Posted on 10/05/2001 2:39:06 PM PDT by Pokey78
Whatever caused the crash of Sibir Airlines Flight 1812 from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk, the tragic results are, unfortunately, certain. Seventy-eight passengers and crew are dead, among them over 50 Israelis. That most of these Israelis came to live here only recently only compounds the tragedy, and heightens Israel's responsibility to determine what happened.
Given the attacks of September 11, and that witnesses from a nearby Armenian aircraft reported seeing an explosion from the Russian plane, the prospect the plane was downed by a terrorist attack initially seemed to be a real one. But American satellite surveillance reportedly proves that it was an errant Ukrainian missile that downed the plane.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Victor Yushchenko should be given some credit for pledging a quick and thorough investigation into the tragedy, given that his defense minister had categorically denied the possibility that a missile from a Ukrainian military exercise could have brought down the plane. It is also encouraging that, according to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to include Israel fully in the investigation that has already begun.
It is imperative that there be complete cooperation among Ukraine, Russia, and Israel, and any foreign intelligence agencies that can shed light on what happened. The sooner the cause of the crash can be positively determined, the better it will be for relations between the nations involved, and at least the added burden of uncertainty will be lifted.
Forced to confront tragedy upon tragedy, Sharon also addressed yesterday's terror attack in Afula, in which three Israelis were murdered and seven wounded, just a day after two Israelis were murdered in another terror attack in Elei Sinai.
Sharon's statement that the cabinet had authorized "all necessary measures" in response seemed to be an explicit warning that Israel's policy of restraint has reached its limits.
Most striking, however, was Sharon's direct accusation against the United States: "Do not repeat the dreadful mistake of 1938, when enlightened European democracies decided to sacrifice Czechoslovakia for a 'convenient temporary solution.' Do not try to appease the Arabs at our expense. Israel will not be Czechoslovakia. Israel will fight terrorism."
The Bush administration will no doubt be surprised by Sharon's hurling what is the most painful arrow one ally can aim at another, the charge of Munich-style abandonment. Aside from the element of surprise, however, the Bush team is hardly in a position to argue that Sharon's charge is unjustified.
Sharon is absolutely right that it is morally and strategically bankrupt for the US to act as if its alliance with Israel is a liability in the war against terror, while praising Arab regimes that have been fanning the jihad against America for years. The excuse that stiff-arming Israel is needed to build a coalition does not wash - where is it written that the US needs the permission of Arab states to act in its own self-defense? If anything, lessening the bonds between the US and Israel at this moment stinks of weakness, when what is needed is reassertion of America's commitment to defend its interests across the board, including Israel's security.
President Bush's speech at the State Department yesterday was encouraging in that he reiterated that America would not only "have no compassion for terrorists," but would have "no compassion for any state that sponsors [terrorism]." But when it comes to the terror Israel is confronting, Bush went mushy, saying only "that in order for there to be peace, we must reduce the level of violence."
Israel's problem is not some amorphous "level of violence" but a terrorist offensive as unacceptable as that facing the US.
The fact that Sharon had to accuse the US of appeasement at this time should be a serious warning signal for US policy. If any two countries should be tightly coordinated in the war against terror - against both nations - they are the US and Israel. If the Bush administration does not want to be surprised by such accusations in the future, it should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, not push it into a corner.
On the surface, 'twould seem so.
while praising Arab regimes that have been fanning the jihad against America for years. The excuse that
stiff-arming Israel is needed to build a coalition does not wash - where is it written that the US needs the permission of Arab states to act in its own self-defense?
Because, on its own, all the US can do is find and assassinate Laden and a
few of his henchmen. This is neither justice nor adequate revenge.
If anything, lessening the bonds between the US and Israel at this moment stinks of
weakness, when what is needed is reassertion of America's commitment to defend
its interests across the board, including Israel's security.
Aid to Israel will continue. And Israel defends her own interests
very well. What we cannot do is spark worldwide religious war.
That is in neither our nor Israel's interest.
You are right that we should put our national interests first, and those of Israel and other allies second. But IMHO Bush's raising the issue of a Palestinian state at this time, and his one-sided leaning on Israel while excusing Arafat's misbehavior, is NOT in our national interest. It will only encourage the terrorists by rewarding them for their bad behavior, while discouraging our allies who will wonder about our reliability.
This genetic tendency seems to override even a sincere religious conversion.
Or has GWB not really read the Bible twice as has been said?
No, but we can put a bullet between Yassar Arafat's eyeballs and make the world a safer place. Muslim countries have a pretty poor record in war. I suspect that will not change if they try to rise up and take on Jews and Christians. They would be like the Washinton Generals playing the Harlem Globetrotters.
I agree with you. Israel should use it back channel communications to tell us to kiss their A**.
Exactly.
Just because the lefty media claimed all along that Bush was stupid...please try not to believe it. Try this on for size
Bush, in order to build an alliance of arab nations, has to appease them. So, he, Cheney, Powell and others devise a plan to tell them he was going to support a Palestinian state. In the meantime, he and/or Powell calls Sharon and tells him of the idea and suggests Sharon make a big stink about it. In order for this to look right, Bush, et al, feign being upset at Sharon's reaction. Please think about the plausibility of this.
Or you can all think that Bush really is stupid. Take your pick.
White House Rebukes Israeli Critique
By Barry Schweid
WASHINGTON –– Responding to an Israeli rebuke, the White House slapped back on Friday, rejecting Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's accusation that the United States was appeasing Arabs at Israel's expense for the sake of its war against terrorism.
In a rare public feud, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that Sharon's accusations were unacceptable. He described President Bush as an especially close friend of Israel and said the administration would keep pressing for peace with the Arabs.
Fleischer rejected the idea that the United States was appeasing the Arabs in an attempt to draw Arab nations into an anti-terror coalition.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said he had spoken to Sharon by telephone since the prime minister leveled his criticism in Tel Aviv on Thursday.
"I don't think there is anything to that comment," Powell said in an AP Broadcast interview with two reporters in his executive suite at the State Department.
"From time to time we'll have these little cloudbursts," he said. "But that doesn't affect the strength of our relationship." Powell praised Sharon, saying the prime minister supports the United States in the current crisis over terrorism. "Israel has no better friend in the world than the United States, and they know that we know that."
Can you feel the love?
I hope so. Everything cannot be done in public, though, for now.
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