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William Otis's avatar

I don't see any viable option but for Israel to declare martial law in Gaza with summary trials and, if deserved, execution, for anyone involved in planning or bringing off terrorist acts or anyone complicit to any degree in hostage taking. Israel will have to rule with an iron hand the same way Japan and Germany were ruled after WWII. We got rid of the Nazis in Germany and the brutal shogun culture in Japan because we made it clear through our actions that the costs to the local population of NOT changing were going to be higher than the population wanted to bear. And it worked.

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Doug Israel's avatar

Israel will not be able to do that in the face of clear American opposition. Winning a war is one thing. De Nazifying Gaza with an Iran fist is something else. Egypt could get away with it though has no interest in doing so. Israel cannot. It would mean a true and total break with Israel's only semi reliable ally.

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William Otis's avatar

For as long as Biden is President, that might be true. But the polls and betting markets say Biden's presidency probably has about eight months left.

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Doug Israel's avatar

I dont think Trump would allow this degree of DeNazification either. Although I surely agree it's the only real way to bring about serious change.

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William Otis's avatar

As with so many other things, I don't expect much from DJT, but I do expect that, in most things including this one, he'll be better than Biden. The way the universe is structured, that's the only choice I get to make. And no, I don't like it, but I haven't the power to change it.

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Doug Israel's avatar

Yeah I agree.

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DANIEL WOHLGELERNTER, MD's avatar

Let’s not forget about Iran & Qatar. The CIA should stop targeting Trump supporters and should start funding, training and arming the anti-Ayatollah dissidents in Iran. The US State Department should stop its destructive flirtation with Islamist countries and start applying massive pressure on Qatar to defund and unfriend Hamas & other jihadists.

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Doug Israel's avatar

There are a lot of obvious changes that any rational person would insist on. Biden and his merry band of idiots won't insist on a single one. They will continue to try to buy off Iran.

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DANIEL WOHLGELERNTER, MD's avatar

I agree completely

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brimull's avatar

Ignatius engages in "pie in the sky" fantasy while your column is a methodical exposition based on repeated history and reality. What a mismatch!

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Paul Mirengoff's avatar

Thank you.

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Doug Israel's avatar

Just so. The question I have is whether fools like Ignatius or the execrable Thomas Friedman genuinely believe this abject nonsense. Do they really believe this will bring peace to the Levant? Would they bet their own latte drinking lives on it? I seriously doubt it.

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