Forgive the Profanity
Here is one of the sickest suggestions I’ve yet to read on how to settle the Israeli-Arab conflict:
The most effective way to force a reduction of the violence on both sides is to take punitive economic measures. The United States finances about $4 billion a year, on average, of Israel’s national budget. The continuing effort to defend, support and increase settlements in the West Bank and Gaza costs at least $1 billion a year. The money spent annually in directly subsidizing the existing settlements was estimated in 2001 at $400 million.
An American government that was resolved to stop expansion of the settlements would not need to keep sending the secretary of state to Jerusalem to repeat that we really mean what we say. We could prove it by deducting the total cost of the settlements each year from the United States’ annual allocation to Israel. To show that we were not being unfeelingly mean, the United States should add that we would hold $1 billion a year in escrow to help those settlers who would peacefully move back into Israel’s pre-1967 borders.
That’s from Arthur Hertzberg in today’s (you guessed it) New York Times. But don’t worry, Israel! Mr. Hertzberg would take the same harsh measures against the Palestinians:
But the United States can do more. It is within our power to insist that other countries
Oh, I have a simpler solution. Lets forget about all of the constraints that we place upon Israel. Let them deal with the terrorists the way any reasonable civilized nation will. Lets not second guess their intention or method. When the terrorists decided that they really mean to lay down their arms, then let the Israeli dictate the term.
Mr. Hertzberg gets paid to think these harebrained schemes through, and doesn’t. You don’t get paid a thing, and nail it. Vodkapundit 1, NY Times 0. And forgive me if that “1″ is actually a higher figure–I’ve lost track by now.
Unfortunately, we should have witheld the money in the 80′s when they were building the largest of the settlements.
The problem for Israel, is that there military methods don’t work. For the USA, one can see that our military aims in Afghanistan and Iraq might have a beneficial end…no such thing can be said of Israels missile by missile approach or for their town by town sweeps. Israel is not constrained by the US, they are constrained by the reality that they effed up the tactical and strategic relationship with their biggest enemy that lives in and on its borders…not too smart.
You hit on the truth right in the middle of the article by bringing up Tehran…and we did more to solve the conflict by taking down Saddam than we did in 20 years of negotiations.
The arab dictators bankroll and support the terror so Israel remains “the enemy” of the arab people, thus keeping the heat off their own oppressive regiemes.
Baghdad isn’t a problem any more. The other parts of the problem will be solved in Riyadh, Tehran, Cairo, and Damascus, not in Gaza or the West Bank.
Then they might find that the West Bank is much cheaper to police if there aren’t any Arabs in it.
I don’t know what’s more terrifying: the implications of this statement, or the fact that I … no, I don’t agree with it.
Yet.
Gander, what do you think we’re going to have to do???
Nagasaki and Hiroshima will only be remembered for being the first time.
If you don’t read rantburg.com, you should start.
Why don’t we just cut the 3 billion and change we ship to Egypt every year instead?
PoliticaObscura
“they effed up the tactical and strategic relationship with their biggest enemy.”
You’re right, it is “effed up” that Israel hasn’t treated the Palestinians like the Palestinians have treated them.
Stephen:
“Instead, he desires more of what we’ve come to expect from those lofty Establishment thinkers: Promote France, reduce the stature of the US, coddle another failed Arab state, and fuck the Jews.”
priceless. and thanks for not saying “effed”
Perhaps instead of cutting off US aid to the Palestinians, we should funnel it through the IDF. It’s pretty clear to me that the IDF values palestinian civilians a lot more than the PA does.
Enough of this. Let’s now hold Israel to the same standard we hold ourselves. Is anyone giving US money? No.
Ok, how did we deal with 9/11? Afghanistan/Iraq anyone? Let Israel loose to the same standard. We can probably keep our money ourselves, very shortly.
I’ve supported the administration, what they are now trying to do with Israel undermines our arguments for ourselves.
There’s one group that won’t be deterred by economic sanctions in the least: SUICIDE BOMBERS WHO AREN’T GOING TO BE AROUND TO SPEND SO MUCH AS A DIME AFTER THEY’VE DONE THEIR MURDEROUS DEED!
End ALL US blackmail payments to Israel NOW. Sharon is a terrorist. Sure, Arafat is one too. But the one-sided nature of this post is just astounding in its ignorance and willful blindness.