An Apology to Israel: The Good Neighbor

9/16/2001 | George Friedman

[Ziva]

Wonderful commentary! That Israel did not respond to Iraqi missiles during the Gulf war for the sake of the USA to me is still unbelievable.

[RaceBannon]

Thank You!!!

[VA Advogado]

Ditto that!

[tm22721]

Just one week ago the anti-Israel rhetoric was deafening.

Now the silence is deafening. If this keeps up we should keep a separate list of missing persons - silenced liberal journalists.

BUMP

[rdww]

While you're apologizing, the line to apologize to those of us who've pointed out that Israel is the only real beneficiary in the world from the US attack forms here. Editorials like the above prove us right.

[stevem]

First things first. This is a pretty decent "mea culpa." Yet, when it comes to "we," I plead "not guilty." There are a good many of us that have been saying, for over thiry years that Israel was the one being wronged, and there weren't two ways to look at this.

It's nice to see characters like George Friedman come around. Yet, it's also time for these people, former liberals and other quislings, to understand what is going on here. This is a war, probably WWIII. It will be a fight to the death. The rules of this engagement are war-time rules. No Arab country will be allowed to eat sand and oil if they take sides with the terrorists. How difficult does anyone think it would be for the US, or NATO, or the "good guys" to annex a Middle East oil field? Does anyone think Turkey wouldn't like to take on Iraq as a protectorate? Does anyone think the "moderate" dictators don't know this?

This is a war. It's going to be a rough ride. I believe the terrorists will succeed in thei efforts a number of times before it's over. Still, there are things the good guys can do, and, as so often is the case, this is a war that has to be seen to conclusion, come what may. There isn't worthwhile future for the group that comes in second. Much as this is a sickening thought, it's time for liberal editorialists to stop talking as though this is a court proceding with evidentiary rules.

[RonDog]

Good stuff. FYI, though, it was originally written and broadcast by Gordon Sinclair. MacGregor popularized it, but was not the author.

[ArcadeQuarters]

“You were right, I was wrong, and I apologize.” This is what good friends and neighbors say when time and circumstances prove that a trusted friend was right and you were wrong. This native-born American thinks its time for us to speak those words to the State of Israel, our neighbor in democracy and western values.

In addition to the 3 billion in US tax dollars we send them every year?

For years, Israel has been waging a lonely war against terrorism.

It's a war over territory. Let's not romanticize it.

For years, they have valiantly tried to wage this war, in the most humane way possible.

By shooting unarmed children with sniper rifles, then shooting at the medics who comes to assist. Yes, the enemy kills children and innocents too. That's why we call them terrorists.

And so, as an American I say to our friend and neighbor in democracy, “We’re sorry. You were right. We were wrong.”

We owe nothing. We just lost 5,000+ lives. Israel owes us an apology for getting us into this mess. And Israel is not a democracy. Palestinians can neither vote nor have their own state.

To the Islamic fundamentalist cowards who attacked us on September 11th and those who aided, abetted, supported, and harbored them or any other terrorists, we say this. You have awakened the sleeping giant. We will find you and we will destroy you. What remains of your sorry lives will be spent hiding and running. You will never have a moment’s peace.

Now you're making sense. Anyone who attacks the US must die in the most painful way possible. When we kill them I hope they die with fear on their face.

[Rodney King]

Wonderful commentary! That Israel did not respond to Iraqi missiles during the Gulf war for the sake of the USA to me is still unbelievable

Look, I agree with the main premise of this article, but this point is just ridiculous. If Israel had attacked, the coalition would have fallen apart, and Isreal would have faced a broad mid-east war. They benefitted as much as anyone by not attacking.

[liberallarry]

If I were bin Laden I would take a pause to see whether the U.S. abandons Israel. If so, and the sell-out doesn't have to be so obvious that everyone sees it, then the next to fall will be the Saudi monarchy, already hated by many of its own people and now thoroughly discreditied by bin Ladin's success. If not, then terror against the West resumes immediately. Your sentiments are nice but not rational.

[RonDog]

"The Americans" story

[lavaroise]

Israel is not worth letting terrorist violence spread to America's own mainland

I see, so you are for tying the jews hands while others slit his throat for the sake of your own safety. Your mentality is not even worth those carrying out Polish pogroms against Jews blaming them for every single of your own little navel centered selfish problems. Pathetic how some people sound like kranky old nazies.