I am amazed that there exists people on these blogs who think that Israel's attacks on the soverign nation of Lebanon and the ensuing killing of civilians is just cause for the kidnapping od two soldiers by a terrorist organization like Hezbolla (on which the Lebanese government has no direct control over). This mentality is commensurate to the US bombing Montreal because that is where the Canadian Hell's Angeles plan illegal activities in the US.

Where is Noam Chomsky when we need him? Lets all wake up and realize that the US and Israel are the largest state sponsors of terror in the world.

"I asked him about the restaurants and nightclubs which are still open as people go to work each day."

It's unfortunate that Israeli's can't go to their usual places of enjoyment during a time like this.
:(
However, I believe the displaced refugees in Gaza and the West Bank can't even entertain the idea of such luxuries during the last 60 years of their desparate lives.

As I sift through the mounting volume of news and 'historical' perspective pieces regarding the current conflict in the middle east I can't help but wonder at what point do we say enough is enough? There shouldn't be any room in this world for religious zealots who want to kill or displace all who disagree with them. What scares me more than the fight in the middle east is the zealot that lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Why don't we get Hezbollah to come give interviews? Why don't we go into southern Lebanon and interview Hezbollah? Then would we havce truly balanced reporting? This is naive and foolish. It would be a death warrant for reporters, already risking their lives to report the news to us. I've heard enough of Hezbollah and Hamas, too, from their leaders to know they are nothing but Islamic terrorists skum.

Brian - I'm enclosing a message from my friend in Haifa. I've found it both moving and uplifting.

"Good mornin g, Yes we did sleep well in the shelter, Our
decision was strengthened when we heard there was a Big rockets
shooting all over. Our shelter is under our house , and if you saw the
news with some nice Haifa view [ CNN , Sky , BBC] you might realize
that those rockets are dangerous both by destroying the houses and the metal pieces they include. Even if one is in the street when they
fall , it is advised to try and find a near by building , or a wall ,
and if none available , lay as flat as you can on the floor and cover
your head with bag .

I grew up here when we didn`t have shelters , in 1950 when we
came to Israel , we lived in Upper Gallille and the Syrians, used to
send small airoplanes over the Kibboetziem , all we had was a Dig in
the ground Z shaped , where all kids would run to.

I had a baby in 67 , when i had to run from one house through a field
to another house that had a shelter ...

During the gulf war we had `safe rooms ` closed with nylons against
gas , as while the Allies bombarded Iraq , we got the retaliation
Missiles ...

Thus i really slept well, and not only that , once we arranged
our places , and called the cat he ran into the shelter and settled
on my place , after drinking his water ,,,, You can learn from him ,
how to survive .
mirjam "

Joan Chapman, Cheshire CT.

They say israel is killing civilians but i say those killed are not civilians Hezbollah by putting weapons of war in with the population made these people a living fortress and a legal target for military operations. Hezbollah is commiting war crime by putting the public at risk by their actions not Israel by targeting the weapons stock piles. The spineless United Nations allows these group to continue to stock pile weapons with the public and countries like Iran and Syria to supply weapons to terrorist. Then the UN complains when a country like Israel is force to kill the bystanders in an efford to distroy the weapons being used against them. I think the United Nations itself is a waste and supports and protects the true crimals of war by passing the blame on to the defenders. Why is there no International law against storing weapons of war and explosives in the civilian populations? Why is it the United Nation pass resolution but then does not enforce the resolutions? Why is it these terorist groups are allowed to form armies that do not fly any flag or wear any uniform of any country? Why is it that these terorist and thugs are given any rights and not treated in the same hidious and cruel manner they treat others? The answer to these questions is all the same the United Nations supports them and protects them and tells the world how good of a job the United Nations is doing. i say the United Nation is not worth the money they get and is a totally useless bunch of thug supporting people. The talk but do nothing they threaten action but do not respond they scold but get ignored and then say oh well we did our best. The United Nations itself is mostly the cause of this happening with their talk do nothing policies and I myself am glad Israel has the smarts to see that what they are doing is the only way to put a stop to threats and murder from terrorist is to give them back what they are handing out. It is certainly clear to me the terrorist control The United Nations and do a fine job at it too.

