If We Are Lucky

The joke yesterday at work was that Monday morning the ceasefire would start and by Tuesday morning the third Lebanon War would begin. It is a distinct possibility, because we did not win this war. Call it arrogance, call it incompetence, call it wavering or hesitancy or the hubris of our political and military leaders; call it whatever you want but we squandered these last four and a half weeks, bringing only misery to the two million residents of the north and to the citizens of Lebanon.
There was no decisive victory. Hezbollah still has its weapons. They were able to fire 250 katusha rockets at us yesterday. Syria and Iran are still supplying them with weapons. They will be able to claim the victory that eluded us.

However, if we are lucky, something good might come out of this. If we are lucky the international community might get their act together and send the troops, although how they are going to assist the 15,000 troops that the Lebanese say they are going to deploy into the south is still unclear to me. I mean, can we really expect them to fight Hezbollah? If we are lucky the international community and the UN will force Resolution 1701 to be implemented. If we are lucky the Lebanese government is really serious about exerting their rule over all of their country. A lot depends on if…

We have at least demonstrated to the world that enough is enough. That there is a limit to how much, in the name of "restraint," we are willing to have rockets reign down on our cities in the north and the south. Hopefully, the IDF has been shocked out of their complacency regarding Hezbollah and the threat that they do pose to Israel.

Again we have to hold our breath and hope for the best. This is what we have done during the last thirteen years: with the Oslo Accords, the withdrawal from Lebanon, the Second Intifada, the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and now this war. It still amazes me that in over a month of fighting we couldn't destroy a 7,000 man terrorist army. I don't care how well armed or entrenched they were. Forty years ago, in six days, we defeated the combined armies of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Where was the leadership, the boldness in planning and the fortitude to get the job done so that we could all sleep a little safer? A few years from now, when my boys are in the military, will they have to pay for the mistakes that this generation of politicians and generals have made?

And what of Syria and Iran? If anybody has come out the victor in this conflict it is them. They got off scot free. Where is the international condemnation? The sanctions? It is amazing. These two terrorist sponsoring countries ignore the sovereignty of Lebanon, arm a proxy army to the teeth, help it create a state within a state and use this proxy army to attack Israel. The west does nothing. Doesn't acknowledge or see the threat that this poses. Syria and Iran are still to this day sending arms to Hezbollah, despite Resolution 1701 calling for an arms embargo for Lebanon. Exporting the Islamic revolution is more important than their obligations as members of the UN. If we are lucky the West will wake up soon and realize what a threat these two countries, especially Iran are to peace and stability. But not to worry, whatever happens, I'm sure that Israel will get the blame. We are a convenient scapegoat for the Western world's shortcomings and head in the sand policies. Unfortunately Israel is not so lucky.