Shards of Custiss Lemay

Submitted by Jon, a Brit from Euroland (France), May 5, 2011 at 05:09

No, it is not appropriate to "bomb them back into the Stone Age".

Israel has every advantage in the development of democracy, and the retreat of tyranny, in the Middle East. The notable absence of anti Israel rhetoric in the "arab spring" movements is a vindication of the non centrality of this issue in the concerns of the long oppressed people of the region. The dynastic/"elitist" leadership has used this conflict to provide an excuse for corrupt practices, and the setting aside of coherent policies to encourage developement in "their" countries, with a focussing on politics and military "investments" as the central activities of the states.

Their people are being isolated, their clannic parties being isolated and dismembered.

While obviously Israel should be prepared to defend itself (which is after all the first function of the State, the present perspective is essentially positive, and the falling away of the external supporters of the (unreconstructed) palestinian leadership (progressively more deconstructed, with the inclusion of Hamas in the "government"), opportunities will be created.

Israel might in fact be thinking of investing in countries which are newly liberated, bringing the services which years of oppression have neglected. For instance a network of Israeli teaching hospitals in these newly liberated countries could be an interesting feature of regional politics...

Planning for carpet bombing is not an intelligent option.

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