Definitely not the same

Jonathan Chaitt takes to task those who say Israel's bombing of Lebanon is the equivalent of Hizbollah's shelling of the Jewish state.

At Tapped, Matt Yglesias writes that Hezbollah's rocket strikes, as compared with Israel's bombing of Lebanon, are "equally indefensible." Equally? Hezbollah began the crisis with an act of war that included a cross-border incursion and a kidnapping. Israel retaliated by attacking the parts of Lebanon's infrastructure that could be used to spirit the kidnapped soldiers out of the country, and followed it up by trying to destroy Hezbollah's artillery. In so doing they made every effort to minimize civilian casualties, including dropping leaflets warning residents to leave the targetted areas. Hezbollah has been lobbing rockets in the general direction of Israeli cities with no intent other than to kill civilians.

Israel's response seems like a good idea to me, though I'm open to the possibility that it may turn out to have been a bad idea. I don't think we can yet know whether Israel's response will have its intended effect, or if it has been precise enough to justify the inevitable collateral damage. But I don't see how you could morally equate the actions of the two sides.

Chaitt is absoluteley right, there is no comparison of what Israel and Hizbollah are doing. The rocket attacks on Haifa are aimed at killing civillians, Israel's strikes have killed civillians but their intent was to strike at Hizbollah. Is all of Israel a military target? Not in TFM's opinion as it should if anyone studies the actions of both sides.

Whether Israel should be striking Lebanon is another issue. I can hear both sides of that issue. Israel feels they have no choice, others say these attacks are playing into the Arab's hands. I view Israel needs to fight back for their very survival depends on it. The Arabs have been ceded back Southern Lebanon and the Gaza strip. Why are they attacking unless their intent is destroy Israel, for their greivances are settled.

Charles Krauthammer at the Washington Post wrote a very good column last friday on the Arab's intentions. I suggest you read it if you haven't already.

Hat tip- James Joyner at OTB
Open Post- Right Wing Nation, Adam's Blog, Third World County,