BookTalk.org

This is the first of what I suppose might turn into a string of threads about current events related to our reading.As you probably know, Israel and Lebanon are currently exchanging blows in what may be poised to descend into full-scale war. I thought we could use this space to discuss that situation as it unfolds, and to draw some connections to the historical narrative Fromkin presents.Any thoughts?One section of the book that might be relevant appears in chapter 9 (iii), where Fromkin discusses the British attitude (and misunderstanding) concerning the relationship of Syria to the Ottoman Empire, extending into the discussion in 9 (iv) concerning the French presence in Lebanon and France's designs on Syria. How that plays into the present conflict, I'm not sure, but it seems like a potential entry point for understanding the historical background.

In today's NY times: www.nytimes.com/2006/07/1...srael.htmlSome Western critics are arguing that Israel's use of force in the current conflict has been disproportionate. According to the Times, "the asymmetry in the reported death tolls is marked and growing: some 230 Lebanese dead, most of them civilians, to 25 Israeli dead, 13 of them civilians. In Gaza, one Israel soldier has died from his own army's fire, and 103 Palestinians have been killed, 70 percent of them militants."Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is quoted as saying, "Proportionality is not compared to the event, but to the threat, and the threat is bigger and wider than the captured soldiers." One difficulty, Israeli officials are claiming, is that terrorists in Lebanon hide among civilian populations, making it difficult to target terrorists without harming civilians as well.Any thoughts? Edited by: MadArchitect at: 7/19/06 3:08 pm