Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNasty
I would accept your analogy, and agree with you, if I believed that Hamas and other organizations would eventually stop if Israel simply chose to ignore the attacks.
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No, that's not the analogy.
The analogy is a process with meaningful results and progress, whih has pronlems as it progresses - For the IRA progress was release of prisoners (many/most with 'blood on their hands), the institution of cross-border institutions and political reform (which was the initial reason for the start of 'The Troubles').
So, the British didn't simply sit on their hands and wait for the IRA to stop bombing them... They, through a process of NEGOTIATION, put in place a series of measures, which over more than a decade led from a low intensity war to peace.
It didn't happen overnight and it didn't happen without pain... but, eventually, it happened.
Patience. Tolerance. Fortitude.
Making peace is harder than waging war.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNasty
That being said, I do believe Hamas and other organizations wouldn't stop until Israel, as a nation, was gone. That belief really is at the heart of the disagreement between me and you (and I suspect others).
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In a conflict, one side postures that it will not stop until the other side is completely defeated. In reality, almost all conflicts stop a long way short of that.
Israel's stated intention is to destroy Hamas.
How would that even be possible? Ever?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheNasty
Which leads me back to my original line of thought, I really think that Israel finds itself in a dichotomy. Respond with force or accept the consequences of doing nothing. It is unfortunate that a multitude of every day people that do not want any harm done to Israel or themselves are caught in the middle.
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There's a huge area of exploring options for peace in between the two extremes of all-out-war and pacifism.
Lifting the siege peace meal in return for reduced missile attacks.
Recognising Hamas as the legitimately elected authority.
Negotiations over release of prisoners.
Programs of spending on hospitals, schools and jobs inside Gaza and the West Bank.
etc, etc, etc... and that's before you even start to think about endgame settlements and things like right of return and borders.
There are so many political options to bribe and kick Hamas and the Palestinians toward moderation and peace, it's ludicrous to suggest that violence of pacifism are the only two options.
'Unfortunate'
It was 'unfortunate' that a lot of people on 9/11 got caught up in a political dispute between a group of terrorists and the US govt's policies.