In response to Jason Hoskin’s column Israel’s attack on Lebanon necessary, I don’t believe the issue is as simply as supporting one side or the other, Israel or Hezbollah. The issues in the Middle East may seem complex, but the origins are a continual universal problem. Groups of people in the Middle East are without necessities. The Lebanese government is not providing its citizens with basic amenities to live comfortably. There is not enough food, water, or shelter in the area to live secure lives. As history has proven, without security people will rebel and gain these items anyway possible. Since Hezbollah is the only group in the region providing food, shelter, and jobs; the group is easily gaining more power than ever before. The same thing is happening in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians are living under great human rights violations and thus the Hamas are becoming more influential. The organization has no need to recruit members when on one side of the fence Israeli’s have lush green grass; while in Gaza, clean drinking water is barely accessible. It is easier to blame people who are living well and to point fingers than to actually fix the problem. Israel is targeted in the region because it is a prosperous country that is not helping clean up any messes.
Yet, this is not unique to the Middle East. It is proven that hate organizations in the US, such as the Ku Klux Klan, target people who are without jobs, shelter, and basic needs. These people are desperate and are willing to do anything to be provided with security even if that involves violent acts. Also, after WWI, the US left Germany helpless, without any hope of a future. As in Lebanon and Gaza, hate groups formed and targeted successful groups of people. As a result, the country was so lost, Hitler easily came to power by providing citizens with basic needs they had not had for years. After WWII, the US rebuilt Europe and Japan. By providing Europeans and Japanese with provisions they had not previously had the US assured that peace could be restored. Why aren’t we helping rebuild Gaza and Lebanon?
The problems in the Middle East and the origins of the terrorist groups are complex, but to move in a peaceful direction, people must be provided with jobs in order for them to buy food, clothing, and shelter. If the 15,000 Lebanese soldiers Hoskin speaks of would provide citizens with these necessities and/or the government would create jobs, the people would back the government and not the terrorist organization in the region making recruitment nearly impossible. Right now, Hezbollah is the only political group providing jobs to citizens, but the jobs they are providing usually include a homeless fifteen year old boy and an AK47.
4 comments:
Nice response, another problem that I saw with the article is that Jason made it sound like that Lebanon could have enforced the UN resolution to disarm Hezbollah but chose not to. He ignored the fact that Lebanon is still a weak country & that Hezbollah is arguably a more modern & potent fighting force than the Lebanese Army & that the government's terrified of confronting Hezbollah.
Actually I don't agree with you most of the Terrorist attacks have been carried out by the well educated and well to do in the Arab world Lebanon is like multiple nations it has a poor shia south and wealthy Christian central area.
The major attacks are well funded, but the new recruits are not coming from that background. The people presently joining are poor and have no where else to turn, they're finding someone to blame.
Yes, we rebuilt West Germany and Japan. It took billions and billions of dollars, the service of thousands and thousands of soldiers, and the support of the American public. The occupation of Japan lasted about 10 years. To this day we maintain bases across Germany and Japan. Was it worth it? You bet. Is Iraq worth it? I believe so.
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