Comments on: The Argument from War Crimes (II) http://larison.org/2006/07/28/the-argument-from-war-crimes-ii/ n. the principle of good order "Observe the strange inversion of all order and sense! Dignity debased; how vilely is the function of a consul prostituted!" ~The Craftsman Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:15:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Dennis http://larison.org/2006/07/28/the-argument-from-war-crimes-ii/#comment-4331 Sat, 29 Jul 2006 02:00:30 +0000 http://larison.org/2006/07/28/the-argument-from-war-crimes-ii/#comment-4331 What is also lost in all the neocon outrage-at-the-outrage is the fact that Israel's strategy of destroying infrastructure and punishing Lebanon for Hizbollah's aggression is motivated in no small part by an unwillingness to incur high IDF casualties by directly engaging Hizbollah on its own territory. Israel is trading Lebanese civilian casualties for fewer of its own military casualties; to say nothing of the destruction of Lebanese society. Israel could have counter-attacked Hizbollah directly on the ground sooner; the result would have been bloody and the outcome uncertain, but it would be a jusifiable military engagement in response to cross-border aggression. It would also be more honorable. Quaint notion, I know. What is also lost in all the neocon outrage-at-the-outrage is the fact that Israel’s strategy of destroying infrastructure and punishing Lebanon for Hizbollah’s aggression is motivated in no small part by an unwillingness to incur high IDF casualties by directly engaging Hizbollah on its own territory.
Israel is trading Lebanese civilian casualties for fewer of its own military casualties; to say nothing of the destruction of Lebanese society.

Israel could have counter-attacked Hizbollah directly on the ground sooner; the result would have been bloody and the outcome uncertain, but it would be a jusifiable military engagement in response to cross-border aggression. It would also be more honorable. Quaint notion, I know.

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