Wow, I guess I'm just an irrational person.

The majority of the people who were there were visiting family. The country has mostly been at peace other than a relatively localized population of headcases for 15 years. They Syrians left last year. If I had emmigrated, I would have thought it might be time and see about trying to get mom and dad to come out, or at least spend time with them.

Keep in mind that other than a few neighborhoods in Beruit (which the Isreali's are remodeling) and the south along the border, Lebenon was back to the condition it was in 1981, maybe even better. It used to be quite the tourist area, and up until two weeks ago, it was again. It has beautiful beaches, the majority of the population is largely non-political (being occupied and fought over by Isreal and Syria has habit of doing that; if you think that two weeks ago that the average man on the street in Beruit had any desire to see Isreal attacked, then you are just a fool) and they have (still have) some very good vinyards. Their education and health systems were some of the best in the region, comperable only to Isreal and Turkey.

Lebenon was fixed except for an infestation of rats in the basement. And if you think I weep for the past fifeteen years of rebuilding that it has taken to get a country back on it's feet depsite and in spite of that infestation, you are correct.

And then a portion of thier population, 10-25% depending on who's numbers you want to belive, had to go and screw it up. Saying that there was no reason to be there is such a bigoted and asinine statement, you might as well say that there is no reason for anyone to be in Kosovo or any other part of the former Yugoslavia. Or Vietnam. Or Eastern Europe. Or Northern Ireland. Or the United States, either individual cities or just the entire country!