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In the Times a few days ago Ethan Bonner notes that most Israeli "strategists and generals" have "said that giving up the strategic advantage of the Heights in exchange for promises or even written treaties makes no sense."
And he quotes Dore Gold: "In a world in which Iran is on the march and extending its influence from Lebanon to Iraq, for Israel to consider giving up the Golan barrier would be a strategic error of the highest order."
But, having given that side its due, he gives more weight to those who think what Olmert is doing is just the ticket:
"On the other hand, many other [how many other?] Israeli officials and analysts see great benefits for Israel. Syria is a prime sponsor of Hezbollah and provides it with rockets and arms, many from Iran. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have headquarters in Damascus, and Israel will seek, in these negotiations, to have them closed.”
And he ends with this, that is not attributed to the beliefs of "many others" but stated, as if it were a fact of which we have all taken judicial notice:
To pull Syria out of the orbit of Iran and return it to the more pro-Western world of Egypt, Jordan and even Saudi Arabia would be a major victory for Israel. A real peace treaty with Syria would bring Israel significant advantages in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
Let's see if we agree with Ethan Bonner that pulling Syria "out of the orbit of Iran" and returning it "to the more pro-Western world of Egypt, Jordan and even Saudi Arabia" would constitute a "major victory for Israel."
It would be a "major victory for Israel" if Syria's bad relations with Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia were bad for Israel, and if Syria's possible good relations with Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia would be good for Israel. But why would that be?
Are Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in any sense "pro-Western"? True, Egypt and Jordan both accept, and wish to continue grandly to accept -- and will be furious if there is any interruption in their ability to accept -- billions (in the case of Jordan), and tens of billions (in the case of Egypt) in aid, which they regard as their due, their Jizyah (and so do, increasingly, the donor Western nations). But why, in what way, can they be called "pro-Western"? Do they collaborate with the West? Do they do the West's bidding in any way that does not already conform to their interests? When have Jordan or Egypt or Saudi Arabia ever done anything to placate or please the West that they would not already have done out of their own calculated self-interest? Was Saudi Arabia being "pro-Western" or "anti-Infidel" when it paid for arms for the muhajideen in Afghanistan?
Is Egypt being "pro-Western" when it pretends to urge the Sudan to rein in the Janjaweed? Or is it, in fact, giving a nudge-nudge wink-wink to a fellow member of the Arab League, perfectly entitled, in the view of Egypt's Arabs, to do what it wants with the black Africans under its control, Muslim and non-Muslim?
Is Egypt, is Jordan, is Saudi Arabia, more willing to contemplate the long-term existence of the Infidel nation-state of Israel, or did the first two sign "peace treaties" in the same spirit as Muhammad signed his agreement with the Meccans at Hudaibiyya in 628 A.D.?
Do you think that Saudi Arabia is more willing to accept the notion of Israel than is Iran? Or do you think there is no important difference in their deep and implacable hostility to a Jewish state on territory once possessed by Muslims, and what's more, a state in the middle of Dar al-Islam?
When Syria went to war in 1973, and before that, in 1967, it was "in the orbit of Egypt." Would not Syria be more likely to collaborate in the future with Egypt and with Jordan if it were pulled back into that "orbit of Egypt" rather than allied with Shi'a Iran? And isn't Syria, allied as it is with Shi'a Iran, more likely to cause problems for the Sunni Arabs in Lebanon, and hence with Sunni Arabs elsewhere, and hence contribute to a Sunni-Shi'a divide within the world of Arab Islam? And isn't that a good thing for Infidels, including the Infidels of Israel?
It is not obvious at all that Israel would be better off with Syria "in the orbit of Egypt" and its fellow Sunni Muslim states once again.
But this is stated as accepted truth in the course of what is, after all, supposed to be a report by a reporter, whose job is one of telling the readers about this Israel-Syria negotiation is taking place, and what may be its subject, and the varying opinions of Israelis on the notion of giving back the Golan. His job is not to tell readers of the Times that if the negotiations are successful, and Israel gives up the Golan Heights this will, of course, "pull Syria out of the orbit of Iran and return it to the more pro-Western world of Egypt, Jordan and even Saudi Arabia" and "would be a major victory for Israel."
This is not gospel truth. This is a guess, and not an educated one either, from a reporter who, like so many reporters for the Times, does not know the meaning of the phrase ultra vires.
He could look it up.
Posted by Hugh at May 26, 2008 5:19 AM
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How do we fight the Allah Cult?
I had no problem with us toppling that evil little dictator who thought himself a big shot, Saddam Hussein, but staying in Iraq for 5 years to bring them 'stability and democracy' is beyond absurd. It does not guarantee any kind of peace in the Middle East, and more it gives power over to the Shia power center of Iran. Now we are dancing to their tune, which will soon have a grand bass drum finale with an Atomic Bomb. So much for bringing peace to the Middle East.
