Gyroscope

“Israel’s right to defend itself.” “Confront terrorism.” “Measured response.” “Israel must show resolve.”

All the clichés are out in force to prevent any facts from getting in the way of the next disaster in the Middle East.

Brilliant. Of course, everyone has forgotten that Israel's invasion of Gaza happened just days after Hamas was inching towards changing their position and accepting (in some fashion) Israel's right to exist. No, that fact has been sent down the memory hole, doesn't exist. Couldn’t possibly exist because you know that Arab = Terrorist. If they did say that, it was a trick, because Arab = Terrorist.

Once again the extremists on both sides have won.

So many seem to think that the proper response to an outlaw faction kidnapping one Israeli is to blow up bridges, the airport, electric plants, arrest officials who were condemning the kidnapping, etc, etc. Even more brilliant. Yes, that really encouraged good behavior, rewarded Palestinians working for peace, strengthened those who said terrorism is not the way. Yup, very effective.

And in Lebanon? Rockets being launched against Israel, so of course, bombing their airport, and then the road to Syria, killing scores of civilians, while not bombing the sites where the rockets were being launched from – that will really assist in undermining the terrorists. So the Lebanese government may fall and Hezbollah come to power there. That will really help things out.

Yes, I’m sure the terrorists who did the kidnappings wanted to sabotage the movement in Hamas towards cutting a deal with Israel. Just as Israel is desperate to sabotage Hamas becoming a mainstream political party. Because, you see, there are people out there who don’t want the two peoples to live in peace with each other – people on both sides. It’s just that in one case it’s government policy supported by the US.

And they extremists have really won – big time.

And I don’t suppose many remember that Hamas has been running local councils for over a year – and working just fine with Israeli technical experts at ground level all along – a de facto recognition of Israel. And observing the cease-fire better than Israel has? Better than Arafat’s corrupt Fatah ever did?

Oh, but what about all those rockets from Gaza? Well, more facts that have vanished. The work of Abbas to get a deal brokered in late June to stop that rocket fire – well, that fact has also disappeared. It was hard to get that deal with Islamic Jihad, since they unreasonably thought that Israel should stop bombing Gaza in exchange for them stopping bombing Israel, but the iron law of the region is that only the victims must be pacifists.

The truth was that before the boneheads kidnapped the soldier there was more positive movement towards a realistic deal than in maybe years. But now the hotheads on both sides have done it in.

Lebanon Hezbollah has declared open war on Israel. An Israeli ship has already been hit by a drone. Oil is at $78 a barrel and climbing.

Great.

And of course, Bush is alone in defending Israel. The EU, the Vatican, condemn the actions as out of line. Israel is doing what we did in Iraq, and it won’t work any better.

Great.