Not to be a sore thumb, but in defense of the Vatican and also curious to hear some answers to this question, isn't an all out war perhaps a little over-the-top against 3 soldiers being kidnapped? Is the FR consensus that the governments of the attacked "nations" Palestine and Lebanon actually could free these soldiers from their military wings if they really wanted to?
"Not to be a sore thumb, but in defense of the Vatican and also curious to hear some answers to this question, isn't an all out war perhaps a little over-the-top against 3 soldiers being kidnapped?"
Nope, Hezbollah which is directly controlled by Syria crossed the boarder into a another nation (Israel) and murdered several troops then took hostages. Israel places a high value on their people as we do here in America. This is not an isolated incident and Israel has had enough.
No. Get some perspective Squire, it's not just about the kidnapping of these soldiers. It's about 50 years of murder and war.
Iran and Syria are calling the shots here, the Lebanese are simply caught in the crossfire. The Lebanese govt. is not totally blameless however, their desire for autonomy from Iran, Syria, and their terrorist agents is not matched by their actions against them.
In fairness, the Lebanese problem is also 50 years in the making, it cannot be expected to be resolved in a year or two despite the recent amazing progress.
This is extortion by Hamas and Hezbollah. Yes, they could free these soldiers, but they want to force Israel to release terrorists currently in Israeli jails.
Ever had a fly bother you? You swat it away, but it keeps coming back, and coming back. Finally, when you've had enough irritation, you kill it.
Yes, but to say that almost guarantees you'll get flamed - at least around here. I highly doubt that if some Mexican terrorists captured some US border patrol agents, that the US would be launching an all-out invasion of Mexico and bombing the Mexico City airport.
No an all out war over kidnapped soldiers is not over the top.
Yes, those in charge of "palestine" and lebanon could in fact get thsoe soldiers freed if they chose to.
Have you been in a cave for 20 years? Three soldiers are merely the latest. Bombers and rockets and missiles and hijackings, "..Oh, it's the military wing of Hamas, not the political wing" etc.
This war has been ongoing for at least since Jimmy Carter brought the two sides together for the "peace process". These rats have been killing Jews with impunity, while also slaughtering Americans and other Muslims.
This will be bad, but it can never be over, we can never win, unless it gets bad.
Your point ignores what Israel understands about the change in the situation on their northern border, presented by Hizbolla having the williness and capacity to make its raid and take those soldiers. Israel cannot allow that capacity to remain in place.
Israel has a population of around 7 million, if my quick search for statistics provided me with accurate information. The U.S. has around 300 million. We lost a little over 3000 on 9-11. Proportionately, the numbers are about equal. If Israel's reaction is "perhaps a little over-the-top", then might our's be as well?