War, children, it's just a shot away...

[4est_4est_Gump]

Echoes of ’67: Israel Unites
By Charles Krauthammer, NRO
May 10, 2012 8:00 P.M.

In May 1967, in brazen violation of previous truce agreements, Egypt ordered U.N. peacekeepers out of the Sinai, marched 120,000 troops to the Israeli border, blockaded Eilat (Israel’s southern outlet to the world’s oceans), abruptly signed a military pact with Jordan, and, together with Syria, pledged war for the final destruction of Israel.

May ’67 was Israel’s most fearful, desperate month. The country was surrounded and alone. Previous great-power guarantees proved worthless. A plan to test the blockade with a Western flotilla failed for lack of participants. Time was running out. Forced to protect against invasion by mass mobilization — and with a military consisting overwhelmingly of civilian reservists — life ground to a halt. The country was dying.

On June 5, Israel launched a preemptive strike on the Egyptian air force, then proceeded to lightning victories on three fronts. The Six-Day War is legend, but less remembered is that on June 1, the nationalist opposition (Menachem Begin’s Likud precursor) was for the first time ever brought into the government, creating an emergency national-unity coalition.

Everyone understood why. You do not undertake a supremely risky preemptive war without the full participation of a broad coalition representing a national consensus.

Forty-five years later, in the middle of the night of May 7–8, 2012, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shocked his country by bringing the main opposition party, Kadima, into a national-unity government — shocking because just hours earlier, the Knesset was expediting a bill to call early elections in September.

Why did the high-flying Netanyahu call off elections he was sure to win?

...

What does change is Israel’s position vis-à-vis Iran. The wall-to-wall coalition demonstrates Israel’s political readiness to attack, if necessary. (Its military readiness is not in doubt.)

Those counseling Israeli submission, resignation, or just endless patience can no longer dismiss Israel’s tough stance as the work of irredeemable right-wingers. Not with a government now representing 78 percent of the country.

Netanyahu forfeited September elections that would have given him four more years in power. He chose instead to form a national coalition that guarantees 18 months of stability — 18 months during which, if the world does not act to stop Iran, Israel will.

And it will not be the work of one man, one party, or one ideological faction. As in 1967, it will be the work of a nation.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Will the Obama administration attempt some sort of preemptive strike on Israel?



Leak information? Deny flyovers...?

 

[JohnnySavage]

Will the Obama administration attempt some sort of preemptive strike on Israel?



Leak information? Deny flyovers...?

He has no choice. With the current milk-cows running dry the defense contractors are squealing.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

He has no choice. With the current milk-cows running dry the defense contractors are squealing.

I have no idea what to say
Even by way of infirm reply...

 

[JohnnySavage]

I have no idea what to say
Even by way of infirm reply...

There was a congress critter on C-Span yesterday bleeding all over the place about the tanks the army doesn't want. The engines are made in his district, and his argument was that the government should continue production because if they shut down the line, the skills of the people building the engines would degrade.

Think about that for a moment.

We need to keep these people building engines because if they stop that knowledge will be lost to mankind forever...

That's the kind of corporate welfare that really makes you slap your forehead.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

There was a congress critter on C-Span yesterday bleeding all over the place about the tanks the army doesn't want. The engines are made in his district, and his argument was that the government should continue production because if they shut down the line, the skills of the people building the engines would degrade.

Think about that for a moment.

We need to keep these people building engines because if they stop that knowledge will be lost to mankind forever...

That's the kind of corporate welfare that really makes you slap your forehead.

It's the pernicious evil of Middle Way Democracy...

Reminds me of the German mayors screaming bloody murder about US base closures.

 

[JohnnySavage]

It's the pernicious evil of Middle Way Democracy...

Reminds me of the German mayors screaming bloody murder about US base closures.

Indeed.


Or the Soviet Union building things, then taking them apart, then rebuilding them to keep the people working.

 

[miles]

Will the Obama administration attempt some sort of preemptive strike on Israel?



Leak information? Deny flyovers...?

Nothing more dangerous than a failing, unpopular leader....

 

[tactful]

It's the pernicious evil of Middle Way Democracy...

