Collateral damage

This is the first of three posts about the tragic situation in Lebanon.

That child on the ground:
the collateral damage.
How many must die?

As a reporter, I started covering the Middle East in 1979. And I can't remember a more dire situation than the one that currently exists. The extreme actions of both Hezbollah and Israel have sent peace prospects spiraling back 25 years. Make no mistake, events of the last eleven days will have far-reaching consequences, for the region and for the world. The entire Middle East will shudder with aftershocks from the reckless destruction of Lebanon.

Just a year ago, the Bush administration praised Lebanon as a shining example of democracy. But now this good friend has been abandoned by the United States and Britain. The United Nations has stepped in, seeking an immediate cessation of hostilities. The UN is trying desperately to staunch the gaping wounds, as Lebanon's hemorrhaging blood begins to stain the region.

A humanitarian disaster looms. More than 700,000 Lebanese citizens have been made homeless by Israeli bombs. Forced into mass exodus, many are flying white flags of surrender from car windows - that is, those lucky enough to have cars. Where will these refugees go? Syria's and Jordan's infrastructures already are reeling from the dramatic influx of refugees from the Iraq War, some 450,000 in Jordan alone. Absorbing thousands more refugees from Lebanon will prove a strain on their already overtaxed resources.

When British cities were victim to IRA bombs, did the government respond by bombing Ireland into oblivion? Did they punish an entire country for the actions of a few extremists? Obviously not. So why aren't the U.S. and Britain insisting on a ceasefire, rather than allowing mass casualties and utter destruction of Lebanon?

Last week, George Bush refused to sanction stem cell research, saying he believes "all human life is valuable." Does his philosophy apply just to American lives? Hundreds of Lebanese civilians and many Israelis are dying needlessly and Bush - supposedly the most powerful man in the world - has done nothing to stop it. Israel's response to Hezbollah rockets, however provoked, is disproportionate. Ten Lebanese civilians are dying for every Israeli. From any moral compass, how is this escalating violence even remotely acceptable?

Diplomats dither
amidst death and destruction.
Where is the outrage?

A sad tragic end
to a young wife's life;
missles fired too near.

Their homes have vanished
in a blaze of smoke and ash
Innocents suffer.

Fleeing their village
beset by exploding bombs;
A narrow escape.

Nations held hostage
by two enemies' mad rage
Pity the people.

Weep for Lebanon
staging ground for old battles;
More devastation.

Bullying tactics
a country lies torn to shreds;
Too many victims.

A war they never
wanted, these war veterans,
adapting to peace.

World superpower
gives carte blanche; turns a blind eye.
A nation's plundered.

Comments

[kristen]

I want to weep for the Lebanese people and in shame for the US stance on who we'll back, and how we'll react. It is more terrible each day.

[Laini]

Tara, I've been waiting to get your perspective on this situation -- I can't believe what has happened in so short a space of time. I have such a terrible feeling about it all. Tonight on the news I heard that Israel bombed what was clearly a convoy of ambulances today. What? And good point about the "sanctity" of life. It's all just a sop to the religious right -- and yes, in their eyes, only American life is precious. Unless you live in New Orleans and happen to be black...

[Tammy]

The whole thing is a mess. Every country has some agenda and the innocent are paying the price. Prayers for peace.
Thank you
XXOO

[Elisabeth]

I found your blog through a comment you left on Neil's blog. I will definitely visit again. Great entry on this highly sensitive issue.

[tarakuanyin]

One thing that's obvious to me living in the U.S. is that the mainstream media over here is not in any way "fair and balanced." Fox is the worst, but the other stations are almost as bad. I like your analogy, Tara, about Ireland (being Irish as I am). Why bomb a country into oblivion because of the actions of a few terrorists? And the worst part is that because of incomplete and biased coverage over here, people really have no idea what's going on, or are "swayed." Bush's refusal to call for a cease-fire is just one other in a string of disastrous and self-serving decisions during his presidency. Thanks for the report. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

[Catalina]

Very good post Tara, yes, this is a very sad situation, specially the fact that not all countries or populations are considered as important as others.......it looks that not all lives worth the same.....

[mary jane]

Hi Tara,

Well written...I look forward to your next two posts....Is it religion or is it about money? or is it just hatred?

[Marilyn]

THANK YOU for this post. I have much more to say, but will say it in an email.

[amber]

"When British cities were victim to IRA bombs, did the government respond by bombing Ireland into oblivion? Did they punish an entire country for the actions of a few extremists? Obviously not." --
You make a ver good point here, Tara. I am following the news, but I admit I am swayed here and there... I just have no idea, and it makes me feel so helpless. it gives me a very bad feeling...

:)

[ms*robyn]

I am a simple gal and I know not a thing about the politics of it all. Is it about money or power or control? I see it on television and the part that hits me the most and tears at my heart are all the INNOCENT people being killed, maimed or left to survive somehow. That is what the real horror of it is to me - the innocents. thankyou Tara - I will continue to hold these people in my heart as that is all I can do.

[AscenderRisesAbove]

I'm with Neil: I think it is about who is supplying weapons to each to secure a foot hold in that area with a completely different agenda then those being fought about.
But of course I don't live there so it is only an opinion from watching from afar and trying to figure out what the media is not allowed to tell us.
I too would like to hear the truth of those weapons along the border...

[jzr]

I will not get into who did what here. I have an opinion, however, it is just that and I am trying to look at both sides with compassion. My heart is breaking though and I must say once again my country has failed the world and the citizens of this country. That is where my anger is at this particular moment ... that we sit and do nothing ... again ... while human lives are being wasted. This horrible tragedy must stop.

[Colette]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your reportage.
XOXO

About missiles etc: The bombing of Lebanon only started because of the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers for which Hezbollah wanted a trade. Let's not forget that.

[Paris Parfait]

Neil, I will address the Hezbollah issue, as well as Syrian and possibly Iranian influence in forthcoming posts. Obviously, one reason Hezbollah has thrived in Lebanon is because of Syria's continuing influence, undermining the Lebanese government's attempts to control and disarm Hezbollah, as ordered in a UN resolution. For years, Syria has wreaked havoc in Lebanon. Syria is likely responsible for assassinations of Rafiq Hariri and two journalists and attempted assassination of a television journalist, who has spent the past year in a Paris suburb undergoing extensive rehabilitation. It has not been proven that Hezbollah's missles have the range to reach Tel Aviv, although any missle reaching any Israeli city is obviously one too many. Israel has sophisticated radar technology to detect incoming missles, particularly the SCUD missles employed during the Gulf War. Of course this is of little comfort to those Israelis now threatened with cruder incoming rockets.

[Neil]

I know you're very knowledgable about the Middle East, so I'm excited to hear about your perspective. As you must know from reading my blog, I'm a pretty big supporter of Israel, both as someone Jewish and as a supporter of democracy. Part of me does agree that the Israeli action is overly-agressive, and the situation in Lebanon is very sad, especially after all the rebuilding. But I'm hoping in your next two posts that you also write a little bit more about how Hezbollah purposes puts themselves in the middle of populated areas to create as much Lebanese death as possible. And I'd like to hear more about what you think the role of Syria and Iran is in all this -- because that's what this is really all about, isn't it? Also, what would you suggest that Israel does as a terrorist organization employs missiles along the Lebanese -Israeli border that can reach Tel Aviv.