I disagree Mr. Pipes, Israel needs to continue its calculated posturing and agression...

Submitted by Rick House (United States), Jul 18, 2006 at 17:11

In ancient times the wars of Israel would have been quickly won. Israel would attack and utterly destroy its enemies -- killing all the soldiers and making slaves of the defeated population. In the modern age such complete warfare is unexceptable. What our modern world approves of is a state of quasi-peace and/or quasi-war. Today, we have to realize that we live in an age of ferment, of endless struggle, where victory is never acheived or even hoped for (e.g. Viet Nam, the Cold War, and the Iraq War). We live in a time of endurance -- and if we're smart, we'll look to Israel as a model.

To ask Israel to maintain a steadfast all-out state of war would be more harmful to Israelis than to Israel's enemies. A hoped for peace amid 50 years of intense struggle is necessary for the Israelis, and you know it. Israel needs to temper its agressive retaliations within the spectrum of world opinion and the battlefield. It must create and acheive its short-term tactical goals (its present ones are to free the soldiers, defang Hezbollah and Hamas, and enable the Lebanese Army to become a force along the border). And it must never forget its most important long-term strategic goal, to continue to exist on its sacred soil. For each day it does, it wins a victory over its enemies. The people of Israel know this in the very fiber of their bones. So, when one views the motives of Israel, one must always remember to look at the sum of their calculation. If the Star of David flies, Israel wins.

Mr. Pipes, the state of military aggression and defensiveness you advocate for Israel will not work in the rapidly changing climate of the Middle East. The situation today is just too fluid -- e.g. a peace treaty with Lebanon is as likely as another occupation.

Rick House

Denton, Texas

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