Opportunity knocks?

I watched NPR news this evening, something I have about given up. There have been two big stories around lately, which came together in my mind. One is the war in Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israel duked it out to the sound of screaming jets and falling rockets. After the big cease fire -- or pause fire -- Hezbollah has made a lot of promises of aid and reconstruction. The bombs had hardly stopped falling when they were assessing damage and offering to provide living space and to rebuild destroyed living spaces. It is certainly an attractive offer if you've just had your roof blown off and are camping in the street or the shelter. On the other side of the border, Israel is proposing to spend $2 billion to rebuild and repair damage from the Katusha rockets dropped into Israel by the Hezbollah fighters. No one has seen anything rebuilt yet, but it is only days since the fighting stopped.

The other big story is about hurricane Katrina, which did much the same kind of damage to the south central US as did the war in the middle east. In American, the government also has promised rapid repair and reconstruction with plentiful aid. The difference is that a year has passed. Judging by the interviews and pictures tonight, much of New Orleans is still in ruins with no water, no electricity, no sewer, and no drains. People have not returned since there is little to which they can go. Houses are in ruins. There are some of what are now called FEMA-trailers, but where and how many, I don't know. Progress is slow.

So what if ...

Can you imagine the consternation if Hezbollah makes an offer to the city of New Orleans and the Louisiana state government to rebuild the city? What if they guaranteed a year's rent and a rebuilt house or apartment to city residents? What if they brought in construction people and actually delivered on those promises? What if they thumbed their noses at FEMA? Would it be cheaper than fighting another war? Would people be grateful enough to switch allegiance from our present leaders to those who, perhaps correctly, have been deemed terrorists?

Hey. Bad guys. Wanna buy a white hat? Cheap?