2006-09-26-jihadism-CIA |
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jewishsightseeing.com, September 26, 2006 |
By Ira Sharkansky
JERUSALEM—The CIA is concluding that the war in
Iraq has caused jihadism to
metastasize . There is no surprise here, except in the weight of the
CIA's imprimatur. The White House has not signed on to the
conclusion, but that, also, is no surprise.
The cardinal lesson for policymakers is, "Don't
make things worse." I fear we need no better example.
America's post 9/11 wars are arguably more costly
than Vietnam. There the adversaries were a nationalist movement that
30 years later could accommodate its ideology to making nice
with the United States. From all reports, it is a good place to
visit. The worseness of blundering warfare in the Middle East is the
push it gives to a religious fanaticism with a tradition of violence
against non-believers that already was at fever pitch. Sure, the
costs to date for the United States were much greater in Vietnam. I
hope we have heard the last of the costs under the column of Islamic
terrorism, but I doubt it. Democracy may yet come to a peaceful
Iraq, but I doubt that, as well. Even more remote is anything close
to democracy or domestic peace amid the cluster of warring tribes
called Afghanistan.
Hamas authorities in nominal charge of Palestine are
reiterating their assertion that they will not recognize the
legitimacy of Israel. Many of Palestine's teachers, civil servants,
security personnel, and health personnel have gone six months
without salaries. A bit to the north Hezbollah is claiming victory
amidst the rubble. While some might respect the heroism of
these religious and political leaders, it does not say much for the
pragmatism that can make things work for them and the rest of us.
What to do?
Get on with life despite the less than perfect
leadership on our side and theirs. It will be more stressful, but
hopefully more rewarding than for the cows and sheep we saw lounging
on the polders of Holland last week.
It will be important for the United States to keep
selling its fancy stuff to the IDF, and keep allowing its own
military and that of its allies to buy some of the fancy stuff
produced by Israeli defense industries. It also must assure that no
fingernail clippers get onto airplanes, as well as avoid all
semblance of ethnic profiling or suggesting that Islam is a
problematic religion. Let the Pope carry that ball, along with
clarifications that fall a bit short of apologies. The murder of a
65 year old nun in Somalia is a small price to pay for decency.
Our people will have to retrain the fighters to deal
with adversaries who are better armed and led than Palestinian
gangs, as well as to keep up the intelligence networks in Palestine,
Lebanon, and perhaps elsewhere. It is crucial to know which hole, or
which auto is the prize target. Managing informants among the
hostiles is not decent or pleasant work, but in this game the
golden rule is "Do unto others."
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