Posted on 04/05/2002 2:31:45 AM PST by JohnHuang2
At this writing, it has been over four days since Israel was forced to endure a major suicide terrorist atrocity deliberately aimed at innocent civilians. Still the funerals have continued as four more wounded victims of the Passover massacre in Netanya passed away this week, along with a man severely injured in last Saturdays attack on a coffee house in Tel Aviv and another who was wounded in the Haifa restaurant blast on Sunday.
Why the relative quiet? It is unquestionably the result of the massive Israeli army operation against the suicide terrorist centers in Yasser Arafats autonomous zones. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades and Tanzim terrorists are simply too preoccupied with basic survival at the moment to lash out in their all too customary, ugly manner.
That is the main point of the Israeli military operation dubbed Protective Wall in English, but actually called Shielding Wall in Hebrew. The clear design is to shield Israeli mothers and children, and of course men, from sudden death and destruction. (I am thinking at present of a young woman literally blasted to bits here in Jerusalem two weeks ago. She and her slain husband were not able to go home and tell their two youngsters the joyous news that an ultrasound test had just revealed their mother was pregnant with twins).
Israeli leaders hope to deal such a powerful blow to the various Palestinian terrorist organizations that they simply will not be physically able to undertake significant terror operations for some time to come, if ever again. However to accomplish that difficult goal, military leaders estimate they will need at least a few more weeks of sustained army action. Under enormous international pressure himself, President Bush seems determined to rob them of this vital time.
It is quite understandable that the American commander in chief would call for a quick end of the Israeli army incursion into Palestinian urban centers. He is being called on the carpet by all the Arab states, the wider Muslim world and even by Americas erstwhile allies in the European Union to do something and to give peace a chance. Madeleine Albright and other former Clinton officials have joined the critical chorus, afraid that the United States will make additional Muslim enemies if the Great Power is seen to be taking Israels side too overtly.
But Bush would not be siding with Israel if he looked the other way while the Jewish State dealt a massive blow to the wide web of terror that Arafat has sponsored, encouraged, or at the very least not seriously attempted to dismantle or control. He would be taking Americas side. For until kamikaze terrorism is dealt a deadly blow, it will continue to thrive, and ultimately not only against tiny Israel.
Bush and company wisely realized that the only way to deal with the likes of Osama bin Laden and fellow terrorists who glory in the deaths of innocent civilians (the more the better) is to destroy their ability to carry out heinous suicide assaults. Yet Israeli leaders (who include Nobel peace prize winner Shimon Peres and the daughter of the late Yitzhak Rabin, who is Israels deputy Defense Minister), are told just days into their own campaign designed to halt identical attacks upon their civilian population that they must put a premature end to the operation.
Is Colin Powell going to convince Yasser Arafat to wipe out the terrorist infrastructures when Anthony Zinni, CIA chief George Tenet, and indeed Albright and other Clintonites repeatedly failed to do so? What magic wand is the congenial former general wielding? Indeed, Arafat has demonstrated time and again that he only responds to a big stick, not a tasty carrot. Israeli leaders including Labor party stalwarts like Peres, not just Ariel Sharon were finally wielding that stick despite the knowledge that it would produce fierce howls of protest from people living in regions not subject to daily suicide outrages.
Before giving the Israeli stick a chance to achieve its necessary, if distasteful goal, Bush is throwing Arafat another carrot. This action can only encourage the veteran PLO leader, along with the worlds other would-be terrorists who are eagerly watching and waiting in the wings, to believe that their methods will eventually win out over the Wimpy West.
George Bush surely has the best of intentions in mind. He is trying to prevent a wider Middle East war with its broad political and economic ramifications, and protect Americas vital interests in the Arab world. But the current While House occupant, who has dealt rather well with the unwanted terrorist war thrust upon him during his first year in office, needs to be careful that he does not fall into a trap that undermines his own battle against terrorism. Because like it or not and he would undoubtedly rather be fishing his war is the same one being waged, with the same reluctance, by tiny Israel.
