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Thursday, May 29, 2003


Road Map

Creating a second palestinian state, the basic principle of the Road Map, is something I can agree with ONLY if the Arabs prove they want peace. The profound changes necessary in the Arab culture to live in peace with Israel are not likely to come about. For that reason, the Road Map is likely just a short-lived slogan. As the chance for peace grows nearer, the Arabs will see it as weakness and will almost certainly respond with even more violence, once again destroying, temporarily, the hope for peace. Then the cycle will continue, Israel and the west will tire of the violence and decide that "something must be done." Whatever group of leaders is then in charge will assume that they are smarter and more capable than anyone preceding them and the EUnuchs with some US pressure will demand more concessions from the Israelis.

Meanwhile, the Arabs, the perpetual victims and perpetrators of the violence, will continue their work to drive the Jews from Israel. They've taught their populations for almost 2 generations that driving the Jews into the sea will restore their pride. But, we ignore it. That we continue to ignore it instead of demanding a halt to their incessant incitement of hatred worries me. That we will impose the Road Map's solution despite Arab failures to meet theri obligations terrifies me. Why is it so difficult to expect decent behavior of the Arabs? Why do we expect superlative behavior of the Israelis?

Yashiko Sagamori has it right:

Of course, Ariel Sharon’s consent to the rape is conditional on the Arab terrorist Abbas’ fight against Arab terrorism. However, the terms “fight” and “terrorism” remain to be defined and, therefore, are open to interpretation. The interpretation, most likely, will come from the US State Department. The US State Department, most likely, will heed to the Arab rhetoric, as it has always done, and take the side of Arab terrorists saying they are fighting Arab terrorism. Or would have fought it had Israel not been an obstacle, or will fight it as soon as Israel meets some very important conditions. This is perfectly consistent: Arabs have been saying all along that their terrorism against Israel is Israel’s own fault. Besides, nobody expects them to go for an A plus; C minus is still a passing grade, and, considering that even after they become a full-fledged member of the United Nations they will still remain a terrorist organization, any excuse, no matter how flimsy, will be enough for them to avoid an F. Of course, a few Jews will be blown to bits now and then by an Arab who hates Jews so much that he’ll gladly blow himself to bits in order to kill them, but if such is the price of peace in the Middle East, then Israel, no questions about it, will have to pay it.
Will the Road Map lead anyone to peace? Sadly, no it won't. Unless the Arabs can agree with the Israelis on the final destination the map is useless. I don't, for even a second, believe that the Arab vision of peace is the same as the American vision or the Israeli vision, or the European vision. But the Arabs know how to talk the game and we just buy their talk and ignore the way they act.

With the US State Department interpreting the sincerity and effectiveness of Arab actions in fighting terrorism, there is little doubt that we'll accept anything the Arabs say. I can only hope the President has the fortitude to tell them they are wrong. Is that just another naive hope?

More on the Road Trap and its consequences on America's National Security.



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