Jack, what is the current international law concerning suicide bombers? Are they allowed to bomb only where there are no civilians or are civilian areas permitted? If international law says that suicide bombers are not allowed to bomb civilians, I believe that Hezbollah and Hamas have been in violation of current international law for many, many years.
Also, does current international law allow crossing of international borders to take another country's soldiers to possibly tortue and kill? If so, Hezbollah and Hamas are again in violation of international law.
What does international law say about Hezbollah terrorists denying Lebanese civilians the use of underground caves or bomb shelters because Hezbollah has to have these areas to launch rocket attacks on Israel? Hezbollah seems to be in violation again.
What does current international law say about sovereign states funding and supporting terrorists groups? Is it permissable?
What does international law say of freedom of religion in the various countries? Does it say in some countries there should be freedom of religion, while in other countries, there should be none? Does it say that countries have the right to band together to destroy another country whose religion is different from their own?
It seems people who hate Israel will continue to do so. They don't care for the truth, because they are so filled with hate for anybody who thinks differently.

People and Government are moltivated by incentives, how can you say US government did not do anything?

They did IRAQ when they need to stimulate the economy to help the millions of US people as well as the rest of us in the world who needs a job.

They did ARFGHANISTAN when some billionaire playboy of a rich arabian royal family decides to bomb world trade center(my view: to spite> his family that has plenty of business in the us)?

They did CHOOSE not to take action at the moment, but hey, all the countries in the world did also choose no action other than to condemn both sides in the war?

The one basic elemental concept that I grasp completely is that to Israel's supporters, Israel can do no wrong. They can devastate an entire country using 2 kidnapped soldiers as an excuse, and the most powerful country in the world sits idly by.

As long as such people run the US government, we will never been seen as an honest broker anywhere in the world, and we will always be the target of Islamist extremists.

For 30 years this conflict has been ongoing and with multi-generational hatred on both sides peace seems an impossible task to accomplish. It would seem appropriate for the U.S. to stop the cash give away program and let both sides fend for themselves. Israel and or the Arab league are not worth the lives of a single American nor more deserving of help than the Katrina victims who still wait or our working poor.

This little mess will cost North Americans billions at the gas pump in addition to billions on the budget. Given the austere conditions that Israel has imposed for years on Palestine how is any solution possible. My support is for neither, I choose to take care of our own not only first but last as well. Stop the funding, stop selling arms and maybe just maybe this will stop the killing. At least one side may win and put an end once and for all to this bloodshed. I care not which side wins only that the region finally experiences peace. Remember hatred may be defined as the planet is to small for both of us to live here and breath the air. With that attitude on both sides one must go or they both must go.

One more response, then I'll go read some other blogs: the tonnage of elemental concepts that you're missing when you make that analogy, Jack, makes my head spin. I'll name a few pounds worth. These events happening in the Middle East were a long time coming. If France invaded Germany, everyone would wonder why. Ever since Israel left Lebanon, Hizbollah has been attacking Israel. Everyone has their breaking point. I'd wager if I poked you with my finger constantly for 5 years, you'd punch me in the face. I guess then I'd run to the UN with a claim of disproportionate response on your part. Second, it's comical how you think any tangible solution would come out of speaking diplomatically with the Lebanese government. With all you've been watching and reading on NBC, after all the firepower Israel has thrown at Lebanon with no result, you think talking and negotiation would have convinced the Lebanon government to do something?

If a terrorist group based in France kidnapped two German soldiers today, do you think that Germany would start bombing French airports, bridges, military bases? And if they did, do you think the US would support these actions? Would you argue in their defense? Think about it.

A civilized country would work with the government of Lebanon, maybe use special forces, negotiation, whatever, to solve the situation and not resort to an all-out attack like we are seeing.

Jack, my question to you is how you would handle the situation. If your land was invaded, and your soldiers were killed and kidnapped, while several rockets are fired into your country every single day leading up to it, how would you deal with it? You mention that Israel is in violation of international law and UN resolutions. Well now that same UN has issued statements which place the blame on Hizbollah. The group of eight industrialized nations of the world have concluded that Israel is within its humanitarian and legal rights to continue its strategic missions until Hizbollah returns the kidnapped soldiers and backs off. If you claim that Israel's targets are not strategic but rather murderous, I'd only reply that you are wrong. Israel is not only targeting structures that Hizbollah needs to keep up its arsenal of rockets, Israel is constantly warning Lebanese citizens so they can take shelter. If you claim that Israel is unnecessarily building up civilian casualties, I'd only ask where it is you critisize Hizbollah for deliberately targeting civilians with the intent on killing as many as possible.

Jane, you should check with CURRENT international law. Not to mention UN resolutions that Israel is in violation of. Or how about the secret WMD program they have that makes them the only nuclear armed state in the region? All plain facts, dear. And there is NO excuse for the wanton destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure, none of which is required for "defense."

Frankly, if Israel was an Arab country, we would have invaded them a long time ago, disarmed them, and overthrown their racist government.

Uh, Jack, Germany attacked without provacation. Israel was attacked first. Look it up in your history book. After wars, countries who win the war win. America won land from the British, remember? America could have won land in the War of 1812, which we won, but we didn't push it. We won territories in the Spanish American War. And this is just America. Other countries have done it also. It is legal. What Germany did was invade countries, send the Jews and others to death camps, confiscate all their property, etc. Do you see a difference or are you right no matter what the facts are? Israel has shown restraint when she could and at times when other countries sure wouldn't. I support her and the USA should too.

