The Final Say

Few Americans know Osama bin Laden cited the 9/11 attacks as payback for Israel's 1982 bombardment and siege of Beirut that killed up to 18,000 Lebanese and Palestinians and left the city shattered. Hezbollah, from my experience, is no mere cat's paw of Syria and Iran, but a fiercely independent-minded movement that is Lebanon's dominant political and military force. Though backed by Tehran and Damascus, Hezbollah pursues its own local interests, sometimes in opposition to its allies. Ironically, Hamas in Palestine is a democratically-elected government now battling the only other Mideast democracy, Israel. Hezbollah has elected members in Lebanon's ruling party, including cabinet ministers. Why did Hezbollah grab Israeli soldiers and ambush rescuers, knowing Israel's habit of often reacting to attacks by harsh collective punishment? Hezbollah's leader, Sheik Hussein Nasrallah, made clear his attacks were to support the embattled Palestinians in Gaza, who have been ravaged by Israeli air, land, and sea attacks after militants kidnapped an Israeli soldier. Hezbollah's offensive was also aimed at securing release of hundreds of its supporters and 10,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0716-29.htm [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on July 17, 2006]

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