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January 5, 2009
Exclusive: Aggressor Palestine, Defender Israel - There is NO Moral Equivalence (Part 1 of 2)
Hamas, founded in 1987 as a resistance (anti Israel) movement linked with the Muslim Brotherhood, whose members clothed in sheets and masks (think extremist Muslim version of the Ku Klux Klan) has its own version of ethnic cleansing – killing Jews. That has been, and continues to be, their raison d’etre – as written in their early charter “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it"
The only “crime” Israel has committed is in existing. Hamas may manipulate the world into feeling sorry for their civilians killed in this latest round of violence (triggered by extremist Muslims) with images of Israeli gun ships superimposed with wounded kids, but the reality is that the blood of Gaza citizens is on the hands of Hamas and Hamas alone. Hamas is a group of murderers. Period. Given there are no jails large enough to house these terrorists, the next strategy seems to be either to destroy or isolate them. The West should stop the pretense that there is moral equivalence on both sides. Israel is the innocent and deserves support. Hamas is the instigator and needs to be held accountable, as should all agents (Iran, Syria) supporting it. Whether such accountability is withholding financial aid, initiating blockades, imposing severe economic sanctions or other means available is up for discussion.
Recall the Munich Olympics and numerous other largely ignored assaults on Jews and Israel – these remain tolerated by the world. Yet the world continues seemingly ignoring the obvious – that civilians in Gaza are not the same as Israelis in terms of their roles, or complicity in violence perpetrated by Hamas. The folks in Gaza elected Hamas, not Abbas, who was more restrained. You can’t claim innocence to dictators when you vote them in!
Reminiscent of the propaganda wars the former Soviet Union used so deftly during the Cold War, the term civilian – like the definition of peace – has numerous meanings depending upon the user and the listener. Civilians in Israel are that – average folks going about their daily lives. They neither fight nor harbor warriors in their midst. Civilians in Gaza are the group Hamas recruits from for suicide attacks (hereafter to be called “Hamas-cide” attacks), where militants and terrorist infrastructures are located (near hospitals, schools, places of worship) such that attacks will result in “collateral damage” (civilians) and within which guerillas are hidden, supported, and protected. Civilian clearly does not define the same entity when you cross from Israel to Gaza. Not that any human life isn’t worth preserving – but try telling that to Hamas!
Israel has exhibited great restraint. They have “turned the other cheek” for a long time. It is now time to return the gauntlet from which it was thrown. Wars are dirty, ugly business. But Israel, for its survival must be as ruthless as its enemy – and smarter.
Many nations and predictably protest groups (one wonders if they use frequent flyer miles) are increasingly asking restraint of Israel in some pitifully idiotic attempt to seem “enlightened” or “peace loving” or “concerned for human life.” In truth, these calls for Israel to return to the peace table bolster a bloodthirsty enemy and are merely attempts to appease a growing extremist Muslim presence (threat) in the hope of avoiding similar violence on their streets. Yet no fair minded person can ignore the strategic, never-ending and ongoing assault on Israel. The UN grants a nation, even Israel, the right to defend itself when attacked. But the UN has failed to comport itself honorably (quelle surprise!) by failing to force Syria and Iran to stop being state sponsors of terrorism. What of the hypocrisy of asking Israel to return to the peace table? How absurd to ask the folks who never left the table to return to it. Efforts might be better expended to hold Hamas accountable and ask them why they abandoned the peace. Funny, I can’t remember global newspapers quoting world leaders asking Hamas to knock off the rocket attacks into Israel in mid December. The double standard is alive and well.
