Israeli Military Head's Scary Logic

Supporters of Israel go too great pains to show that Israel is not targeting civilians, taking great care to limit "collateral damage". Opponents of the Israeli offensive are horrified at the bombed out residential areas, accompanied by bloodied children. I think it important to take a look at the man who calls the shots for the Israeli operation, Chief or Staff Dan Halutz, to see if he offers any clues on the humanitarian angle.

Remember when the offensive first began, from the outset Halutz made his objectives clear:

Army Chief of Staff Lt-Gen Dan Halutz said the Israeli military would "turn back the clock in Lebanon by 20 years" if the soldiers were not returned.

Mission accomplished!

Halutz's latest comments, offer a scary glimpse into the idea of exponential revenge and proof that military objectives aren't the only motivation:

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel appealed to Defense Minister Amir Peretz after IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz apparently said that “for every Katyusha barrage on Haifa, 10 more buildings in the Dahiya neighborhood of south Beirut will be bombed.”

The association complained that Peretz must clarify to Halutz that it is completely unacceptable to motivate military activity on revenge.

“The grave and illegal targeting of Israeli citizens does not justify such illegal orders, which means the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and civilian interests,” the association said.

It is exactly this type of warped logic that causes the endless cycle of violence. Halutz isn't new to controversy, in fact his lack of compassion was on display when the Israeli army targeted a Hamas leader and the bomb killed 14 innocent civilians. The quote:

When the reporter asked him about the feelings of a pilot and what he feels when he drops a bomb, Halutz answered:

No. That is not a legitimate question and it is not asked. But if you nevertheless want to know what I feel when I release a bomb, I will tell you: I feel a light bump to the plane as a result of the bomb's release. A second later it's gone, and that's all. That is what I feel.

This is the man the world community has entrusted to ensure that great care is taken to limit civilian casualties and prevent Lebanon from completely disintegrating. Somehow, I don't feel comforted.