If you believe the US should stay out of the current Isreal/Lebanon mess..

[Ravy]

does that make you pro-War or pro-Peace?

I keep seeing people try to label this as a liberal/conservative issue. I don't think it is.

If you think that the US should be more involved, to what extent?

I am not looking for answers in this tread, just merely a realization that the ME is a powderkeg that was set up a long time ago (by entities ranging from the United Nations to God Almighty - depending on who you ask), and has a history of violence, negotiations, agreements, and personal tragedy for the residents that most of us couldn't possibly understand.

For us to fight over a solution, or even a direction, that has escaped mankind for decades (or centuries, again, depending on who you ask) is counter-productive to our *common* interest of getting Democrats elected in the fall.

[xchrom]

1. i don't think that the u.s. should be more involved because

we have not been honest brokers of anything in this case.

we are trying desperately to write our own version of history there -- and it isn't working.

at this time the u.s. is institutionally incapable of of not fucking things up.

too many private interests are pulling the countrys interests this way and that -- and little of it for the good of the citizenry.
and all of it for the good of this group or that.

[mmonk]

2. The U.S. is involved.

That it isn't at the negotiating table or doesn't have armed forces in the middle of it doesn't mean it isn't involved. Why do you think there are resolutions coming out of the wazoo? Why are we blocking calls for a ceasefire?

[bryant69]

3. As for Conservative/ Liberal

It is to the Conservatives - basically if you see the Lebonese people as anything but savages (to say nothign of Hezbollah and Hamas) you are a wild eyed radical.

ON our side of the fence, though, it's not, as witnessed by the strife around here the last couple of days.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Ravy]

6. Why do so many here agree with Pat Buchannan?

And Lou Dobbs?

It is easy to look at "our" postition, whatever that is, and say that conservatives are "jumping the ship" or "coming over to our side."

I guess Pat and Lou are thinking liberals are "jumping ship" to agree with them. It is personal perspective.

Liberal vs. Conservative doesn't fit every issue.

[whosinpower]

4. I have a solution

First - Take 10 km of Israel and 10 km of Lebanon and create a demilitarized buffer zone ocupied by international peacekeepers.

Support Lebanon in its quest to disarm Hizbollah. Help Lebanon to create a vibrant, safe and progressive nation. Give them hope. Give them jobs. Give them a reason to reject Hizbollah. Give them peace.

Make Israel pay for the damage to Lebanese infrastructure.
Make Hizbollah give up the Israeli soldiers.
Make Hizbollah pay for the damage to Israeli infrastructure.

Have all three parties present at the negotiation table. Yes, that is correct - all three.
And NONE of the parties would be allowed to pull away from negotiations until a firm deal/peace treaty was hammered out and whatever complaints the parties have against each other to be fully, openly, tranparently discussed. Everyone is going to have to give something up that will not be to their liking. Israel will give, Hizbollah will give and Lebanon will give.

I know - it would never happen - and I am being simplistic to a complex problem - but at least by facing each other across the table and openly discussing ways towards a peaceful solution - has to be better than bombs dropping and people dying.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. I wish your scenerio could come true eom