*This* Is Measured?

Apologists for Israel keep ranting on about how "moderate" Israel has been in its attack on Lebanon; how Lebanon has become a festering home for Hezbollah terrorists, yadda, yadda, yadda.

How "measured" is a response when your army resorts to "human shield" tactics? Or when a clearly marked UN observation post is bombed by your troops?

No, I don't excuse Hezbollah lobbing rockets at Israeli settlements, either. If the past week has demonstrated anything it is the futility of continuing to respond with aggression. These are no longer "surgical strikes" - it's quite clear that Israel is out for revenge. While Hamas is acting like the taunting brother, Israel is lashing out in irrational anger, throwing whatever ruin it can in the direction of its tormentors.

Neither side of this conversation has a moral leg to stand on at this point. The reality is that Israel is simply creating the next generation of its enemies - hardening the Arab populations near it in their opposition by killing and maiming families. Hamas does no better itself by lobbing missiles at Israel in what I can only assume is an adolescent play for attention.

The greivances that both sides have expressed towards each other are many, and I don't think either is ready (yet) to admit their culpability in recent events. I'm afraid that like a parent with squabbling children, it will be necessary to send both to their rooms for a while before any kind of negotiations are likely to be successful.

I'm afraid that this may have to be a "made in the Middle East" solution this time. While the United States is tied up in Iraq - and can hardly claim to be a disinterested third party, most of the other "traditional" nations that intervene in a peacekeeping role have little or no real credibility with one party or the other. As much as it will horrify the United States, this might be the time for China to step forward onto the stage as a peace broker.