Is Lebanon Israel's Iraq?

[pese]

http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16280

[Joakim]

You don't change peoples view of you by bombing them, you simply radicalize them.

Israel has repetedly, since 1967, broken the UN resolution 242 calling for an immediate withdrawal from Palestinian territories. Not only that, they have EXPANDED settlements ever since - making more and more Palestinians furious. This is such an easy equation that even a child can understand it: If you terrorize an entire population because of the action of a small group of it's citizens you'll get blowback. Young kids are recurited to these extremist groups because they have nowhere else to turn, and often some of their relatives have been either hurt or humiliated by Israeli soldiers. By continuing to punish the entire population of Lebanon / Palestine you'll generate more support to these disgusting extremists - this is understood by both sides.

What we in the west, but to a larger degree Israel, should do is to stop raining in bombs and directly start to rebuild these nations. Give massive amounts of aid so that schools and infrastructure can be rebuilt as quick as possible. Give the children (they are the ones who are recruited by these groups) a chance to prosper so that the extremists loose their ability to give convincing arguments for terror instead of personal development. The work that has to be done is massive, and it's needed quickly, but all that money would probably not amount to a small portion of what is spent on bombs, planes, helicopters, maintanance and ammo in these conflicts.

The problem is that I don't think Israel wants to give back all the land they have stolen from the Palestinians... Many in the Israeli government are themselves extremist jews and believe that Israel should be extended even more (according to the idea of "Eretz Israel") to include parts of Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and all Palestinian land. I believe it's going to be hard to change these peoples minds, they are not driven by reason but by religion.

EDIT/ADDITION:
There was a report on a U.S. operation in Iraq this week that is based on a much much "softer" approach to fight insurgency. The troops in that group are now shifting focus from themselves and protecting themselves, to the community they operate in. They no longer kick in doors in the middle of the night and they bond with the villagers by proving they take their security more serious than their own. This has worked, and it's so obvious. You don't turn people around by killing their brothers and sisters.

[pese]

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=24885

[missvixenfoxylady]

In a word "yes " Plus as like as not it is a war by proxy .Designed to bring in Iran and Syria . Not just my vies .
Refer you to http://missvixenfoxylady.blogpot.com
and to http:// BloggingBeirut.com
I have made an entry which you can read at harti earlier on .
The time has come to stop being so egocentric , call wake up too much war , too many weapons . Not enough tolerance and education . The press is more and more controlled Few have any idea what a book is or seek to cross refernce facts or learn from history . It is more than tragic .