Oh, Lebanon.

Iran's President Ahmadinejad's visit to Lebanon is disturbing, to say the least. I hope it's not some sort of Hezbollah pep rally for any upcoming conflict, but it has definitely turned heads and ramped up speculation. It's not often that a head of state goes to visit the unofficial army of another state, and refuses to even have an official state convoy, instead opting for his own personal entourage.

I guess we're about due, again. It's as if Israel has a rotation policy in regards to conflict: south, north, south, north. The causes of Israel's wrath never seem to feel legitimate--they are so small, and usually not something the "states" in question can entirely control--small border skirmishes; a rocket here and there. Things that Israel "tolerates" for years without flipping out. It seems much more likely that Israel just needs to be in a constant state of war with its neighbors so it can justify its existence, based upon policies of apartheid and ethnic cleansing.

"Israeli polls and surveys reveal that Israeli society and government are less tolerant than ever of views that oppose the government stance, which is held by the mainstream."

Seeing as how any efforts at peace are unwanted by the Israeli side (i.e., freezing settlement construction), or are accompanied by humiliating demands upon the Palestinians (having to swear a loyalty oath), and that the U.S. simply lacks the political will to stop selling arms to the Israelis...what are people living here to do?

Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon really need to get their shit together and construct a regional evacuation scheme should any of the major cities in these countries come under bombardment. Preferably something underground and secret so that the Israelis can pre-emptively bomb it to hell, should conflict spread. Something like the Gaza tunnels to Egypt, but simply for evacuation purposes.

When I was in Lebanon in 2006, one of the first things the Israelis did was to cut off any routes of escape for the populations. Roads, bridges, and airports were the first things to be bombed. The sea was blockaded. We were effectively trapped, unless your government proved to be particularly outstanding at negotiating an evacuation of its own citizens.

Since the governments of the Levant seem to be unable to protect themselves and would certainly be swallowed up in a regional conflict, the LEAST that could be done is to protect the innocent. Store food. Provide shelter. The populations of these countries are incredibly young, overall. I don't have any statistics, but off-hand, there are a lot of children to be protected and spared the agony of seeing their parents killed, their homes destroyed, and their city come under continued aerial bombardment.

Please. Just have a plan. ANY plan. And make it regional. Israel bombs Lebanon, have Syria open its borders to refugees. Fine, search for weapons and have them left at the border, but I think a van carrying a family with 8 kids isn't going to pose any threats. Israel bombs Jordan, have Syria open its borders. Israel bombs Syria, both Lebanon and Jordan should open their borders. Maybe have some sort of designated transportation that is protected by internationals. UN anyone? Hmmm. As if that stopped the Israelis before...