1) If you're going to fight the many headed Hydra of the Allah Cult, you must severe the main head. In this case it was not Iraq but Iran. We went after the wrong guy, though the one in Iraq begged for it. (Remember his little beady eyes looking up nervously at the sky when out greeting his Iraqi supporters in public? Not the same macho guy firing off his rifle, was he? He knew our missiles and planes were up there!) But the little beady eyed troll who heads Iran is another story. His 'suicide pact' with the return of the occultated Mahdi (hiding in a well for past thousand years) does not further any kind of meaningful discussions. He and his Mullah theocracy are the primary head of the Allah Cult snake, and it needs to be lopped off first. Then, let's pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan and let them at it. This will be a show the BBC will report assiduously every day, I am sure. There will be slaughter to follow, but secure the northern Iraqi bases in Kurd areas, and get ready to fight over the oil wells. Can't let the Mahdi Allah Cult jihadis get those.
2) What alliance have the other players brought us? Egypt? It keeps the Suez Canal open, that's all. Jordan? It accepts our aid. Syria? It's building up for war with Israel. Saudi Arabia? It's doing nothing more than spreading Islamic cult all over the word, with OUR oil money. So do we really need them? Why are we sponsoring these useless governments with financial support? Why are we not instead focussing on getting a beach head in Lebanon against Iran/Syria sponsored Hezbollah?
3) We only have one ally in the Middle East, and it is the focuss of all that Arab/Muslim hatred around the world. So let's work with them, their intelligence, and support them against all those leaches who had been sucking off our American largess, and let's get them ALL toppled together. That will be the third strike against the head of the Hydra snake of Allah Cult.
4) Afghanistan? Sink or swim. We've given them enough, and if they can't handle their Allah Cult, where it's called the Taleban, then turn if over to the Russians. They had experience there before and hopefully learned a thing or two, so when they go back, they'll be better prepared. Africa falls into same category, they're wasted, so let them sink or swim in their blood lust Cult.
5) Pakistan? Let them go to revolution. Then let India and China handle the spoils, such as they are. They had offered very little in terms of capturing the head of the Allah Cult snake, where there it's called Al Qaeda, so no more largesse for them. Either they kill the snake, or they're on their own, at the mercy of their neighbors.
6) Indonesia? Despite Sharia law in Aceh, they are probably not too interested in the Allah Cult to its logical conclusion, which is total slavery under Sharia. Let them handle their own. Either they stay true to their secularized constitution, or they fail, and the Allah Cult takes over the country. Indonesia was a late comer to Islam, so may not want to regress totally when the chips are down. The people may rebel. Same for Malaysia.
7) Turkey is a big unknown, since they had not helped in our efforts in the Middle East, but neither is their military ready to surrender to the Allah Cult. They will need to do what we need to do domestically, to identify this Cult for what it is and start dismembering it. No Sharia law accommodations, not imams spouting hate at the mosques, and no endorsement of Lebanon styled split government. Either you fight the Allah Cult or you don't. Lebanon taught us that, and there is no middle ground.
8) Domestically, we must decapitate the Allah Cult immediately, with enforcement of laws protecting our freedoms from anti-American hate speech, anti-American activities, with a strict enforcement of the First Amendment, the separation of 'mosque and state', and protection of our courts from abuse by the Allah Cult with frivolous and meaningless law suits. Once this Cult is put on notice that it does not have equal access to our constitutional laws to promote demolition of those same laws through Sharia, they will either back off or face extradition to their Sharia state of their choice. We will not surrender our freedoms to this Cult. Once you eliminate the 'command centers' of the Cult, their masjids, your war is half won.
9) Who can we rely on as allies? The Saudis? AUE? When it comes to true believers in Islam, precious few. The best allies are apostates and heretics, because the 'true believers' are totally imbued with the ideals of the Cult. They would lie first before helping us in combatting it, because they are truly brainwashed, even if friendly nominally outwardly. We have to rely on ourselves, and the friendship with Muslims who have turned away from the Cult. It is as oppressive to them, from Taleban burqaed women to gays hanging in the gallows in Iran, to women abused in Saudi Arabia (Meccan seat of this Cult) to child slavery throughout Islamic lands, this Cult must be put down. We really have no friends, because our freedoms stand alone. The Allah Cult's prime directive is to take those freedoms away, to make us too 'slaves of Allah.'
