I have been watching the news recently, and just wanted to say that you are one of favorite journalists,which is saying a lot considering that I like pretty much everyone at NBC News and MSNBC. So please, please stay safe and keep in mind your physical and psychological wellbeing.

Dear Richard Engel & NBC,

I'd like to see a news piece about how the Lebanese and Israeli people are resolving to keep peace in their respective countries. I believe the key to future peace is to keep moderates in the picture when the current showcases extremists on Christian, Jewish, and Islamic sides. Please show me Israelis who disagree with the 'self-defense' argument of their government and highlight the Lebanese public who does not show just indifference to the war but who are actively searching for solutions.

it amazes me to read the feed backs from all of you and not think that this world is a sad place for us all. WE as Americans pride ourselves on defending the weak. I don't believe Israel is a weak nation nor do I believe that Lebanon can pay for the so called crimes of Hezbolla. After living in Lebanon for 11 years I can say that the people of Lebanon are wonderful and harbor no ill feelings towards Americans. They may not believe in our foreign policies but they only have respect for the American people. So before you lump these people in with your so called terrorist, think again. Terror is something that lives in all of us, not just in the arab world. Oh and by the way, we as Americans defend our homes in our homes, we don't go to our neighbors home and destroy it for fearing it!

Kudos to Richard Engel, what an excellent reporter, I'm tracking all your articles and reports. you are very intelligent and mature for such a young man. keep up the good work, and please be safe.

Dear Richard,
I have read your blogs going back to your beat in Iraq and I realize you have seen more than you should of the horrors of war. A year and half ago I lost my husband at age 44 and my mom at age 88 but have two great daughters and a baby grandson. Your stories with the parents and children who have been impacted both in Iraq and Lebanon should make us at home realize that parents everywhere want to protect their children. As for you and your crew, you are in my prayers for both your physicaly and spiritual well-being. If you run across Franciscans in Lebanon, which you will, know they will be there to comfort the poor and even committed reporters such as yourself.
Mary Lyons-Barrett, PhD (Univ. of Nebr. at Omaha)

In response to JR's post, Am I the only one who finds his/her labelling of Lebanese people as busy-bodies and gossipy a tad misinformed? It reminds me of a line in Syriana when Matt Damon's wife says, "Arabs are very family-oriented, as a people. Is that racist?" Uh, well, erm...yeah.

Onward...If you've been following Richard Engel's reports out of Lebanon, you'll notice he's shed a lot of light on the plight of the Lebanese people, venturing deep into Southern Beirut which is heavily populated, controlled (and patrolled) by Hezbollah. And honestly, without Richard's reporting, I would've easily assumed that Hezbollah consisted of a motley assortment of evil militant radicals...which is clearly not the case. And as reported on this evening's Nightly News report, most members of Hezbollah are friendly and approachable. But it's when the crowds grow larger, chanting, "down with Israel and the US!" that most news crews vacate the area. Richard is currently reporting from Tyre (parts of which look like scenes straight out of that 80's nuclear haulocaust movie 'The Day After') where he stumbled upon a photo of a beautiful little girl among the wreckage of a flattened apartment complex. He not only searched for the little girl's identity, but located the girl's father who explained that he lost both his little girls and his wife during the bombings. I've always appreciated Richard's ability to capture the human story within every story. And, I don't know of another steadfast reporter who is so relentless in his search for answers-- from the people on the ground-- and not some random windbag who just happens to be a "high ranking official".

