The Only Solution

The only solution is a military one.
Capt. Bob Granholm
July 29, 2006

The current conflict in Lebanon was started by Hezbullah with a barrage of rockets on civilian populations, the entry into Israeli territory and the kidnapping of two soldiers, killing three others. Since that event 18 days ago, rockets and missiles have been launched against random targets in the north of Israel, loaded with shrapnel to cause the maximum in casualties. The ultimate and oft stated goal of Hezbullah is the elimination of the nation of Israel.

In response, Israel has targeted Hezbullah infrastructure, warning in as clear a fashion as is possible the civilian population to exit the areas that are being targeted. Hezbullah uses these civilians as human shields, and when they are harmed in the Israeli actions against Hezbullah, they became propaganda tools, part of the strategy of terror employed by Hezbullah.

Hezbullah is backed by Iran, and supplied by Syria and Iran. Iranian Revolutionary Guards have been seen, and killed, by Israeli soldiers, as recently as a few days ago in the actions around Bint Jabil. The Government of Syria and Iran have publicly endorsed the goals of Hezbullah, and threatened serious escalations if their boarders are breached, even as they show complete disregard for the sovereign boarder of Lebanon. Hezbullah refuses any negotiated settlement, as does Iran.

Until the captured soldiers are returned, Hezbullah removed as a military force from southern Lebanon, and both Syria and Iran agree to be a party to negotiations to these ends, there can be no cease-fire. In fact, none of these conditions will be met until each of the three parties, Hezbullah, Syria, and Iran, are forced to compromise. This will not happen by dialogue, nor by diplomacy. It will only happen by military means.

This is a war. It is currently a limited war, being fought between the three parties and the nation of Israel, with the backing of the US and a few other western allies, including Canada. Military forces must be applied in order to break Hezbullah, confront Syria, and humiliate Iran. The Western backers of Israel must continue to support her in this fight, for it is also our fight. If we do not wish this war to become unlimited, then we must allow Israel to end it here.

The Arab Muslim world is watching and weighing. Most Arab nations are seriously worried about the extension of power by Iran, and would welcome any diminishing of Iran’s influence in the region. But if we are seen to be weak in the midst of battle, despite having the resources to achieve victory, then those Arab countries who are now reckoning their policies with a view to engagement with the west will need to shift their policies to reckon with the increasing influence of Iran and its surrogates. The Islamic jihadist can only be emboldened.

The only solution to this is a military one. So let us solve this, and solve it here and now.