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July 27, 2006
Responding to a Cousin: Well, Why Not Syria and Iran?
Earlier this week I had an email from a cousin condemning, strongly and at length, Israel's defensive actions against Hamas and Hezbollah. I won't quote his letter, but my response touches on many of his points. The subject line refers to his notion that Israel can do anything it wants because the US backs it. Here's what I wrote:
Thanks for sharing your views on Israel. I respectfully disagree with most of your points. I'll attach some weblinks that express my views succinctly, without me repeating these better thinkers.
http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,428245,00.html (very well done, from a German magazine)
To take some of your other points, I don't think the opinions of the Arabs or Europe should matter in the least to Israel or the US.
Since when did Arabs have anything but hatred for Jews and Israel? They were killing Jews before the State of Israel even existed. Israel got out of Lebanon and got out of Gaza, and what happened? Kidnappings, rocket attacks, no security at all. If withdrawals don't bring peace, what will, other than ceasing to exist? Same for Europe -- Europeans only like pro-Palestinian or dead Jews. They don't like Israel defending itself. Countries like the UK and Sweden are being transformed by their Muslim populations so their views are more suspect than ever. I don't think the US should worry about European views, either; if they don't like us, then let us move all our troops and security arrangements out (same for South Korea) and they can defend themselves quite nicely without us. Let's get our troops out of Europe and put them on the Rio Grande.
History will judge whether Israel is over-doing it in some parts of Lebanon. Hamas and Hezbellah asked for a response with their provocations, and now they're getting it. I am completely in favor of a "disproportionate" response. I view Hamas and Hezbollah as rabid animals; you don't reason with them, you don't let them get close to you. They exist only to attack and kill; the only response is to obliterate them and teach them once and for all that any transgression against Israel (and the US, for that matter) will be met with total force. Japan attacked the US in World War II and got that treatment, and look how well Japan behaves now. That's the language and style they understand; they do not want to negotatiate. They have no demands other than the end of Israel and jihad against the West. When they start begging for a cease-fire, that means the Israeli offensive is working as it should.
Will an aggressive Israeli response cause more turmoil, a regional war? So what? Is Israel supposed to just sit there and take casualties and not offend other countries? Will Arabs get angrier at Israel? If the war frees Lebanon of Hezbollah (which the UN and the Lebanese can't do), then it might make people grateful for Israel. But in any case, treating your national survival strategies as a popularity contest does not strike me as smart. Same with the US. No permanent allies, no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
And ultimately, the war WILL have to go to Syria and eventually Iran. Syria should be a pushover. A joint US-Israel effort will knock over Assad in a few days. Iran is a tougher nut to crack, but I'm reading that Arab countries and starting to view Iran as the real imperialist danger, not Israel. So the show of force could be a positive that finally reveals the true divisions in Arab countries.
Van | 07/27/06 at 03:22 PM | Categories: - The War of Dire Straits
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Comments
I'm honored that you referred your cousin to my blog.
While I agree with your assessment that ultimately the war will have to go to Syria and Iran, I fear that today's government decision against (the IDF's recommendation) for a full ground action is going to postpone that skirmish until a time when Syria - and certainly Iran - may be much more formidable than they are today.
Carl in Jerusalem | July 27, 2006 05:33 PM
"Hamas and Hezbellah asked for a response with their provocations, and now they're getting it. I am completely in favor of a "disproportionate" response."
I don't think the objection is to the use of force against Hezbellah, it is that this force affects "innocent" civilians. The argument that Hezbellah only understand force doesn't address this objection.
In the current war, Israel is fighting against the proxy force of Iran. Hezbellah and Iran both desire to destroy the state of Israel. Israel is fighting not to avenge 8 murders and two kidnappings, it is fighting for it's existance against foes comitted to Israel's destruction.
If someone is coming at me with a knife intending to kill me and I have a gun, I will shoot to kill and not worry about harming innocent bystanders and no one will second guess my intentions.
Israel is using the only means it has to defend itself: military means. Giving up territory failed misrably and only encouraged its enemies.
Everything Israel has done is militarily justifiable and is not collective punishment. On the other hand Hezbullah is relying on weapons that are targed and customized to kill civilians.
lklagjeql3423 | July 27, 2006 05:33 PM
I am an Iranian. However, I neither have any problem with Jewish people having their own state nor I am a Muslim. Though, it seems that you prescription "Iran is a tougher nut to crack..." does harm my interests. Why?
[VW comment: Thank you for your comment. I am glad to hear that you have an accepting attitude toward Israel. My statements reflect concern at the bellicose tone of your president toward Israel, as in, "wipe it off the map" and other statements. Other evidence suggests Iranian involvement in terrorist attacks, such as against a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in the early 1990s. I certainly wish no harm to you or Iranians in general, simply that your leadership stop supporting terrorism and let Israel be. I'll take a look at your blog and see what you're writing.]
Arash | July 27, 2006 07:42 PM
He is not very much "my" president. My question is why are we engaged in this type of conversation? If we try to look at the bad side of the everything I do not think Mr. Sharon can be spared as a very decent man either. I do not support Ahmadinejad, just take a look at my blog. I am just saying lets calm down and talk.
Arash | July 27, 2006 08:42 PM
Nasralla is getting screwed by Iran
PEACE To Lebanon
Fares | July 27, 2006 10:25 PM
What peace you iranian are talking about? The conflict will never end. Lets face the facts: Jews hate muslems and muslems hate jews. End of story. Please no one argue with this by replies to my post cause it won't reach to a solution. Blood is shed ... finished. Wars will continue ... Israel will not have peace, neither will have the sorrounding countries ... Now the Israel is backed by the US ... world will change as history tells us ... Sometime in the future, our grand grand grand children with be fighting ... may be the Syrian Defence Army will be fighting Jewish terrorist Gurrillas in Tel Aviv because they launched Katyushas on Haifa :-) ... Shaloom
M Latif | July 30, 2006 07:47 AM
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