As the war between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, the world, understandably, is looking on with increasing concern. The core of the concern is how far this war will go. And, although it is pure conjecture to predict the future of any war, there are nonetheless those who believe that this conflict could escalate into a major world war. The possibility of such a global conflict is imaginable especially if the USA, Iran, Syria, Russia, Britain and other countries enter the fray, joining either of the combatants. Only time will tell how this conflict will go.

However, while it would be mere speculation, at this time to predict the future of the war, we all must cringe at the rising death toll.

Irrespective of the reason for conflicts between warring countries or groups, war is always a tragic and unwarranted phenomenon that takes the lives of too many innocent people. Once a writer referred to the civil war in Cambodia, where thousands were killed, as the “killing fields.” Unfortunately since that time, back in the 1970’s the killing fields have spread much further. The killing fields have encompassed other places -- Viet Nam, Rwanda, Darfur, Iraq, New York, and now Lebanon and Israel. It is no secret that many of those killed have been at the hands of terrorists.

In fact, the current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is centered on terrorism. Hezbollah, a Shiite organization residing in Southern Lebanon, is regarded as a terrorist cell by Israel, the United States, and other countries. Israel, has from time to time, accused Hezbollah of attacks against its people, and has detained Hezbollah guerrillas caught in Israel territory. It was in a bid to free Lebanese guerrillas in Israeli jail that Hezbollah guerrillas abducted two Israeli soldiers. It appears that Hezbollah’s objective was to use the captured Israeli soldiers as bargaining pawns in an exchange for Hezbollah detainees in Israel. However, they miscalculated badly, since Israel’s immediate reaction was to launch a relentless air strike against Southern Lebanon in an effort to eradicate Hezbollah members embedded among unsuspecting Lebanese citizens.

Although Hezbollah has reacted by launching missiles, the conflict is very lopsided, with hundreds of Lebanese, including women and children, killed. In addition over 500,000 citizens have been displaced, and communications infrastructure severely damaged. The death toll in Israel has been significantly lower.

Disconcertingly, despite the fact that many innocent lives are being taken. And, despite the United Nations call for an immediate cease-fire, both the U.S. president and secretary-of-state do not support this. The preference is to eradicate Hezbollah by Israel’s continued attacks. But, this will be at the very high price of more innocent life being lost.

The situation becomes worse when it is realized that there is no distinctive Hezbollah community in Lebanon. Rather, Hezbollah members live in areas with Christians, who do not even realize they are living among them. Therefore, the attacks by Israel will have to be random, hoping that they are taking out Hezbollah members, when in fact innocent people are also being taken out.

There must be a better way of dealing with terrorism, instead of raining terror on thousands of innocent people. Why destroy the country of Lebanon, when that country is not known to be a terrorist country?

As the innocent citizens are being killed the top leaders of Al Qaeda and Hezbollah survives. Kill the head of the serpent and it will die. They were times in the past when an effective CIA would find these leaders and take them out. This is a better strategy than random warfare that breeds terror on the innocent.

We, unequivocally, support a cease-fire to at least attempt to quell the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Both Bush and Condoleeza Rice must be cognizant of the innocent blood being shed. A cease-fire is not a “false promise” Dr. Rice. It can be the start of solving issues that have caused the conflicts between Israel and its neighbors to be going on forever.

We trust that prior to the planned meeting between Rice and Arab, European and UN diplomats to be held in Rome, these diplomats demand a cease-fire as a condition to this meeting. Granted, a cease-fire may not be the solution, but neither is random counter terrorism. But, any attempt to find a common ground so that innocent lives can be saved, is better than the wanton raging of war. We hate to see the killing fields spreading.

Too much blood has been wasted. The goal by world leaders must be to find means to eradicate terrorism, by means that does not include killing the innocent as in Iraq and now Lebanon. Terrorism can’t be fought with more terror.