This article appeared in today's HaAretz newspaper, Israeli's most left-wing newspaper, and one of the best. There are some good quotes about how wrong it is for Israel to appease the Bush administration, and also some good analysis of how bad the Middle East is now that the Bushies have had their way.
I am not exactly a first-timer, but I have been lurking for many years and am seldom moved to diary. But this article seems to be worth sharing with the dkos community.
http://www.haaretz.com/...
When (Israeli Prime Minister)Ehud Olmert says Israel won't talk to Syria as long as President Bush won't, Israelis ought to be worried.
(snip)
Betting Israel's security on the ability of the Bush crowd to transform the strategic landscape in the Middle East is rather like leaving a party in the backseat of an SUV whose driver is cradling a bottle of tequila and slurring his words as he rebuffs offers by more sober friends to take the wheel.
(snip)
America's overwhelming military advantages have failed to tip the region's political balance in its favor; on the contrary, resorting to military force over the past four years has actually been accompanied by a precipitous decline in America's ability to influence events in the region and beyond, much less impose its will.
(snip)
Israelis know that the result of toppling Bashar Assad would be to extend Iraq's "Jihadistan" province of Anbar all the way to Israel's northern border.
(snip)
Military solutions to the region's problems have, quite simply, exhausted themselves.
(snip)
Israel has plenty of incentive to independently and directly engage the powers that be in Damascus, Beirut, Tehran, Gaza and Ramallah . . . The reason is simple: It's a safe bet that Assad, Nasrallah, Ali Khamenei and Hamas will be there long after Bush, Rice and their fantasy are wheeled off the stage.
This article was written by Tony Karon, a senior editor at TIME. His personal views can be found on his web site Rootless Cosmopolitan.