Why Is Tonight Different From Any Other Night?
An important Rubicon was crossed when Israel unleashed a broad assault against Lebanese targets in retaliation for the kidnapping of three soldiers. The concept of collective punishment — the precondition for unlimited war — is now apparently accepted as SOP by commentators on the left and right. So I think an examination of first causes is in order.
Q. Tonight we are attacking Lebanon. How is tonight different from any other night?
A. We are attacking Hizbollah, just as we attacked Hamas, because they were electorally successful in the democratic process the West is attempting to foster in the Middle East. We wish to show that these groups are not legitimized by their participation in the democratic process. Instead, the democratic state that includes them becomes delegitimized and vulnerable to attack. In other words, democracy is no defense. Therefore, we are attacking not only Hizbollah and the physical infrastructure that enables it. We are attacking the armed forces and economy of Lebanon, a friendly, pro-Western democracy. We’re bombing dairy farms, textile mills, and a bunch of other targets that have little or no impact on Hizbollah’s will or ability to resist.
Q. Tonight we are bombing Lebanon. How is tonight different from any other night?
A. We wish to show that, despite the failure of the Iraq occupation, through a massive air campaign, the overwhelming force still exists to deter our enemies and destabilize their regimes. Therefore, a doctrine based on military force and regime change is still viable and credible. We wish to show Syria and Iran, emboldened by the quagmire in Iraq, that catastrophic damage can be inflicted on them without the risks and political, economic, and human costs to an attacking force of a ground war.
Q. Tonight we are attacking Lebanon with the support of the United States, which helped put the current democratic government in power. How is tonight different from any other night?
A. The United States wishes to demonstrate to Syria and Iran that we will not be deterred by rules of war, international law, or public outrage when engaging in extensive air warfare that destroys not only weapons or mass destruction, military targets, or dual-use infrastructure but also targets civilian areas and health-related infrastructure without even the possibility of post-war occupation and nation building. The objective is not only to deter and destabilize a regime by degrading its military assets. It is to cripple a regime by destroying the society that supports it. If the US is willing to let Israel do this to Lebanon, Iran and Syria should have no doubt we’re willing to do the same to them.
Q. Tonight we are using the concept of collective punishment, a war crime under international law, to justify the attack on Lebanon. How is tonight different from any other night?
A. I don’t see anybody complaining. Is that the difference you’re talking about?
