But what’s the rest of that answer? Think about it. Would we bomb the Toronto airport? Would we blast Mexican cities with barrages of artillery shells, killing thousands of innocent people in the process? Would we destroy highways, bridges, and apartment buildings? Of course not. That would be entirely out of proportion with the problem. Israel says it doesn’t “intend” to kill innocent civilians, but it’s a fair bet, when you level a city block, that’s precisely what you’re doing.

If the plan is to make the Lebanese hate Hezbollah, it seems to be backfiring in a most predictable manner. Former Buffalonian Annia Ciezadlo wrote of it for the Nation on July 17:

“ The first day, everyone I talked to was furious at Hezbollah. ‘How can I express my anger?’ wrote a Lebanese friend in a mass e-mail blazing with sarcasm. ‘Maybe by saying bravo to Hizbollah, thank you to Hizbollah. Thank you for ruining the entire season for the poor Lebanese who have been struggling so hard to cover the losses of last year's events... for destroying the tourism industry and infrastructure? For weakening yet again an already weak government and flushing all the hopes of millions of Lebanese down the drain? should I say more?’

“ But then Israel bombed the airport, and suddenly, surprisingly, I was hearing cautiously approving statements from people who'd always railed against the Shiite militia before. These were Christians and secular Muslims, not Hezbollah partisans, but they saved their wrath for Israel and the United States. ‘I am angry, definitely, at the Israelis,’ said my friend George, who until now had always been adamant that the Party of God should give up its arms, like all the other militias that sprang up during the Lebanese civil war. ‘They have replied in a very aggressive manner. It shouldn't take this much to get back the two hostages. But what I'm also angry at is the US. They haven't done anything yet. They say that they are the country which helps the underprivileged countries, but they have done nothing to help us.’”

That was ten days ago now—ten more days death, destruction and displacement. Anyone willing to bet that that the Lebanese are any less angry at Israel or the US?