You misunderstand my long term concern about the policies of Ariel Sharon
Sharon is symptomatic of Arafat's intransigence. Peres and Barak offered him MORE than any previous Israeli administration and because he avoided seizing the opportunity out of fear that the extremists he granted so much power to would oust him. Arafat has also put forth the the position that a Palestinian state has to be "born in blood" for it to possess a sense of unity (at the expense of a peaceful co-existence with Israel).
So it's not unexpected that Sharon would come to power since the Israeli people were sick of Arafat double dealing and indecision. It's Arafat's own fault that the moderates in Israel have subverted their willingness to great Palestinian autonomy, to their interest in self-preservation and security.
Arafat had the largest majority of these Palestinians extremists locked up in jail in accordance with the Wye River accords, yet when Israel would not bow to his additional demands, outside of the previous accords, he released them and enable them to continue their mayhem. And now they grown so powerful that he's not in a position to put the "djinni back in the bottle"..
As for Sharon visting the Temple Mount, why is it a provocation for him to visit, but Arafat can continue to claim that the Temple of Solomon never existed at that location? Why is it permissable for Palestinians to deface Jewish and Christian holy sites? Arafat has been inciting violence for years now.
And I'm all for making additional research funds available for alternative energy. But I'm realistic enough to realize that we need a multi-angled approach, including additional domestic drilling. And you know that I'm all for expanded nuclear power using modern techniques, and using off-peak power to produce hydrogen. I think that would be a great idea. But it will require up to 10 years to properly implement.
As for the JSF, it's like combining an F-16 with a Stealth fighter and Harrier V/STOL aircraft. It's the first time since the F-4 Phantom that all services will use the same aircraft design, and it should reduce maintenance and production costs.
fas.org
I've had my qualms about it being produced, but given that most of our wars seem to require the ability to project aerial operations, it seems to be a program that is needed over the long-term in order to maintain quality over quantity force multipliers. And by the time it enters production and fully replaces the F-18, Harrier, and F-16, it will be 2015-2025, with initial production version entering service in 2008.
Hawk |
