Posted by Jost on July 20, 2006, at 14:22:29
In reply to Re: The Middle East » james K, posted by Jay on July 20, 2006, at 11:49:58
There is another side to this, and even if it's unpopular here, let me articulate it.
Take a look at a map of the Middle East. Check out the size of the countries there, and check out where the oil is.
Check out the size of Israel.
Check out the peace agreement signed by Barak, and rejected by Arafat-- check out the type of government (or lack thereof) in the Palestinian territories. Remember that the intifada was started because Sharon--provocatively, no doubt--visited the wailing wall. So? The Palestinians had rejected a peace agreement that gave them everything they wanted---no maybe it wasn't perfect-- but they arenot going to ge the "right of return"-- that would be the end of the Israeli state.
Remember the bombing assaults from Lebanon, that have been ongoing in the recent months. The suicide bombings in cafes, markets, weddings. Would you want to live in a country where you and your family had to live with that sort of horror?
Why did Israel have Gaza and the Golan Heights? Look in the 1967 War--the Arabs had this territory and used it as a launching point for their wars-- and lost the territory because Israel defended itself and pushed them back, keeping that territory to protect itself.
Maybe the Israeli response is "disproportionate"-- I'm not really sure--I'm really not. But there is such a thing as the straw that breaks the camel's back. Is it disproportionate for the back to be broken? is it just that one straw?
Do you remember the wars against Israel, started by the Arab counties. Do you realize that the Arabs in the Middle East, by and large, do not now and have never accept the right of Israel to exist? That their power and access to weapons that could in fact "wipe Israel off the face of the earth" to quote a phrase has become increasingly direct and unstoppable.
Do you think the US overreacted--or reacted "disproportionately" to 9/11? At least in Afghanistan. (This whole Iraqi misadventure is another thing entirely.)
Is it a humanitarian thing to use "human shields"-- ie to put munition storage areas in civilian population centers, as Hamas and Hisbollah do?
I'm not saying that I understand exactly what is right or wrong in this situation-- or that there is any right, but only lesser wrongs.
I am saying that it's easy to blame Israel-- I guess-- but maybe there are a few things to be said in its defense.
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:667115
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060610/msgs/668629.html