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COMMENTARY SEPTEMBER14, 2006 - Page 10 Lebanon Deserves Help with Recovery, Recapturing Identity, Regaining Independence Lebanon by Israel, Hezbollah Northern Israel once again. two soldiers and the deaths of more international involve- S~~ ~~~H was formed (with the help of There is much debate over over 1,000Lebanese Civilians. ment in helping Lebanon Iran) to combat the occupa- Israel's response in light of the Dr. Goldman (Professor of recover, while recognizing Eight months ago, I sat in a tion. The next 15years proved heavy civilian casualties in Philosophy and Religious that the brunt of the effort corner of a crowded Israeli brutal for both sides, as air Lebanon and loss of infra- Studies) said that although the must come from the Lebanese mail, sipping a coffee and raids in Southern Lebanon structure. labeling of Israel's actions as themselves. In a country tom watching people mill about were countered by rocket When asked about this disproportional is a fair criti- apart by years of war and the food court. One group attacks in Northern Israel. debate, Amal Khoury cism, the war must be looked strife, however, it is uncertain that caught my interest in par- The 2006 conflict has pro- (Professor of International at in the context of a Nation how successful they will be in ticular was a cluster of laugh- vided an excellent repeat per- Relations) said that Israel's constantly forced to defend its recapturing their identity and ing young men and women, formance. Heavy shelling has response to the soldiers' cap- right to exist. Israel's history independence, especially if the certainly a typical sight in any destroyed what infrastructure ture was not justified due to and existential nature cannot international community American mall. What made Lebanon was able to rebuild, the disproportional nature of be disregarded in forming a becomes too involved. these men and women more and missile attacks have said actions. A large margin judgment of its actions. interesting than their wrought havoc upon exists between the capture of Both professors call for American counterparts, how- ever, were the army fatigues and machine guns casually slung over their shoulders. Nothing could have seemed more out of place to a group of relatively sheltered American students traveling abroad. Tt was quite clear that this was just another Saturday to everyone else in the mall, however, as soldiers and civil- ians alike chatted with friends and munched on ridiculously over-priced Big Macs. Eight months later, two Israeli soldiers have been cap- tured by Hezbollah Guerillas sparking a 34 day war, and I can't help but wonder about the fate of those laughing young men and women an ocean away. This certainly is not the first time tensions between Israel and ij.sneighbors have result- ed in conflict. Indeed, this is the second Israeli-Lebanon war, the first starting in 1982 as a response to raids from Palestinian groups in Southern Lebanon. During the resulting occupation of VITA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for McDaniel College's Volunteer Income Tax Program We want you! Learn how to prepare relatively simple income tax returns and earn internship credits while you learn. Contact Susan Milstein in the Bu iness- Economics Department at x2456. Training will take place on 3 consecutive Saturdays-January 20, January 27. and February 3, 2007. The actual preparation of tax returns will take place during tax season 2007, beginning Tuesday, February 13.