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Remembering what Hizbollah did to US
By oceanguy | July 27, 2006
Watching the news over the past three weeks keeps taking me back to 1982 and 1983. After twenty-three years… very little has changed.
Then, Israel had just withdrawn from the Sinai. The PLO had been lobbing bombs and making raids across the border from Lebanon. PLO attacks finally forced Israel to do something about it. After early and rapid success, Israel was on the verge of routing the PLO… That is until Ronald Reagan and the world came to Arafat’s rescue… allowing him to survive… giving him his victory. Innocent Lebanese were being bombed. Yes a tragedy, but war itself is a tragedy.
So, the world sent in the Multi-National peace keepers to stop the killing. With no thought of long-term peace and stability, the world simply wanted quiet… and the surviving PLO’s Lebanon branch morphed into Hizbollah. Here’s what they did to American peace-keepers:
These people were friends… men I knew who were murdered by Hizbollah, and pulled from the rubble of that building:
CAPT Joe Boccia USMC
1LT John Boyette USMC
SSGT Robert Conley USMC
SSGT Ronald Garcia USMC
LT John Hudson USN
CAPT Vince Smith USMC
1LT Bill Zimmerman USMC
It also makes me think of my classmate, LT Mark Lange, whose A-6 Intruder was shot down. Mark, the pilot was killed. He bled to death when his leg was severed after ejection. His Syrian captors didn’t administer the first aid that might have saved his life. His Bombardier/Navigator and my friend Bobby Goodman was captured… Jesse Jackson brought LT Goodman home.
Where does that leave us today? Israel is again seeing initial success after reacting to Hizbollah attacks from Lebanon. This time the fight is more difficult; the success is not as rapid. The world is again calling for a cease-fire and for the introduction of a multi-national peacekeeping force. Lebanon is again taking the brunt of damage. But so far there is a major difference.
The United States and Israel, it seems, have learned the lessons from 23 years ago. They appear not to be willing to give Hizbollah the victory of survival. It remains to be seen whether or not today’s resolve is strong or whether it will fold to international pressure to appease the terrorists. For the sake of my friends and all the others who gave their lives 23 years ago, I pray the US government is able to stay resolute. I hope the Israeli government maintains their will to win… because they must win. And I dream and pray that the EU, and especially Lebanon, will see Hizbollah’s destruction as a good thing.
Defeating Hizbollah today will not only honor those who sacrificed in the past, but it will save countless lives in the future. Defeating Hizbollah will give Israel a chance for peace on its northern border and will give Lebanon its best chance for a peaceful and prosperous future.
Topics: Countdown to War |
July 28th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
I’ll admit I’ll never forget that day. Ever.
It’s not just for Isreal. It’s not just for the U.S.
It’s a great point. One more people need to keep in mind.
July 28th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
Horrible as this is to say, no one really cares. Well, I do, but not many others. Read what Solomonia has posted regarding the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem. It’s enough to make your stomach turn.
July 30th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
Good post. Sorry about your mates. Alevasholem.