There's some interesting commentary over on the Shannonosphere regarding the homeless in Vegas issue. She lives in Vegas and is familiar with the park in question.
Definitely agree, TJ, that Israel should defend itself from the sicko hezbollah terrorists. I also wish the moderates in Lebanon (and around the region) would reign in the crazies, but my sense is that that is extremly hard to do. Hezbollah is far, far stronger than the Lebanese army; Israel is clearly not getting the results it hoped for, and it is the preeminent military power in the region.
I would also say that while Israel doesn't want to kill civilians, it seems their definition of enemy combatant is even more vague than ours. To extend the bar fight analogy put forth at the link you cited, it's as if the man being picked on has decided to not just hit the bully but to hit every person who may be associated with the bully, including women and children.
Forcing an enemy to submit is very satisfying, but it does not necessarily bring long-lasting peace. Even in the boxing analogy, we only know that the bully got beat up, we don't know how his behavior may have changed.
In fact, the whole idea that you punch a bully in the nose to make him leave you alone sounds like nonsense to me. Sure didn't work that way in NC public schools.
Here's the problem I've always had with Israel...they punish Lebanon or the Palestinian Authority (or whoever) for not controlling what basically amounts to the criminal element in their midst by destroying the police station, Defense Ministry or what have you. Effectively rendering that authority impotent to controlling anything. Thereby guaranteeing this cycle continues...
How is methodically destroying the entire infrastructure of Lebanon supposed to do anything to bring Hezbollah under the control of the government? That country is now crippled in nearly every possible way, and will have to devote all resources to basic survival. In the meantime, Hezbollah has barely been scratched—I'd argue their power and stature has been increased.
6 comments:
Wow, for a second I thought the homeless people thing was sarcasm.
I didn't know you could outlaw other people's generosity.
I really really hope this is one of the things that stays in Vegas.
Uh-oh, Irony Alert:
Las Vegas is (along with Miami) ground zero for the bust of the housing bubble . . .
. . . and it's illegal to be homeless there!
I guess "what happens here stays here" doesn't apply to "lose your house through foreclosure."
There's some interesting commentary over on the Shannonosphere regarding the homeless in Vegas issue. She lives in Vegas and is familiar with the park in question.
Tokyo, I think that analogy does oversimplify too much to be of use. Lebanon is not a bully picking on a little guy.
Definitely agree, TJ, that Israel should defend itself from the sicko hezbollah terrorists. I also wish the moderates in Lebanon (and around the region) would reign in the crazies, but my sense is that that is extremly hard to do. Hezbollah is far, far stronger than the Lebanese army; Israel is clearly not getting the results it hoped for, and it is the preeminent military power in the region.
I would also say that while Israel doesn't want to kill civilians, it seems their definition of enemy combatant is even more vague than ours. To extend the bar fight analogy put forth at the link you cited, it's as if the man being picked on has decided to not just hit the bully but to hit every person who may be associated with the bully, including women and children.
Forcing an enemy to submit is very satisfying, but it does not necessarily bring long-lasting peace. Even in the boxing analogy, we only know that the bully got beat up, we don't know how his behavior may have changed.
In fact, the whole idea that you punch a bully in the nose to make him leave you alone sounds like nonsense to me. Sure didn't work that way in NC public schools.
TJ, you make some good points.
Here's the problem I've always had with Israel...they punish Lebanon or the Palestinian Authority (or whoever) for not controlling what basically amounts to the criminal element in their midst by destroying the police station, Defense Ministry or what have you. Effectively rendering that authority impotent to controlling anything. Thereby guaranteeing this cycle continues...
How is methodically destroying the entire infrastructure of Lebanon supposed to do anything to bring Hezbollah under the control of the government? That country is now crippled in nearly every possible way, and will have to devote all resources to basic survival. In the meantime, Hezbollah has barely been scratched—I'd argue their power and stature has been increased.
That strategy sucks and seems doomed to fail.
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