Misunderstanding mixed in with a little propaganda?

Submitted by Anthony Letayf (United States), Jul 27, 2004 at 13:54

Mr. Pipes,

I have been a frequent visitor to you site and have read a number of your articles. In most cases your articles are derived from a truth, and while you are somewhat biased most of the things you write about are what many people think about but cannot or will not say. I do have one complaint. In "Palestinian Descent into Chaos" you wrote that "The PA has joined other parts of the Greater Middle East (Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan) in the general trend toward lawlessness." It is true that most of the Arab World is in a perpetual state of lawlessness but you are mistaken in the case of Lebanon. First and foremost, Lebanon is the most democratic and lawful of all arab nations. While there is an aspect of lawlessness that can be attributed to some areas of Lebanon, Lebanon can in no shape, way, or form be compared with the likes of Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Is Hizbullah a major factor in Lebanon, yes. If you forego western media and study Hizbullah's activities most of the operations undertaken against Israel was and is within the borders of the nation of Lebanon. The loss of life is something that should be avoided at all costs, but the losses taken on by the Israelis were losses in the boundaries of Lebanon. Hizbullah was attacking an occupying force. Again, I am not promoting their actions in any way I am just making the point that it can viewed as patriotism from one side and lawlessness from the other. Western journalists should discontinue attacking Lebanon. Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt are really the only possible allies the Western world has in the Middle East. What we should start focusing on is releasing "terrorist harboring" Syria's hegemonic grasp on Lebanon and allowing for genuine elections. Emphasis must be put on strengthening relations with Lebanon. Lebanon does not resemble Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, or Afghanistan in any way shape or form, and that is an undeniable fact.

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