FACTS
hizbolla was created to fight the israeli occupation of lebanon, while it was under partial syrian control. israelis withdrew under the pressure of hizbulla, syria took over the whole country, and allowed /helped hizbulla to grow in influence. this ragtag group of lebanese shia-muslims were able to inflict damage onto the israeli army, more than all the ridiculously unqualified to be called armies of all the arab countries surrounding israel. maybe because of their lebanese upbringing; better educated than the other arab world citizenry, who are kept ignorant, and taught only from books that are only pro-islamic from centuries ago, dark ages era; so the leadership of the arab countries can keep their population dumb, backward mentality, and puppets to the corrupt un-democratic regimes. syria left lebanon with help from the US, but mostly from france, a little over a year ago. the lebanese government just got formed after a democratic election (summer of 2005, almost a year). hizbulla representative won seats in the leabnese parliament. hizbulla is not an army, they're militia, which means they live among the rest of the lebanese civilian population. it's not like they have barraks or army posts. the leabnese army is so badly equipped, it shouldn't be even called an army (many soldiers don't have weapons) no navy, no air power, few WWII era tanks, well, bottom line, you get the picture, they can't fight hizbolla, the lebanese government doesn't have any money, the syrians stole whatever lebanese wealth they had. hizbollah is better equipped than the lebanese army, they receive monetary aid from iran, and they put a lot of that money to good use. they helped the usually very poor lebanese shia-muslims, when the bankrupt lebanese government couldn't help. they built for them schools, hospitals, clinics, etc they won the hearts and minds of the lebanese shia community, which in turn made hizbolla even stronger.
PUNCHLINES:
1- you can accuse hizbolla of years past as a terrorist organization which they where. the current hizbolla is a party and part of a democratically elected government (verified by the way, by our own American politicians, who were there in lebanon to monitor the election) they knew hizbolla was going to win parliamentary seats (the same way, you should have known, that hamas was going to win palestinian elections. carry on simple-minded bush cronies, who only know one mantra: democracy, democracy, democracy... you can't teach philosophy, let alone democracy, to people who are hungry, oppressed, and have no clue what you're talking about). but, to go back to the original topic, even after hizbolla won parliamentary seats, and began to act more stately than before, they maintained a strong militia, which is a government within a government, that's a dangerous situation. since they were trying to act as a party instead of terrorists, from what I know they only tackled israeli army (according to the UN observers on the ground). israel negotiated with them many times on prisoners swap. so israelis, you knew that all along, you knew they are among civilians, you knew they are well liked, you knew the newly formed lebanese government is powerless, but you still make the claims otherwise; you knew they fire katyushas from mobile trucks, why are you bombing buildings where innocent civilians live (just read Richard Engel's, latest reports) but this is the standard propaganda of war, and the pea-size-minded americans and israelis will believe all the PR, conveyed without any intervention from the american media icons, for the fear of the name calling mastered by all who disagree with the standard pro-israeli line: anti-semitic and terrorist. Intelligent americans and israeli, with heart, I know you exist, but you're afraid to speak up.

2- israeli leaders: you could have done to the palestinians and the shias what hizbolla have done (wisdom can be learned, even from the fools) help them get on their feet, these are extremely poor people living in horrible conditions: educate them, open schools, hospitals, jobs, etc it would cost israel and the american tax payer ultimately paying for all this, a lot less than what the cost of killing have accomplished. every family member you kill, you create 10 terrorists, and it will go on and on (actually it's been going on and on, more than 50 years). obviously there are certain people, israeli, american and arab who want to see this thing go on forever (religious wars tend to be that, anyway). this is how you keep in constant fear the simpleton minded americans, especially the ones who listen to the likes of pat robertson, michael savage and rush limbaugh, under your thumbs so they can keep you in power. not sure who came up with this tactic/strategy first, american politicians or arab country leaders, dumbing down the population always worked to keep bad leaderships in power. you see smart people don't fall for that crap...

Condolenza Rice is on the right track. What is needed is a package for sustainable peace.
To arrive at this, the starting point is the fact that on July 12 the Hezbollah crossed the UN blue line, entered Israel illegally, ambushed Israeli soldiers and KILLED eight. The killing of these eight soldiers by the Hezbollah inside Israeli territory is the significant factor. The Hezbollah should be charged with the responsibility to bring these people back to life. The Hezbollah have told us loud and clear that they seek the destruction of Israel. This is genocide. Moreover the Hezbollah has been planning this for several years as evidenced by the massive bunkering discovered by the Israeli and by the massive artillery which the Hezbollah tell us they have. The Hezbollah enticed Israel into war because they thought they had enough artilary and more from where this came from to destroy Israel. Genocide is behind the murder of the eight Israeli soldiers.
Artiliery got from Iran, already with Hezbollah logo when it disembarked from Iranian airlines and using infrastructure normally used by civilians to transport it south. The Hezbollah turned civilian infrastructure into military infrastructure. The Hezbollah hide among women and children to protect themselves from being targeted directly, thus are responsible foe civilian deaths in Lebanon. The Hezbollah shoot random targets into Israel to target civilians. The Hezbollah are responsible for civilian deaths in Israel.
The Hezbollah killed a Lebanese Minister. The Lebanese government is responsible because it allowed the Hezbollah to form a State (with its own militia) within a State. Nasrallah wants to carve out a political career for himself. He does not care for the suffering he has unleashed. He is responsible for the whole tragedy.

