Lebanon and Iraq

In a Time article Tony Karon offers some light criticism of the Bush Administration policy on the Lebanon/Israel crisis. He discusses Prime Minister Maliki's visit to the US and says, in part,

Maliki, addressing the media, was very clear that he blamed the crisis on "Israeli aggression," and he declined to criticize Hizballah.

Maliki's stance highlighted a major problem facing the Bush Administration's Middle East crisis: The U.S. has viewed Israel's fight with Hizballah as an opportunity to rally Arab support against growing Iranian influence in the Middle East. But it is not even able to rally the support of Iraq, an Arab government dependent for its security on U.S. troops.

I, too, think that the Administration's hope is misplaced. It seems impossible to me that Israeli military action is going to be received with sympathy among Arab governments.

That said, I think the article also shows the moral timidity of those very Arab governments. As I've said before (ironically, prompted by another statement by Maliki), moderate Arabs must be willing to stand up to the radicals. Refusing to acknowledge Hezbollah's actions and condemn them for causing this conflict is indicative of a short-sightedness that needs to be overcome for the sake of the world. This is encouragement not only to Hezbollah, but to other radical groups. American condemnation means nothing to them. Only when their fellow Muslims (I should say, 'True Muslims') stand up to them will we begin see them brought under control. Only when their safe havens disappear, and their funds dry up, will the world be safe from terrorism.

This need for the moderate Arab nations to stand up is a more significant point, long term, than any miscalculation by the Bush Administration in handling this crisis.

GP