Never Again

Shortly after 9/11, Senator John McCain’s brother Joe wrote about the Jewish State that was under continuous attack from Hammas terrorists. Following are some excerpts from that article that seem ever more pertinent in the present difficulty.

"Can Israel Survive?" Don't worry about it. It relates to something that Palestinians, the Arabs, and perhaps most Americans don't realize -- the Jews are never going quietly again. Never! And if the world doesn't come to understand that, then millions of Arabs are going to die. It's as simple as that.

Throughout the history of the world, the most abused, kicked-around race of people have been the Jews. Not just during the holocaust of World War II, but for thousands of years. They have truly been "The Chosen People" in a terrible and tragic sense. A few lowlights:

In 70 A.D. the Romans decided on an early "Solution" to their Jewish problem. Jerusalem was sacked and reduced to near rubble and Jewish resistance was pursued and crushed by the implacable Roman War Machine. Thus began The Diaspora, the dispersal of Jews throughout the rest of the world.

In the late 1200's Edward I of England (affectionately known as 'Edward the Hammer') borrowed money from the Jews to finance imperial ambitions in Europe. Then, rather than pay back the debt, Edward simply expelled the Jews. After a time, he invited the Jews back to their English homeland, borrowed more money, then he expelled them again.

Then the Nazi Holocaust -- the corralling, sorting, orderly eradication of millions of the people of Moses. Not something that other realms in other times didn't try to do, by the way, the Germans were just more organized and had better murder technology.

Well, now the Jews have a homeland again, a place that is theirs. And if it comes down to survival of its nation, its people, they will fight like no lioness has ever fought to save her cubs. They will fight with a ferocity, determination and skill that will astound us. The Jews will not go quietly again.

Dennis Prager explains that the Middle East conflict is difficult to solve, but easy to understand. The Arab and other Muslim enemies of Israel want Israel destroyed. That is why there is a Middle East conflict. Everything else is commentary.

In 1947-48, the Arab states tried to destroy the tiny Jewish state formed by the United Nations partition plan. In 1967, Egypt, Syria and Jordan tried to destroy Israel in what became known as the Six-Day War. Six years later, in 1973, Egypt invaded the Israeli-held Sinai Peninsula, a war that ended in nearly all of the Sinai still in Israel's hands.

In the last year of the Clinton administration, Israel offered PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat about 97 percent of the West Bank in exchange for peace. Instead, Israel got its men, women and children routinely blown up and maimed by Palestinian terrorists after the Palestinians rejected the Israeli offer at Camp David.

Now the Israelis have to contend with Hezbollah terror from Lebanon, funded and aided by Iran and Syria. The great danger in the Israeli-Hezbollah war is not that it might escalate, but that it might not. Some fear the government of Ehud Olmert lacks the stones to take advantage of a rare opportunity. The usual suspects have said the usual things about Israel's "disproportionate" response to the kidnapping of its soldiers and the rocket attacks on its cities. But this time, many seem just to be going through the motions. (Jack Kelly, “Will Israel Drop the Hammer?”)

In the midst of war and destruction, writes Jules Crittenden, there is a reason for hope. Something remarkable is happening. Even as the Middle East is erupting into open warfare, we may be witnessing a rare watershed moment in history, approaching the fall of the Berlin Wall in its significance. Israel, in response to the abduction of its soldiers and bombardment of its cities, has reoccupied Gaza and is pounding Lebanon and the bases of the Iranian-backed terrorist group that holds Lebanon hostage.

The world's remarkable and unprecedented reaction? Israel is justified.

Most astounding was Saudi Arabia calling Hezbollah's attack on Israel, unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts, a position shared by Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Crittenden, again: Largely Sunni Muslim Arab nations are alarmed by non-Arab, Shiite Iran's increasingly aggressive efforts to dominate the Middle East. The Palestinian cause is no longer an acceptable fig leaf for power grabs and indiscriminate violence as it has been used by Iran, Syria, Palestinian extremists, and not least al-Qaeda.

The Arab and Muslim world seems to be awakening from its centuries-long darkness, for the first time seeing the light provided by freedom and mutual respect. America and Israel, the big and little satans to the reactionaries in Iran and Syria, with some help from scattered friends, are embarking on a crusade to rid the world of tyrants.

With world opinion coming around, I was curious what PalosVerdesBlog readers thought about the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Thus I sent out a quickie poll with the question: Should Israel continue its war against Hezbollah, or stop fighting?

Thanks to my readers, I received 30 responses within 24 hours. The overwhelming opinion was to continue the war (28 yes) while only 2 wanted Israel to stop. Many of the comments were insightful.

Let's see...I am surrounded by nations that detest my existence and have openly expressed their desire for my annihilation. These nations (afraid to confront me directly) support both financially and politically terrorist organizations whose sole purpose is to destroy me as a sovereign nation. One of those organizations stealthy crosses my border and kills 8 of my soldiers and takes 2 prisoners. What to do? What to do?

What kind of a question is that? Israel has no choice - it's about survival.

Appeasement, as history has shown, is not a viable alternative but a sign of weakness and that's the illusion motivating Israel's enemies. The job at hand is long overdue and must be brought to its conclusion.

Keep going until Hezbollah is no more. Cease-fires only allow them to rest and re-arm.

The responsibility for innocent Lebanese lives rests entirely with Hezbollah and not Israel.

If Israel is disarmed, the result will be a complete genocide of the Jewish people. If Hezbollah is disarmed, the result will be peace. (Bill O'Reilly)

America is wise to support our friend Israel in the Middle East, one of the few we have. I'd also like to see the US support the fledging government of Lebannon.

Israel is acting as our ally, and I would hope they can eradicate both terrorist groups. The U.S. should provide as much material and financial support as possible to achieve that goal.

The real force behind all of this is Iran. Iran is in an aggressive mode of expanding its sphere of influence, and this is Not A Good Thing. In fact, the war in Iraq has devolved into a proxy war between the United States and Iran. Iran will continue to bleed us in Iraq until events and public opinion overcome us and we leave Iraq in helicopters off the rooftops a la Viet Nam. So, I think we should foreclose that horrible endgame and confront Iran directly.

What BRILLIANT readers!!