Israel is doing what it’s doing now to get back the leverage they used to have when the Arab countries feared them.

Israel pulled out of Lebanon and Palestine and the violence hasn’t stopped.

I agree with Sophia in principle, if the Palestinians have practiced passive resistance against Israel they would have won easily, but just like she cannot condone Israel’s over-reaction, I cannot condone her justification for extremists who want “Israelis to stop occupying and killing and displacing Palestinians” and “the Americans to stop supporting that”.
Hey, I want the US government to stop displacing people with the new eminent domain law, but I’m not going to go to extremes.

OJ, when you say that Israel should free the “Lebanese prisoners”, do you mean scum like the ones that broke into an Israeli home, killed the father in front of his 9 year old daughter and then took her to the beach to smash her head with a rock?
Or do you mean other prisoners?

Securing your region for the next decade might not be self defense as you and I think about, but what is? The idea is to give Hezbollah a decisive blow and finish them off once and for all, which will be good for the whole Middle East, and there is simply no argument about that, even from Lebanon.
It’s the same as taking proactive approach against street gangs, but on a much larger level. When you are afraid to walk in the street because a “Blood” might come and rob you, rape you, or kill you, it is the same as walking in the street being afraid that you might encounter a suicide bomber, car bomb, or missile.
And believe me, if it ever came to that you’d want to police to arrest or possibly shoot anyone with a red bandana.

People should stop and be so “Hollywood Moralistic”, it all stems from where you’re looking. If you are the parents of one of the soldiers who were kidnapped (who according to Sophia are fair game), then their lives are worth a lot more then 300 Lebanese.
If you are the parent of a Lebanese kid, you don’t care about the Israeli soldiers, nor the fact that Hezbollah has been shooting rockets into Israel for years.
If you are Hezbollah … you simply don’t care.

When I was reading through some of these comments (during which I was pleasantly surprised that other people in the US actually do not favor Israel in everything they do, and amazed at the ignorant people who claim this is merely "self defense") I read somebody's comment about "Islamics" (get right please! You've been hearing it in the news for years! It's Muslims) practicing violent religious fundamentalism of Quranic Surah 9:5 "Kill all infidels wherever you find them". (I don't mean to attack that person, I'm just trying to correct some info...) I don't know where you got that from, but it is DEFINITELY NOT TRUE. If you haven't done actual research about it and read it yourself (not on some sort of .com, which you never know to be true, or some site like CNN, which is totally biased), then don't make comments. You don't know what you are talking about. The people bombing the Twin Towers and stuff, those are extremists, people who are extreme practitioners to the point of botching the whole message up. It is unfortunate that Muslim extremists have become so well known that now the general public believes that they are representative of the entirety of the 1.5 or 2 billion people who practice the same religion all over the world. It is even more unfortunate that because of this, people do not realize that they actually have a message, underneath all of their distorted notions about Jihad (which is not achieved through suicide, by the way, seeing as suicide is forbidden in Islam) and women (who are given more rights in the Quran than in many other religions) and violence, which is basically for the Israelis to stop occupying and killing and displacing Palestinians in an Arab land, and for the Americans to stop supporting that, and now, to quit destroying Iraq (though there's not much else that can be destroyed there...). Actually, it's not exactly a hidden message, since Osama bin Laden has mentioned it more than once in his videos. If only the government would actually understnad what he says, take it to heart, and really stop doing that stuff. That way, they could stop all the terrorists without having become terrorists themselves (which they have). Israel has no right to destroy Lebanon, even if Hezbollah took two of their soldiers and launched some rocket attacks (which can hardly compare to the damage done by Israel now). This is NOT self defense, and how some people figure that is practically unbelievable. Shame on you for supporting the killing and burning and destruction of a country, women, children, men, all innocent civilians who are now being killed for TWO soldiers, who have more of a right to be captured than any of these people, seeing as they are soldiers who actually go and kill people and stuff, and these civilians are not criminals of any kind. I do not understand how people can side with Israel for killing hundreds of innocent people because of two men. I hope I never do. Israel is committing war crimes daily, does no one realize that? And the leaders of the world are committing a war crime in itself when they do not go to the aid of innocent people, and when they stand by as a country is being destroyed. I know that many Muslims in the regions of Israel/Palestine are killing people, but it is because of what is happening to them. How can the Jews be so ungrateful fo the help that the Plaestinians gave them when they came on ship from Nazi attacks in Europe? After all that the Palestinians did for them, they turn their backs and kick them out of their homes and kill them. Righteous anger. Not that I support violence of any kind. And although I am a full supporter of Ghandi (who isn't?) it would be impossible to do the same thing in Israel, because no one is acknowledging the real victims, and Israel would not let up, and the US would not let up, and the world would not let up. I'm not a supporter of this, but it's easy to understand. It's an outrage. Besides, who's realizing that they are American made bombs that are causing practically a mini genocide?

