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To: OldFriend; SJackson; veronica
I do not doubt that there are at least two Israeli sides to this question. I also do not doubt that today is not the day to hash them out. Today is a day to focus on the imminent passing of a great man whether we agree entirely with him or just agree with most of his legacy. He earned our respect as a man's man, as a genuine leader of Israel and of Western Civilization in a perilous time and as a man of courage.

I regard Ronald Reagan as the greatest leader of our era but sometimes disagreed with him (although quite rarely). Reagan's passing also deserved respectful attention to his accomplishments even from those who opposed him in life.

I consider me to be "hard right" but I will tell you that I am satisfied that an Israeli leader who does his job of leading, protecting and preserving his nation and his people and competently fighting his and their enemies when necessary has satisfied this hard rightwinger. He had to do what he thought was necessary. I will not presume to make those decisions for a man of Sharon's personal history. I don't presume to understand his dilemma. I don't have to. I trusted Sharon without necessarily agreeing with each act or omission. I rerspect him without reservation.

Finally, I disagree with you on one thing. There are SOME non-hostile palestinians. They are hard to see because they are killed by other palestinians when they become visible.

212 posted on 01/06/2006 10:15:18 AM PST by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline of the Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: BlackElk
I certainly agree about the timing, it's a time to pray for a recovery, however short or unlikely, and remember and respect what I view as an honorable career.

While I'm supportive of a unilateral engagement, though not thrilled with aspect of the Gaza withdrawl, it's worth noting that I don't get to vote in Israel. Among those who do, every one of the many polls I've seen indicated the country was split evenly on this action, with a slight majority favoring it. In a parlimentary system like Israel's, were there overwhelming opposition, the govenment would have fallen. Characterizing Sharon as a loose cannon acting against the will of the people just isn't accurate, whether one agrees with his positions or not.

214 posted on 01/06/2006 10:56:12 AM PST by SJackson (There's no such thing as too late, that's why they invented death. Walter Matthau)
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