Thursday, July 20, 2006 | 7:29 a.m.
In recent issues, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman (in the Las Vegas Sun) and Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer (in the Review-Journal) have noted correctly the inception of the current crisis in the Middle East with the capture of one and then two Israeli soldiers by Hamas and Hezbollah, respectively.
What no one seems to attach much importance to, however, is the ongoing cause-and-effect chain of events that began with the West and Israel cutting off funds to the democratically elected Hamas government - which has crippled the government of a fledgling independent Palestinian state.
In an ongoing series of retaliatory acts, the conflict has escalated to wanton destruction on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel. Besides the obvious tragedy of innocent civilians being killed is the reality that many Middle East countries see both Israel and the U.S. as their real enemies.
It didn't have to be this way, but unfortunately, when the leadership of our country chooses to play its power, rather than its diplomatic cards, as it has in Iraq, virtually unilaterally, then we shouldn't be surprised when other nations do the same. As the world's most powerful leader, the United States is also the model.
Sadly, what benefits Hezbollah is the continued destruction of the fragile pro-Western Lebanese government, which Israel's overkill unfortunately seems to be providing.
John Esperian, Las Vegas
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