The effect of the bombing on Israel

[Michael Pollak]

In the silver thread department, the effect of CNN's pictures on Israel
has been rather interesting.  Before the bombing, Israelis naturally
identified with Serbs (although, as Barkley points out, not very strongly,
because they didn't think about it much -- say about as much as most
Americans are now thinking about the Ethiopian/Eritrean war).  But now,
they've entered the present with a clap, and both Left and Right have
suddenly thought the same thing: what if the Palestinians declare
independence someday and we invade? Why can't they drop bombs on us?

If Israel, the country the US is fondest of in the world -- the one we
give the most money to by far, even though they don't really need it
anymore -- if they start worry; if they start to think Hey, maybe we can't
just ignore the world and oppress them forever -- maybe we actually have
to do something -- then I wonder what's going on in the minds of other
countries we don't love so much.  Turkey for example?  Could such a bloody
fiasco actually be salutary as an example?

Although I'll be the first to admit they might all be worrying about
nothing, and that Kosovo will discredit humanitarian bombing just like
Somalia discredited humanitarian invasion -- just in time for the Rwandan
genocide.

Michael

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Michael Pollak................New York City..............mpollak at panix.com

			Clear, unscaleable, ahead

			Rise the Mountains of Instead,

			From whose cold cascading streams

			None may drink except in dreams.

				Auden, "Autumn Song"
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