See this page for links to articles on OpEdNEws that articulate both sides on the issues in the middle east. It is the goal of OpEdNews to air opinions from both sides to stretch the envelope of discussion and communication. Hate statements are not accepted. Discussions of issues and new ideas for solutions are encouraged. .Last Sunday, 250 Hezbollah Katyusha rockets fell upon Israel. Three days have intervened.
In each of those three days, Hezbollah made strides toward restoring Lebanon.
Today, Hezbollah is rebuilding Lebanon.
Much has been written in the United States about "asymmetric warfare." The concept states that big armies and other military might need to take caution; there are enemies that can adroitly martial forces of other means to bring them down.
Make no mistake about it: asymmetric warfare is no longer a concept. The Professors of the University of Hezbollah have just rocketed past all the theoretical thinkers at the cushy U.S. war colleges.
Hezbollah clearly won the media and public affairs war. Hands down and without question, believe what you will but Arabs almost universally heard and accepted one message: Hezbollah won the war.
Many in the west find this incredulous, they cannot fathom how people standing homeless and amid rubble can claim to be a "winner."
Sometimes it is better just to listen than to argue. The Arab people of Lebanon are telling us about their deep hatred of Israel, its "occupation," its "unjustified invasion," its "disproportionate force."
The US gets blame too. A full share.
Argue as you will that they are wrong: me; I am listening and trying to see paths toward resolution because no debating society ever fielded a team that can convince these people with words that they are wrong.
How many shovels and spades could be made by melting down one Merkava tank? That is my thought tonight. As Israel struggles to retrieve all its lumbering armor from Lebanon, much of it borne on flatbed trucks, the "freedom fighters" (as they call themselves and their neighbors call them) of Hezbollah are scraping up the debris of war, buying furniture for homeless Lebanese people, and working toward restoring Lebanon.
The money comes from Iran. More correctly, the money comes every time you buy gas for your car.
The fuel of hatred in the air in Lebanon, where Hezbollah places homemade banners on bombed out building to say "Made In America," is palpable.
The questions now include what next? What do we in America do?
I can say categorically about the talk from the US about rebuilding Lebanon: Hezbollah is way ahead.
Again.
