Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Why Don't I Care About the Palestinians?
National Review ^ | May 9 2002 | John Derbyshire

Posted on 05/09/2002 6:19:16 AM PDT by xvb

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-79 next last
To: jpl
"However, before we were able to impose democracy on those countries we first had to firebomb the city of Dresden, and you know what became of Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

What we had to do was convince the people of Germany and Japan that their leaders' ambitions were hopeless, that they had no choice but to accept our peace terms. That required massive bombing only because Germany and Japan were industrial powers: Until we demonstrated that they could not hope to continue to produce war materiel, they could still cling to belief in eventual victory. The PLO, on the other hand, is not an industrial power. Arafat's aspirations can be crushed without indiscriminately killing his subjects.

The PLO gets its materiel from Iraq, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. To defeat the PLO, we need to cut off that support permanently, which will require a variety of diplomatic, military and covert initiatives, starting with regime change in Iraq. Then we have to convince the Palestinians that the world will never rise up against Israel on their behalf, which will require a constant media campaign condemning terrorism. Finally, we have to eliminate the PLO mafiocracy's ability to suppress dissent and kill moderates ("collaborators").

These are all major challenges, but we won't have to do anything similar to Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Quite the contrary, in fact: The scenario most likely to result in nuclear destruction in the Middle East is a "hands off" approach. Sooner or later the Arab nations, unless forcibly dissuaded from their never-ending quest to destroy Israel, will box the IDF into a corner from which nuclear launch is the only option.

41 posted on 05/09/2002 11:11:02 AM PDT by Fabozz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: xvb
Excellent!
42 posted on 05/09/2002 11:17:18 AM PDT by The Great Satan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #43 Removed by Moderator

To: zejauw
Ah, so I'm insane, and my conclusions are simple-minded, are they? Tell me, do you teach? Persuasive Rhetoric, perhaps?

Many things I think ought to be done won't come to pass, at least not soon. That doesn't make my position wrong, it doesn't make my thinking simple-minded, and it doesn't make me insane. That sort of vicious name-calling is employed almost exclusively by people who have no substantiation for their own positions. So put up or shut up.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

44 posted on 05/09/2002 11:31:13 AM PDT by fporretto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: zejauw
I gave you a chance. You've replied with insults and misdirection. Since you won't lift a finger to substantiate your position, I shall pay no further attention to you, as you've made it obvious that you don't deserve it.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

46 posted on 05/09/2002 12:36:15 PM PDT by fporretto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: Fabozz
Turkey isn't an Arab country.
48 posted on 05/09/2002 12:56:21 PM PDT by ewchil
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
To paraphrase Anita: Because a day without (Orange) Jews is a day without sunshine.
49 posted on 05/09/2002 1:07:02 PM PDT by Prodigal Daughter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: KentuckyWoman
Siberia comes to mind. They can freeze their little buttskies off up there...
50 posted on 05/09/2002 1:28:17 PM PDT by Marysecretary
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ewchil
I'm aware of that, but from the context it seemed KentuckyWoman was referring to Muslims rather than Arabs. And, in point of fact, I think she's right to do so: Persian, Asian and Arab Muslims all have more in common with each other than Arab Muslims and Arab Christians do, so in this case I believe religion trumps ethnicity. They don't call it Dar al-Islam for nothing.
51 posted on 05/09/2002 1:30:41 PM PDT by Fabozz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: dennisw
WOW! This guy can write. Why haven't I read him before? He's great.
52 posted on 05/09/2002 1:41:25 PM PDT by Marysecretary
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: zejauw; fporretto
Your cries of "racism" show your lack of understanding of the word. I point out that Mr. Derbyshire explicitly took the time to emphasize the fact that numerous Arabs/Muslims seem to do well in the West, and have even won intellectual renown. This strongly demonstrates non-racism.

What his article does show is strong culturalism, a culturalism to which I heartily subscribe. Western culture is superior, and is worth defending against a culture that is attacking it and is demonstrably inferior.

Perhaps you've bought into the multiculturalists' "all cultures are equal, and all values are subjective" mindset. In any case, your lack of willingness to engage Mr. Poretto in reasoned debate, while name-calling all the while, is underwhelming. If your position on the subjects at hand is that well articulated elsewhere, you could at least provide a link cut'n'paste it (highlight, ctrl-c, point, ctrl-v) here.

53 posted on 05/09/2002 1:48:04 PM PDT by FreedomPoster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: zejauw
I'm usually the last person that would ever say this, but Derbyshire is an outright racist and so are you if you agree with this drivel. He is wrong on so many levels it would take a post equal in length to his article to point them out.

I happen to agree with him and others who have come to the same conclusion. I don't think stating the obvious is necessarily racist. However, my mind is open on the issue and I could be convinced otherwise if someone can present facts that support that position. I would be interested in your post of equal length which would point out the errors in his analysis.

Thanks.

54 posted on 05/09/2002 1:57:13 PM PDT by Tom Jefferson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Fabozz
He was talking about Arab countries. Turkey is not an Arab countries. There is a distinction between Arab countries and all other Moslem countries as to which century they are living in.
55 posted on 05/09/2002 2:03:21 PM PDT by Tom Jefferson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

Comment #56 Removed by Moderator

To: Fabozz
it seemed KentuckyWoman was referring to Muslims rather than Arabs

You are correct. Sorry to be so unclear. It's isn't the Arabs, per se, that are causing the world-wide upheavals. It's the Muslims (or Islamics).

57 posted on 05/09/2002 2:24:41 PM PDT by KentuckyWoman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Marysecretary
Siberia comes to mind.

Why wish 'em on the Russians? What have they done to us lately? Just let them all stay together in the middle east so the rest of the world won't have to deal with them....

58 posted on 05/09/2002 2:26:02 PM PDT by KentuckyWoman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

Comment #59 Removed by Moderator

To: BikerNYC
Well, can you get excited about this? Half a million people have died in the Sudan-- heard anything about it in the news? No, they're agonizing over 56 dead in Jenin. Hmmm. The Sudanese (Christians) need a better PR agent.
60 posted on 05/09/2002 2:32:10 PM PDT by walden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-79 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson