“I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country.” –George Smith Patton (11 nov 1885 – 21 dec 1945)
Israel is isolated geographically and diplomatically by an ocean of Arab hostility … why not use that to it’s advantage ? …
In a recent public statement Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday condemned the recent massacre in Syria’s Houla, expressing “revulsion” and placing blame for the incident squarely on Syrian President Bashar Assad. Netanyahu joins a growing chorus of condemnation by world powers, including the United Nations, the United States, Russia, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union. Netanyahu expressed his “revulsion over the ongoing massacre being perpetrated by the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad against innocent civilians, which continued over the weekend in Houla and included dozens of innocent children,” a press release stated. The prime minister also took the opportunity to condemn Iran and Hezbollah for their roles in the ongoing violence in Syria. “Iran and Hezbollah are an inseparable part of the Syrian atrocities and the world needs to act against them,” Netanyahu added. (More Here)
My Blunt Opinion :
Before I write the core of my thoughts below, let me first say that there is absolutely no pleasure in advocating war. War must always be the last option in any given conflict but when all peaceful options fail what is there left to do ?
In the past I have advocated American intervention in Libya because I felt that the American president who had preached democracy in Cairo ( after making a beautiful speach about universal individual rights and hence boosting democratic hopes amongst people in the region) had the moral duty to stand by those very people he encouraged to revolt. Ultimately the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate ( a Peace Prize for What May we ask ?) was paralyzed by indecisiveness and if it were not for the French President Sarkozy Gaddafi would have most certainly still be in power today.
I haven’t changed my opinion the slightest on the Intervention on Libya. It was the RIGHT THING TO DO !
WARLORD’s INTELLECTUAL: BHL the Mind behind Sarkozy’s Libyan Success
Where it took President Sarkozy in cooperation with Britain’s PM Cameron less than One Month to convince the UN and the Arab League to interfere in Libya in several stages : a No Fly zone, followed by a Humanitarian Corridor and only then arming the rebels to overthrow their bloody tyrant, the Conflict in Syria on the otherhand has been lingering for nearly 15 months and has cost to date 10 000 lives and many, many horrific deaths of children as witnessed by numerous war correspondents who lost their lives while reporting them.
Critics by the liberal left have strangely endorsed the Russian and Chinese stance on Libya. Since many suggested that Sarkozy and the Coalition are responsible for going beyond their declared intentions by actively bringing down the Gaddafi regime which led to an average 50 000 deaths during the Libyan conflict. How presumptuous of organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to now complain on the lack of action by Western Democracies in regard to the Human Rights Violations which are occuring amidst the so called « Arab Spring » ( see Related BBC News) …
Might as Well know what you want ?
Unlike the war in Iraq and Afghanistan the libyan conflict was something which was largely demanded by the Libyans themselves. Without which Gaddafi would have most probably committed far more bloodshed than Assad today. In addition from a purely military perspective the conflict did not cost the Coalition the slightest human casualty.
How convenient for Pacifists to sit in that confort zone of intellectual discourse by dismissing the slightest accountability.
Post Gaddafi Libya may not be a Paradise but it is better off with Gaddafi Six Feet under. True much needs to be done to unify the country and disarm a population which had to fight for it’s survival. That Libya may or may not choose the Charia no different than the Egyptians tomorrow as a model of social and political organization is after all their choice. To want to project our own ideals of a Jeffersonian democracy on societies which have other outlooks still deeply rooted in tradition and shaped by different historical evolutions is after all not our business, nor can we dictate to people who have fought at the risk of losing their lives for their recently acquired freedom. Up to each nation and it’s people to build their own country based on the choice of the majority as in all deemed democratic societies.
But how can we preach « universal values » when we ignore the very calls for help from people who share them or claim to share them ?
President Obama’s hesitations and lack of a long term vision forced others in the Free world to act on Libya instead. Despite enormous challenges to rebuild the country and the difficulties of the Transitional Government to impose itself on the country, it should be noted that the ultimate outcome resulting from the Libyan campaign has been a success and quite contrary to what the some in the Liberal Left dishonestly claim being the contrary.. Libya is Free from it’s tyrant … Free from a GENUINE TYRANT and not merely a « dictator » …
Up to the Libyans now to find their way back in the concert of nations as a democratic and reliable nation in it’s own right. Ultimately Nations are responsible for their own choices (good or bad) but at least if they can make those choices they have come a long way …
But how about the Syrians today ? Aren’t the Syrians entitled to something ? If they can’t choose their lives shouldn’t they at least be given the right to at least choose their death ?
