From: "John D. Giorgis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Nevertheless, I really feel like we are in danger of losing one of the > primary achievements of civilization since World War II. This achievement > has been the international consensus that civilians are not legitimate > targets for the achievement of political ends, and that wars should be > fought between established armies. >
Since when? Was Vietnam a war against established armies? What about Grenada? Nicuragua? What about being the only nation on Earth that congratulated the coup against an elected Venezualan President, yet claims that it is a bastion of democracy? > Thus, I worry about what might happen, if, as _The Economist_ proposes, > this current crisis paradoxically provides the impetus for a "peace" > agreement? What then? Well, almost certainly, Hamas, Hezbullah, and the > Al Aqsa Martyr Brigades will immediately take credit for having forced > Israel to make peace. And then, in that moment, the world will have a > truly grave problem on its hands - as the entire world will receive the > message: Terrorism Can Eventually Get You What You Want. > John, the Palestinian use of terror is no different from almost any other insurgent group of the last, let's see, three hundred years. Examples: The IRA (since about 1922) and Ulster Nationalists (since about 1970) had each been planting bombs in civilian areas as a means of their insurrgency. Random civilians were assassinated or horribly injured (good old kneecapping for starters). Britain tried a military solution to a problem that had no military solution available. Eventually both sides (in this case, all 3 sides) realised that none of the others were going to go away or surrender. Now, the political solution has just about been completed. Terrorism worked. The IRA can claim some credit for peace. Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers have done EVERYTHING that shocks you so much about the Palestinians. They exploited teenage suicide bombers for well over 20 years. A female suicide bomber took out Rajiv Ghandi and a score of others. Again, now both sides have realised that neither one is going to either disappear or give up, and a peace solution has been brokered. Terrorism worked. The Tamil Tigers of Eelam can claim some credit. It always will work, in the same way that overwhelming military force is also a form of terrorism. Terror was one of the major aims of ALL air bombing campaigns during World War 2 - not just the British, it was an American aim too. Whether it acknowledges it or not, Israel is using terror against the palestinians, and at the same time reminding all of its Arab neighbours of its military strength. The Palestinians are acting exactly as many others have done in what they see as their fight for freedom from an occupier. Whether they brought it on themselves or not, that is their perception. Same with the Basque separatists, for example. All "freedom" movements rely on people who are prepared to do the unconscionable, even while forfeiting their lives. Think Kamikaze. Think Hitler Youth. Think Green Berets. Think SAS. The world is not in shades of black and white, regardless of what your President says. > Therfore, it occurs to me that all our worrying about peace proposals and > pressuring Arafat to accept a compromise agreement is in fact all rather > misguided. What we really need to start doing is pressuring the > international community to start doing the moral and right thing - and to > start affirming that peace is *by definition* impossible until the > Palestinians give up on terrorism. Until then, I worry that the most > dangerous thing for all of us in the Middle East may be the "peace." To the Palestinians: 1. Israel exists and will always exist. The Israelis have the right to live where they have been since June 1967 (as amended). Get over it. 2. Right of return is not an option if it endangers the right of the Israelis to determine their society. Get over it. 3. It is no longer 1948 or 1967. The world has made its reparations to you. Get over it. 4. Regardless of what your religion says, Israeli land is for Israelis. Any Palestinians who settle in those lands accept that they themselves are no longer Palestinians but Israelis. Get over it. 5. No nation (NONE) has the right to summarily assassinate anyone, no matter their beliefs. Stop it and get over it. 6. You've made your point with all the bombings. Stop it and get to the negotiating table. And negotiate means giving as well as getting. You will not get everything you want. Get over it. 7. You have the bodies. When Palestinian children are killing themselves to kill Israeli children their is too much innocent blood on your hands. Stop it and get over it. To the Israelis: 1. Palestine must exist as a separate state. They are not going anywhere. Get over it. 2. OK, we agree that Israel cannot exist if the Palestinians are given right of return. Compensate them fairly. Get over it. 3. It is no longer 1945. The world has made its reparations to you. Get over it. 4. Regardless of what your religion says, Palestinian land is for Palestinians. Any Jews who settle in those lands accept that they themselves are no longer Israelis but Palestinians. Get over it. 5. No nation (NONE) has the right to summarily assassinate anyone, no matter their beliefs. Stop it and get over it. 6. You've made your point in destroying Palestine. Stop it and get to the negotiating table. And negotiate means giving as well as getting. You will not get everything you want. Get over it. 7. You have the firepower. You do not have the right to use it against civilians otherwise you are also terrorists, just with much deadlier weapons. Yes, the palestinians have used flagrant terror against you, but count the bodies. When Palestinian dead outnumber Israeli dead by a factor of 100 or more you have obviously also got innocent blood on your hands. Stop it and get over it. > And > just perhaps, maybe we should all pray for war. I hope, John, if you are raising that prayer that you have your airline tickets booked to Israel. Or are you going to remain the technocratic executioner, sitting safely while blithely wishing death and destruction on others for your "peace of mind". That sentence is one of the most disgusting I've ever seen on the Brin-List. Brett