Incredibly, former Palestinian leaders have expressed great sadness that Israel didn’t allow the peace process to go on or return to the peace table. Claiming that the Israelis are exaggerating the strength of Hamas, when in reality it is a “few people with primitive weapons against the fifth largest army in the world” is another ploy to reduce the legitimacy of Israel. Newsflash…they were the ones attacked! You never hear the “peace-loving radical Muslims” ever talk about Hamas not extending the ceasefire. Hamas and pro-Palestinian journalists (term used loosely) are reporting from Gaza with quivering tone the terror these poor people are living with and have no place to go as the Israelis are approaching. Reporting on behalf of the longsuffering Palestinians as if Hamas was merely an Arab Red Cross, they ignore the fact that this is the spearhead of the Arab world trying to use proxies to eliminate Israel. Gee, where were the embedded journalists when Hamas fired rockets at Israelis? Perhaps the difference is cold and clear: Palestinians are professional victims as they whine “the war is against us, not Hamas” while Israelis spend their time building a nation.
Israel is a successful nation. Palestine is a multigenerational refugee camp. Jews didn’t have it easy when their fledgling nation was born. Yet they managed to build universities, hospitals, businesses and homes while being shot at! Clearly there are differences in work ethic, moral compass and focus.
Is it any surprise Israeli research has made great contributions to medicine and science, while dodging rockets, and most Jihadist Muslim countries are illiterate and poor, petrodollars notwithstanding? Contrast this with Morocco or Turkey – largely secular or at least trying to keep radical Islam at bay. These two nations have universities and medical facilities worth admiration. Clearly one would be hard pressed to name genetic research programs, medical advances or pharmaceutical companies in extremist Muslim societies. Look it up, I’ll wait.
In spite of the attacks, Israel will make a concerted effort to avoid unnecessary loss of life; that cannot be said of Hamas or any other group of radical Muslim terrorists.
Today the battle is at Israel’s doorstep; when will it be on ours? With a growing fifth column in the United States, we should pay close attention to the strategies of our adversaries. They are well played.
"Avoid the solid and strike the weak" – Sun Tzu
As Israel deploys tanks and troops into Gaza, will the region or just the two entities be at war?
To the uninitiated, one would wonder why Hamas would launch rockets into Israel, killing innocent Jewish civilians and refusing to extend the truce Egypt and others helped broker with Israel, especially given these radical Jihadists risk awakening a sleeping giant and will be a significant military disadvantage? Didn’t they know Israel would go to war?
The answer is simple: yes. That’s what Hamas (and Iran) was counting on.
Israel is only strong in the region; not globally where the might of anti-Jewish media and the omnipresent infestation of European capitals by extremist Muslims are aimed against the tiny nation. Perhaps this characterization isn’t completely on target – there are powerful Jews worldwide with resources, contacts, political clout and wealth. But they are scattered and inconsistent in their Zionist beliefs. Their unified effort needs to be greater. Until then, with the exception of the U.S. and Australia, few countries will publicly stand up for the right of Israel to survive, let alone exist in peace. Because of the often too willing capitulation of Western nations to the threats of radical Islamic protestors who often throw violent temper tantrums including firebombing innocents, Israel once again is alone on the world stage, again playing the role of David against Goliath. As such, Israel is facing a far greater foe than Hamas or the surrounding Lebanon and Syria – entities they could wipe out with or without their tactical nuclear capabilities.
The gauntlet is thrown.
Hamas leaders – either now hiding under their beds in Gaza or luxuriating in Damascus –clearly have read the 1999 document “Unrestricted Warfare” by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui – an analysis by China military officers how to undermine a superpower (U.S. global superiority) when you are not one. Taking on and defeating a superior force is possible if one employs a multi-pronged strategy that takes into account your adversaries weaknesses, utilizes your strengths and mobilizes allies while inhibiting your enemies supporters. Hamas is playing this very well. Actually, Iran and Syria are playing this well and skillfully using their weapon: Palestinians.
Hamas baited Israel to attack. Hamas let the peace treaty with Israel expire. Hamas has used the time within the peace treaty to acquire greater weaponry from Iran and other sources, to increase their preparedness and set the stage for an effective asymmetric war – economic, public opinion, world support, military and guerilla action. Hamas is part of a large family – the Muslim world, especially the extremist Muslim world.
