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Shron said that he will not allow Israel to be sold down the riner in the name of appeasment, as Czechoslovakia was at the beginning of World War II.

If I were Israel, I would feel the same way. From the point of history, however, Czechoslovakia fell on its own accord. First, it, too tried to appease the Germans, and gave up the Sudetenland. Regardless of the legitimacy of the Germans claim to the land, the Sudetenland was the natural line of defense for the Czechs. By giving it up, they yielded the high ground to the Germans.

Afterword, the Germans invaded, and the Czech were still not fully prepared, despite the large number of Skoda tanks they had, which were superior to the Mark I, and Mark II tanks that the Germans were fielding at the time.

The lesson of course to Israel is to be prepared to go it alone(which they are), and never, ever, to yield the high ground, which is what Syria of course has been asking them to do.

"Afterword, the Germans invaded, and the Czech were still not fully prepared, despite the large number of Skoda tanks they had, which were superior to the Mark I, and Mark II tanks that the Germans were fielding at the time. "

The Germans never invaded Czechoslovakia. First they took the Sudetenland legally. Then there was an independence movement in Slovakia. Germany recognized Slovakia and Slovakia became allied with Germany. This was perfectly legal.

Then Germany applied some diplomatic pressure on Czechoslovakia's government to agree to become a protectorate. The Czech government agreed to this and signed away Czechoslovakia's independence. We can argue about whether the German pressuring was immoral or not but the fact remains that it was all legal and did not involve any invasion.

From the point of history, however, Czechoslovakia fell on its own accord. First, it, too tried to appease the Germans, and gave up the Sudetenland. Regardless of the legitimacy of the Germans claim to the land, the Sudetenland was the natural line of defense for the Czechs. By giving it up, they yielded the high ground to the Germans.

What history book are you reading?!!

You make it sound like giving up the Sudetenland was the Czechs' idea. They hated giving it up. Some in their government wanted to refuse to sign the Munich agreement. But the Brits and the French forced the Czechs to give up the Sudetenland for the greater good of world peace (supposedly).

Winston Churchill famously said afterward that the Czechs could have done better on their own--that they certainly could not have done worse.

What Sharon was saying is that Israel is not going to do worse vis-a-vis the terrorists than it could do on its own.

I am sorry to see this apparent dispute between the U.S. and Israel. But you can see why Israel would not want to commit national suicide just so we can keep Egypt and Saudi Arabia in our wonderful coalition.