Pipes is on target, but ahead of his time.

Submitted by Jerry Krasnow (United States), Mar 31, 2006 at 08:49

Pipes argues that for a war to end one side has to quit or be vanquished. As regards the Arab states verses Israel, the Arabs still seek the destruction of Israel, while Israel does not seek the defeat of the Arabs. He then points to the diverse Israeli polictical parties today to prove that Israelis do not choose the path of Victory. ...

Israel seeks to survive. It has the strongest military and commitment to intelligence gathering of any nation in the world. The path of disengagement and unilateral decisions on the boarder and even annexation of settlement lands the West Bank speaks of a state preparing for war. When fences need to be built, it reflects a war status.

Israel has had its hands tied with regard to fighting the Palestinians. With arms sales needed from the USA, Israel had to bend to their demands. With the Palestinians not having their own state, they were not equals. Only when the Palestinians have their own nation, and can arm, then can Israel fight to a victory. And only when substitutes for oil have taken hold will the world allow Israel to succeed.

That is the reality. There will be a time when Israel will destroy the Iranian enrichment facilities, unless the US does it first. There will be a time when Hamas/Palestinians will arm and attack Israel. Then Israel will have the opportunity to crush its enemy.

The only issue is will it be necessary to destroy them all to put an end to the violence, or will the remaining Palestinians abandon their quest for victory.

I do not think I will live long enough to see this outcome. Perhaps Pipes will.

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