Middle East War Continues....

Apparently, my blog, and this post specifically, aren't required reading for Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria.

Yahoo news has just reported that the war in the Middle East has escalated even further. Israel has set up a naval blockade, and has used air strikes to hit several targets in Lebanon, including airports and army airbases. Israel has also attacked other targets in recent days, including Hezbollah's TV studios and foreign ministry buildings. At least 50 people have been killed so far.

Incredibly, Hezbollah chose to up the odds earlier today by firing more than 100 rockets into Israel, including one lone-range rocket that reached the city of Haifa. Then they immediately denied that they had done so, but warned that they did have the capability.

Where I come from, we call that a mistake.

Daniel Ayalon, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, said that rocket attack on Haifa was "a major, major escalation." And David Baker, from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, said that "those who fire into such a densely populated area will pay a heavy price."

Israel seems to have had enough, this time, and their response to the Haifa rocket attack is continuing.

President Bush blamed the current situation on Hezbollah terrorists and acknowledged that Israel has a right to support herself. "The soldiers need to be returned," he said. "It's really sad where people are willing to take innocent life in order to stop that progress (for peace). As a matter of fact, it's pathetic." He also warned that Syria needs to be held accountable for sponsoring and supporting groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Fox News story

Lebanon has asked the U.N. Security Council to step and stop the Israeli attacks, and the U.N. should get to that right after they for all the unpaid parking tickets their diplomats have accrued in New York. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he would send three officials to the Middle East to try to de-escalate the situation (and collect bribes).

Neither side will back down in this one, and I don't think Israel is about to do prisoner swaps with these folks. In fact, I don't think this is even about those three hostages anymore. I think Israel has finally gotten to the point where they feel that they have stop these terrorists for good. The situation is rapidly deteriorating and could draw much of the Middle East into the conflict, including Iran, Lebanon and Syria. And the president has made it clear that we will support Israel, should it become necessary. This one is only going to get worse, so we'd better pay attention.

Also blogging:

• BLACKFIVE
• Flopping Aces
• Security Watchtower
• Blogs of War
• Woman Honor Thyself