Otherwise The alternative is to be slaughtered to the last …
NIGHT OF THE GENERALS : Paul Conroy describes “pure, systematic slaughter of civilians”
If the world is sitting idle then why not consider the option of seeing a nation in the region to act alone. I was hoping to see Turkey or the Arab League to do play this role. But in the absence of the slightest intervention since why not consider another nation to do what others have shyed away from ?
You got it that nation is no other than the Syrian Government ( and people’s) greatest foe : Israel !
If Netanyahu and the Israeli’s seriously think that and that their « tears » for the Syrian people is not just crocodile tears then why not topple Assad ?
Indeed if I were Netanyahu (which fortunately I’m not) … I would attack Assad and “Liberate” the Syrians …
Why you may ask ? Simply because the battle in Syria is a Proxy War with Iran anyhow via the Hesbullah and other anti zionist groups in the region
NIAC Ambassador Majid Rafizadeh: Appeasement with Iran But Sanctions & intervention on Syria?
IRI Press TV Shocked by Israeli settlers shooting but blames Lebanon Unrest on «terrorists
so what has Israel to lose ?
Taking the risk of making new enemies or turning former foes into potential allies ? …
So in Israeli shoes might as well take advantage of the situation …
Had The Stupid Turk Leadership done so early on it would have given the Turks an immense popularity and prestige across the Arab World many of whom are frustrated that what happened in Tunisia and Egypt has not been followed as successfully (or should we say with less bloodshed) in their respective nations. Not only Ehad rdogan’s government taken the same type of initiative as Sarkozy in Libya, he would have put put Turkey ( the only truly secular democracy in the region along with Israel) at the center of regional diplomacy and geo strategic decision making which the Turks have always aspired to since the fall of the Ottoman Empire …
But well don’t count on the Turks or Arabs to establish their ‘Arab Union’ anytime soon ( See Related news) …
The Europeans can’t come together after more than 60 or More Years since the inception of the European Union so how do you expect the Arab League to get it’s acts together ? …
But Now imagine if Israel the quintessential foe of the Arab World would come and “save” them ?
…
Not Only It would change the Entire Geo politics of the region and even lead to a peace treaty with the Palestinians on the long run cause it would put the Hamas which has been supporting the Assad Regime in an embarrasing situation forcing them to abandon their anti Israeli rhetoric …
All the more Israel has never been so isolated geographically and diplomatically by an ocean of Arab hostility …
The US and Europe are too tied up with major elections which could seal their respective governments fate in the months to come and they are sinking in the face of major Economic challenges.
The Russians and Chinese don’t seem to want to help the Syrians either and hope to see this conflict turn into a civil war …
The same russians and Chinese may even find common ground with the Europeans in that they will then want to sell their military equipement to all the major powers in the region who fear that the Syrian conflict may Spill in their territory …
So instead of seeing Syria turn into an ever lingering Civil War like in Spain and see other Syrian towns be martyred to the last … Why Not take the initiative and strike when everyone else is sitting idle and saying : « Lengesh kon ? »
Syrians were amongst the first arab nations to wage war against Israel …
What an Irony and sweet Revenge for the Israelis to now become their saviors ? …
But then I’m not an israeli …
Politics is a cynical game and as De Gaulle Once Said « War is too serious a matter to be left to Generals »
But maybe De Gaulle was thinking about nation building once the war was won …
For as many historians have rightly observed it’s far easier to win a war than to prepare peace …
Well in the meantime there is a war going on in Syria, call it what you want : a slaughter house destined for innocent civilians, a genocide, a laboratory for cold blooded murderers, a shameful spectacle for our generation … Make your choice of the best description …
But eitherway given the odds what has Israel or the innocent Syrian population got to lose other than sitting idle till the angels of death of Bachar Al Assad henchmen come to skin them alive, rape and torture the men, women and children before finishing them off at gun point ? …
There is no clean war … but there are wars which are just !
Saving the Syrian people is a duty … If the deemed « Free and democratic » world can’t get it’s acts together …
Then maybe the Syrian Nation’s best friend is no other than it’s former Zionist Enemy …
So if the Israelis want to make the best out of an already desperate situation they might as well follow General S. Patton’s advice :
Movie “Patton” (1970) by Franklin J. Schaffner :
Full Speech:
Recommended Reading :
Israel must topple Assad in next conflict with Syria proxies by Oded Tira (The writer is a reserve brigadier general and former head of the IDF artillery corps)
Related Blog :
MORAL DILEMMA? Obama & Cameron suggest “peaceful” transition in Syria instead of revolution
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