What's goin on?

Marvin Gaye sang What's goin on? in the late 60's, capturing the mood perfectly. At that time it was Vietnam/communism (perceived domino effect etc), race riots, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy being murdered - everything seemed to be spiraling out of control.

This morning listening to Morning Report, and reading the Dom at my desk, I couldnt help but think of that track. Israel and Lebanon are now effectively at war with one another. Two Israeli soldiers were taken hostage by Palestinian militants, based in neighbouring Lebanon. So Israel basically invades Lebanon, and have murdered over 100 civilians to date, along with taking out several strategic targets - key bridges, the airport and rail lines. So Hizbollah (Palestinian militant group) have replied launching rockets into Israel, and have killed about 10 civilians, and another 10 or so military personnel (This could have been much worse if a rocket that struck a railway station had been launched at the correct time to strike at rush hour).

This seems to be escalating by the day, if not hour. The conflict between Israel, and basically the Arab/Islamic world is the cold war equivalent of modern times. Now being neither Jewish or Islamic I dont really have a side in this conflict - but this has potentially far reaching consequences, and no one seems to be either rational, or in control.

Essentially my feeling is that they are both as bad as each other. The United Nations need to grow a backbone and go in and give them both a right ticking off! Make them both stand in the naughty spots/corners as it were. I think long term the UN or another independent body will need to take control of the holy sites, and Jereusalam, and basically divy up the rest of the land creating a new Israeli state, and an independent Palestinian state - with neither having control of the holy sites.

Shalom.