Editorial: Washington fiddles, Lebanon burns
Saturday, Jul 15, 2006
Imagine if, as a result of the Mumbai bombings, the Indian government assumed
Pakistan was to blame and, without consulting any of its allies, laid waste to
the international airport in Islamabad -- or worse. Or imagine Japan deciding
that one more North Korean missile test over its waters or land was too many,
before attacking North Korean missile bases.
Would a reasonable person expect Washington to respond to such actions with
the line, "We respect the right of [insert name of country] to defend itself"?
No: Americans would be expected to deplore acts of revenge and retaliation that
are out of all proportion to the provocation because of the long-term
instability that this feeds, if not triggering outright war. But this is
not the case with Israel and Lebanon. Israel's bombing of the
international airport in Beirut and residential areas nearby, killing at least
60 innocent people, would in any other part of the world be considered an act
of war. Israel seems to think it bombed the Hezbollah International
Airport for the capture of its soldiers. In doing so, the Israelis have thumbed
their noses at the safety of not only innocent Lebanese, but also the
substantial community of foreigners in Beirut, as well as the safety of
airlines and their passengers. Tel Aviv has also vividly nationalized what
should
have been a response against a specific group. Indeed, the outrageousness
of the attack is compounded by the typically muted reaction of the US and other
world powers. Though US President George W. Bush has said that the Israeli
attack might weaken the Lebanese government and that he would press for the
offensive to stop, the primary message from Washington is simply this: "Israel
has the right to defend itself," and that, ipso facto, bombing an international
airport constitutes self-defense. Witness this exchange between a member
of the Washington press corps and US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack
on Thursday: Question: "You've talked a lot about the need for Syria, Iran
and other countries to recognize Lebanese sovereignty under 1559 and other UN
resolutions. If you're not holding the Lebanese government responsible for
these actions [Hezbollah's capture of Israeli soldiers], do you think that the
Israeli actions are an affront to Lebanese
sovereignty?" McCormack: "Look, we have made very clear that we, as well
as others in the region, want to see this situation resolved. We would hope
that it does not escalate. All of that said, we all understand Israel's right
to defend itself." A pathetic non-response to a crucial question.
Israel has been subjected to horrific and despicable attacks by people who have
lost all sense of humanity such that they would dismember the bodies of
civilians of all faiths. But Israel has also perpetrated unjust treatment
against Palestinians for which it is rarely held to account. Perhaps it is only
ever a matter of time before this kind of situation so degrades the morality of
nations -- even a region -- that the unthinkable becomes the next best option.
It is critical that a powerful mediator be firm but fair to both sides. The
US, however, continues to play down Israeli excesses while effectively rebuking
all Palestinians -- and now all Lebanese -- for the
actions of extremist minorities. If the US continues to rationalize acts
of excessive aggression, perhaps Taiwan's military may take some comfort from
the possibility that strikes against major Chinese infrastructure such as the
Three Gorges Dam and residential areas can be put on the table. Actually, there
is no comfort to be had whatsoever, because Taiwan has much more to lose if
such atrocities become feasible. As long as the US plays down Israel's
maverick behavior, the danger of Tehran and Beijing's militant governments
aping Tel Aviv grows ever larger.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2006/07/15/2003318925
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