August 1, 2006
There seems to be no end to the Middle East turmoil. Pictures don’t tell the entire story, not even most of the story. This is a media war, as much as an air and ground war. Hezbollah and its allies throughout the Muslim world think we are weak and can be broken by pictures of bleeding women and dying children. They hide among these people and store their weapons and ammunition in apartment buildings. I’ve seen this myself during a visit to Lebanon in 1982 when Israel rooted out another terrorist group: the PLO.
When so-called civilians are killed – and with the exception of very young children, how do we know they are all civilians – Hezbollah invites the cameras in and claims victim status. The spineless Europeans get in on the act, denouncing Israel as usual. And the UN hints of more resolutions which mean little. Previous resolutions, including one agreeing to the disarmament of Hezbollah and its vacating of Lebanon have been ignored. Why should they obey new ones when the old ones had no teeth?
The only thing our enemy understands is defeat. And, by the way, Hezbollah and it’s sponsor, Iran, are our enemy. They ultimately are coming after us.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
