America's double standard

(October 24) - Whatever illusions one might have had that in a post-September 11 world, the United States government would finally begin to understand Israel's predicament vis-a-vis Palestinian terror can now most assuredly be laid to rest. On Monday, in an act that was as unprecedented as it was undiplomatic, the Bush administration issued an astonishing rebuke of the government's defensive measures in Judea and Samaria. For a nation currently engaged in a moral crusade to uproot the scourge of international terrorism, the US is demonstrating a level of hypocrisy that threatens to undermine the very principles it seeks to uphold.

Indeed, it was only a week ago that Palestinian assassins murdered tourism minister Rehavam Ze'evi. As Israel Radio reported yesterday, at least one of the assassins succeeded in fleeing to Ramallah with the help of the Palestinian Authority security service headed by Col. Tawfik Tirawi. The murder of a cabinet minister is an act of war, and one can only imagine how the US would respond if one of its own senior officials were to be targeted by a foreign entity. Moreover, as Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said yesterday, intelligence warnings about the possibility of impending terror attacks are at an all-time high. With Yasser Arafat stubbornly refusing to combat terror, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had little choice but to send in troops to seal off those areas from which the danger is greatest. To do otherwise would be to endanger the lives of innocent Israelis, something that no responsible government could allow itself to do.

Nevertheless, despite the eminently reasonable rationale behind these actions, State Department spokesman Phil Reeker issued a blistering criticism that reeked of moral duplicity and double standards. Reading from a prepared text, Reeker addressed Israel in a condescending and impudent manner: "Israel Defense Forces should be withdrawn immediately from all Palestinian controlled areas and no further such incursions should be made." After reprimanding Israel for having the audacity to defend itself, Reeker went on to say, "We deeply regret and deplore Israel Defense Forces actions that have killed numerous Palestinian civilians over the weekend," adding that such deaths are "unacceptable" and the IDF needs to "exercise greater discipline and restraint." Such one-sided prattle would not be surprising were it to emerge from the PA Ministry of Information, but when it comes from an official spokesman of the US government, it is nothing less than scandalous.

Indeed, it hardly seems coincidental that on the same day that America was criticizing Israel, Hizbullah launched an unprovoked attack on IDF outposts on Mount Dov. What the Bush administration apparently fails to understand is that by lambasting Israel's counter-terror policies, it is effectively encouraging the terrorists to commit further assaults. If Hizbullah sees that America will rein in Israel and prevent it from punishing Arafat, then what is there to deter it from carrying out attacks? Hizbullah knows that if the IDF's entry into Jenin elicits an American tongue-lashing, then IDF retaliation in Lebanon would most certainly evoke an even sharper American response.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, therefore, was absolutely correct to rebuff the American criticism. Almost 200 Israelis have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists in the past year, thanks to the failed Oslo process that was actively promoted and encouraged by the US throughout the past decade. For over 12 months, Israel has been the victim of innumerable Palestinian suicide bombings, mortar attacks, shootings, and stonings, an orgy of violence that continues unabated. For the US to expect Israel to stop defending itself just to appease the Arab and Islamic members of the anti-terror coalition is simply to expect too much. No country in the world would demonstrate as much patience, or offer as many concessions, as Israel has in its dealings with the Palestinians. But enough is enough.

Arafat has demonstrated that he is no different from the Taliban in Afghanistan. He harbors terrorists, just as the Taliban does, he offers them refuge and support, and he does nothing to thwart their murderous agendas. This simple, incontrovertible truth might be a matter of political inconvenience for the Bush administration at this time, but for Israel it is a matter of life and death. And when it comes to protecting the safety and security of Israel's citizens, even the opinion of the US will have to take a back seat.

"On Monday, in an act that was as unprecedented as it was undiplomatic, the Bush administration issued an astonishing rebuke of the government's defensive measures in Judea and Samaria. For a nation currently engaged in a moral crusade to uproot the scourge of international terrorism, the US is demonstrating a level of hypocrisy that threatens to undermine the very principles it seeks to uphold. "

Calm down...

If we threw down with Israel right now gainst Arafat (as I dearly wish we could), what would we accomplish?

We'd lose the so-called Arab "moderates" from this stinking "coalition." It's a pretty repugnant situation, but we can't have that... yet.

Make no mistake, this is World War III. The Administration has made it abundantly clear that this war will take years. This goes way beyond Afghanistan. We need this "flexible coalition" (Rumsfeld's words) for now, so that we don't have to fight all of our enemies all at once.

Sound reasonable?

Because Iraq is in the cross-hairs.

Here's what we're dealing with: the very real possibility that Sadaam has far more WMDs here than these little anthrax letters. Those are just a warning. He's probably got smallpox here, we know he's chemical weapons-capable, and no one in our government can say categorically that he or bin Laden doesn't have nukes.

Sadaam is the prize.

And failing to take out Sadaam is no great favor to Israel, don't you agree? He lusts to conquer Jerusalem.

Did you see that recent announcement about Iran agreeing to provide rescue operations to any of our airmen shot down in their territory? Read between the lines... were getting limited use of their airspace. That's not for the Afghanistan Campaign... that's to shut the back door on Iraq. During the Gulf War, Bush 41 failed to bring Iran on board and Hussein was able to stash a good chunk of his air force in Iran for the duration of the war, which he later got back. Bush 43 is not repeating that mistake.

Taliban first, then Sadaam. The rest... Syria, Libya, Sudan, Algeria, Arafat... those are just clean-up operations compared to this.

We need Israel and Arafat defused, or at least on the back burner, while we take care of bigger problems.

So for now, the appearance of strife between America and Israel serves both of our ends. They deal with the assassination of Ze'evi as they need to, we wag our finger at Sharon and Arafat, the radicals who want to frame this as "Big and Little Satan against the Islamic World" don't get to grind that ax, and the coalition muddles aong.

Are the Arabs our friends? No, and they never will be.

But we already knew that.

Let's make use of them while they're useful. Dispatch them when they're not.

Look at the situation with Pakistan... the populace there stinks of Al Qaeda. So we get cozy with them really quick, because of their borders with Iran and Afghanistan... and their nukes. We have to keep the Islamic Bomb from falling into the hands of Hussein or bin Laden.

But that means that we have to keep India at arms length for a while, just like Israel.

Reality stinks.

But that's the hand we've been dealt, so we play it... Until we can draw a better one.

Take heart. We're leading this "coalition" by the nose...

The nose of our camel under their tent.

"The more our government lies and makes temporary 'allies' with terrorist nations, only to turn on them later, the more our word is worthless."

This isn't the way it's going down.

India and Israel know the score. Everyone's balancing what's said for foriegn and domestic consumption.

Bush told the world, "you are with us, or against us." And he's giving all of them an opportunity to make a choice. For some of the real creeps, like Lybya and Syria, they've chosen to be with us. Fine.

Notice how Sadaam has chosen otherwise? Telling.

We're not going to turn on them, but they'll probably turn on us, one or two at a time.

Fine.

Then we eradicate them.

Our word is gold.

First, those who want to be our "friend" in this situation should be given the opportunity as long as we don't put ourselves at significant risk by doing so. Let them prove their friendship by eradicating the terrorist among them. If and when they turn on us we have the high moral ground to take them out. We gave them a fair shot at it and they chose to do otherwise. It is the honorable thing to do. We're talking about life and death choices.

As far as Israel goes I'll be honest, I don't understand what is happening between us. It is dangerous for America if Israel goes on a rampage. It also dangerous for Israel and ultimately America to be perceived as weak. This is a tough situation. As an American, American interests come first. That said, it is in our interest that Israel survive.

Just my opinion...

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