By: Joseph Farah - Arab Reporter of Lebanese decent.

You know, it's funny.

For years I've been trying to get people to pay attention to the deaths and destruction and injustices being perpetrated on my beloved Lebanon.

And nobody cared.

When Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Liberation Organization tried to take over the country and make it his terrorist playground, nobody cared.

When people were dying by the thousands in the civil war, nobody cared.

When Syria had its boot on the neck of its tiny neighbor for 25 years, nobody cared.

When Iran dispatched Hezbollah terrorists into the country to undermine home rule by Lebanese, nobody cared.

When Muslims chased millions of Christians from the country, tipping the balance of power, nobody cared.

But now, all eyes are on Lebanon.

Do you know why?

Because Israel has tried to clean up this hornet's nest. Yet, all we hear about is how many Lebanese are dying.

Can I let you in on a little secret?

Guess what the total death toll is among Lebanese during the extent of this war – including Hezbollah terrorists, many of whom are not really Lebanese?

You better sit down.

The total death toll is just over 500.

Now, far be it for me to minimize death tolls. One innocent death is a tragedy. But this is the total – all terrorists, civilians, Lebanese army, everything.

The whole world is going nuts over this "slaughter."

What is needed is some perspective here. May I offer it?

Last month alone, U.S. troops in Afghanistan announced killing 600 "suspected" Taliban. That's one month alone. We've been occupying this foreign country since 2002. It began in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. U.S. forces went halfway around the world to attack a sovereign nation, to overthrow the government and kill as many people as it deemed necessary over the last five years to prevent more terrorist attacks in the future. Few would suggest that Afghanistan represents any imminent threat to the U.S. today. By the way, according to U.S. military spokesmen, a total of 1,700 Afghanis have been killed since the start of the year. That includes some civilians, some aid workers and more than 70 foreign troops.

But, last time I checked, there weren't demonstrations in the streets of the U.S. or elsewhere around the world over this war.

Instead, everybody is going ape over Lebanon.

By the way, the government of Afghanistan, installed by the U.S., is happy about the war. President Hamid Karzai wants to see the terrorists rooted out of his country. He recognizes it represents the best chance for his nation to be free.

Meanwhile, back in Lebanon, a government that has tolerated terrorist bases on its soil for years and years is suddenly indignant about Israel's retaliation against incessant attacks from those strongholds.

Does any of this make sense?

Do you think those screaming about the bloodshed in Lebanon really give a hoot about Lebanon? If so, where have they been for the last 30 years?

Why is Lebanon the top story in every newscast? Why is Lebanon on the front page of every newspaper? Don't you get the impression that the violence there is probably worse than anywhere else on the planet from this focus?

Clearly it is not.

And the only difference is who's doing the butt kicking in Lebanon.

As for me, an American of Lebanese and Syrian heritage, I don't want to see a "cease-fire." I want to see Lebanon freed of the terrorist blight, once and for all. I want to see Lebanon freed from domination by Iran and Syria. I want to see Lebanon be Lebanon. I don't want to see Lebanon suffer for another 30 years. It's time to clean up the mess and allow this poor, little country to heal.

And that means getting rid of the disease of Hezbollah – now.

Worldnetdaily

How is this guy so sure that 500 people have been killed in lebanon when so many bodies have not even been discovered yet or have been gieven that chance to so. There will be many more deaths in the country what Israel in Lebanon is wrong, what USA/UK are doing in Afghanistan and Iraq is wrong. When will these people be given the right to live their lives without being occupied, bombed, starved. The sad thing is people are telling other people how they should be living their lives, what's right and wrong for them and before they have a chance to say a word they are bombed into pieces in the name of peace.

I can't believe this guy is trying to justify all the deaths in Lebanon because there is more violence going on in the rest of the world.

Well no one seems to give a hoot about Darfur anymore

Originally Posted by j4763

Well no one seems to give a hoot about Darfur anymore

The most we can do for it is speak up against the deaths beaing caused offer our prayers to God for the innocent lives and give in charity.

can't believe this guy is trying to justify all the deaths in Lebanon because there is more violence going on in the rest of the world.

Are you an Arab of Lebonese descent? He is... It might sound crazy to you, but maybe he wants his country Lebonon run by the goverment, not the proxy for Syria and Iran... ever think of that?

