The Israelis are building a 300-mile-long wall around Jerusalem to protect themselves from Palestinian terrorist attacks from the north and south. While meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday, Bush expressed "concern" about the wall. Four days ago, President Bush met with Palestinian "Prime Minister" Mahmoud Abbas and called the wall "a problem".
It seems like the real problem is that Palestinian kids keep jacking up on crack, strapping on bombs, and blowing themselves up at Israeli birthday parities.
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, whom the Bush administration has snubbed in favor of Mr. Abbas, says the barrier is a new "Berlin Wall" that will divide Palestinian areas into ghettos.East Berlin was a ghetto because its government made it that way. Arafat and Abbas are the Palestinian government. Do the math.
Jails have walls. Zoos have walls. Not every prisoner is dangerous, nor every animal, but you don't want them just wandering around, especially when it's hard to tell the difference. Palestinians aren't prisoners or animals, but many of them are devoted to wreaking as much havoc in Israel as possible. Unfortunately, it seems like the Israelis are forced to wall themselves in because President Bush would prefer that they make peace with the lions rather than hunt them down and kill them.
Update:
I highly recommend Setting the World to Rights' Short History of Israel for anyone who feels that Israel and the Palestinians share equal blame for the current situation, or who simply wants to know more about the recent history of the region.
Does a history lesson help any?
In 1968 the Labor Party decided that Ariel Sharon was a threat, and they did everything they could to destroy his military career. (He never reached the top. He was answerable to other commanders.)
SO?
So a jerk named Bar Lev decided that after the 6-Day-War that he'd build the "Bar Lev" line facing Eygpt. And, Sharon screamed his head off! What a stupid, indefensible idea! You cannot secure a 350 mile fence. It's too thin. And, it can be over-run. As it was during the Yum Kipper War.
Instead, Sharon wanted to dig in in certain areas. Sure, he'd let the Egyptians run 'wild,' but he'd have such strength in his positions, forever building backwards behind the first line, that the Eygptians would have received pincer movements up their rear and to their sides. They'd have died in the desert.
After almost losing the war, Sharon was finally able to execute the plan he wanted (and he raced over the Suez). Golda Meir was forced to resign 3 weeks after the Yom Kippur War ended. And, both Gonen and Bar Lev were fired from their army positions. Sharon left to join the world of politics. AND, to be come a successful farmer.
Now, you're telling me that the Wall is a real thing, and not just a ruse to keep this Bush occupied? If the issue wasn't there wouldn't Bush have to demand an arm and a leg from Sharon's body?
RED HERRING, FOLKS. RED HERRING ALERT. Bush wants to declare a Palestinian state by this Christmas. Then the UN comes in, and they're back in business. And, America's democracy flushes down the toilet.
Can Bush do this? Every single one of his political manuevers has always been done with a small group of friends. He didn't win a popularity contest. And, it looks like republicans have no intention of trying to win by popular consent, now. (I'm in California. And, while I think Grey Davis is gutless, he did, in fact, get elected. So how come the republicans have all this money for a recall?)
My guess is the republicans think they have the money.
And, I'm also gonna guess that Bill Clinton will pop up here, in California, and he will clean George W. Bush's clock. (Get what I mean? That once the camera lands on Clinton, you're gonna be back to where you were before 9/11. You're gonna see the kind of leader Americans really, really, liked, before Rehnquist stole 4 years for the Bush Family.)
What other contest is there? It's them against us.
Huh. So, in an entirely different circumstance, Sharon didn't think building a long wall would work; ergo, it won't work in this circumstance either? It seems to me that there's a significant difference between building a wall to stop the Egyptian army, and building a wall to make it more difficult for individual terrorists to slip into a city.
In both your comments today you've tried to alert us all to the immanent flushing of our Democracy, but I just don't see it. I doubt that there will be a Palestinian state ever, much less by Christmas. That is the red herring. It's a lure to get the Palestinians to show their hand.
Clinton will pop up in California and clean GWB's clock... in what? The recall election? Bush isn't running in the recall election; I really have no idea what you mean.
The Republicans controlled the White House and the HoR, even before 9/11. So, if we go back, what? The Dems will retake the Senate by 1 vote?
As far as I can tell, the Israelis are oppressing the Palestinians, and the Palestinians are blowing up the Israelis. Leaders on both sides have been acting like complete dickwads for so long now that it seems nearly impossible (not to mention pointless) to try and place blame for the cause. Isn't a better solution to try and get BOTH sides to behave like grown adults, rather than possessive, spoiled children?
Well, the land belongs to Israel. Just because the Palestinians want it is no reason that they should have it. Just because they're willing to fight for it is no reason to give in. They're only being oppressed insofar as is useful for preventing them from killing even more Israelis.
And, if you examine the history, it's quite easy and relevent to place blame. Check out Setting the World to Rights' Short History of Israel.