主播大秀

Your comments on the Middle East

Noah
The question I would like to ask to the panel, is if Hezbollah鈥檚 goal is to protect Lebanon why not just join the national army of Lebanon? Part of protecting a democratic nation is to respect the choices of the elected government. If Hezbollah truly wants to protect the democracy why not let the government choose when to go to war.

Dante Mazzari, United States
I think it stands to reason that it would be in Israel's interest to have a stable, prosperous neighbor in Lebanon, in order to support the Lebanese democracy and deprive Hezbollah of their support base among the disenfranchised poor. It also seems logical that the best way to achieve that mutually beneficial goal would be for the international force Israel now wants to put in place to also be able to distribute financial support to rebuild Lebanon; support which could come from the United States and EU, which could do for the Middle East what the Marshal Plan did for Germany. Ending the conflict immediately with the aim of overt reconstruction is the only way to win the hearts and minds of both Israelis and Lebanese.

Halima
Why do the Israelis call Hezbollah "the most dangerous terrorist organization the world has ever known"? The Lebanese call it a "resistance organisation". Surely there is something to resist. Can you ask this question?
Also if Hezbollah is a proxy for Syria and Iran, is not Israel also a proxy for the US?
Stated aims, What is Israel's stated aim in regards giving back a continuous piece of land to Palestinians? As for the withdrawal from Gaza, and the withdrawal from Lebanon, this was for Israel's costs and difficulty in maintainance, not as a gift to either of those groups - Israel STILL controls all sea, air and land access to Gaza, so it is not yet "withdrawn".
Why cannot Israelis see that they are as much part of the problem as victims of it? This I find hard to understand. It is obviously all of a package, not simply baddies picking on poor little Israel. This is so clear. Why cannot they recognise this? I really want to know.

Steve, Arlington, VA
Could you inform the Gush Shalom caller that Hezbollah blew up the Israeli Embassy and a jewish center in Buenos Aires back in the early 1990s. Are you still sure they are only a guerrilla organization? What would it take for you to think they are terrorists?

Your comments on Mel Gibson

Tony Prague
Ok Mel. Put your money where your mouth is and donate 1 mil to an anti hate charity!

Mustafa
Please get over it. The truth always hurts.

Text from the USA
I imagine Mel will become a big star in the islamic world

Jim emailed this comment
This whole affair is another glaring, blatant example of an enormous double standard. If Robert Redford had said to a policeman, while being arrested for drunk driving, 鈥渢he Muslims are responsible for all the wars of the world鈥�, absolutely no notice of his words would have been taken by the media.
Mel Gibson with his movie 鈥淭he Passion of Christ鈥� has spoken truth to power that power did not want to have out there. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Absolute power brooks no criticism, no resistance

Jacques from Boston
I was told that I kissed a toilet once when I was drunk. Does it make me a toilet lover?

Wm in Corning
Excellent actor, Good director, Lousy drunk

Brian in Denver Colorado, USA
Its funny how the world is an uproar over what Mel Gibson said, yet they are also angry at Israel for defending themselves against people who want to kill them.