Credit to Sharon

Submitted by John W. Mcginley (United States), Apr 20, 2004 at 14:46

First: Sharon's steady policy and perseverance is paying off. Yes, even the fence is paying off. The most successful part of his strategy is the unilateral ceding of Gaza (which the Israelis didn't want anyway) WHILE DEMONSTRATING BY ACTION THAT SUCH CEDING IS NOT BEING DONE OUT OF WEAKNESS. Sharon is creating for himself a place in history of virtually mythological proportions. I celebrate him in all ways. He is a good and brave man.

Now, Professor Pipes: Overall you, through your writings, have been one of the most perceptive and intelligent writers on what a war against terrorism -- for the USA and also for Israel -- would have to entail. So I celebrate you as well.

But don't you think that more credit must be given to Sharon? When the Sharon government first floated the idea of a unilateral ceding of Gaza many, as you, claimed that Sharon was making a mistake, arguing that the Arabs and terrorists [stipulating that the majority of Arabs are not terrorists] would perceive this as a sign of weakness. Surely Sharon would not have started down that road without first understanding that dynamic? His unilateral ceding of the Gaza is being promulgated from a clear and obvious position of strength...

Keep up your brave and good work anyway.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".