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July 11, 2008
Two Hostages
Ingrid Betancourt, center, rescued from a five-year captivity
The mighty Caroline Glick analyzes the daring Columbian hostage rescue, and Columbia's winning strategy against the leftist, narco terrorist group, FARC. Israel, Glick correctly points out, no longer believes in defeating her genocidal enemies, but in coming to some sort of political accommodation. This is, of course, the fast-track to national suicide.
Last week, Karen and I were talking with a lovely woman about our son, Ariel ZT'L. Deeply empathetic, the woman told us that she too had lost a son.
“How did he die?” I asked.
“He was murdered by terrorists in Columbia.”
“FARC?”
“Yes, not many people have heard of them.”
“They are scum.”
“What was your son doing in Columbia?” Karen asked.
“He was working with indigenous people against the oil companies when FARC kidnapped and then murdered him.”
I shook my head, fury rising like sap.
Karen wondered how she reacted to the hostage rescue.
“It's too late for my son, but I'm happy for those who were rescued.”
Well, I thought to myself, Israel doesn't even attempt rescue operations anymore. Which makes every Jew, every Israeli a big fat target.
Maybe we should ask the Columbians to attempt the rescue of Gilad Schalit. This is the moral duty of an ethical state—not capitulating to terrorist demands.
Because the current Israeli leadership—members of the Neville Chamberlain pinochle club—are useless and clueless.
The Israeli media's response to the Colombia rescue mission has been to inflate the "Israeli role" in the mission. Numerous reports have been published in the local press about the fact that the Colombians hired retired IDF generals Yisrael Ziv and Yossi Kupperwasser to help them build up their counterterror capabilities.
Far from obscuring the yawning gap between Colombia and Israel, these reports bring Israel's abandonment of the fight into sharp relief. They show clearly that Israel's decision to capitulate has nothing to do with an inability to fight to victory. It is a failure of will rather than a failure of capacity that has brought Israel to its current cowed and humiliated condition where its media argues over how many terrorists should be exchanged for Schalit and ignores completely the very notion that he can be rescued.
And Israel could attempt to rescue him. While success is never assured, it is a fact that just as Colombia was able to find and rescue Betancourt and her fellow hostages in the jungle, so Israel could, if it dared, conduct a competent operation aimed at rescuing Schalit in Gaza. Like Colombia it could acquire the intelligence necessary to plan and carry out such a raid. Like Colombia, its forces are competent to succeed in such an endeavor.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at July 11, 2008 09:29 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Glick for Prime Minister. Seriously, she is a brilliant writer and is correct in everything she writes.
Olmert WILL be ousted soon (finally). He'll be indicted, but then the question is, will there be anyone of real character and brains and strength to replace him? Can a real leader arise in Israeli politics? Where is Israel's President Uribe?
Posted by: Maurice at July 11, 2008 10:59 AM
Maurice,
That is the big question....
Is there a leader with character and strength that is ready to lead Israel?
Sadly, the system of government in Israel, the parliamentary system, leads to a recycling of old names and faces. It is very hard for fresh faces to break into the system.
Obviously, the current government is morally corrupt and weak. The primary parties that make up the current coalition, Kadima, Labor, and Shas I believe, could give a rat's you know what about the future of the country as long as they get theirs.
Hopefully, a center-right coalition will be elected soon, preferably without the Haredi parties(wishful thinking I know)....
Then, maybe, Israel can begin to show some backbone.
Posted by: Lance at July 11, 2008 11:12 AM
Maurice:
Victor Davis Hanson maintains that when free states are in crisis over national security, the citizens rise to the occasion and elect a leader who is equal to the great tasks at hand.
I hope Professor Hanson is correct.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at July 11, 2008 12:19 PM
Lance:
Here's the thing about Israel. The IDF are made up of magnificent people who are equal to every military challenge.
The IDF, properly unleashed, can defeat all jihadist enemies.
The problem in Israel is one of corrupt, leftist leadership, men and women with no will, no backbone, no strategy beyond appeasement—and staying in office no matter how disastrous for the Jewish State.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at July 11, 2008 12:24 PM
Robert,
I totally agree with you that the IDF has not lost its will to defend the country.
The heroic actions of the IDF reservist in last weeks tragedy is a prime example of the magnificent individuals that comprise the IDF.
It's the lefties and the only-for-me religious parties that have brought on the current appeasment process.
Posted by: Lance at July 11, 2008 12:36 PM
There is so much bad news in the world I really forgot to take a moment to feel good about this. Imagine the joy her friends and family are feeling, that she is feeling. Unreal! It's a gift from God.
Posted by: Alice at July 13, 2008 04:59 AM
Colombian government lie in accordance to the rescue of hostages including INGRID BETANCUR. Really, the FARC must be released the hostages -including 3 americans-, but the corrupt colombian army send milions of dolars to the FARC guerrillas and after it they were kidnapped too.
Narcoparamilitary government of teocratic and brutal dictator ALVARO URIBE VELEZ is the worst that Colombia ha since 1948 when a CIA terrorist assination of leader JORGE ELIECER GAITAN had.
STOP JUANES, STOP URIBE, STOP any ultraright terrorist in Colombia. This is a message to the world. Not more URIBE!
Posted by: Liliana Uribe, Bogotá, Colombia at December 14, 2008 09:05 AM