Brian, be safe and know you will be in my prayers...from Bath, NY (near your old stomping grounds).

Be safe, but tell us what is going on. War is terrible, but sometimes necessary. I support Israel, but pray for all the innocent people, no matter what country they are from. However, I do not have any compassion for terrorists, who have put innocent people in harm's way.

As a former Manhattanite, I found it historically dishonest and somewhat disturbing for NBC News to glibly compare NYC and 9/11 to Tel Aviv and what is currently occurring there on tonight's evening news. They have very little in common.

This constructed analogy seems to me to be yet another example of the Pro-Israeli press in America masquerading as impartial. Missles intermittently raining down on Haifa? Why is there no feature or even a screen shot of scared children in Gaza and Beirut as well?

My only concern with all this fighting is this: Is it in our best interests, as a national entity, to get involved in this war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon? We have aided Israel before, as much as folks have told me; but I am of the belief that the situation is a bit different now that it was then. The leader of Hezbollah has blazoned recently that Israel and Hezbollah were now at an "all-out war". However, on our side of the field, a very tall man in hiding has already declared war on us. Hezbollah is against us, maybe indirectly. Osama Bin Laden's declaration is direct.

it would seem like this is a great enough distraction for his forces to step-up and do something- something in regards to a plan that was being put into motion ever since December 2003. Seeing the confidence of our homeland security may be very high, in that 1] they have foiled the plot of some terrorists to devastate the railway systems of New York, and 2] efforts are now more focused in the Middle East:- but I believe that 1] was but a small battle- and 2] may be an advantageous point of distraction.

I would think defensive efforts within our borders would be beefed-up; ever since Al-Zarqawi's demise just a short while ago, terrorists factions have been ever more fervent in their advances against what they deem as "westernized" civilization and "zionists" with their supporters. But small victories and matters abroad seem to lower our levels of security.

Remember the force of anger that was felt over a few tasteless comics in Denmark? Now we've got lives at stake, and a war being waged. We, as a nation, are becoming involved in something that has been going on for years upon years. I would hate to see that same rage over a great mass of Muslim, except with a semi-automatic in their hand rather than a burning flag. I hope we can see that times are getting worse, that peace seems farther away, and we are all going to see some radical changes around here.

However, I also believe an alternative can be given. But this would be at our expense; something I do not believe we would give up so easily. Like it was written in stone, and held up as our idol in these times: The Pursuit of Happiness.

Is this nation prepared to give this up, so that something better might be given them instead? Those who represent us might have our answers. Either way, I believe we will have to gnaw on some deep issues.

Your coverage is all Israel, only their point of view and the comments of their generals. Allowing Martin Indyk to define Hezbollah is not appropriate; he is fiercely for the most militaristic of the Israeli leadership. Because your coverage is one-sided, it seems to convey a lack of respect, contempt even, for your viewers.

It seems to me that all this trouble in the Middle East -- Israel, the Arab States, the US involvement or lack thereof, terrorism -- is, when you delve deeply enough, about religion. Strangely enough, Israel is more tolerant than the Arabs, and more tolerant than many in the USA. If we are ever going to have real peace, we need to truly solve the problem of getting different religions to be able to understand each other. Surely, if I want to be an atheist, you want to be a Muslim, while Joe over there wants to be a Jew while Tony chooses to be Catholic, we should be able -- as rational, semi-intelligent humans to accept that everyone is entitled to his own beliefs. Just a few short years ago, the world was very upset with white South Africa because of its apartheid practices. The world should be just as upset about "religious apartheid". It is time to go back to square one and, this time, to think out of the box and originally. We need to find a way to outlaw zealots, no matter their faith or lack thereof, and we need to outlaw big business preying on these weaknesses.