Hamas not renewing the peace treaty in December was no accident. The timing is perfect. Consider the following:
First: Israel’s biggest friend, the United States, has an outgoing lame duck president and an incoming president who, while too soon to say is a dove, clearly is less of a hawk than Bush. The U.S. is bogged down in a costly war in Afghanistan and Iraq. World opinion of the U.S. resembles the approval ratings of Congress. Challenges to our economy, financial markets and the public’s concern over food and shelter clearly outweigh thoughts over Israel. Israeli organizations took a financial hit in the U.S. courtesy of Bernard Madoff. The U.S. has been outplayed in the Pirate Wars and has failed to stem the time of weapons flowing from Iran into Gaza. Short of the U.S. getting actively involved (which is unlikely), we are on the sidelines. That’s not good for Israel, but great for Hamas.
Second: Hamas has long been preparing to take on Israel, with the help of Iran and the steady flow of Russian antitank, anti-personnel and other advanced weapons.
Jonathan Spyer, a senior researcher at the Global Research in International Affairs Center, said Hamas was adopting Hezbollah’s strategy of asymmetrical warfare meant to significantly improve its combat abilities. Hamas has procured and trained on a range of missiles. Several sources suggest Hamas has a wide range of sophisticated weapons including the Russian-origin AT-3 Sagger, AT-4 Spigot, AT-5 Spandrel and AT-14 Spriggan. Through their tunnel system Hamas was is thought to have smuggled a large number of advanced RPG-29 rocket-propelled grenade systems. Of concern, some of these weapons, such as the RPG-29 Vampir, have a range of 500 meters. While Israeli armor is considered among some of the best in the world, antitank weapons have improved. The Vampir may be able to penetrate the special “reactive armor” on Israel's Merkava Mk-4 main battle tank.
Hamas has held onto its leadership by violence and tenuously with more moderate folks from the Palestinian Authority such as Abbas. If Hamas can force the mighty Israel to capitulate their credibility and hold on Palestinians as well as their image among the Jihadist world is solidified.
According to Spyer and others, "Hamas believes Israel's can be broken through attrition, a steady toll of unexpectedly high numbers of both military and civilian casualties." He suggests that their strategy of deploying anti-tank missiles and improvised explosive devices to maintain an Israeli casualty rate of up to 10 soldiers and civilians a day in any military invasion of the Gaza Strip. He said such a casualty rate could force Israel to agree to a ceasefire.
We cannot lose sight of the fact Iran is behind much of this. And Iran has a major stake in Hamas fighting Iran. Iran wants Israel gone. This is the perfect marriage – Hamas does the fighting, Iran gets bragging rights for being the ally, munitions supplier and the nation that “got it done” while other Arab countries couldn’t. Talk about street credibility.
Moreover, such a ceasefire – which would be portrayed in the Muslim world as a victory, would change the balance of power in the region.
Israel must not be forced into peace, but must be the strong initiator of it only after landing a devastating blow to Hamas. If Israel severely damages Hamas, it is also a blow to Iran. In many ways this is also Israel taking it to Iran.
ENDGAME ISRAEL
In the near term, Israel must win. But win what? The battle? The hearts and minds of its citizens? World opinion? All while avoiding casualties or Israeli prisoners, while trying to capture large weapons caches and key Hamas leaders. The latter may be difficult since most of them are in Syria.
Israel faces five significant challenges:
The rocket war. Stopping the flood of weapons from Iran has, without question, altered the balance of power in the Middle East. Iran has also trained and funded Hamas. Striking a blow to Iran’s efforts, even symbolically, is important for Israel and the West.
Regardless of what occurs in this current round of fighting, the U.S. and the UN need to exert greater pressure on Iran – negotiations are unlikely to work, even if our peace advocates say “pretty please.” But still worth the effort, if for no other reason than to tangibly demonstrate the lack of luster the UN has.
Diplomacy without strong economic pressures are unlikely to work, given Iran has a powerful ally in Russia. Even if the U.S. exerts greater pressure upon Moscow, without dangling something Putin wants and we have, success will be elusive. So far, we’ve lost that chess game.
