Monday, August 18, 2008

It is amazing how nonchalantly Richard Cohen dismisses Israeli aggression as a "deterrent" ["Brutality to Make a Point," op-ed, Aug. 12].

While civilians are found on all sides of the Middle East conflict, Israel's actions are always justified no matter what the cost. Russia's attacks in Georgia are as disproportionate and unjustifiable as Israel's military actions toward the Palestinians living in a prison called Gaza or the Lebanese civilians who suffered Israel's wrath in 2006. Russia has displaced almost 100,000 Georgians, and overwhelming Russian military might has left the city of Gori in ruins.

Similarly, Israel destroyed Lebanon's infrastructure, displaced a million people, killed more than 1,000 civilians and created an ecological disaster in the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of bomblets from cluster bombs were left for children and farmers to deal with, for the sake of Israeli "deterrence." If that isn't punishment, I'm not sure what is.

TONY KUTAYLI

Communications Coordinator

American-Arab

Anti-Discrimination Committee

Washington