July 13th, 2006

Israel—The Beginning of the End?

Wow. A lot has happened today. First, Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed a few others in the border contentions during the recent week. Israel, raising the stakes, elevated the confrontation by bombing the Lebanon airport, putting craters in all three runways. Then they began a maritime blockade of all Lebanese ports. Lebanon has been essentially shut down to foreign trade, travel, and commerce.

So Hezbollah allegedly (though they are denying it now) fired a few missles into Israel, hitting the town of Haifa. Israel fired back, blowing up the fuel tanks at the Lebanese aiport, sending huge fireballs into the night sky. Then Israel bomed the highway that runs from Beirut to Damascus.

Their stated reason for disabling their runways and highway is so that they can cut off their supply line and transportation to and from ally countries sympathetic to their cause, such as Syrian and Iran. Thus far, Israel has been conducting their own operations, and has yet to petition the USA, their ally, for support and supplies. Who knows how long that will last?

We have soldiers and munitions in the region. But if they ask for help, will we offer it? If we offer it, what will happen then? In light of the debacle with the Iranian government (read: regime) what are we to do? How will Syria play into all of this?

Is this the beginning of the end? Things have been escalating very rapidly today. It’s surprising that all of this started (supposedly) over the kidnapping and/or death of about 10 soldiers. The skeptical observationist in me wonders if this escalation is being done under false pretenses. Is Israel really kicking their neighbor’s trash around because of a few soldiers? Or is there more to the equation? Is Israel trying to gain back some of the land it lost years ago under the U.N. resolution? Are they fighting under a Zionist banner of contempt and scorn for their enemies, hoping to bring war and defeat to them?

I don’t mean to be an alarmist or doomsayer, but we all know how Israel plays into the events that eventually lead up until the second coming. So, is this the beginning of the end? Will things get worse from here? What happens next? How far will Israel escalate the conflict? How and when will the U.S. step in? How will this effect things with Iran, Iraq, and North Korea?

And unto you it shall be given to know the signs of the times, and the signs of the coming of the Son of Man. (D&C 68:11)

As you can tell, I don’t have answers. All I have is questions. And until I learn more, I’ll be plugged into the news 24/7 as these events develop. Knowing what we know, and watching the “signs of the times”, these events and situations become all that much more interesting and pertinent.

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply

Leave your opinion here. Please be nice. Your Email address will be kept private.