It is amazing to me that people can have the gall to say anything against Israel. It is clear to most everyone that is somewhat lucid that Heszalla and Hamas are finally getting what they deserve. What you reap you sow! Note how Egypt, SA and many other muslim countries are keeping quiet.

This is a war who's time has come. As much as it disgusts all of us here in the West/East, it is the new frontier of a US Foriegn policy that is 5 years old. Israel, while acting in its interests is also fighting a as a proxy for US interests albeit with a heavy hand.
As much as Hezbollah is hated ( aok i "really dislike" extremist organizations based on religious ethnic identity .. Might have to rephraze that as it sounds a lot like Israel :))) it should not be taken lightly, the fact that after 12 days of fighting, the Israeli Army/ Airforce and Navy havent been able to make a dent in Hizbollah shows, what this war is about.
Condoleeza Rice's mission to Beirut is as much Realpolitic as a rising reality that 20000 Israeli troops backed by Armor and artillary and the Israeli ariforce havent been able to push into Southern Lebaboon for more that 5 miles ... and are bogged down in heavy fighting.
The key would be to "NOT" have Hizbollah emerge as a stronger power center in Lebanon.

From an outsider view, the only people that are to blame for this conflict between Lebanon and Israel is Hesbollah. Isreal is just defending themselves, wouldn't you? If they didn't, I think the problem would be worse in Isreal. I just feel sorry for the innocents that have to deal with the consequences in both countries.

There's no reason for Israel to be bombing Lebanese people.

Ann Curry's reporting from Lebanon fails completely to acknowledge cause and effect. The fact is that Hezbollah intentionally and repeatedly sets up its operational bases within civilian population centers, thus forcing Israel to either endure endless rocket attacks or, if they strike back, to kill "innocent civilians." By contrast, Israel has been dropping leaflets to warn "innocent civilians" about upcoming raids, this to minimize civilian casualties. Shame on Ann Curry for her myopic, one-sided reporting.

Syria, Iran, Hezzbolah, Hamas and Al Queda are all the same. YOU CANNOT NEGOGTIATE WITH, NOR APPEASE TERRORISTS. YOU CAN'T!!!! NO WAY ... NO HOW. Thank God for Isreal for finally taking action. I wish liberals would get it through their heads that they would prefer to kill ALL non-muslims than even consider living in peace. World War III began on September 11, 2001. The civilized world better start acting like the world is at war or we will ALL fail.

I think it should not be matter if you are American, Lebanese or Israeli to sympathize with victims on both sides but some of the comment made are very insenstive.
I have to applaud MSNBC for trying to provide stories from both sides. I think if it was not for our media i think the American public would have less support for Israel actions

It is heartbreaking to see the devastation in Lebanon, but it is also heartbreaking to see the terror and devastation in Israel. The Israelis were attacked and the IDF is defending its citizens and trying to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible. However, Hezballah chooses to launch its rockets from civilian areas and use civilians as human shields - that is not Israel's fault and Israel should not be blamed for defending its citizens. It is certainly what we would expect from our government

All these people who Criticize Hizbullah don't understand what they are. Israil has stolen Gaza from the Eguptians, the Golan Heights from the Syrians, and the West bank from Jordan. If not for Hizbullah, Israil would have Lebanon too. Hizbullah are the freedom fighters of Lebanon. They are the only reason the Lebaneese government has a country to govern. If not for them, Israil would still be there. Hizbullah is made of civillians who protect their own land, and have never made an enemy of the Lebaneese people....unless you call their hospitals, and schools, and free home repair companies a threat!

Israel has every right to blast the hell out of Hezbollah and Lebanon. George Bush, even though his decisions leave something to be desired, said when we were attacked that any country harboring terorist would be targeted. So, any country that has terorists threatening Israel has the right to be targeted by them. In addition to that, war is hell, the middle-east has been fighting for centuries, what is ever going to change that. These people that are blaming the United States and Israel for this are quite ignorant. If you live here and don't agree with the way we do things, get the hell out.

I'm sick and tired of hearing about the plight of the "innocent" Lebanese civilians. Over 25% of the Lebanese parliament is Hezbollah, elected by the "innocent" Lebanese people. Hezbollah rockets are hidden under the beds of "innocent" south Lebanese citizens. Tunnels have been dug by"innocent" south Lebanese citizens to hide the Hez boys. Most of South Beirut is sympathetic to the Hez boys (witness all the Nazrallah billboards). Israel was provoked from the south by Palestinians and from the north by the Hez boys. Israel has agreed from day 1 to stop their bombing if (i) their prisoners were returned and (ii) the rocket attacks stopped. The Arabs (who started it all) will not agree. Israel has every right to protect itself against people who have sworn to eliminate them from the face of the earth.

