The crux

Submitted by Yuval Brandstetter MD (Israel), Oct 9, 2006 at 15:35

The crux of the Reagan experience in Beirut is the following, cut and pasted

"Yet, the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics forced us to rethink our policy there. "

President Reagan, a seasoned politicain cannot figure out Arab politics. In the end decides to cut his losses and let the Jews deal with the Arabs, and let the Arabs duke it out among themselves.

This is the Crux. Americans are essentially unable to deal with a culture totally alien to their way of thinking. NATO, led by America will do no better. The best example is Aznar himself, summarily kicked out of office with one terrorist attack executed at the right time.

Mr Bush, who would like to be remembered as a Reagan-like statesman, facing the same enemy only deadlier, can go back to the Reagan doctrine. Never trust Europe to do the right thing. Let the Jews deal with the Arabs. Deal with dire threats (such as the nuclear Iran) directly, without attaching lofty goals (democratization) to the simple defanging of an ideaologically irrational enemy.

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