The media war. The message is everything! Perception is power. Israel is losing the PR war dramatically. Not just because the West and the Rest want to ignore the message, but even if there was some inclination to give Israel a fair hearing, your spokespersons have accents thicker than humus and messages harder to swallow than week old halvah. Hire an attractive, young, fit looking, male spokesperson who is fluent in English and Arabic but without accent. Take a look at the Hamas PR Playbook…The Arabs and extremist Muslims have been winning the PR war for years. It’s time to share some moral outrage and inspire support for your cause which is the just cause – you have to appear as the underdog. You truly are the victim of aggression, but your adversaries have sold it better that they are your victims instead of the other way around. Consider the spokespersons for the Palestinians – often quiet spoken, articulate (in relatively unaccented English) and attractive women. The softer image. When they sell the snake oil that Israelis kill our children (showing old images but made to look contemporary) the world rightly cringes at the unnecessary loss of human life – especially the young and innocent. They then superimpose images of Israeli gun ships and tanks against barefoot Palestinians. A picture is worth a thousand words.
They must take a more proactive role in self-promotion. While much of the world will willingly ignore the Israeli message, it must be given, none the less. And this may be the most challenging of all approaches because as a race they are survivors, learning to rise above adversity and not ask for help.
Addressing the hearts of minds of the world through global public opinion – a war Israel has never been able to win so far. Winning the hearts and minds of the remaining fair minded folks in the world will not be easy but it is worthwhile. Understand Hamas and how they use the media and steal a few pages from their playbook.
A peaceful Palestine/Gaza. The endgame for Israel clearly is challenging and complex.
Put it to the UN and the world that Israel has the right to exist. But informing the world with images of Israeli deaths, reminding it that Arabs had positions in the Knesset are not enough.
Providing a strategy where Palestine can rebuild in Gaza and assigning every neighboring Arab nation a role, an assignment and showing a vision of what the Gaza/Palestinian state can look like and what Israel would do to make that real along with conditions (unarming Hamas). There are no guarantees this will work but it is hard to use rhetoric when specifics are laid out. The plan would be hard to refute if respectable nations – Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Syria had assigned roles to help their brethren and Israel would not stand in the way and in fact would assist. Of course for some Arab states, having Israel a key player would be unpalatable. But selling this in Arabic on all the major news outlets, and world wide – the Israel plan for Palestine might, just might change some minds. I’m not naïve; as long as Israel exists, most regressive Arab regimes have someone to point to account for their peoples’ woes. If Israel is no longer the enemy, the people might then ask, could our government be screwing us? Never the less, Israel trying to make their case to the world cannot hurt. And therein should be one of the first strategies Israel and Mosad focus upon once this round of attacks against Israel subsides. Starting with a spokesperson who is articulate!
Keeping up the resolve of the Israeli public. Nations win or lose wars largely on the support of the public. Some opine the U.S. would not have lost in Vietnam had public support not wavered.
U.S. support of the Iraq War would have been better with a strong communicator at 1600 Pennsylvania. The tiny nation cannot afford to lose talent and treasure. But it is inevitable as they wage war.
Communicating with Western nations to keep them at least neutral instead of leaning towards the extremists. Offering the aid of Mosad and other resources to help countries isolate extremist’s populations and undermine the radicalization of the West could be the quid pro quo. This includes keeping the U.S. as a close friend. As the fifth column grows in our nation, we run the risk of facing the same threats of violence that occurs in other Western cities when extremist Muslims are unhappy – violence. The U.S. is running out of time and needs to address this fifth column. The average U.S. citizen – ruled by political correctness or a sense of decency that often obfuscates common sense – remains blithely unaware of the dangers radicalization pose to us.
Part Two will appear in this space on Tuesday.
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Dr. Robin McFee is a physician and medical toxicologist. An expert in WMD preparedness, she is a consultant to government agencies, corporations and the media. Dr. McFee is a member of the Global Terrorism, Political Instability and International Crime Council of ASIS International. She has authored numerous articles on terrorism, health care and preparedness, and coauthored two books: Toxico-Terrorism by McGraw Hill and The Handbook of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Agents, published by Informa/CRC Press.
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