This is war. And war is hell. People get hurt. Get used to it.

I do not want to belittle the anguish and sorrow in
Lebanon,Israel and Palistine BUT:
How come there has been more video of BLOOD COVERED Israelis, Palestinians and Lebanese
in the news this week than the entire 4 years of the Iraq "WAR"?
I've seen women and children covered in blood and dead casualties on the ground and on stretchers.
Thousands fleeing North to refugee camps.
Yet in Iraq:
There have been 2600 US Troops killed and over 18,000 wounded.
There have been over 40,000 Iraqi civilians killed and over 100,000 wounded.
Thousands of children have been killed and wounded.
At Least 150,000 Iraqi refugees living in tents w/o
runing water and open sewers.

NO VIDEO?
I have yet to see a G.I. covered in blood. If caskets of dead G.I.s are shown it causes a national outrage.
All I see of Iraqi casualties are bodies covered with blankets and rarely a wounded Iraqi is shown.
I have only seen one or two G.I. caskets arriving in the US. No Dead or wounded G.I.s in the streets.
here is the coverage of the refugees?

Are we PROTECTING OUR TROOPS? From what?
Are journalists not allowed in zones where casualties occur?
Are the journalists video being CENSURED?
Is the Media Biased?
Is all video from Iraq cleansed of anything that might show the US Policy in bad light? BY WHOM?

Jim Frego
Grants Pass, OR

The last question sent anonymously is a great point. Why not invade the real enemies of Syria and Iran? If you cut-off the head of the snake, it will grow back. However, if you viscerate the root of evil, it will be gone forever. Hezzbola is simply an agent for the Syrian and Iranian Governments (not necessarily the Syrian and Iranian people). If Assad were toppled, a direct supply line would be cut-off and provide a great "buffer-zone" for Israel. Americas greatest mistake in invading Iraq was that it would have been more beneficial to remove the Iranian and Syrian regimes. Now, we have lost significant credibility with respect to the Middle East and therefore, must rely on Israel to do this alone.

It's all a shame. We should all remember that the original plan for the Middle East partitioning of land called for UN policing. Decades later, it's still what is being talked about rather than executed!!

I can't believe that people believe Isreal does not have the right to defend itself. If it was any other country, we would be applauding. I wonder how many other Lebanese people agree with EL from D.C. as he watched his homeland be used as a puppet. If Lebanon was not directly north of Isreal, would Hezbollah care about it? Would they "set up camp" in Lebanon if it bordered Norway? I think not. Hezbollah is using Lebanon and it's people to attempt to achieve it's goal. However, as a Christian, I take comfort in knowing that Hezbollah and it's evil agenda will ultimately be defeated when Jesus returns to His people.

I as an american Israeli have been reading both sides of what you think been happening in the middle East. Mr smart, orlando, fla, its people like you create racism in this world. and its not necessary. Hatred is a very strong emotion and dangerous its on both sides of the conflict.
All Lsrael want to do is live in peace. Its only defeading itself and unfortunity innocent people get coaugt in the middle.

THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A MASSACRE BY THE ISRAELIS UPON A WEAK ARAB NATION WITHOUT NO DEFENSE. TO DEMOLISH A WHOLE NATION TO RUBBLE AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE KIDNAPPING OF TWO SOLDIERS IS A CRIME AGAINST GOD AND HUMANITY. HAD ISRAEL BEEN ATTACKED BY CHEMICAL OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS, I WOULD HAVE HAD NO GRUDGE AGAINST ISRAEL FOR DOING THIS. NOW I SIMPLY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THE JEWISH STATE AND THE COUNTRIES BEHIND THEM.

Why is Isreal not bombing Syria? Is this blogger informed AT ALL about whats going on over there or any of the historical basis for the many reasons that would be political suicide. not to mention that all moderate Arabs in the region would no have a unifying event from which to lauch a "holy war" that would likely be supported by the greater arabic world. Isreal is looking for defendable borders for it's country, not revenge for decades of mistrust and mistreatment from the Syria/Iran seeming co-oporative.

Muddin- Please do an internet search on how ‘Israel’ was created in the 1940’s. While you are at it, look up the word ‘Maronite’. Did you know there is a huge Christian population in Lebanon. There are also Christians in Iraq and in just about all the other countries that you have lumped together so as to make this simple to comprehend and pontificate upon !

