Lebanon

[drscott]

Lots of news this morning. As usual, Lebanon's people are being dragged into war by external parties. They recently threw off the domination of Syria, but haven't been able to gain control over Hezbollah in the south -- Hezbollah has enough support to remain a tolerated faction. Now the financiers of terror (in this case, Iran) are getting their desired distraction in the form of a war on Israel, rockets have hit Haifa, and innocents on all sides are dying. To the extent that Israel has made some effort to avoid noncombatant casualties, I give them credit. But it's still tragic that Lebanon must suffer so that the hatreds of others can play out. I've been chatting with lebocub, who hopes it will blow over soon. Meanwhile, Beirut has been leafleted from the sky with warnings to avoid Hezbollah facilities.

This is ominous because it may trigger open warfare with Iran and a global crisis.

Comments

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

SomeLebanese people support Hezbollah. You are quite correct that international law supports retaliation against Lebanon for acts of war from within its territory by forces who have tacit approval of the government.

[pklexton.livejournal.com]

Counselor, isn't an element of proportionality part of that principle?

I wish either side in this dispute cared about international law. The actors on both sides of this situation have the same moral ethos of their tribal ancestors that haven't changed for thousands of years. An eye for an eye, killing for honor, revenge, etc. Except they have modern toys.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

"International Law" is just a vague set of principles and treaty obligations, since there is no overriding state to enforce it (UN fanboys should be aware that an entity with no control over armed forces or courts with teeth is not a government.) Proportionality is something we can talk about and criticize over, but not firm enough to call law. The only firm rules have to do with avoiding unecessary damage to noncombatants, and even that's very subjective.

[pklexton.livejournal.com]

Any legal system worth its salt has to incorporate a concept of proportionality when permitting a response to aggression. Note that most domestic Western civil law does not permit retaliation; self-defense is of course authorized but only to the extent necessary to neutralize the threat and no more.