Why should americans even care any longer. We give money to both sides an both sides are ignorant. An Arabs always blame america for everything why dont you take responsiblity for your own doings. We gave more money to palestine for aid than arab countries did but where still at fault. The hell with all of you kill each other for all I care. Enough is Enough. My tax dollars shouldnt go for adults acting like children. My family deserves the money that we pay in taxes an give away to fools.

Agreed Isreal is doing the right thing. They have the guts to show Iran that if you unjustly mess with us you will pay the price. You can play all the PR games, but your people are goanna be the ones who are goanna suffer, if you do foolish things and try to hurt or destroy our country. I am an Indian too and I realize our nation is the wimpiest nation on earth. I think our leaders should be tried for treason, for surrendering decisively to terrorists, and terrorism. India deserves what it is getting and the Terrorists are laughing because India is the big weak wimp they can keep pounding with no response. Keep it up Isreal and show those who surrender to terror what a real country is made of.

Keep it up Israel. When they capture your soldiers, hit back. When they fire rockets into your cities, hit back even hard.

Keep it up Israel. Don't be like Indian wimps (Indian government is actually condemning Israel - such is our leadership).

Our gutless PM wants G8 to commit to fight global terrorism, but we are friends with Iran - the other sponsoring country of global Jihad (along with its neighbour to the east).

To Mr. Melman,

This is the first opinion I've read regarding the military escalation unfolding between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah, in which it is assumed that this particular situation will resolve itself in a matter of weeks and all will go on as before. Given the events unfolding within the Arab and Muslim region; ie. the U.S.' appearance of favoratism towards Israel; the foreign occupation of Iraq; the civil war (as I see it) in Iraq; the stronger re-emergence of Taliban activity in Afghanistan; the nuclear energy issue within Iran, etc, it seems just as likely that more civilians are going to die; more people are going to lose the ability to have a happy and secure life; cultures are going to be destroyed; and even further wedges will be effected between the Arab/Muslim world and the West.

As someone who spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, I understand carrying out the mission. I understand that war is reality (even though it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be inevitable). So when you're a solider, you carry out the mission. The reality is that soldiers would rather be at home with their family and at peace with their neighbors than engaging in a day to day operation of war. I'm going to go out on a limb and include ALL fighting factions, even those with more extreme views.

From a personal point of view, having spent a year and a half stationed in Izmir, Turkey (NATO,1985-1986)during my military career, it only stimulated my interest, respect, and curiosity for a culture, a people, and a unifying religious belief under the guidance of the Prophet (PBUH) which has always stayed with me over the years.

You see, I'd like to be able to visit the sites of the ancient Mesopotamian empire in Iraq; I'd like to visit the site where Abraham and Ishmael built the Kabaa in Saudi Arabia; I would love to visit Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel.

I am an idealist and I wish nothing but peace and friendship between peoples. This current situation on a personal level frightens me because the idealist in me sees the possibility moving further and further away.

So, Mr. Melman, if you know something that I do not, please share your knowledge.

Respectfully,
Donise Flannigan

From many Comments it seems if you are any religion accept Muslim you should Turn the other cheek when attacked & invite them to hit you again. If you are Muslin you should be go to Holy war and secure God's blessing & get 72 Virgins in Heaven to Violate!

From many Comments it seems if you are any religion accept Muslim you should Turn the other cheek when attacked & invite them to hit you again. If you are Muslin you should be go to Holy war and secure God's blessing & get 72 Virgins in Heaven to Violate!

Am I the only one who thinks the Israeli declaration that Hezbollah should respect U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 is ridiculous? Israel simply ignored most, if not all, U.N. resolutions. Who are they to demand compliance from Hezbollah to international decisions they themselves have always treated with disregard? This is sheer hypocrisy.

What a phony Melman is! He writes: life in the rest of the country is as usual. Rockets have hit Haifa and Tibereas and an offical says that Tel Aviv is within range. Apparently for Melman, the "rest of the country" is Tel Aviv.

So how many soldiers did Israel free so far?
If Iran and Syria are responsible as Israel claim, why bomb the weak defenseless Lebanon?
One more thing:if bombing power plants and civilian targets in response to kidnapping is justified, why not suicide bombing in response to occupation?
As for the fact that "Israel has its back against the wall",well, they picked their real estate and they have to live with it.
SGS: I do not understand your posting:India's tough approach in Kashmir is an example of success, and the prove is Mumbai?

SGS, very insightful comment. Israel indeed has very little margin of error, and everything I've seen suggests that Israelis deeply want peace... but many have given up hope that it is possible.

My deep sympathy goes out to all the victims of the recent bombing in India. I have often felt that India is completely under-appreciated in America. It is a vibrant and truly democratic country despite its great size, diversity, and poverty. I don't think many people in the U.S. realize that India is a truly free country, practically the only one for thousands of miles around.

I am glad to find some people who appreciate the similarities between India's situation and Israel's.

I think the whole point is that things were OK (atleast they were not firing rockets at each other) till last month. What does Hizbollah do, kidnap two Israeli soldiers - not a very good idea.

Israel as a country lives with its back towards the wall, unlike other countries they cant afford to lose even a single war/fight/skirmish. That is also the reason why they counter attack with such force.

Hamas & Hizbollah whole existence is based on the idea of being anti-Israel. For them its not a good idea to have things peaceful as that effects there influence (or say) in those societies. If things were all good between Palastine and Israel then there is no need for Hamas. This is also the reason why they keep needling Israel just to keep the fire burning.

I am originally from India, over last 25 years we have a suffered a great deal because of cross-border terrorism. Personally Israel is fully justified in going after them (in a "I am gonna knock you out" mode). We had a bomb-blasts in Mumbai just two days, 200 people died. USA & Europe are way better off, things like this dont happen (or happen once a year). Here it is a fortnightly feature on an average.

We just cant have countries like exporting terrorism Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan or Iraq (this one is only after the American invasion). If these guys want war, then I guess lets give them one.

Why would anyone think this is a one sided war?
Do rocket attacks and border crossings for military attacks (by Hamas and Hezbollah) count as acts of war?

They would be considered as acts of war if it happened to any country but Israel. Israel has the unique position in the world where they must respond to attacks by giving up more land which will only increase the amount of attacks.

As usual the U.S. policy with regard to this crisis is idiotic: Bush says the Israeli's have the right to defend themselves. Targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders and choking off the ability of the legitimately elected government of the Palestinians don't count as war-like agressions but when the Palestinians exercise the "right to defend themselves" they are terrorists.

It is critical, since the U.S. has blocked U.N. action that the rest of the world step in to try to engage Hamas/ Hezbollah and Israel to stop this insane one-sided "war".

I assume that since Israel and the Bush administration is blaming Iran we will soon see justification for Israel to use the bunker busting bombs we gave them to attack Iran's nuclear sites. They will get away with it because the U.S. will step in to defend and assist Israel "defend itself" from any escalation of attacks from its neighbors in the Middle East.