This is the biggest irony of this war on Lebanon. While Syria is the main supporter of Hezbollah, Lebanon has been blamed by Israel for the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers.

Lebanon's infrastructure has been completely devastated by the Israeli terror. Using American made jets:

. Israel has bombarded most of the bridges in Lebanon.
. Israel has blockaded Lebanon completely. The only exit is Syria.
. Israel has bombarded all the airports in Lebanon and all flights in and out of Beirut have been cancelled. Even the fuel tanks at Beirut's only international airport were bombarded and set on fire.

The silence of the United States raises a lot of questions. President Bush said Israel has the right to self defense. The question is : What does the bombardment of civilian infrastructure and the killing of over 60 civilians so far has to do with Israeli self defense? The only victim of this terrorizing war so far has been the innocent Lebanese.

The United States has a responsibility to stop this war, since after all Israel is using American made weapons that are strictly for self defense. It doesn’t take a high IQ to conclude that Israeli actions are strictly offensive and the civilians are the only victims so far.

Israel is using the kidnapping as an excuse to destroy Lebanon, the only true democracy in the region. Israel wants to prove to the rest of the world that a multi racial, multi religious society cannot exist in the Middle East, but Lebanon has always proven Israel wrong. It is about time that the civilized world community understand Israeli intensions and stop this blatant aggression against the civilians of Lebanon.

It is about time for the civilized world community to tell Israel , "enough is enough". This state terrorism by Israel will only create more hatred as mothers lose sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters lose their loved ones. If Israel wants peace, its actions in Lebanon send the wrong message to this and future generation of Lebanese.

President Bush is not running for reelections in 2008...so perhaps it is about time he should have the guts to stand up and be counted - by telling Israel "enough is enough".

Every one knows that the Lebanese government has no control over Hezbollah. The government didn’t even know of Hezbollah kidnapping plans, even though they (Hezbollah) are part of the government. Hezbollah is a "state within a state ", thanks to Israel, Iran and Syria.

. Israeli continued occupation of Shebaa farms territory gives Hezbollah an excuse to hold onto its arms.

. Iran's financing of Hezbollah, will allow it to use the organization to achieve its objectives in the region, regardless of the interest of Lebanon and the Lebanese.

. Syria's support to Hezbollah, allows it to use this organization as its card in dealing with Israel. Every time Syria is under pressure, Hezbollah creates a crises of some sort in South Lebanon

But who is the biggest loser in all of this: Lebanon and the innocent Lebanese people. The Lebanese will again have to rebuild their country on their own and accumulate more debt, in addition to the $38 billion they have accumulated so far, in rebuilding their country during the Syrian occupation.

However:

. Israel will now receive more free arms from the United States, thanks to the ongoing deal that has been in effect ever since Israel was created...and the American taxpayers will again have to foot this bill.
. Hezbollah will receive more funding from Iran and the "state within a state" affair will continue. Iran is flush with cash thanks to the high oil prices.
. Syria will come out smelling like a rose. Their economy will again prosper as tourists will be diverted from Beirut to Damascus.

Time for the civilized world to wake up and say: Enough is enough. The innocent Lebanese have suffered already far too much for being squeezed in the middle of this dirty politics. If no action is taken to stop this terror, Lebanon could disintegrate and with it the last democracy in the Middle East will disappear...and president Bush could easily say" So long for democracy in the Arab World".

Picture: A man carries a baby as he crosses to Beirut past a damaged bridge that was destroyed after Israeli warplanes targeted it late Wednesday in the town of Damour just south of Beirut. Lebanon was devastated by the Israeli terror and dozens of civilians were killed including entire families.

By: Sami Y Haddad, Ya Libnan Volunteer