Cut pieces of that Hydra here and there, and eventually it will die. There is no need for a grand champion Hercules to lead this fight. We can all activate the destruction of this evil Cult piece by piece. It means no new mosques in our lands, and no tolerance for abuse under Sharia type laws, like honor killings, wife beatings, child slavery, sex slavery, and in general the inferior status of women, so no chador. Then we must stop all Islamic attacks on Jews, or Christians, or Infidels everywhere, and these must be highlighted in the news in broad letters. Stop babying a Cult, there is no advantage, neither on multiculturalist levels, nor on ideas of equality and religious tolerance. A cult is a cult, and it cannot compare to any other religious beliefs, except those which want to dominate by force and intrigue. The Kali Cult was stopped by the British in India, and so can this Allah Cult be stopped, though it is worldwide and maybe 1 billion strong. We have to work and fight harder, that's all. Our freedoms are not for grabs by a hysterical religious primitive cult. We have a right to defend ourselves and eliminate it.
The many headed Hydra of the Islamic Cult starts with Iran, and is spread by Saudi Arabian Wahabism, and ends with the Al Qaeda wannabes, and we have to fight all its heads. Iran is first target. Until the world is rid of this devious and evil Cult, there will be no peace. This fight began in earnest on 9/11, but it had been going since 1979. And our fight has not yet begun. Remember the most important words Mohammad gave to his Cult followers: "War is deceit." Take it from there. There is no truce with this Cult.
Posted by: Battle_of_Tours![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 27, 2008 12:17 AM
What about oil?
I had to add this, because this will be the Big Question on everyone's mind. Remember oil a year ago was only $66 per barrel, today it's over $131, a 100% gain in one year. If you factor in India and China's demand, with a weaker US dollar, this may only account for 25% of that gain. The US dollar went up about 18% in past year, from E$1.33 to E$1.57, the other 7% is increasing demand vs. supply. Obviously the other 75% is hanky panky, and the FTC is looking into it now. The main problem may be the ICE in London, where there are no contract limits, and international 'hedge funds' may be using that market as they will, without controls.
The oil produced by OPEC and Middle East has nowhere to go, except to go to us. They will not dump it into the sea, so they are FORCED to sell it to us. They DO NOT have us over a barrel, we do. Don't forget that. So even if they threaten to cut off our oil supply, what are they going to do with it? It has to eventually end up on the world markets, and if there is no manipulation of futures oil prices, this price must actually go DOWN, not up. So oil is not a meaningful factor in fighting this Allah Cult. The norms and readiness of Western civilization is what is meaningful here, what we are willing to accept in both their aggression as well as their demographic conquests. Cut them off, and the oil will not rise, but fall. They do not own us.
Posted by: Battle_of_Tours at May 27, 2008 1:54 AM
Typo alert!
Make that the US dollar is DOWN 18% vs. the Euro in the past year, not up.
In fact, the world oil demand with slowing world economies should be DOWN too, though this is not yet reflected in oil prices, where now most Americans are paying close to $4 per gallon for unleaded at the gas pump. This is way off reality, but markets are what they are, and if someone found a way to control the oil price, that's what we have to live with. I call tis the Wily Coyote syndrome, where we don't realize we're over the cliff yet... Once we look down, watch out! :)
There's a lot of play room in that other 75%, if the US dollar starts to recover.
Posted by: Battle_of_Tours at May 27, 2008 2:12 AM
I am not one of those who thinks Israel should give up the Golan. It would be suicide.
Posted by: carpediadem at May 28, 2008 2:47 AM
"I am not one of those who thinks Israel should give up the Golan. It would be suicide."
Posted by: carpediadem
Agreed. Israel has nothing to gain from giving up ANY of its land taken by right of conquest.
Arabs and so-called 'Palestinians' start the fights, then squawk when they lose. This is natural law. They lose, they give it up. No hudna, not compromise, no nothing with losers. And since their word is worthing nothing, there is no parley. Yasser Arafat was duplicitous in Olso, same when the 2003 Geneva Agreement was trashed, and Hamas's jihadic stand today makes any peace between Israel and its conquered 'Palestinian' territories impossible. So where can it go?
Israel has a choice, to either give up some land with 'Hope' of Peace, or stand firm and demand concessions from the losers. The losers, from 1947 on, have shown in their choices very poor judgment, colored by their hatreds of 'infidels' and Jews, including electing a terrorist organization to power in Gaza. Tough luck, but their bad choices means they live with unhappy consequences, which means no peace while they adhere to Islamic Jihad. Their hatreds fanned inside the perpetual 'refugee camps' is their own self inflicted pain. But they're losers, so no one should ever give up anything to them. Three generations later, there is no "right of return" for these refugees, so called. Their grandparents ran with malice, and so they lost.
Peace will come to Israel when the Arabs lay down their guns and bombs, and call off Jihad. Otherwise, it will be war in perpetuity, until they are truly and totally vanquished. Iran may bring that day closer with their atomic bomb. Strike at the head first, then the rest of the writhing body. There is no other peace with Jihad.
Let the Times strategize, but there is no substitute for total victory when fighting the Allah Hydra headed snake Cult.
Posted by: Battle_of_Tours at May 30, 2008 11:55 PM
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