"This is an example of American democracy," Dr. Raed Ghassan said.

[Danieljay]

"This is an example of American democracy," Dr. Raed Ghassan said. "This was my house. I hate America. I will fight America every day, every time."

"The missile strike seemed to clearly illustrate two aspects of the conflict so far: first, Israel's willingness to use overwhelming force against Hezbollah targets regardless of where they are located, and second, because of the mounting civilian casualties, a gradual closing of ranks by many Lebanese behind Hezbollah."

http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs7920

Ah yes, winning the hearts and minds I see. I guess you can't help but blame America when America is providing the weapons that destroy your cities and kill your family members.

And so the hate, revenge, and bloodshed continues.

[Jim__]

1. Blow up someone's house, maybe kill their child ...

... at the very least show a complete disregard for the life of that child; can that person ever overcome the hate he feels?

We've created that type of hatred against us throughout the Middle East. And these fools talk about the birth of a new Middle East. There will be a new Middle East all right; but it's not a place that we're going to like.

[OneBlueSky]

2. "shock and awe" may instill fear . . . but it also breeds hatred . . . n/t

.

[Igel]

3. And as long as they

blame the powerful instead of finding the real causes, they'll continue to have problems.

Better to ignore that Nasrallah informed the government that their plans were to capture Israelis for trade, and wasn't told not to. Even if the operational details were ommitted.

Better to ignore that the 'democracy' was almost crippled because Shi'ites demanded that Hezbollah be dubbed the resistance instead of a militia, and instead of disarming it as had been the stated goal would be an object of pride.

Better to ignore the democracy that says they want to live at peace with Israel, and that the occupation was terminated, but kow-tows to a private militia whose goal is to destroy Israel, and whose leader is proud to have drawn the Israelis back onto Lebanese soil so that he can drive them out.

No, no. Must never blame one's clansman if you can blame a distant tribe member instead. Must never blame a tribe member if you can blame somebody not in your tribe, even if he's of the same ethnic or religious group. Must never blame a member of your ethnic or religious group if there's somebody outside that you can blame. Of such thinking was the Klan, and of such thinking is much Middle Eastern thought. Of such thinking were the celebrations in Shi'ite areas when the abduction of the Israelis was announced predicated. While such thinking reigns, the real problem can never be addressed, because addressing the problem is simply unthinkable. Better bloodshed than humiliation.

[Danieljay]

6. lets say my neighbor kidnaps someone. The cops blow up his house

and in doing so kill my wife and kids along with the neighbor next door. Who am I to blame? The kidnapper? Or the police that used excessive force to kill one bad guy?

Is the kidnapper a bad guy? Yep. Does he deserve to be punished for his actions? Yep. Does HIS death and punishment justify my loss of wife and kids and the neighbor next door?

I'll leave you to answer that for yourself.

[Selatius]

4. This is why many South Vietnamese eventually turned against the US

You blew up their homes and families in the process of fighting the enemy.

[malaise]

5. Anyone listening to the Bolton hearings

can only draw one conclusion. The United States government does not give a damn who is killed since they are the sole authority on the planet and will kill anyone who dares to disagree with Neo-con policy.

I need a new handle that suggests way more than mere malaise. Unless the neo-cons are removed this planet is doomed.