Lessons For Israel

The Israelis defended their families and their sovereignty and the international community, including our own dear far left, has a fit. But of course, it could be no other way. They’re all shocked and all want a major inquiry although they all already have the verdict. But the shower of missiles from Gaza you say? What inquiry?

Let’s take this example a tad further. We know the IDF warned those aboard the Marmara that their presence in the area was not welcomed, in line with international law. The Israeli army encouraged the flotilla to sail safely along with its “humanitarian aid” to a different port, to be examined for weapons; if free of those, the aid would be delivered (which in fact Israel is doing right now, with that very aid from that very ship, minus the weapons). But the activists breached a security blockade; this warrants a naval response. It was mild and to be contained. The Israeli’s came down one at a time with paint ball guns, not assault rifles. They were met with unsolicited violence; this warrants defensive measures. They had pistols for self-protection, and used them. A fierce fight erupted on deck and only after taking casualties and fearing for their lives did the commandos fire back, trying to aim first at the feet of the "peace activists."

What’s the big deal?

The big deal is the instructive nature of this exercise, for all of us but especially for the Israelis. Their first error was to underestimate the potential for violence aboard the ship. We now find that some 40 Turkish mercenaries were aboard, no papers, but bullet proof vests and night goggles. Just your run-of-the-mill humanitarians naturally. But wait! As Vic Hansen observers, "Turkey thought that the Gaza flotilla would be yet another clever way of confronting Israel: They would hype the hoped-for 'overreaction,' then posture as regional defender of the faith to the world’s outraged Muslims. However, as more details of the incident emerge, more and more suspicion is falling on Turkish interests that seem to have gone out of their way to stage a violent encounter in order to showcase Turkey’s new Mideast role.'" Oh, that.


The Israeli error which eclipses all others however is their recent habit to play nice, worrying too much about pr and not enough about their security. When you’re sweet, thugs grow only more surly. Witness the recent Lebanon initiative. Israel has used just enough force to irritate, not enough to intimidate.

Our lefty friends instantly pounce on the Israelis, taking the case of the “underdogs.” They lack the intellectual curiosity to do otherwise. In fact, the “underdogs” are deviled by envy, nothing else. Here is a little, thriving, free democracy that provides evidence of excellence to otherwise failed neighboring states - all a mess, in spite of their sitting on riches in oil. These clowns can’t even refine their own gasoline. So of course they’re pissed. And when the Israeli’s sworn enemy, by policy in fact randomly target civilians, they forfeit any credibility, any legitimate complaint they may have had. It’s that simple.

You want understanding? Stop the murder. Until then Israel, vanquish these troglodytes.

Robert Craven