Reminds me of the German mayors screaming bloody murder about US base closures.

East or West ?

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Indeed.


Or the Soviet Union building things, then taking them apart, then rebuilding them to keep the people working.

I have been reading a book on the Cuban resistance.

The Soviets sent tractors to Fidel and the first thing the workers did was to detach the headlights and throw them into canals so they would not have to work at night...

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Nothing more dangerous than a failing, unpopular leader....

You got that right!
Sho' got that right!

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

East or West ?

United, the friendly skies.

 

[Frizzle_Fry]

He has no choice. With the current milk-cows running dry the defense contractors are squealing.

ahhh but our people, namely the troops...are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe not the young privates....but most the NCO's and O4+ officers who have a few deployments under their belt have about fucking had it with the dog and pony show. If he were to start new shit...he better have a DAMN good reason or it just might all come undone.

 

[JohnnySavage]

ahhh but our people, namely the troops...are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe not the young privates....but most the NCO's and O4+ officers who have a few deployments under their belt have about fucking had it with the dog and pony show. If he were to start new shit...he better have a DAMN good reason or it just might all come undone.

While I feel their pain, and wouldn't want to be them, they all volunteered. After 11 years of war, none of them can say they were hoodwinked into joining up. As long as we have a military that's designed for offensive operations rather than defensive ones, politicians are obligated to feed the beast.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Frizzle_Fry]

While I feel their pain, and wouldn't want to be them, they all volunteered. After 11 years of war, none of them can say they were hoodwinked into joining up. As long as we have a military that's designed for offensive operations rather than defensive ones, politicians are obligated to feed the beast.

Oh I agree...and would expect them all to fulfill their contracts. But it's not a never ending resource, eventually they will get out and their ability to recruit new meat for the never ending war grinder will start to run low.

I don't think the draft is an option for the gov. either without it being absolutely and undeniably necessary to ensure the security of our nation. A situation unseen since the 40's.

 

[JohnnySavage]

Oh I agree...and would expect them all to fulfill their contracts. But it's not a never ending resource, eventually they will get out and their ability to recruit new meat for the never ending war grinder will start to run low.

I don't think the draft is an option for the gov. either without it being absolutely and undeniably necessary to ensure the security of our nation. A situation unseen since the 40's.

The United States has been at war for all of it's history. The difference now, starting in the 1970s, is that the vast majority of Americans don't share in the pain. If wars were required to be paid for via special tax assessments, and if military service was required, you can bet the politicians wouldn't be so eager to stick our noses where it doesn't belong.

 

[Wrong Element]

Nothing more dangerous than a failing, unpopular leader....

Yes, and what better way to solve that problem than to attack Israel!

You guys should never read what you type here. You'd kill yourselves in embarrassment.

 

[Frizzle_Fry]

The United States has been at war for all of it's history. The difference now, starting in the 1970s, is that the vast majority of Americans don't share in the pain. If wars were required to be paid for via special tax assessments, and if military service was required, you can bet the politicians wouldn't be so eager to stick our noses where it doesn't belong.

I agree.

 

[semen4her]

Hmm, a thread bout Israel turns into Obama bashing.

Why are Americans such whiny little petty cunts?

 

[miles]

I have been reading a book on the Cuban resistance.

The Soviets sent tractors to Fidel and the first thing the workers did was to detach the headlights and throw them into canals so they would not have to work at night...

Ees not my yob, man!

 

[RobDownSouth]

Hmm, a thread bout Israel turns into Obama bashing.

Most of the threads that AJ starts eventually devolve into Obama bashing.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Ees not my yob, man!

I will only pretend to work during the day...

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

Hmm, a thread bout Israel turns into Obama bashing.

Why are Americans such whiny little petty cunts?

Most of the threads that AJ starts eventually devolve into Obama bashing.

What Obama bashing?

Is this like racism, you "know" it when you see it?

You're busy ignoring your moving lips and reading between the Tea Party leaves?

 

[semen4her]

Will the Obama administration attempt some sort of preemptive strike on Israel?



Leak information? Deny flyovers...?

Where oh where?

You brain is stuck on stupid.