answer. Do you even have one?

Furthermore, you did not address my last post. I will repost:

Furthermore, if we are going to apply name "terrorist" to every country that kills a civilian in war, then most nations who have been in war are terrorist nations, including the US. Is that what you are saying?

In Christ,

Matt

Anonymous said...

the most hysterical part about your arguments,is that you sign your name "In Christ"

Yeah, "Christ" really believed in war.

its so ridiculous.

i don't care about the leaflets....here's one word "Qana" -- just google it.

Matt Ahearn said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matt Ahearn said...

Christ most certainly believe in war. Revelation 12:7 says:

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

In the Old Testament God often ordered the nation of Israel to go to war with countries who occupied land that was theirs. Exodus 15:3 tells us that he is a "Man of war." He is, however, the prince of peace. He is both. He uses war to make peace. Christ most certainly does believe in war when it is necessary.

i don't care about the leaflets

You don't care about the leaflets because you don't care about the truth about Israel. You are not willing to accept it, therefore, you reject everything that Israel is doing to protect the citizens of Lebanon.

here's one word "Qana" -- just google it.

It is kind of funny how this entire Qana thing has backfired on you. Read your own article that you posted in the first comment. Even the Boston Herald holds Hezbollah responsible. Additionally, leaflets and radio announcements were made as I have said. Of course, you don't care about the leaflets which shows you really don't care about Truth.

Once again, I pose the following to you: If we are going to apply name "terrorist" to every country that kills a civilian in war, then most nations who have been in war are terrorist nations, including the US. Is that what you are saying?

It is disturbing that you are not willing to engage my points. Is it possible you have no answer?

In Christ,

Matt