tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20330305.post115341258524336717..comments2023-06-01T05:50:44.215-07:00Comments on A CiviL Union: Take ActionKarl Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718050091013713562noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20330305.post-1153454394953645732006-07-20T20:59:00.000-07:002006-07-20T20:59:00.000-07:00Hi Cody. You raise a great question, and it is al...Hi Cody. You raise a great question, and it is always worth hearing everyone out. Having listened to various Israeli government officials, the justification tends to be that Hezbollah uses the civilian infrastructure and hides amongst civilians. In the case of the roads in Lebanon, those could be used by militants to transport missiles or militants. In the case of the power plant in Gaza, they suggested a lack of power would slow the militants who had captured the Israeli soldier down.<BR/><BR/>Now, what I'm doing is weighing that against the harm to civilians. In the case of the power plant, 700,000 Palestinians are now without power and water and will be for at least 6-7 months (not to mention that I find the justification itself dubious). In the case of the roads in Lebanon, while that may serve the intended purpose it also prevents civilians from leaving conflict zones and humanitarian organizations from providing relief to civilians in those areas (as Kofi Annan mentioned today). As for the airport and Lebanese military locations, I have yet to hear a stated justification (not that there hasn't been one, but I have yet to hear it).<BR/><BR/>In sum, Israel certainly espouses seemingly legitimate-sounding reasons for its actions, but to me, those reasons do not justify the attendant harm to civilians.Karl Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718050091013713562noreply@blogger.com