Ted,
Albert, will there be peace this time if there is a clear victory? It seems Israel has a decisive victory every ten years, then there is a quiet period and then its starts all over again.
I don't think there will be a decisive victory this time, so there will not be the 10 years quiet period.
No one ties the Israelis' hands. The Israelis only do what they want to do. That's why they smile at Bush's pull back demand, and then turnaround and start shooting once more.
The reason why I think there will not be a decisive victory is because Sharon does not have Bush fully behind him.
Trust me, history has shown that full measures also result in hatred and misery. This is not a cancerous malignancy to be cut out......these are people. Kill them all and then there may be peace but anything short of that and you maintain the status quo.
I disagree. From practical point of view, (without passing moral judgements) a complete and unconditional defeat / surrender is a lot healthier for both sides than an unclear result. Mainly psychologically speaking, on individual basis and on the nations collective psyche, if there is such a thing.
Just look at successes - Civil war, wars with Spain, Mexico, Germany, Japan, Panama, Grenada, Yugoslavia recently, most likely Afganistan (with understanding that the country is ungovernable) and failures - Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and you can put the conclusion of WWI in that category.
Joe |
