[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

I suspect that, for the Czechs, the current situation is a little too close for comfort.

• Czechoslovakia was carved out of the remains of a decrepit Empire (Austro-Hungary), as was Jewish Palestine/Israel (Turkey).
• Czechoslovakia included territories (the Sudetenland) which they judged absolutely integral to their National Defense, like Israel (Judea & Samaria, the "West Bank").
• These territories contained a sizable contingent of ethnic minorities (Sudeten Germans) towards which (like Israel and the Palestinians), Czechoslovakia was accused of all manner of "mistreatment" and "apartheid" -- accused, incidentally, by another great Jew-hating Power of the 20th Century, Nazi Germany.
• And like Israel, Czechoslovakia's ability to defend herself from external aggression was taken for granted (the Czechs had one of the largest Free armies in Europe in 1938) by Western Powers, which fact undergirded Western willingness to coerce Czechoslovakia into sacrificing the Sudetenland.

All analogies are dangerous as logical tools, as analogies (by their nature) tend to be inexact, making exact equivalences dubious.

But it's easy to see where the Czechs are coming from, here.

[l33t]

I bet the Czechs still remember how the "enlightened and civilized" Europeans sold them out to Hitler in Munich.

[mvonfr]

But it's easy to see where the Czechs are coming from, here.

Nice list. Add also that Czechs have first-hand knowledge of what may happen.

[LarryLied]

But it's easy to see where the Czechs are coming from, here.

Czechs also had no problem collabrating with both the Nazis and Soviets. The Skoda works and Semtex plants ran full out under both regimes. Czechs executed 11 Jews in the 1950's for being agents of Zionism. I doubt the PM's comments have much support among the citizenry. The Czech Republic is not a place of tolerance for any minority.

[Roger_W_Isom]

I can just SEE Arafart's retort....

"Zeman is NOTHING BUT A TYPICAL ZIONIST POLITICIAN !!!!!! REMEMBER '38????? Remember MUNICH??????? Want to see you country DIE AGAIN!!!!!!" This will be Arafart's CLASSY retort!!! that is the SIZE of his Parkinson's Inflicted mentality!!!

P.S. Sorry for Insulting people with Parkinson's before hand... But have you NOTICE his shaking hands lately???? I mean he has Parkinson's BAD!!! and I should KNOW My Grandma had it before SHE died!!!

[monkeyshine]

Agreed on all counts. And remember what Sharon said a few months ago (to much dismay by the west) "Israel will not be another Czechoslovakia".

[okie01]

"But it's easy to see where the Czechs are coming from, here."

The Czechs' memory is long. And accurate. Zeman should be taken seriously.

Your analogy is apt. Good post.