Saturday, August 5, 2006
How glaringly ironic of former president Jimmy Carter to lecture the United States and Israel on how to effectively bargain with terrorists ["Stop the Band-Aid Treatment," op-ed, Aug. 1], given that up until the last minute of his tenure American hostages languished in captivity. Mr. Carter's appeasement theories, when put to the test, produced only protracted anguish for our nation and may have emboldened Iran. Those same Tehran hostage-takers are now running the government in Iran, espousing a 21st-century holocaust, arming Hezbollah and developing nuclear weapons.
Even after all these years the former president cannot accept that some forms of malevolence are not motivated by rationality or mollified by diplomatic negotiation.
BARRY R. ZIMAN
Arlington
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The Aug. 3 opinion piece "An Appeal for Leadership," by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, stated the problem succinctly: The Bush administration's refusal to call for a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah has jeopardized peace in the Middle East. The article also demonstrated the solution. It takes genuine leadership to tell the truth, especially when it is unpopular and involves telling a powerful ally that its policies are mistaken.
Mr. Gul is courageous. I wish that members of Congress were as brave. Instead, like our president, they remain silent.
While the international community pleads for an end to hostilities, the United States alone supports Israel's military actions in Lebanon. After more than three weeks, Israel's response has been ineffective.
Hundreds of civilians have been killed, with no end in sight. The United States must demand that Israel halt the violence. Only when this happens will a cease-fire be possible.
JEFFREY HOTZ
Arlington
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Charles Krauthammer's July 28 column, " 'Disproportionate' in What Moral Universe?", omits some germane considerations.
He equated the present situation with World War II, a valid precedent when one nation-state attacks another to destroy it. But Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, not a nation-state.
Israel, on the wrong end of world opinion, is destroying Lebanese infrastructure and killing innocents. Arab sentiment, initially critical of Hezbollah, has reversed because of this collateral damage. Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah is a hero; new recruits will flock to him.
Arab governments originally criticized Hezbollah. Now, they call for an immediate cease-fire because of Israeli overkill.
For what benefit? Israel cannot crush Hezbollah, as we could not crush the Viet Cong. Lebanon's Shiites support Hezbollah fighters, enabling them instantly to become innocent civilians. Israel can degrade Hezbollah's capabilities, but armaments can be replaced, and command and control reestablished.
Full Arab recognition in return for pre-1967 borders, safeguarded by a force including Arab troops, may offer a chance of peace. Absent this or something similar, the cycle will continue. And when a fanatical organization has the capability to make weapons of mass destruction, today will look like a day at the beach.
RAYMOND V. RUSH
Stanardsville, Va.
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