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StatisticsUnfortunately, the only way to respond to terrorists is with force because that is the only thing they understand and the only thing they respect. If you were to try and sit down with a group of militant terrorists to negotiate a peace agreement or a cease-fire, they would take the opportunity to reach across the table and slit your throat.
While the actions of Israel may escalate the level of violence, violence is the only way that Hezbollah will ever cease to function as a terrorist entity. There is nothing that will ever quench the hate that radical Islamic fundamentalists possess.
What makes a legitimate military target?
Civilian targets (like the only generator in Gaza) will be seen as acts of unjust aggression by the other sides and possibly the global community.
Believe me, I hear what you are saying here. But I am curious what the OmniNerd consensus is on what makes a target legitimate for a military strike. It can be argued both ways for many of these as civilians make use of them for daily life, but terrorist cells and military operations make use of the same infrastructure.
- hospitals
- major roadways
- bridges
- power stations
- water supplies
- water / electrical conduits
- communications grid
- cell phone towers
- crops and agriculture
- manufacturing facilities
- fuel stations
Personally, the only target I would not find viable is the hospital (by Geneva Convention I think). The rest is part of breaking the will of your opposing force. Granted, I am also the one that penned the need to fight immorally to achieve an objective. Found here or here. If one thinks of war as eye-of-sage does, then death is death regardless of how you spin it. May as well achieve that state faster and get it over with.
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RE: Israel to Her People: We Will Not Abandon You
Israel is sending a loud and clear clarion call-- not just to her enemies, but to her citizens and especially her military: "We will never allow our military, who daily put their lives on the line for the freedom and safety of our people, to be used as pawns or bargaining chips. We will never trade the life of one of our brave warriors for political expediency- no matter the cost." Israel is telling the world that she will never let one of her soldiers hang out to dry.
I agree with you that this is important... but so are the means that you go about getting back the soldiers. Israel must realize that it's tactics will further escalate blood shed of civilians. Targeting civilians (by both sides) makes you a terrorist and should not be tolerated. Civilian targets (like the only generator in Gaza) will be seen as acts of unjust aggression by the other sides and possibly the global community. So will kidnapping or detaining civilians that don't appear to be militants.
Let us also not forget that both sides of this have past faults that are in play here. There are legitimate claims that Israel may be holding terror suspects unjustly. Innocents may be incarcerated. In some ways it resembles this countries own problems with terror suspects. If the US is guilty of holding innocents then Israel may be too.
I am not condoning Militant actions, but commenting on the subsequent use of force and what ends it may bring.
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