Bad Advice, , ,

(Bad Advice, , ,)

It was fanfare that former President George W. Bush landed an S-3 Viking on the deck of the USS Geroge Washington with a banner "Mission Accomplished" hanging from the carrier "island." The event indicated an "end" to the active operations to IRAQI FREEDOM and the impression given that the Iraq war was over. The statement was pre-mature in what followed were many months of a Muslim insurgency. The situation was stabilized by the "surge" by the Bush Pentagon but, when President Obama assumed Office Iraq again detiorsted and allowed for ISIS to arise and form its bloody caliphate.


Now, seeming on the cusp of victory over Hamas, Israel is grudgingly "accepting a cease fire being brokered by the Biden Administration. Prime Minister Netanyahu is saying it is not a good plan, it does not destroy the terror group and the idea that there remain hostages to recover could prove problematic. But the point is clear. Over six weeks or so, The IDF will evacuate Gaza, all hostages will be released and, in turn, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be returned. Where might one say they will all go ? Back to a re-constituting Hamas. Who will be getting more rockets from Iran. start to fire them back into Israel and all one can do at that point is wait for the next October 7th. But the President has said that these actions will lead to a "permanent" cease-fire. However, such a cessation of hostilities at this point will ensure Hamas' survival. Hamas survival is Hamas victory.


Such an outcome was supposed to be a non-starter for Netanyahu. Last time anyone checked, Israel forces were continuing the investment of Rafah, and all that seemed required was that final push, that methodical clearing of block by block. What changed ? There was an unfortunate loss of civilians, human shields in essence, when Hamas targets in the southern Gaza town were struck.


For their part, the terror group has responded positively to Biden's overtures. They are about to lose but, at this Eleventh Hour, there is a miraculous reprieve ? Courtesy of an American President who's only interest is his political inconvenience caused by the war. Never mind that Israel has been an ally and Iran has been an enemy. However. that is upside down for President Biden.


There was a reason why the Cold War erupted so soon after the close of the Second. The Line on May 8th, 1945, had compressed Nazi Germany to only a few miles separating Allied from Soviet armies. Over the objections of Winston Churchill and of course General Geoge Patton, these forces were withdrawn but the Soviets remained on what had been negotiated would be their sectors. In 1955, those assets would be amalgamated into the Warsaw Pact.


If Israel agrees to withdraw from these forward positions, agrees to prisoner swaps, for a chance for a lasting peace, then Netanyahu, like Biden will have missed the point. All the efforts, the sacrifice, the immense destruction only to see the pause at the worst time ?


Mission Accomplished indeed !

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