Thursday, September 4, 2014

Netanyahu, Again



So Israel announces its intention to build large settlements in the Jerusalem suburbs. Surprised? No, I am not because I just have to check to see who’s head of government at the time. If its Netanyahu, then I know he will push to build more settlements in disputed territory.

Settlements!  Build more settlements! That is his mantra.

Of course it is all political nonsense. Settlements will destabilize the region and he knows is. His political/diplomatic theory goes like this: “keep them guessing; exercise your strengths; push them back to make a point; cede the settlements in time to ‘make peace’.” Yes, that’s Mr. N, alright.

What a putz!

First of all, America props up Israel financially. Has for many decades. America also provides ample military supplies and weaponry to Israel. These supports buys us friendship with Israel. I might add, not very good friendship because Israel will turn her back on America faster than a snap of the fingers.

We provide manufactured goods they cannot make to satisfy the demand in-country. We collaborate with policy, arts and entertainment, charitable goods and services, and constantly apologize for Israel’s rudeness to other nations.

Simply put, I doubt Israel can stand on her own.

Now America has stood by Israel for a number of reasons. First is we know she cannot stand on her own. So we help her in order to maintain some balance in the Middle East region. Second, we are part of the culture known as Judeo-Christian. Both religions come from the same root stock. Of course the same can be said of Islam because all three religions worship the same God, the God of Abraham.

Third, Israel is an inventive nation of culture, music, literature and history. Theology, too, of course! Their entire national existence mirrors much of America’s struggle to freedom, only their trek is several millennia long! Ours is only a few hundred years. But still…

I support Israel in many ways. I just don’t support Netanyahu. He is a bully. He is rude. He is domineering. That may be what he honestly feels is the road to take to protect his homeland from extinction promised by her many enemies. But there is another way this can be done.

A much better approach is collaborate partnerships with many global nations of high leadership caliber. France, England, Germany, Spain, Canada, America, most of the South American nations, and plenty other friends. Middle Eastern nations should be pulled into this collaborative partnership as well: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia to name just a few.

Middle Eastern nations have two major exports to the rest of the world; one is good; the other bad. The good is energy products, mostly oil. The bad is terrorism. The last is a sick nihilistic contortion of its culture. Islam is not militaristic. It is not violent. It is a religion of peace and serenity that both Judaism and Christianity claim.

Why then does the world get this awful image of Islam as terror-based?  Well, first of all, it’s a bum rap. Islam is not terror-based. But a few bad apples have certainly skewed the world’s view of Islam. It behooves the Islam faith community to take back its own identity and help steer a path of peace toward the rest of the Middle East including Israel. This would be a huge step in the right direction.

A second diplomatic step that would help: NATO and the United Nations pledge all the humanitarian help it can provide to calm the terror-ridden landscape of the Middle East. Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran must pull together to build a future of peace for themselves and the rest of the region. And that would help build serenity for the rest of the globe at the same time.

America is not the policeman of the world. It doesn't want to be. It can’t afford to be. And it would be wrong for it to pursue such as role.

But America can help the process along and support it along the way.  I think most Americans would agree with this goal and process.

Now if Mr. N would begin to act like a true leader rather than a bully, we would have a good start.

Anyone else have any constructive ideas in this matter?


September 4, 2014

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