I am really curious what Irwin Cotler thinks about the current state of affairs in the Middle East and what he thinks of Stephen Harper’s statements. Oh wait, he already wrote something about this back in 2004 for the Jerusalem Post.

Israel and the Jewish people have been singled out for differential and discriminatory treatment in the international arena — and worst of all — singled out for destruction. The time has come to sound the alarm — not only for Israel and the Jewish people whose safety and security is under existential threat and attack — but for the world community and the human condition as a whole. For as history has taught us only too well, while the persecution and discrimination may begin with Jews, it doesn’t end with Jews.

I urge all Liberals to read the whole article.

Since Stephen Harper is being criticized for his use of the word “measured” with respect to the Israeli response to “kidnapped” soldiers I thought looking at the situation from a different perspective is in order.

From Dictionary.comv. meas·ured, meas·ur·ing, meas·ures
v. tr.

1. To ascertain the dimensions, quantity, or capacity of: measured the height of the ceiling.
2. To mark, lay out, or establish dimensions for by measuring: measure off an area.
3. To estimate by evaluation or comparison: “I gave them an account… of the situation as far as I could measure it” (Winston S. Churchill).
4. To bring into comparison: She measured her power with that of a dangerous adversary.
5. 1. To mark off or apportion, usually with reference to a given unit of measurement: measure out a pint of milk.
   2. To allot or distribute as if by measuring; mete: The revolutionary tribunal measured out harsh justice.
6. To serve as a measure of: The inch measures length.
7. To consider or choose with care; weigh: He measures his words with caution.
8. Archaic. To travel over: “We must measure twenty miles today” (Shakespeare).

I would tend to think that number 7 is the usage Harper was getting at but they all really mean the same thing. Something that is compared, taken into account, evaluated etc.

So here we go. Since January (yes I said January) there have been 1000 or so shells fired into Israel from southern Lebanon. Did the Israeli’s respond? No. They showed incredible restraint by not reacting to these acts of violence.

Last year Lebanon held its’ first elections since 1976 and Hezbollah runs on a platform promise of wiping Israel off the map and wins 35 of 128 seats in the new parliament and Israel sits back with patience and restraint.

Hezbollah, an elected entity in the NATION of Lebanon crosses an INTERNATIONAL border and kills 8 Israeli SOLDIERS and CAPTURES 2 Israeli SOLDIERS and Israel finally reacts.

You really need to stop and think about this. The captilized words are the keys here.

Lebanon is, indeed, a nation. Israel is a different nation. Soldiers from one nation crossed the border and attacked soldiers of the other. This was not just a kidnapping. This was an act of war by any nations standards. In acts of war, soldiers are not kidnapped, they are captured so when you hear the MSM say “kidnapped Israeli soldiers” you can rewrite that as “captured Israeli soldiers”.

For Israel to arrive at the response they have is not unrealistic, nor unexpected. It is how almost any nation would have reacted to an attack on its’ soldiers. They closed down bridges into and out of the country, they bombed the airports and they cut off access via the sea. Was this to prevent innocent people from leaving? No. This was to cut off supply lines just as any good military movement is trained to do. This was to close off the escape route of the un-uniformed Hezbollah fighters who seem to melt into the crowds when push comes to shove.

This was the first step in a “measured” response to what has to happen for Israel to get her soldiers back. It was a “measured” response to wake up Lebanese voters to boot Hezbollah from Parliament. It was a “measured” response to neutralize an enemy who has sworn to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

Do I feel for the Lebanese who are not part of the Hezbollah arm of parliament or the Shite laden southern part of the nation? Yes.

Do I feel that Israel may be doing Lebanon a favour in the long run by doing the dirty work that the pearl of the Middle East has not been able to do for itself? Yes.

Do I feel that for Canadians to choose such a hostile country to vacation in was a poor choice? You bet.

Do I feel for the families of the Canadians (including the one Israeli soldier who spent his summers in Montreal) who have died in this battle? With every bit of my heart.

But the better good is being served by this battle and in the long run, the Middle East will be better off for having this terrorist organization out of Lebanon, out of the Lebanese parliament and out of ammunition.