Well no one seems to give a hoot about Darfur anymore

If Israel or the USA was in Dafur the Arab world would be screaming, but instead it is the Arab-dominated Sudanese government that is commiting atrocities against non-Arabs in Sudan so this forum is pretty quite about it.

Originally Posted by lavikor201

Are you an Arab of Lebonese descent? He is... It might sound crazy to you, but maybe he wants his country Lebonon run by the goverment, not the proxy for Syria and Iran... ever think of that?

Maybe the 600+ innocent LIVES and 100'S and thousands of homeless ARABS OF LEBONESE DECENT would STILL have been living happily if it wasn't for the massive Israeli bombing....EVER THINK OF THAT!???!!

If Israel or the USA was in Dafur the Arab world would be screaming, but instead it is the Arab-dominated Sudanese government that is commiting atrocities against non-Arabs in Sudan so this forum is pretty quite about it.

Whether forum is pretty quite about the issue or not it doesn't justify what Israel is doing in Lebanon.

Maybe the 600+ innocent LIVES and 100'S and thousands of homeless ARABS OF LEBONESE DECENT would STILL have been living happily if it wasn't for the massive Israeli bombing....EVER THINK OF THAT!???!!

Maybe if Lebonon followed the very clear resolution put forth by the UN to disarm Hezbollah, or maybe if Hezbollah didn't escalate this conflict by raiding Israeli territory the 600 dead would still be living hapily.

A true suporter of Lebonon suports the goverment in control, not the proxy for Iran and Syria in control.

Whether forum is pretty quite about the issue or not it doesn't justify what Israel is doing in Lebanon.

There is no justification for shooting hundreds of rockets a day into civilian areas. Hezbollah hides behind civilians, Israel doesn't.

I think this conflict in Lebanon is being covered the way it is because it could be the first stage of a wider war in the region. I agree that compared to the daily death and destruction in Iraq and Darfur, this conflict in Lebanon is somewhere down the ladder. I wish more attention was paid to the travesty in Darfur, and I blame the entire world for its silence on the matter.

Originally Posted by lavikor201

Maybe if Lebonon followed the very clear resolution put forth by the UN to disarm Hezbollah, or maybe if Hezbollah didn't escalate this conflict by raiding Israeli territory the 600 dead would still be living hapily.

A true suporter of Lebonon suports the goverment in control, not the proxy for Iran and Syria in control.

A true supporter, what would you know about who is a true supporter of Lebanon? are you in lebanon right now being bombed? who are you to say what is right and wrong for Lebanon! The conflict esculated when Israel took their f-16's, tanks and helicopters and began their devastation and killing spree. They could have got their soldiers back without all this.

Originally Posted by lavikor201

There is no justification for shooting hundreds of rockets a day into civilian areas.

Yeah thats pretty bad not half as bad as what Israel are doing but at least I admit it and I know it owuld stop once Israel will and they only started when Israel did.

Hezbollah hides behind civilians, Israel doesn't.

I find it extremely sad that you use an argument based on a video/evidence which was published by the same people who are bombing but yet you use this a suitable reason without any guilt or remorse.

A true supporter, what would you know about who is a true supporter of Lebanon? are you in lebanon right now being bombed? who are you to say what is right and wrong for Lebanon! The conflict esculated when Israel took their f-16's, tanks and helicopters and began their devastation and killing spree. They could have got their soldiers back without all this.

Are you in lebanon right now being bombed? So what gives you a right to have an openion?

Originally Posted by wilberhum

Are you in lebanon right now being bombed? So what gives you a right to have an openion?

There is a diffrence between having an opinion and claiming you now what's best for someone when you don't even now what they are going through.

Originally Posted by DaNgErOuS MiNdS

There is a diffrence between having an opinion and claiming you now what's best for someone when you don't even now what they are going through.

You just don't want the rules that you place on others to apply to you.
It is that simple.

of course he doesn't want the same rules to aply, since both obviously have a difrent position, it's only natural that a difrent rule aplies to both.

This is an Arab-Lebonese person. Joseph Farah supports Lebonon controling this homeland, not the proxy for the terror regimes of Syria and Iran. And especially not a bunch of Jew haters.