Anyway, my point is that I think the vast majority of Arabs in those areas would simply like the opportunity to rule themselves without an occupation Army or a thug like Arafat. The actual supporters of the terrorists number in the thousands, at most, with those actually willing to blow themselves up numbering under 1000. If there were hundreds of thousands or millions willing to blow themselves up, every Israeli would have long ago been killed in a wave of mass bombings. Even ten thousand terrorist Palestinians, each killing 10 Israelis (how hard would that be with an automatic rifle and a bomb for each???), would probably long ago have extracted a price in blood much higher than the vast majority of Israeli's are willing to bear. obviously, there are not millions of terrorists living next door to Israel.
And yes, the way to solve the problem is to set them adrift to run their own affairs under a democratic form of government. They'll soon be far too busy arguing with each other to be concerned about Israel.
You may be right, but many polls from many sources say about the same figures. I quoted the nicest ones for safty sake. However I think the pictures of 10,000 dancing in the streets when a pizza parlor gets shredded speak for themselves. I don't care how much you like to party, gang rape is still rape. In other words, to party because of someone being slaughtered is not something you can paint white and call it good no matter how much you want it to look good.
After living with Palestinians for 3 years, I find them to be a simple minded sort of folk, very emotional and not too bright. Cannon fodder is what they are bred for. Sounds harsh, but then their masters are harsh. They can be your friends one day, and kill you the next. Kinda depends on the mood of the day or who they last talked to.
The only occupation army they have had for years is Arafats. Oslo saw to that, and the fruits did not get better, they got far worse, downright rotten. They also got to live with good police, but in their own territory, that worked just as well. Before that they lived within Israel proper, with full freedom, the vote, social security and the like as citizens. They turned that down in favor of a dictatorship. The only thing all three experiments have in common is their predeliction to kill people. A bit of a personality flaw I think, that makes them poor neighbors.
The problem is that in all the 22 different Arab states, not one has sprouted freedom, all 22 are various forms of police states. To say to Iraq, now you are free, make a democracy is funny. Pigs will fly first. If we try to force democracy on them, within 6 months they will be killing our soldiers on the streets of Bagdad. Do not forget that the very same guys you see holding up the American flag and cheering today, two weeks ago were burning the same flags. Sides switch quickly in Arabic countrys, the guy with the gun to your head, he is your friend. The guy that your gun points at, he is your prey.
In real life, we are dealing with a blood thirsty religious cult that has found a fertile home in Arabia. It is like a multi-headed snake. At best we can chop off the heads when they get big enough, and evil enough, to bite their neighbors. In time however, they will all sprout new heads. At worst we can try to make allies with them and let them bite us on the backside.
I am more of a call a spade a spade type. Lets stop trying to stuff an eastern society in a western box. They will never understand us as long as they follow Allah. So the only choice is to understand them enough to keep us from being their targets. Tell the Islamic Nations this "The next bunch that attacks Americans will have a MOAB on their palace within 24 hours. If more than 10 Americans die at once because of your Jihad, we will give you the Iraq treatment. Now you go play in your sandbox, and I will go play in mine." That they understand. But to kiss up to them is to ask for a knife in your back. Not because they hate you, it is just business.
You may think I am being Racist, but I am just a realist, and anybody who has lived in a Moslem country will agree with me, unless of course they are Moslem. I think it is just as racist to force democracy on them. I think we need to fix the water pipes, and the oil pipes, and get thier basic infrastructure in place. Let them elect a new, nicer dictator and get the heck out of their country. Let them run it how they like. Then we will part as friends. Smile, shake hands and tell them as we leave, don't make us come back... They will laugh, shake hands and take it to heart. They can respect that.
Now I will give you a counter prediction; There are going to be a lot less "suicide" bombs in Israel, now that Daddy will not be getting a lotto payment for Juniors self-detonation from Uncle Saddam. Someone has to work the fields... Americas war is not with Islam, it is against Terrorism, and the man who paid Afganistan to attack America just got his ticket punched. The Palestinians are very quite at the moment. It will take a few days to digest that Uncle Sadam's wallet is now empty. One third of the cash supporting Arafats terrorist spree just dried up. My bet is you are going to see him back at the "peace" tables real fast.
You may think me cynical. But I have lived here far to long for that. Don't be afraid to look in a snakes eyes and realize that they are simply evil, or you will get bit petting the pretty snake. Know that snakes eat rats, and have their purpose and stay the heck out of their way.
You will be happier, and so will the snake.