Published: August 26, 2006 09:11 pm         

Flashpoint: Painful realities amid the beauty of a war-torn land

My wife, children, and parents recently returned from a summer trip to see friends and family abroad. The countryside was beautiful, as was the capital city. In the main area of the capital, we enjoyed coffee and dinner in the French style outdoor cafes while watching the World Cup on large screen televisions. The entire area was full of avid World Cup followers — probably 5,000 people minimum ranging from small children to the elderly — shouting and clapping with each celebrated kick or block.

After the game, we enjoyed homemade ice cream and pastries in one of the multiple confectioneries. Earlier in the day we walked through the designer shops such as Gucci, Channel, and the like, looking at merchandise that was more expensive than we were willing to spend. It was a typical European metropolitan city.

A short walk would lead us to the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea — adjacent to the port where ships came and went from all over the world — as we passed the Hard Rock Cafe among other notable American chains.

At times we could barely hear each other over the noise of the horns blaring from the Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW automobiles. “Study Abroad” groups of young adults from America and other parts of the world on an education mission filled the streets day and night.

After our fun-filled day we would return to the village up in the northern mountains to spend time with the family and friends we traveled so far to see. Their only concern was our comfort and safety, what they were planning for the next day’s meals, and how we were enjoying our stay. Their hospitality was endless. Their world would revolve around our needs and wants until the moment we boarded a plane to leave but their concern for our safety and happiness would never end. They were so excited that we came from America and wanted to make sure we would always want to return.

It was obvious we had found a paradise in that part of the world.

When it was time to leave, we packed our bags and headed toward the international airport, which had flights coming and going from all over the world. It was a beautiful airport, renovations that were barely 10 years old, having been remodeled after suffering severe damage due to an earlier explosion.

Beirut International, straight ahead, the signs directed. We arrived at the airport to the typical hustle and bustle of an international airport during the early morning hours and watched the big city lights fade through the small jet windows as we ascended into the night sky.

Little did we, or anyone else, know that less than a week later this paradise would become a bedlam due to the hostilities we’ve seen erupt between the Hezbollah political/militia group and Lebanon’s neighbor to the south, Israel.

Who started the conflict is clear, just ask any Israeli or American. Ask an Arab and you’re likely to get an opposing view. Is Hezbollah to blame because they kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, or is Israel to blame because they failed to return detained prisoners from years ago and failed to honor the U.N. approved international border?

What is truly clear, however, is that innocent Israelis and Lebanese men, women, and children were being killed every day. In addition to the innocent lives being lost on both sides of the border, Israel was destroying a beautiful city that only recently rebuilt after earlier conflicts. Israel has explained they are not in a war with Lebanon, but their bombardment of the bridges, schools, airports, and ports to the north tell another story.

Israel describes their only problem with the Lebanese government is that they didn’t rid Lebanon of the Hezbollah militia group, but 20-some days into the conflict, Israel — with the latest and greatest weaponry provided by or funded by the U.S. — came to realize that Hezbollah is not going to be easily eradicated.

If the Israeli Defense Forces, whose might is probably only second to the U.S. forces, can’t easily remove the militia group, how is it that the Lebanese government whose military can barely control traffic be expected to have done it.

Simply put, this conflict, nor any other, is not going to be resolved through gunfire. The U.S. should have stepped in and brokered a cease fire while the international world worked on a comprehensive resolution. While I understand the support of Israel, being a democracy in the region, Lebanon is a democracy in the region too. Why doesn’t it make sense that Israel’s security would be strengthened with a stable democracy to the north rather than a war-torn government. The weak Lebanese government is even weaker due to the conflict. The arguments of Hezbollah for their existence were reinforced with every shot fired.

Israel should remove Hezbollah’s ability for rhetoric by returning the POWs, and recognizing the U.N. international border. Hezbollah should immediately return the Israeli soldiers to their families and everyone should take a deep breath and learn to live together. Regardless of who should or should not have the rights to the land, if they can’t live together, it appears they’re going to die together.

— Mike Ellis

Terre Haute