OT: Mideast conflict -
One other important "codeword" to interpret is the phrase "occupied territories." To most of the English-speaking world, this means Israel's post-67 territorial gains. However, the same phrase in Arabic refers to the entirety of what is now Israel. When Arafat claims the "occupied territories" for a new Palestinian state, his *supporters* understand him to mean elimination of Israel as a country, and wholesale replacement by an Arabic, Muslim governance of that land. If that event were to take place, I have a hard time believing that Arafat would support a *jewish* "right of return."
Israel is, in fact, engaged in a total war, because its opposition has declared it so. Total wars only end when one side unconditionally surrenders from exhaustion.
Look. Sixty years ago, we learned that appeasement begets more aggression. Forty years ago, the US engaged in risky brinkmanship rather than appeasement - and it worked. The Arabic/Muslim mentality *especially* interprets compromise as weakness and an invitation to further aggression. It also disproportionately respects strength.
I do not have any problem at all equating the US "War on Terrorism" with current Israeli actions. We learned long ago over some Pacific islands that the best way to handle a kamikaze was to give him the maximum opportunity to die BEFORE he killed others. It takes high motivation to charge into a hail of bullets - so, if you face someone who HAS that motivation, your BEST defense is to thicken that hail to get him first. (In Patton's words, make the *other* poor, dumb bastard die for *his* cause.) Consistent with recent US actions, the best country to decide those methods is the one attacked by the terrorists - in this case, Israel.
Israeli actions have been restrained (for the most part) by US policy. We prefer to prevent open warfare. Thus, a conflict that has historically (48,56,67,73) been periodically intensive with lulls has instead degenerated into continuous, low-level attrition. Sharon has apparently decided that his government MUST stop the attrition, and has pretty much done as Arafat did, by blowing off US influence. The BEST way to reduce open conflict in the area is for the US to endorse Israel's actions, and to make it clear that future such actions against terrorists will also be endorsed.
America has periodically - though reluctantly - learned that negotiation is impossible. At such times, the only effective course becomes the "Chicago way."
("They put one of yours in the hospital - you put theirs in the morgue. THAT'S the Chicago way." - Sean Connery, _The Untouchables_.)
Arafat has become accustomed to having carrots tossed at his feet. He's ignored the possibility that anyone other than him would use a stick, too.
Welcome to Chicago, Mr. Arafat.
- Mitch |