Uh, Jane, "keeping" land "won fair and square" in a war and colonizing it with your people is a crime under international law. You could look it up. The Nazis had a policy just like it - it was called "Lebensraum." We thought that was bad and punished them at the Nuremburg trials. Why is it OK when Israel does it?

The best outcome possible is to have Lebanon and Iserali join in the common good of all by kicking the Hezbollah all the way back to Syria and let Syria worry about their care and feeding.

It amazes me that some people think Israel is the bad guy here. Why Israel didn't keep all the land it won fair and square in the 6-day war back in 1967 is beyond me. Seven Arab countries together wanted to "push Israel into the sea" and together they attacked Israel. Israel defeated them soundly in six days, which was a miracle to me. Israel has given in and tried to appease the Arabs for as long as I can remember, and I'm in my fifties. It doesn't matter what the Israelis do in the name of peace, it is not enough. They have been bombed and terrorized and civilians have been killed for generations. If you live surrounded by countries who do not even want you to exist as a country and who want to destroy you, you have eventually fight back. I don't see Israel as the bad guy. I think we should support them. By the way, I usually don't support anything President Bush does, but this is different.

I think the leaders in Lebanon are quietly crossing their fingers, hoping that Israel does what it says it will do--disable Hezbollah--wipe them out. The Lebanese have not been able to do that, and I think it would be a gift if Israel could give southern Lebanon and all the Hezbollah strongholds back to Lebanon. The Lebanese government must have been shocked when Hezbollah crossed into Israel and killed those troops, kidnapping two more, because they knew what Israel would do. Matter of fact, Hezbollah knew what Israel would do... I'm wondering if they expected their Muslim brothers in all the other Israeli-hating countries to join them--hoping they would be the leaders of the destruction of Israel, which has long been their purpose in life. They've awakend a sleeping giant--Israel will crush them. Hamas should take note--Israel could smash the Palestinians, too--I think they're been much more careful with the Palestinians, because they WILL have to do some future negotiations there. What gets me is that people don't pay attention to targeting. Hamas and Hezbollah are terrorists--they're aiming at civilian targets, hoping for mass casualties. The Israelis are aiming for specific targets--militant locations, bomb storage, meeting locations... they're not trying to inflict casualties on the civilian population, though it happens, unfortunately. That's unavoidable. I do pray that this ends soon, though, before someone else jumps in and does something REALLY stupid.

If you look at the history, everytime that Israel and the Palestinians agree to peace talks, the Hamas or Hezbollah do something to disrupt the process. They don't want any peace at all, they want the Land of Israel.

Well, it won't work. I think that by now most of the moderate Arabs are realizing what they are up to.

Brian,
First time saying I was very disappointed at something in your broadcast tonite. The grave and frightening news of the Middle East and the somberness of the anniversary of the TWA Flight 800 should NOT have been followed by the footage of MSNBC "breaking" the Flight 800 disaster with you at the anchor desk that not. It came across to viewers tonite as gratuitous and self-promoting. Almost a look at me and how important I am. You could have easily said in your report that the story was first reported by MSNBC, though quite honestly 10 years later that is an irrelevant detail. Seemed like more air time was dedicated to saying that you and MSNBC first reported the story, graphics, etc then was actually given to showing the anniversary ceremony and memorial. It was inappropriate and in poor taste. I have come to expect better from you and NBC.

Israel can blame Iran and Syria all they want. Hamas, Hezbollah, and the rest are grassroots organizations that have risen due to hatred that Israel's attacks only feed. If there truly were "democracy" in Arab lands, all of the governments would be run by Hamas-like organizations and sworn to Israel's destruction.

I guess I must be pretty stupid cause I am not even sure what they are fighting about. Does anyone think the US will help on either side!!!

It is all very good to criticize Hezbollah as a third world terrorist outfit, when in fact, they are really, uh really, really bad yes.

Lebanon has allowed Hezbellah to be a defacto government in the southern part of the country and has no control over them, so unfortunately Israel is left to deal as best it can with a neighbour bent on making war.

how many israelis have to be killed before france thinks it is ok to fight back.. the united states was hit by a terrorist organization sponsered by the taliban in afghanastan.. and we leveled that country.. why shouldn't israel do the same

Its fine for people to say that Israel should just exchange prisoners, but what happens after that? Will hezbollah and hamas decide that its time to stop fighting? Prisoner exchange isnt the issue, its Israel's existance. Prisoner exchanges will only bolster hamas and hezbollah, and give them more terrorists to add to their arsonal. On the other hand, if Israel gets it's soldiers back, they have said time and time again that they will stop.

The isrealis get their rockets from the US and EU and the Hezbollahis get their rockets from Syria and Iran. Isreal is holding Lebanese and Palastinian prisoners and now Hezbollah has a couple of Israeli prisoners. Just exchange prisoners and stop killing each other...sheesh.

We saw Kerry Sanders at the beginning of the broadcast during the introductions of all the reporters covering the crisis, but we never saw or heard from him... what's up with that?

I remember the TWA story. Everytime I turn on MSNBC, I always see you there. The News with Brian Williams was always on the air during the TWA. Looking at the past on the MSNBC@10 stories, it looks like that it was only yesturday.

Lebanon and Israel have been at war for more than 30 years, and the relative calm in Lebanon up until now hasn't been because Lebanon is somehow inherently insulated from violence, but because of the curious restraint of the Arab militants.

So I don't think that those Americans who chose to live and study in a nation controlled by a terrorist group as defined by the State Department should now expect free evacuation.