Lebanon was a thriving economy, Paris of the east – and the kidnapping of the soldiers for the Shebah farms – in my opinion was the wrong way to go. The reality is that there is a movement that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and this is realized when the President of a country calls for this in the open.

The Hezbolah are executing his orders – and the people of Lebanon are paying a price. What has the Hezbolah planned for the refugees in Syria? How long will the Syrian homes be open before the guests become a nuisance? So, when people call the reactions from Israel dispropotinate – Think again. When your life is in danger – do you think about just stopping your assailant or finishing him off once and for all?

I also agree that guns don’t solve problems – it just makes them worse. I hope that both sides realize this and not just provide lip service. The cease-fire deal is barely in effect and you see the Lebanese ministers back-pedaling.

I hope both sides are serious. I have friends on both sides and I would like to eat drink and be merry with them, and not have to leave flowers on their tombs.

I love the way your argument it completely one sided. My best friend just came back from Beirut and told me that the only part of Beirut which is leveled is the Hezbollah Compound (Southern Beirut) and that people actually still go to the beach to relax. he actually came back with pictures showing people playing in the sand while you could see smoke in the background. He found it funny.
The only occupying force in Lebanon is Hezbollah. They are an illegitimate army (they are not even recognized by Lebanon) occupying southern Lebanon under the excuse they have to explell the Zionist Enemy from it’s land, Shebah Farms. I won’t repeat myself, but Shebah is Syrian (Syriah refuses to officially pass over it’s rights to that land to Lebanon) making Hezbollahs argument for existance invalid. Israel Pulled out of Lebanon in 2000 and not once came back in. they’ve been fired upon, provoked kidnapped, you name it. Even the lebanese people are sick of Hezbollah.
Israel reacted very strongly to the kidnapping. Probably going too far. But you have to ask yourself, is 25% of the whole population being homeless and the billions in Infrastructure destroyed worth the two kidnapped soldiers which could have been rturned at any point?
We finally have a cease fire that will god willing go into effect tomorrow. Hezbollah is banished from Southern Lebanon. The Soldiers are supposed to be returned. So my question is really was it worth it? Did Hezbollah do a service by kidnapping the soliders? The final results speak for themselves. Look at whats left of the situation. A poor Lebanese population which was just starting to strive again now has to start over.
I don’t understand how extremism is acceptable in the world. Israel reacted strongly and paid the price with the loss of both civilian and military life. Lebanon lost much more, but that’s what happens when you pick on someone bigger than you, you’re going to get more than you give. It’s a sad result to an unnecessary series of events.

So if you are honest about condemning terrorism, you should look to Israel. Its nuclear-armed military has committed far more serious offenses against civilians, both in number and in scale, including the utter destruction of the country’s civilian infrastructure.

Were you not listening when Israeli officials and ministers, have stated that “nothing is safe in lebanon”, “the clock will be turned back 20 years in lebanon” and “villages in the south of lebanon should be flattened” ? How’s that for a “democratic” country acting in “self-defence” ?

The reduction of a whole country to rubble and dust, the massacre of civilians, the turning of 25% of the whole population into poor refugees many with no place to go, the destruction of homes, bridges, power stations, fuel stations, and so much more, the devastation of the coastline by a massive oil spill and the occupation of inhabitants’ lands, all that and worse is happening in LEBANON, not Israel!

I bet you sympathise a lot more for the poor, stressed out IDF soldier who are so tired after a bombing run on southern Beyrouth to kill more innocents…

Get your facts straight and you might have a better chance at doing a service to the people in Lebanon. For the time being you’re doing the same service the Reuters photographer did by doctoring the pictures.