I am an african american woman and I have endured racism being reared in rural louisiana in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I am a professional and I work with a lot of people from the middle east. I bothers me to hear the comments most make on a daily basis during their lunch discussions. First of all, most of them don't like the U.S. and are only here to work and acquire as many benefits as possible before retiring back home. Second, they think black people are dogs and deserved the treatment we got during slavery and compares us to the people of Isreal. Third, if they hate the U.S. so much, why do they come? Why don't they goo home. The U.S. let too many people in this country without screening them.

I feel sorry for the people of Isreal and any middle eastern county that has to endure war. But I an tired of them and members of the EU blaming the U.S. everytime something goes wrong. So what we are a richer nation. We worked hard for it. They all have a hand out and expect us to pay but what have they done for us? Another point I would like to make is the middle eastern countries have been fighting since the beginning of time. The middle eastern people won't fight to help themselves. We went into Iraq, they laughed at us and threw our food to the animals. That food could have gone to hungry peopole her.

President Chirac of France, he complained and refused to send in troops to held with the Iraqi invasion, but as soon as the curtain feel he was the first in line trying to get contracts, and at time we discovered he had been secretely trading oil with Hussain against the imbargo set in place by the U.N.

The Arabs, Pakistanis and other middle easterner's want the U.S. to talk to Isreal. It was just a few years ago they were trying to wipe them off the face of the earth. They let terrorist live among them and prevent the U.N. or U.S. from dismantling them and now they cry HELP!!

I apologis if I am rambling but there is just so much going on. I don't think any of you that have written are racist I think you are fed up.

Thank you

I invite us all to pray for the safety and well-being of Arab and Israeli civilians and for a peaceful resolution of this conflict. May there be healing and safety for all!

Wow, the level of ignorance shown here by some respondents is rather sickening. Its so sad that one can never criticize Israeli actions lest they be branded anti-Semitic. Both sides are taking human and financial losses, and both sides should be open to criticism and blame...simple as that.

Hizbullah is a horrible group that should be decimated, and I hope they are. However, Israel is doing so at the expense of crippling the country and people of Lebanon. To accuse Lebanon of aiding Hizbullah exemplifies how little Westerners (like some on this board) know about the history of the region. Hizbullah literally holds Lebanon hostage, and the weak Lebanese government and military are pretty much powerless to stop them. That's the reality. As well, Israel spent 18 yrs in Lebanon and couldnt control Hizbullah, so now they want the Lebanese to do it, when they know they cant?

Also, please note that Ann Curry is based in Beirut now and is reporting what she sees there. Other NBC staff are in Israel and are reporting what they see. For those morons here who say she's one-sided, take that into account! A reporter reports what they see, period!

Hezbollah is made up primarily of Lebanese civilians ... To believe that Hezbollah is some "foriegn" organization is short-sighted and unrealistic. Hezbollah enjoys popular support in Lebanon. Top view Hezbollah as being "separate" from lebanese culture is naive. Neither should one believe that all of lebanon is being held hostage by Hezbollah. Finally, per Edward Said (a journalist Harvard grad) Hezbollah was conceived of and founded as a resistance movement toward occupation of Lebanon by Israel. One should keep this in mind when viewing the situation on the ground.

The Jewish community still feels like they are hated just for being Jew, its time for them to forget the past. Israel is to blame for all that has been happening, if Israel hadn't been established in Palestinian land all of these wouldn't be happening. I'm not saying that I'm happy for what has happened to Israeli people, because Hezbollah is to blame, but what I don't like is that the Israeli army is killing hundreds of innocent people in Lebanon. Israel has the right to defent itself but that way is not by killing innocent people.

I am all for Israel protecting their boarders. However, I have to ask how far into Lebanon does Israel think it needs to go in order to secure their safety. If the terrorist rockets can travel 40 miles does that me Israel needs to go 40 miles into Lebanon? I'm afraid, as I am sure others are, these events could escalate into something much bigger than we can now imagine.

I ask you Ann, and all US journalists, why is it you have not made mention of the following:
a. Hamas wins election on March 29, and calls for a Truce w/Israel
b. June 9: Gaza Beach bombing
c. 30 Palestinians killed
d. Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas militants.
Who provoked who?
Hezbollah like Hamas is a organization chosen by the people. Americans and Israelis just cannot accept the fact, that arabs/Muslims will not accept your views of life, politics, society or religion, that you cannot accept pure democracy. The only way you can achieve your aim is what Israel does now, to kill, butcher, eliminate those you don't want in a democratic process. What you seen is NOT democracy, what you seek are begging for is someone to LIKE you.This will never happen.