During these past few weeks of treacherous, murderous warfare between Hezbollah and Israel, Americans have felt an obligation to criticize President Bush’s powerful alliance with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well Israel’s militaristic intentions. I strongly believe hypocrisy and ignorance lay within the criticism of any American citizen who feels such an obligation. That is not to say that I defend or support any doctrine of President Bush, but I do however commend him in his ability to provide assistance to a desperate nation and to demonstrate what he preaches.
Additionally, I dispute the statement made by columnist Ailee Slater (“Enablers in an abusive relationship,” ODE Aug. 1) “Israel, like its surrounding nations, has acted in recent days like a brash terrorist organization with little regard for human life or compassion.” That is a bold statement coming from a self-proclaimed Jew, as well as in regard to a nation that provides refuge for millions of Jewish people that have only had such refuge for a number of decades.
In a nation amidst the Middle East such as Israel, violence seems to be only as commonplace as the prevalence of sand. Israel’s supposed brashness in response to a delicate political situation is nothing out of the ordinary. Was it not impetuous when the United States bellowed “Afghanistan!” immediately following the Sept. 11 attacks? Was the thrust for vengeance not in haste when we invaded that nation a mere number of weeks following the attacks? I believe they were brash decisions indeed, and yet were justified in their context. A terrorist organization careened two commercial airplanes into buildings filled with thousands of civilians, and thus we went to war. Hezbollah kidnapped an Israeli soldier, and thus Israel went to war. Israel has as much legitimacy to act out of belligerence as the United States does to defend its honor.
I believe President Bush is at least commendable in the sense of his consistency in continuing what he has started. And under such circumstances, is it not justifiable to defend Israel when they are under attack from a terrorist organization? The real question here is not whether President Bush
is enabling Ehud Olmert to slaughter innocent children, but whether he will either remain true in his own doctrine and continue the War on Terrorism, or recede in the face of ignorant criticism.
Donovan J. Douglas is a transfer student at the University