Ailing Sharon sees support eroding fast

The Times - UK ^ | 3/5/2002 | Richard Beeston

[NormsRevenge]

It's too bad that a hero of Israel has been put in this position...

Is this setting the stage for Netanyahu to return as the head of a new unified government.

It is stand now and fight or be overrun... It IS ... war.

[joeyman]

Netanyahu is Israel's Reagan - both militarily and economically. One of the reasons he was so viciously attacked when in office, was because he threatened the left's socialist grip on the country. God willing he will come back and transform both his country's security and level of economic freedom.

[TheGoodDoc]

Sharon is hated by most Palestinians and some Israelis, who seem him as a mass murderer in Lebanon, and as having intentionally provoked the current uprising for unclear reasons.

Netanyahu will challenge Sharon very soon for leadership.

[Frohickey]

Isn't Sharon and Netanyahu the same as far as what they would do with this situation?

In fact, I had thought that Sharon would have had more cahones than this, and would have sent in the troops and already taken the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Something must be holding him back. Methinks that that something has red-white-and-blue because of the war on terrorism.

[Diddle E. Squat]

On the Left, however, there is a growing sense that peace and security can be achieved only through dialogue.

Also on the Left, is a growing sense that the earth is flat.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Bamford in his new book about the NSA (Body of Secrets) claims that the USS Liberty was attacked to cover up Sharon's massacre of prisoners during the 1967 war. The Liberty was attacked, but I don't know of independent evidence about the Sharon massacre.

[Jhoffa_]

Sharon's buffer zone is a good solution in the short term.

In the long run however, the Jihadies are going to have to be killed off. You can't reason with them, and they leave him no alternative.

Also, there is no point in talking with Yassir, because he either cannot or will not control the radicals and that makes him either impotent or part of the problem anyway. If he could be effective you would think 30+ years woudl be enough time, not to mention destroying the Jew's was part of the PLO charter anyway.

And screw the Saudi's. Land for peace didn't work for the Checks and it's not going to work for Sharon. They will play nice, take the land, come up with an excuse for the peace to break down and then return to square one.

At that point he will have neither the peace or the land.

[richwolo]

I heard a very poignant response from a Palestinian on TV today. He was asked why Palestinians hate Jews so much that thousands are lining up and willing to die for their cause. He was asked what he felt it would it take to once again begin the peace process. His response was that as long as the boot was held to their necks, Palestinians will never even consider negotiations.

Perhaps Sharon (or Israeli citizens) should consider what this man had said. Sharon's aggresive position, his bravado and his obstinacy have accomplished nothing. All this while almost two thousand persons have been slaughtered. Hatred on both sides for the other has increased while Palestinian martyrdom has reached epic proportions. It is time he gave it up or perhaps that he be replaced.

[NormsRevenge]

It's hard enough being an enemy of the US ... much less an ally these days ... Israeli and US relations have had there ups and downs but no where near as bad as when the USS Liberty came under friendly fire .. I worked with a Liberty crewmen who was wounded that day. What can one say.. we all have secrets as nations we would wish to keep from others.

[NormsRevenge]

That Israel has survived with as much internal dissent as it has in its parliament is a miracle in and of itself ... the behind the scenes maneuvering to stay on the good side of the US doesnt help sometimes I agree

[NormsRevenge]

the sad reality is that there will be no peace .. even if a peace is forced on all the participants.. at some point in the future.. the arabs and the jews are enemies to the death ... whether they know why or not

[dennisw]

It's too bad that a hero of Israel has been put in this position...

Darn right. Sharon is a great man. Am reading his auto-biography right now. Was published in 1989.

On the Left, however, there is a growing sense that peace and security can be achieved only through dialogue. As Ephraim Sneh, a former general and now the Transport Minister, said: “In the end there has to be a diplomatic solution. Without one, this land will know another 100 years of war.”

Sure! Withdraw from all of the West Bank/Gaza per Pallie demands. This will be sure to bring peace! Jihadist Muslims are men of honor, will be happy with such a grand gesture, and will be sure to reciprocate. <Sarcasm>

[BJungNan]

On the Left, however, there is a growing sense that peace and security can be achieved only through dialogue.

Also on the Left, is a growing sense that the earth is flat.

Also on the left, is the liberal media fabricating this "growing sense..."

[hoot2]

"It is stand now and fight or be overrun... It IS ... war. "

are they gonna "wimp out like the politically-correct yanks?"...
or are they gonna "nuke em..."

[dennisw]

Gonna give you a little bitty clue. Nations at war tend to become more socialist. Go take a look at US history.

[NormsRevenge]

In the case of the palestinians, I dont think nukes are in order .. For the supporters of the palestinians , nukes may be in order : Iraq, Iran,Syria, to name a few may need a taste of fire most deadly to slow the arab states from their agenda

[smith288]

its a "growing sense" because the media is the left and sense it...

[hoot2]

you are right...."cut off the supply lines"

[NormsRevenge]

No more coddling the sonsabitches who provide arms and shelter for those who would kill innocents.. it is war.. there are no borders against terrorism ... and no safe harbors

[ipatent]

The only question is does Sharon push the button before he goes down.