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Patriotic citizens throughout the United States just commemorated Memorial Day, when we honor those courageous Americans who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice so that others can live in freedom. We remember with gratitude, for example, those courageous men who stormed the beaches of Normandy, in which 2,500 American soldiers lost their lives in a single day.
This pivotal operation during World War II was the beginning of the turning of the tide by the Allies against the Nazis. I shiver to think where we would be today without the heroism of those brave American men.
Sometimes, freedom takes the ability to look squarely into the face of evil and to acknowledge that we have no choice but to confront that evil. If not for our sake, then for the sake of our children.
Which brings us to another anniversary.
This past weekend, we also commemorated 20 years since the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, on May 24, 2000, after an 18-year occupation. Israel originally went there to protect the predominantly Christian Southern Lebanese Army, which was besieged by Hezbollah. The Israelis had created a narrow “security zone” they felt was necessary to provide Israel with the protection from Hezbollah’s attacks into northern Israel from Lebanese territory.
The Israel Defense Forces were instructed not to act offensively, but simply to respond when they were directly confronted by Hezbollah. In the eyes of many in the Israeli public, it was excruciating to watch their sons be “like sitting ducks” for Hezbollah and to return home in body bags.
Read the full article here.
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