Exactly Right

Submitted by Jonathan Keiler (United States), Apr 5, 2005 at 18:31

This is exactly correct. Not only is a democracy removing its own legal homeowners is this way unprecedented, I can't think of a non-democracy that acted in such a way as a result of rival nationalist pressures.

To aggrandize the ruler, to imposed crackpot ideologies, but to voluntarily and forceably remove one's own citizens from hard won territory under pressure from a rival nationalist ethnic entity is, I think, unprecedented. Unprecedented precisely because it's ultimately suicidal.

Also correctly noted in the piece is that the Gaza withdrawal is unequivically a military defeat. This cuts the cant of those like the otherwise sensible Charles Krautheimer who have crowed about Israeli victory in this war.

The Israelis are losing, simply because they refuse to do what is necessary to win. Fighting Israeli style is a recipe for losing. It has nothing to do with techincal competence, tactical genius or bravery. It is a concept that concedes defeat as a virtual a priori case. It is a tragedy.

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