=======================================================================
Another masterful Chess
Anyone who thinks President Bush embarked on this course of action on-the-fly, or was caving willy-nilly to media pressure, I've got a bridge to sell you. In fact, Israeli officials likely kept the White House in-the-loop all along, but have decided to wrap-up the mission, its primary objectives having been met.
The notion that Bush would risk U.S. prestige to have Israel snub his appeal to withdraw is ludicrous on its face. Yesterday's Rose Garden statement was likely the culmination of heavy U.S.-Israeli advance planning. You'll notice the tell-tale absense of any timetable for Israel's departure.
In Mideast diplomacy, finesse is the coin of the realm, so a good deal of tactical subterfuge is essential.
Contrary to claims by enemies of Israel, it was never Sharon's intention to stay in the "territories". Public statements by senior Israeli officials made that abundantly clear. The mission was never meant as open-ended, but rather a short-term (2-week) incursion with very specific, clearly defined military goals.
One thing's clear: Both in its swiftness and execution, the impressive success of Operation Defensive Shield sent a jolting message to enemies of Israel -- particularly those in the "territories". It convincingly demonstrated that, notwithstanding months of suicide bombings, Israel's resolve remains as firm as ever. If the terrorists banked on breaking Israeli morale, they badly miscalculated. The wanton killing of innocent civilians only strengthened Israel's resolve.
Operation Defensive Shield was 'blowback' -- Israeli style. It reaffirmed Israel's determination to survive; but more than survive, to defeat -- and defeat decisively -- those who would threaten her, or attempt to drive her from the region.
That said, Israel would still need a face-saving way to pull out, and that's where yesterday's Rose Garden announcement comes in.
Regarding that speech, it wasn't exactly what I would call a glowing portrait of Yasser Arafat. Far from it: It was a searing indictment. The President placed the onus for peace where it rightly belongs -- squarely on Arafat's shoulders. In so doing, he vindicated Sharon and blamed Arafat -- not Israel -- for the deterioration. He reiterated Israel's case for moving against the terrorists, and put his imprimatur on her military campaign.
"At Oslo and elsewhere, Chairman Arafat renounced terror as an instrument of his cause", said the President yesterday, "and he agreed to control it. He's not done so. The situation in which he [Arafat] finds himself today is largely of his own making. He has missed his opportunities and thereby betrayed the hopes of his people."
Not quite what Arafat and his minions wanted to hear. "Cabinet Minister" Saeb Erekat blasted Bush, denouncing his criticism as "unjustified and unacceptable", even as the Palestinian Authority issued a statement ostensibly embracing the U.S. initiative "unconditionally".
The President, in that 20-minute address, made another thing clear: Suicide bombers aren't "martyrs", they are murderers. This is homocide, not legitimate political activism. He condemned governments like Iraq for inciting it. In Iraq's case, for soliciting it through its system of payments to families whose children engage in it.
The President put Syria and Iran on notice: "Those who would try to use the current crisis as an opportunity to widen the conflict: Stay out".
While the President said he doesn't harbor any illusions, it's clear where blame will fall in the event of failure: On Arafat and his terrorist allies.
Moreover, among the damning evidence collected by the IDF during its sweep of the West Bank are truckloads of documents implicating Arafat personally of complicity in terrorism, despite strong public denials.
Gee, any wonder why those suicide bombings have ceased since Israel's incursion?
In short, for the U.S., this is a diplomatic/political no-brainer; For Israel, it's a win-win.
So, in one swift-fell-swoop, Bush gives Sharon a face-saving way out (and enough time to finish the job: Sec. Powell won't get there till the middle of next week), out-maneuvers the E.U., defuses yet another issue -- all the while maintaining America's pre-eminent role as honest-broker in the region.
Yet another masterful chess move by the master himself.
Anyway, that's...
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"
Moral Equivalence? |
|
|
The Left -- Bastion of Anti-Semitism |
|
The 'Who-Gives-A-Hoot?' Democrats |
|
New York Times -- Is it Amnesia or Perfidy? |
|
Reaping the Whirlwind |
|
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.