No country in the world would sit idly by while being attacked and openly threatened with extinction. Israel has every right to defend itself against those despicable terrorists hiding behind civilians. We've seen their dastardly acts in New York, London, Madrid, etc. The war on terrorism is not confined to the Middle East; it's a global war.

Richard, you are on the Today show, and the Nightly News, and in a war zone. When do you sleep?

To JR-The weapons in the hands of the Hagana(Jewish terrorist organization called the Israeli army) are more destructive, more terroristic and scare millions of people in the Middle East, keeping in mind the Hagana has stock piles of WMD(chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.) If you want to eliminate the weapons of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, make sure you do it simultaneously with eliminating the MORE DESTRUCTIVE weapons of the Hagana. Both sides are terrorists, do not forget that.

To OJ in Tampa:What you are saying is almost correct, but not entirely. The criticism against Syria, however, is that it has to pay its own blood bill. It should open its Golan to Syrian resistance. Without that, it should not get the Golan heights back-certainly not by having a front in southern Lebanon. Chebaa farms are Syrian land. don't dump it over Lebanon's shoulders because you(the Syrians) are weaker than what's expected from them to liberate it.

Unfortunately, Lebanon has to pay a high price for Hezbollah, "The Party of God." So where is Allah, God now? How can a single terrorist (yes, they are terrorists) organization hold a country hostage to their whims? Where is the government of Lebanon? I don't agree with Israel either of bombing non-stop killing innocent civilians. Where is God now? How can He let kids die on both sides? I have questions but I have no answers. I do believe that diplomacy is the only way to resolve this conflict but it is worth nothing if there is no committment on both sides. In the meantime, Lebanon perishes.............

Listen all pro-Israel ignorants that only get the news from the mainstream US media, which is totally biased towards the Jews:
First Israel needs to negotiate the peace, negotiate means talk, no threat or bombings. The Lebanese/Hezbollah/Syrian side wants the return of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, Israel’s withdrawal from the Chebaa Farms — a tiny border region that Lebanon claims — and the provision of minefields lain in south Lebanon during its 18-year occupation of the region. If Israel would address those complaints plus a withdrawal from the Golan Heights (Bekaa Valley claimed by the Syrians), it would be no more reason for rockets attacks over the Northern border. All those demands are tied to each of these parties, since they have battled Israel together since 1982.
Of course, Israel should get in return a buffer zone free of air bases, no surface missiles at all, only anti-aircraft missiles, a limit to the amount of troops and no long-range artillery. A buffer like that in EACH SIDE, 10 or 15 miles deep of the borders, would lower the tension, and of course no militias (Hezbollah) in the buffer zone. Furthermore, Lebanon and Syria must recognize Israel as a sovereign state and Hezbollah renounce to violence towards Israel. After that is accomplished, all war prisoners in each side should be released.
A NATO led force should enforce the retreat from the buffer and it should monitor both sides of the buffer by surprise several times a year for several years to build trust among the parties.
The thing is Israel NEVER would accept that, we American would never CARE, because the US is RACIST and ANTI-ISLAM, so the only way left for those oppressed people is to get RADICAL and SNAP, so war in the Middle East would be a forever 10 dead to one in Israel favor event, with occasional rocket showers and invasions. Enjoy!

You want the truth ask the right questions

To the reporters on the scene covering the Middle East crisis. You owe it to your conscience, your viewers and listeners to tell them the truth, and in order to do that you need to ask the proper questions

When you show us the pictures of buildings in ruin, would it be impolite to ask who were the tenants who occupied these buildings?

When Prime Minister Seniora of Lebanon criticizes Israel for going after the Hezbollah, and says that the Hezbollah will go into hiding. Would it be to indiscreet to ask him if it's in Interlaken or Zermatt Switzerland or in Lebanon? He should have a good idea of where the leaders hide. One of the traits of the Lebanese people is that they are busy body and gossipy.

Is it possible that the tearing apart of the streets in order to dig the numerous bunkers in downtown and around Beirut, went unnoticed? Is it to nosy to ask this question?

The continuous flow of trucks loaded with rockets creating a traffic jam in the streets of Beirut, on their way to make home delivery. Is it possible that nobody paid any attention of who's blocking the traffic? Would it be to indelicate to ask this question

Is it possible that the fixed ramps of the rockets launchers installed in apartment buildings are a well kept secret and known only by a handful of people and the Hezbollah high command? Is it impertinent to ask? And why not try to find and interview the apartment managers of these buildings

Ask the right questions if you really want the truth

J R.

I noticed during the report on the NBC nightly news last evening reporting on the bombing of Lebanonese financial institutions there was a photo of sheets of paper with US $100 Bills printed on them in the damaged building. Are they counterfeit?

The answer is they are protecting their country from a well trained and armed terrorist group who seeks to kill them by launching rockets into residential areas. Hezbollah does not seek to stand and fight but rather launch missles. While Israel has hit residential areas that is because Hezbolah hides amoung the people. Unlike the Israeli army which has defined military bases and keeps their army bases out of residential areas Hezbollah can only fight by hiding among women and children. They are a cowardly bunch who, if they truly cared for the Lebonese people, would have created military bases.

How can Hezbollah justify their actions. They resemble those of the huns.

Richard,
Since you’ve been in the region for quite sometime, I believe that you’d have a better understanding of how exactly people there feel. While passing through the Hezbollah area, do you actually see them (Hezbollah)? Do they talk to you? Do they identify themselves as members or supporters?
Besides, how would you describe a day in the life of a reporter like yourself - in Lebanon these days? The bombings are like 24/7…so does your team works all the time!
It is so hard to watch innocent people suffer. I am sure is harder for you and your team to actually see them suffer.
In times and zones like this, it’s amazing to watch how you and other journalists out there confront, overcome fear and report what is going on in the ground with great professionalism. Please do stay safe and take care.

In 1983 and 1984 we lost roughly 300 Americans to Hezbollah on three different occasions. We simple withdrew without finding justice for those souls. The majority of which were Marines on a peacekeeping mission. Several of those deaths were due to suicide attacks on our own American embassy in Lebanon. They are terrorists no doubt. There can be no dispute about that.

Having said that, the time has passed, and the world has changed. This is not about anyone exacting justice or retribution. This is about cold facts.

Diplomacy has come and gone as easily as winds change directions. Presidents time and time again have tried to use diplomacy and diplomacy alone to solve a crisis in an arena where the only language of the players is violence.

I wonder if Hezbollah were in Israel's shoes, would they discriminate their targets? If they had fighter jets would they engage in dogfights or would they go for the civilian population? While Israel is causing civilian casualties, this is by function a result of collateral damage from Hezbollah firing within close proximity to civilian populations.

Furthermore, you own statement reveals the prejudicial nature of why so virtually all Americans do not support Hezbollah and their ilk. “No peace be unto Israel.” Peace is a virtue to be granted to all. When someone says that a country is a Zionist entity that must be destroyed, we find it hard to understand why and how they can turn around and say “we are the oppressed.”

Israel has no justification for the brutal bombardment of Lebanon and its innocent civilians. If they have a bone to pick, it is with Hezbullah, Syria and Iran.
Although part of the Lebanese people support and condone the actions of Hezbullah, the rest are opposed to it.
Syria is the power broker in Lebanon and the main force pushing behind the continuation of the war in the region.
The question is: are the Israelis by their actions, doing the dirty work of destroying Lebanon and killing its people for the Syrians who were kicked out of it after the murder of P.M Harriri?
Regardless, if this is true or not, Israel stands to lose more than gain by its actions.
In the mean time the innocent Lebanese -no one to spare- are caught in the middle; Israel and Syria via Hezbullah are battling it out and the victims are: Lebanon and its civilians.

It's a sad state of affairs. I do ask, if Hezbollah had not captured Israelis or simply respected the existance of Israel, would this be happening?

This was planned, just like 911....... Make know mistake, the US & Iseral have had this on their plate for sometime...... Help us all...

People are forgetting who inititate all this maddness?..... I know two isreli soldier were kidnapped by hezbollah terrorist ,so what people think?.... Israel is not suppose to react and protect their own citizen? I feel sorry for the innocent people in both countries. I watch the news and I would like to know why the Press do not show all the destruction in Israel every time hezbollah send those "rockets" and kill people. I am sure God is not please with neither one. Ms. N Lasso