Going backward, fast

Ok, I hate to be sensational. But it really makes you wonder - Israel has effectively managed to close Beirut's airport. Meaning, we're trapped here. This feels bad. But then, that's only a minor problem (although economically it's going to cause Lebanon huge damage). 20 civilians were killed in the South this morning, in just a few hours. Including one entire family killed in their house. Israel thinks it is going to war with the Lebanese government. I'm sure the majority of Lebanese would disagree with that interpretation. The main bridge between Beirut and Saida was hit too, so you can't go to the South anymore, either, even if you wanted to.

This morning I woke up early and all was quiet; there is almost no traffic today anyway because people are scared and staying at home if they can. And I swear I could hear, ever so faintly, helicopters and several explosions in the distance. Makes sense, because Israel also bombarded Hizballah's al Manar TV station which is located in a southern suburb of Beirut. My colleague here at work used to live in that suburb for a long time, she even remembers when it was a 'mixed' (meaning: including inhabitants from different confessions) residential neighbourhood. Before all the recent insanity that all sides have incited. And, without excusing Hizballah's ideology or their stupid actions, let's remember how they got to where they are today, and to what they are today: weren't they founded after Israel's 1982 invasion? Doesn't this make anyone go, STOP IT YOU CRAZY IDIOTS!!! RIGHT NOW!!!! ALL OF YOU!!! Anyway that's how I feel. And yes, for the sensational bit, check out this Time magazine cover from August 1982:

Not to mention these quotes from Dan Halutz, who is the IDF Chief of Staff: "We will turn Lebanon's clock back 20 years."

Or this one from today's Ha'aretz: "The IDF General Staff took a similarly hard line, with one senior officer declaring that Israel should send Lebanon's infrastructure "30 years backward" in response to the attack."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=737860&contrassID=1&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0