Can Hezbollah REALLY be stopped?

Something about this new middle eastern conflict became crystal clear to me a few days ago. And, it bothered me that if I, a typical everyday guy, could put this together, then why can't the political thinktanks in the White House and on the Hill figure this out.

Let me explain - this past weekend I was watching CNN and they were interviewing this Lebanese woman. Her home had been destroyed and she and her daughter had to flee the southern part of the country. She was explaining to CNN that Hezbollah was not to be blamed for the scale of violence that Israel was bringing to her country. She said that no matter what Hezbollah had done - she still supported them and believed in them. She explained that in her part of the country, the Lebanese Government did next to nothing for the people. Whereas, Hezbollah paid for medical treament, they picked up the trash, they made sure the people had food and electricity and that the kids got a good education. She said that when the fighting started between Hezbollah and Israel, the people in her town where yelling, "God be with Hezbollah!"

Then her 9 year old daughter spoke and she said that Hezbollah was a blessing to her people. At her school when things needed to be fixed or painted, Hezbollah quickly got the school back in shape. She said that Hezbollah kept her school running. She said that when she grows up she wants to be a doctor for Hezbollah so she can heal them when they fight the Israelis. THIS WAS A 9 YEAR OLD GIRL!

It was further pointed out that prior to the initial Israeli attacks, Hezbollah went through the towns along the border evacuating citizens and soon after the bombs started falling, Hezbollah members were collecting names and coordinating relief and relocation efforts. So, the citizens of southern Lebanon were - in their opinion - being cared for and looked after by Hezbollah.

This is when I realized that no matter how many bombs Israel drops, no matter how many bullets they fire - they cannot destroy Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a movement, it is a concept, it is a spirit in the hearts and minds of many Lebanese. So, for Israel and the United States to claim - "let the bombing continue until Hezbollah is fully disarmed..." it's frankly the definition of 'an impossible goal.' Even if every gun and rocket possessed by Hezbollah was destroyed and every Hezbollah fighter killed - the concept of Hezbollah would continue. It might languish for a decade or so, but the concept would soon rise again and take shape in the hearts and minds of young Lebanese men. And as far as weapons go, rockets, pistols and rifles can be bought for a handshake and a smile over there - so this whole disarming issue is a joke.

This bombing campaign is truly doing nothing but making the Lebanese Government look more and more impotent on the middle eastern stage. At some point, the Government will be so emasculinated by allowing Israel to systematically destroy it, that it will be ripe for an overthrow by Hezbollah or Syria - and then there will be even bigger problems in the region.

I'm honestly not calling anybody a good guy in this situation, neither side, Hezbollah OR Israel is without sin in how they do business. But, I can say that this relentless and disproportionate bombing campaign is going to only assure an unstable and highly volatle middle east for years and years to come.

TTBM