Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: Forum

Condemn Hezbollah for starting Lebanon War

Karim Saikali's letter in The Daily last Tuesday ("Gupta's lecture comments misinformed") misinterpreted the events and circumstances surrounding civilian casualties in the 2006 Lebanon War.

While it is true that Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions resulted in unfortunate civilian deaths, it is important to note that the true responsibility for these deaths lies with the Hezbollah guerrillas themselves. Hezbollah rocket squads fired thousands of missiles from heavily populated residential neighborhoods into Israel, purposefully aimed at civilian communities. On the other hand, when Israel was preparing to respond, it dropped leaflets about the impending action in order to minimize civilian casualties.

Knowing that Israel would exercise its right to defend itself, Hezbollah willfully put the Lebanese population at risk, since every Lebanese casualty undoubtedly would be blamed on Israel, resulting in a de facto public relations victory for the terrorists. Media is widely available which shows Hezbollah rocket squads without uniforms firing from the tops of apartment buildings and residential neighborhoods.

The casualties of the war were horrific on both sides. I am saddened that there were so many civilian deaths in both countries. This war began with a terrorist organization invading across internationally recognized borders, kidnapping soldiers who are still being held captive. Hezbollah must be condemned for its actions in starting the conflict and purposefully targeting Israeli civilians during the war.

- Richard Maidman
Weinberg senior
JCRC/Hillel Israel Initiative Intern


Socialist efforts in push for universal health care

Socialism and Communism are both on the rise in the United States. When experts come to Northwestern and spew their intelligence on health care, it seems like they are not too intelligent after all. The claimed expert, Dr. Quentin Young recently came to NU to talk about reforming health care in America and even got an article about him in The Daily ("Health care expert says America needs universal coverage," Nov. 6) - here's another one. While a healthy dialogue is needed to do something about this terrible system in place, universal health care is not the answer as he suggests.

Continued...

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