Stop.

This was posted with this picture on Flickr:

Israel is trying to bring Lebanon to its knees. Israel is trying to destroy Lebanon and the Lebanese spirit. Israel is trying to turn Lebanese against each other. Israel is trying to turn us into animals scrounging for food, water and shelter. Israel and the United States of America are trying to drag Syria and Iran into this too. They are using Lebanon as bait. Lebanon is stuck in the middle. The Americans and Israelis are trying to launch a regional war!!

And then this, an opposing viewpoint via a post from a discussion at the Washington Post:

I find this column and virtually every supportive comment to be a complete joke. The underlying cause for all violence in the region is Muslim intolerance of Jewish “occupation” of “their” land. Hezbollah operates virtually as a state-within-a-state in Southern Lebanon, and bases operations from civilian areas such that any defensive action by Israel is guaranteed to cause civilian casualties. This is then reported around the region and among socialist morons in Europe and elsewhere as if Israelis enjoy killing civilians. It is Hezbollah that does not care about Arab civilian deaths, because those deaths ultimately help their cause by fomenting more hatred of Israel. This puts Israel in a Catch-22. The Lebanese government is powerless to rein in Hezbollah because of popular support (i.e. the average citizen’s hatred of Israel) throughout the region, and material and financial support from Syria and Iran. Civilian deaths are always a tragedy, but Israel has the right to do what it can to wipe out a terrorist organization dedicated to its destruction.

I can understand the Israeli frustration, but after reading different accounts about the situation and watching Winter Soldier last night with Will, I think they’re abusing their power and our government is helping them. Too bad a solution is so maddeningly elusive….but then again, maybe they don’t really want one? Maybe they’re like women who only date bad boys; if they’re in a healthy, functional relationship with a good man who treats them well, it’s too uncomfortable for them to handle because they thrive on chaos. I don’t know, but it makes me wonder….