"Are We in Danger of Selling Out Israel and Ourselves?"

Washington Dispatch ^ | 10/09/01 | Patrick Rooney

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Well written Patrick! I agree totally.

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We must not turn our backs on Israel.

[Theresa]

Me too.

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[PRND21]

We must not turn our backs on Israel.

Or a rattlesnake.

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[truth_seeker]

From the start of this, I have been amazed that we would enlist Syria, Iran, and Arafat (to name a few) in an effort to defeat terror. To include them, makes it appear a sham; eg. we aren't reaaly serious, we are playing a game with reality.

It would be far wiser to initially include on "our" side ONLY those nations which we KNOW are against terrorism. Invite other nations to "qualify for invitation" into the coalition against terror, by FIRST taking REAL steps to disable terror organizations in their midst.

In that regard, we should publicly list the nations, and state the terror organizations we refer to. That is measurable, and avoids the diplomatic doubletalk.

This approach would be across the board. Name the terror organizations in Canada, for instance. It would be incumbent upon Canada, to acknowledge the organizations, and their plans to eliminate same. Same for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and so forth, down the line.

[Magician]

One way to defang the terrorists is to tell them that every Muslim terrorist attack against the U.S. or Israel will be rewarded by more armaments and trade agreements being given to Israel. And that no further negotiations toward ending the occupation of the remaining parts of the West Bank or Gaza will take place until all terrorist acts against the U.S. or Israel cease.

[NixNatAVanG InDaBurgh]

We REALLY need to make it crystal clear to the Muslims who practice their religion in the US that there is NO WAY they would be able to practice it THEIR way under a fundamentalist, maniacal cleric like the ones bin Laden approves of. They lose because THOSE clerics would destroy them. Or else, they would be considered the same as the fanatics they rally to and would die for rising up to attack us. Guaranteed. Without the US, they would be in the same shape as the Taliban Regime is right now, with nothing in sight but dispair because they have even less value than slaves.

[tonycavanagh]

American involvement in the Middle East rests on two pillars.

Support of Israel.

Support of pro Western Oil producing Arab states.

The leaders of the two most radical Islamic terrorist movements are a ex Saudi Citizen, and a ex Egyptian Citizen, both states the America supports and needs to keep its Middle East policy on track.

These movements are the extreme edge of what many Arabs in the street think.

The current low/medium intensity Israeli Palestinian conflict. The continuing sanctions and air strikes against Iraq, and the location of troops on Saudi Arabian soil, these three are running sores, draining away support for the pro Western Arab leaders who America relies on. And know we have the war on Terrorism, Osama Bin Ladens Video address to the world hit all the right notes for the Arab population, he appealed as much to Arab Nationalism even more so than the Islamic religion

America is stuck between a rock and a hard place, she wants to win the war against the terrorists, she wants to continue to play a part in the Arab world, and she wants to continue her support of Israel.

Whether she can juggle all three remains to be seen, but at the moment neither the Jewish or Muslim population are happy with the current situation, a policy of making sure no one loses or wins.

Tony

[Brian Allen]

Stand up for what is True -- or fall for anything!

As goes Israel, goes Christianity, Western ["Human," that is] Civilization -- and the very survival of Our Species!

[Twodees]

Thanks for the ping. The only thing on which I disagree with Rooney in this piece is that he views the ridiculous talk of recognition of a Palestinian state as the first gaffe of the Bush administration. To me, the first gaffe of the administration was the appointment of Powell as Secretary of State.

Powell isn't qualified for the post and Bush's choice of him for the position dismayed me from the first. There shouldn't be any appeal to the UN for approval or assistance and there should be a clear declaration of war from Congress.

Allowing the current crop of idiot lawyers who infest Congress to run this war by committee will be a huge mistake and will make the unintended consequences of the Vietnam war look like a harmless faux pas.

[AgThorn]

BUMP ...

bookmarked for further reading ... excellent article so far, but I'm only halfway through it ....

The worst thing we can do is to lessen our support for Israel, and we give that appearance by poor timing of messages..

[carton253]

You know... if you give the Palestinians their own state... not any where near Israel... then you take away the number one stated reason why terrorists strike.

Then the terrorists would have to declare their real motivation for their terror... the overthrowing of the western civilization to be replaced by an islamic world.

This would force them out of vague political gray shades into the bright light of reality.

[PatiPie]

Our victory will ultimately be a victory for the nation of Israel too, as well as for people of goodwill everywhere.

I certainly hope so!  Israel is in a very precarious position, and I certainly can understand Prime Minister Sharon's sentiments.

God bless and protect America and Israel ! ! !

[WalterSkinner]

I will bless those who bless thee ...