Posted on 07/25/2006 5:45:51 PM PDT by Jean S
Ten years ago, on April 18, 1996, Israel attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon for 16 days in an operation called Grapes of Wrath. The global condemnation of Israel was fierce, especially when it bombed a U.N. refugee camp, killing 107 people, an attack that Tel Aviv said was a mistake.
At the time, the United States did nothing to stop the tide from turning against Israel and President Clinton said, I think it is important that we do everything we can to bring an end to the violence.
In private, Clinton seethed at the Israeli attack, saying he had discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres the possibility of concluding a military defense treaty with his nation, pledging U.S. aid in the event of an attack.
They really want this guarantee from us, Clinton told me. I would have given them the commitment, too, but now I cant because of the uproar over the refugee camp bombing.
No such treaty was ever signed.
Clintons willingness to use American power to force a cease-fire on Israel before it had fully eradicated Hezbollah stands in stark and sharp contrast to George Bushs insistence on letting Israel proceed with its attacks until the terrorist group is neutralized.
In a nutshell, this illustrates the difference between the Democratic and Republican approaches to Israeli security.
Bush and his administration clearly see the Israeli attack as an opportunity to clean out terrorist cells that have come to be pivotal in Lebanon. With Hezbollahs power extending into the cabinet in Beirut, it is clear that Israeli military action is necessary to forestall the creation of a terrorist state on its northern border.
While Clinton said he embraced the need for Israeli security, when the going got rough, he bowed to world opinion and called for a cease-fire. When the United States asks Israel to stop fighting, it is like a boxers manager throwing in the towel. The bottom line is that true friends of Israel cannot afford to let the Democrats take power in Washington.
But American Jews have voted Democrat in the past and will continue to do so in the future. It is really the Christian evangelical right that stands up for Israel.
The reason Israel has to fight in Lebanon today is that the United States did not permit it to finish the job of destroying Hezbollah in the 90s. Now, fortunately for Israels true friends, the White House is letting Tel Aviv win without reining her in.
Nothing so illustrates the generic anti-Semitism of the global community than its current obsession with proportionality in judging Israels response to the kidnapping of its soldiers and the rocket bombing of its cities. The Vatican, the European Union and Russia have said nothing about the almost daily bombardment of Israels northern border by Hezbollah or the constant attacks from Gaza after Israel magnanimously vacated the strip. But now that the Jewish state is defending itself, the global community is outraged at the disproportionate Israeli response. Only Jewish lives have to be dealt with proportionately.
Israels defensive barrier has succeeded in sharply curtailing the once daily suicide/homicide bombing of civilian Israeli targets. Now the Israeli invasion will push back the frontiers from which the terrorists can work their mayhem through missiles.
Bush and the Republican administration realize that Israel is only acting in self-defense. It is obvious that she would not be attacking Lebanon if the terrorists had not made a habit of using it as a base for attacks on Jewish cities.
The global condemnation of Israel is simply illustrative of the low esteem attached to Jewish blood in this world where anti-Semitism comes disguised as morality and a commitment to peace.
Morris and McGann, husband and wife, have written several books together, including Rewriting History, a rebuttal to Living History by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
That makes no sense. We can't discuss this because we're not discussing your pet issue?
Hence the name "Toe Sucker" is applied to him. But ya didn't hear that from me
Well if the polls are correct, neither will be around in Nov. and unfortunately, both seats will go , be, stand for even more leftist DNCers! RI is pure Dem. and Conn. will send Lamont to DC and rue the day.
Morris was essentially a Republican consultant who for some reason was willing to work for Clinton. I think he had managed one of his early political campaigns. After that Morris decided to only work for Republicans, but when Clinton called on him, he agreed to help, only to live to regret it.
He said the only thing Kerry said right was that he (meaning Kerry) wouldn't have done it the way it's being done. Morris said Kerry would have folded two weeks ago, and the insurgents would be controlling Iraq.
I don't think Dick Morris ever changed. The Democrat party has though. It's morphed into something evil and scary.
I thought the post was from a Jew named Jer (Jerry).
Who knew?
Damn Jers. ;-)
In private, Clinton seethed at the Israeli attack, saying he had discussed with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres the possibility of concluding a military defense treaty with his nation, pledging U.S. aid in the event of an attack.
They really want this guarantee from us, Clinton told me. I would have given them the commitment, too, but now I cant because of the uproar over the refugee camp bombing.
The Bill Clinton public IMAGE:
I would grab a rifle and get in the trench and fight and die," the ex-president said to wild applause at a Jewish fund-raiser in Toronto.
Pat Robertson, the broadcaster?
Nick Robertson of CNN ......
Oh, thanks!
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.