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How to win the current conflict

A solution to current hostilities cannot be reached until Israel stops acting like an ostrich - sticking its head in the sand and not truly responding as a proud nation under siege

The question being asked should be is there a way to convince the Islamic civilian population to demand a cessation from their leadership and to cease and abandon the incessant acts of war against Israel so that they can go about their business without fear. The simple answer is “yes.”

 

But to implement such a solution would require an expanded military campaign, as there is no viable political solution that would resolve the deeply-ingrained, religiously induced hatred that has engulfed both sides.

 

I am loath to say that if the past 75 years of turmoil in Israel is any indication, it only contradicts the world's opinion that this conflict cannot be resolved by a military solution. Insisting that that some kind of political solution must be found is a sure route to endless war and misery.

 

Any political formula being contemplated is likely to be based on ideals - as imperfect as they may – or on theories of the norms relating to free western societies. Indulging in such a luxury is not possible in the Middle East, as the conflict doesn't derive from need for “Lebensraum,” it is governed by a notion of religious beliefs.

 

Science, religion

 

We all know the difference between science and religion, science is refutable, and religion practiced in its fundamentalist form is absolute; it does not allow or tolerate any dispute or deviation from norms established centuries ago.

 

As the current conflict engulfing the Middle East is governed by a religious theocracy frozen in seventh century theology, it will not end without one of the sides being totally defeated.

 

The glaring reality is that this is a war of tolerance vis-à-vis religious intolerance, and unless this is recognized by the democracies of the free world, it will eventually bring about the downfall of our free democratic societies.

 

And judging by past history, Islamic Theocracy will emerge victorious.

 

Civilian causalities

 

There is a saying “it is not the mouse that is the thief," it is the enabler that is the guilty party. The real culprit, however, is the leadership that encourages and participates in fomenting the acceptance of allowing their so-called fighters to perpetrate acts of war, in which they are encouraged to use their children and mingle among civilian populations.

 

They are the true murderers; they encourage the use of homes as launching pads, a tactic that is rife throughout Arab society.

 

When in the course of battle civilian life is intentionally put at risk, how can civilian casualties be avoided? Do such situations demand self-sacrifice? Out of nobleness should a commander order his troops to put themselves at risk so as to minimize “civilian casualties?"

 

The simple answer is, in war there is no room for hesitation even for a moment. In war there is no time for counting the dead, or more will die.

 

Then what is the solution to this dilemma? As a first step Islamic countries must understand that to date they have failed to acknowledge or accept that as a crushed nation they have no rights whatsoever. Failing to achieve this understanding can be placed squarely on the shoulders of the so-called civilized western world.

 

In every war between two nations it is considered an honor to kill, maim, and destroy entire cities, destroy their entire economic base and destroy their infrastructure until their ability to wage war is gone. There is no consideration given to non-combatants, bombs do not distinguish between a fighters and civilians. All a civilian is able to do during a raging battle is to leave or take cover.

 

The big (moral) brother

 

When American coalition forces confront insurgent forces they utilize any and all means to totally eradicate the positions held by such insurgences. When it learned of the whereabouts of the Iraqi terrorist, it did not first drop leaflets warning civilians to vacate the area before dropping 2, 500 lbs of bombs on their homes.

 

Israel should learn from a truly noble country, the United States of America, as to what is considered the noblest thing to do during wartime. But first we should take a closer look at our enemy, Hizbullah.

 

Hizbullah was created by a group of extreme Lebanese Islamic clerics. Its rise and claim to fame was the slaughter of self-loathing, duped individuals, sent to “blow themselves up while slaughtering all the Americans in the barracks and in the embassy.”

 

The Americans' only sin was that they were infidels, trying to bring a semblance of peace and order which is unaccepted by Islamic theory. As a result, the Americans left Lebanon.

 

The tragic result of such surrender to terror was the birth of additional groups of terrorists who targeted America and its interests around the world. The loss of life America experienced as a result of acts of terror perpetrated by such groups was far greater than that of Pearl Harbor.

 

The Truman lesson

 

Israel is constantly criticized as being immoral for the way it defends itself. The real issue of what is considered morally just in times of war can be learned from President Harry S. Truman, a president involved in a war of survival.

 

America's primary reason for using atomic bombs was to bring WW2 to an end; it was the Oriental way of thinking, deciding what “life is cheap” and that it is noble to die for ones country.

 

President Truman sought the advice of his military commanders, and according to their best estimates tried to figure out how many casualties they were likely to sustain in their quest to overpower mainland Japan. He also wondered how many additional casualties were to be expected before subduing Japan after its occupation.

 

It is a historical fact that President Truman was advised that the allies were expected to sustain over one million casualties, and they did not take into account the casualties that Japan would suffer. He was further advised that it would take at last an entire generation to overpower the Japanese population with additional unknown casualties.

 

We know that President Truman, in his role as commander-in-chief, upheld his oath in office which in part called to “to protect and defend the Americans," and by his decisive action saved countless Americans and even the Japanese from a long and protracted war of occupation.

 

Israel time to decide

 

I only hope that Israel has the same kind of moral leadership. If Israel is of the opinion that without the blessing of the United Nations they will be labeled the "pariah of the world," guess what? They already are.

 

Israel will never ever cease to be an independent self-governing country.

 

To even contemplate or give any credence to the basic reason that Hizbullah was not disbanded after Israel vacated every inch of Lebanon, and which was certified by the entire body of the United Nations, was the claim made not by Lebanon but by Iran’s proxy - the terrorist group known as Hizbullah, that the Israeli occupation has not ended because of the Shebba Farms. To reward such violence against an independent country by acceding to their demands will only result in a situation of a never ending conflict.

 

If we allow history to teach us anything, let's learn from General Sherman who during the Civil War said “yes war is hell.” The way wars are won can be attributed to a statement by General Patton, commander of the 3rd Army fighting against the Axis Powers, “It is not noble to die for your country, but to have your enemies die for their country.”

 

What I find truly amazing is the continuous warnings issued by Israel to the civilian population asking them to vacate the area before being destroyed, and yet they are called to task for the so-called civilians that aid and abet, support and defend, supply and assist the terrorists amongst them.

 

To defeat the current scourge that has beset the free world, imposed on it by terrorists emerging from a warped minded religious zealot, who infuses future generations with a desire to become “suicide bombers,” is to pursue and destroy them along with the religious hate spouting from their leadership until there is no trace of their existence.

 

No solution to this dilemma, not through negotiations and not through limited response will come out of the current hostilities until Israel stops acting like an ostrich - sticking its head in the sand and not truly responding as a proud nation under siege.

 

Chaim Grosz is Miami Beach based Judaic Historian, Public Speaker, and former liaison for the Rockland County Jewish Community 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.01.06, 13:35
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