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Is there really such thing as an | ||
Pamela Olson July 27, 2006 | ||
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A Lebanese friend who lives in California was on vacation in Lebanon visiting his family when the Israeli offensive began. He had to take a dangerous taxi ride out through eastern Lebanon to Syria and then Jordan, and from there he flew back to the States. He called me soon after he got back to California.
I was immensely relieved to hear from him. We chatted a while in quiet, shocked tones about how unbelievable everything was. He said, "I know they were attacked, but I don't understand why Israel hit, like, the gas stations and cell phone towers, and all of the roads." I said, "Well, militants might use cell phones, and they might need gas for their cars. So it makes sense that you have to take them out. And militants might use roads and bridges. So you have to destroy them. And militants might eat grain to give them strength to fight. So you have to destroy the grain silos. And militants might need ambulances after they get injured. So you have to hit them, too. In fact, militants might be in any car. So all vehicles are fair game. And militants might be in houses. So you can bomb any house you want. And militants might sit under trees. So the trees have to go. And militants might need to wash their clothes. You can't allow aid and comfort to the enemy, so you have to hit any washing machines you find behind enemy lines. And UN observers, who even know what they're really doing there, or if they have Hezbollah friends? I say take them out. And little old ladies might make mint lemonade for the militants, when otherwise the militants might be too thirsty to fight. So they are legitimate targets, too. "In fact, if you even suggest there is such thing as an illegitimate target, and that Israel is hitting them, you might be trying to discourage Israel, or you might even sympathize with Hezbollah. "You know what, I gotta go, man. I don't want to be talking to a legitimate target. Who knows. . . that might make me a legitimate target, too." | ||