ISRAEL UPDATEMay 5, 2002 - When battle becomes static and wearisome, extending for a long period of time, the loss of human life becomes the main focal point - more than the reasons for the conflict.
Israel, now and so many times in the past, is being criticized for what has been called "excessive military force”, due to the brutal house-to-house fighting of the past month.
For nine years, terrorists of Fatah, Tanzin, Task Force 17 and the Al-Aksa martyr brigade, all a part of Arafat's "peace process", have operated without restraint, killing and maiming innocent civilians and destroying the Israeli as well as Palestinian economy.
Israel could have chosen air and artillery strikes, rather than commit troops for house-to-house fighting - so costly in human life and limb.
Ironic that many of the nations who are critics of these tactics, are ruled by brutal dictators who export terrorism and stockpile chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
It reminds me of when World War I had been reduced to the dull, static trench warfare, the Germans resorted to using chemical weapons without discretion against Allied Forces.
This same German regime passed a ruling that any American caught using a sawed-off shotgun was to be tried as a war criminal and summarily executed.
Once again, the disparaging double standard is being used to weigh Israel's actions - it is neither fair nor representative of the current scenario, but this is the Middle East today…
May 5, 2002 - According to a Phoenix newspaper dated April 26, 2002, President Bush has been given an “earful” of information regarding America and its stand with Israel.
The Crown Prince of Saudia Arabia recently alluded to the fact that an oil embargo was not in the immediate future. Personally, I cannot help but feel this is a thinly veiled threat, and sooner, rather than later, an embargo is altogether very likely.
My monitoring and study of Saudia Arabian influence in the Middle East, as well as other oil-rich nations, shows that these kingdoms have given billions of dollars in grants and loans, not just to corporations, but to nations as well.
In the past, this group of nations has used this clout of "friendly gifts and generous loans" to alter the voting policy of the leaders of other countries, as they "call in their markers" - reminding these countries of their generosity.
Also, for nearly five years, I have written numerous articles and produced curriculum and documenting these activities - such as Kuwait threatening to cancel a $400 million dollar construction contract (during a recession) with Canada, if they voted for the moving of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 1976.
The hypocrisy of the Saudi government, and others, pouring literally multiple millions of dollars into the PLO coffers since its inception, shows that peace is not their true desire, but rather the total destruction of Israel.
When people like Al Capone used these tactics, it was labeled as extortion. But in this case, it is more than likely to be called “exercising political influence to stabilize the region”. In essence, America is being told - cease to support Israel, or else. . .
To be continued. . .