Lebanon: What´s really happening?

Dear Sir, TO put the situation of the conflict in Lebanon into perspective, here's a wholly imaginary analogy. “Spain, the US's major ally in Europe, left occupied Majorca five years ago, after a 22-year guerilla war. It retained a small presence at Puerto Pollensa. Locals have been pestering them to leave that as well, and a low-key conflict went on until two weeks ago, when two Spanish commandos were caught near Pollensa town, arrested, and held to ransom for some Majorcan prisoners still held in Spain. Spain sent a tank from the Port, but it was blown up by a land-mine. Spain, the same day, bombed Pollensa town, targetting “command posts” on hills, etc. Regrettably, some of these turned out to be “unintentional” targets, like sanctuaries, churches and whole streets of civilian houses. Majorcan terrorists responded by firing second-hand Russian rockets randomly into the Spanish mainland. Spain launched a massive military attack on roads, bridges, power stations, and industrial zones all over Majorca, with intensive bombing of the local leaders' HQ in Palma, which flattened most of the surrounding houses (“10 houses for every rocket”, as a Spanish general was quoted saying). A prominent building, in Palma, thought to be a meeting place for Majorcan leaders, was destroyed by a 25 ton bunker-buster bomb. Spanish spokemen questioned whether this was, in fact, as Majorcans claim, a “cathedral”. US and British citizens were shipped from Palma harbour by chartered Moroccan ferries. The US rushed to send $300 million dollars worth of aviation fuel and more bombs to help Spain's action to “defend themselves”. The US refused to even try to call for a ceasefire, because it wants to send strong diplomatic messages to France and Germany, with whom it refuses to speak. Condoleezza Rice was sent to Palma, where she said she could do nothing until there was “a new Europe”. The Spanish stopped bombing Palma while she was there, but carried on immediately after she left. They also bombed a prominent UN observation post on Puig Mayor. All inhabitants north of a line drawn near Inca have been ordered to leave their homes by the Spanish military, but most of them can't go anywhere because the roads have been destroyed, or because the Spanish regularly bomb moving cars. Spain intends to carry on its military action until all Majorcan terrorists have been cleared from this area. Five hundred thousand Majorcan civilian refugees are in Palma, or trying to get there, and Son Dureta hospital, deprived of electricity and water, is finding itself unable to cope with the flood of wounded.” Just imagine that, and then change the names back again to see what's really going on.