Civilian populations enable terrorists
Reader comment on item: Have Israelis Finally Learned the Strategic Value of Territory?

Submitted by Michael (United States), Jan 5, 2009 at 12:18

Just as it was the civilian population that enthusiastically gave legitimacy, authority, and power to Adolf Hitler and kept him in power to the bitter end so it is the civilian population of 1.5 million that gave Hamas legitimacy, authority, and power. At any time those 1.5 million Gazans can overwhelm the 20 thousand Hamas terrorists and put and end to their suffering and live in peace with Israel.

Until they do, the Gazan civilian population is responsible for their own tragedy and fate, not the Israelis. Just as in the American Civil war it was the civilian population of the South that prolonged the senseless killing of hundreds of thousands. General Sherman broke the defiant spirit of the Southern civilian population by his march through Georgia devistating their land and property. Humiliating the civilian population pursuaded them that their cause was too unbearable, too painful to continue. Peace quickly followed.

Civilian populations are responsible for the leaders and the government they elect and permit to stay in power. Individuals aside, civilian populations are responsible for the carnage they enable against themselves and others;they are not innocent. The Israelies should take a lesson from General Sherman and General Grant and make life intolerable in Gaza until the will to terror is crushed. The Arab countries surrounding Israel should welcome their Arab brethren into their own country releaving the dense getto that is Gaza and give them a future and full citizenship. The present and the future of Palistinians is one of their own making. Choose death and suffering by supporting terrorist leaders or run the mafioso thugs out of their territories and live in peace with their Israeli neighbors, who are arguably the most humane in the world.

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