Posted on 01/14/2009 10:21:10 AM PST by LibWhacker
I have only one question about Israel’s military operation in Gaza: What is the goal? Is it the education of Hamas or the eradication of Hamas? I hope that it’s the education of Hamas. Let me explain why.
I was one of the few people who argued back in 2006 that Israel actually won the war in Lebanon started by Hezbollah. You need to study that war and its aftermath to understand Gaza and how it is part of a new strategic ballgame in the Arab-Israel arena, which will demand of the Obama team a new approach.
What Hezbollah did in 2006 — in launching an unprovoked war across the U.N.-recognized Israel-Lebanon border, after Israel had unilaterally withdrawn from Lebanon — was to both upend Israel’s longstanding peace strategy and to unveil a new phase in the Hezbollah-Iran war strategy against Israel.
There have always been two camps in Israel when it comes to the logic of peace, notes Gidi Grinstein, president of the Israeli think tank, the Reut Institute: One camp says that all the problems Israel faces from the Palestinians or Lebanese emanate from occupying their territories. “Therefore, the fundamental problem is staying — and the fundamental remedy is leaving,” says Grinstein.
The other camp argues that Israel’s Arab foes are implacably hostile and leaving would only invite more hostility. Therefore, at least when it comes to the Palestinians, Israel needs to control their territories indefinitely. Since the mid-1990s, the first camp has dominated Israeli thinking. This led to the negotiatedand unilateral withdrawals from the West Bank, Lebanon and Gaza.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I stopped taking this guy seriously long ago.
Um... continued existence, maybe???
Goals? To smite the jihadists, to drive the mullahs befire them, and to hear the lamentations of the useful infidels! Allahu fubar!
I hope Israel’s goal in Gaza is the extermination of Hamas’s ghouls in Gaza.
TF. I hope it’s eradication. That makes the vote 1 to 1.
In self defense, Israel must wipe out the muzzies.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalms 122:6
Friedman is too smart by half. He should have run for President with all his NYT coffee table Op-Ed brilliance ... /s
Hmmm... you sure this is Friedman? If you read the whole thing, it’s fairly reasonable. Problem is, the Islamic Terrorists do care more about destroying Israel. I doubt they will, but eradication would be better.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT
..................
Tom isn't paying attention, Israel has been clear about this. It's the complete cessation under circumstances which prevent the rearming of Hamas. What they do with their Islamic wonderland beyond that isn't as issue, as long as they're not a viable military threat. They'll still be running the place themselves, though if the US is serious about our longstanding mideast policy, we should be pressing for the destruction of Hamas and Fatah rule.
Translation: "I am a jerk."
“Is it the education of Hamas or the eradication of Hamas?”
Eradication. That was easy.
Israel gave up their part of the bargain (land) but Hamas did absolutely nothing to square itself to the deal and make peace.
By default, Hamas and it's underlings an sympathizers in Gaza have demonstrably operated in bad faith, and richly deserve any fate the IAF/IDF bestows upon them.
Education, eradication - it's all the same to me!
CA....
I always used to say that Friedman was six months behind the curve at any given time. I think I need to increase that to six years.
Somehow, he has just a.) conflated a stalemate in Southern Lebanon with an Israeli victory and b.) recommended that Israel not seek victory in Gaza.
Americans and Israelis can both be thankful that Thomas Friedman is not the leader of Israel. No matter how much Hezbollah and Hamas might welcome his ascension...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.