Reply #84: Hey Doug!

[bemildred]

:hi:

I think at the time they were worried about "deterrence", not letting it look like anybody might have made them leave, which is a bit ridiculous really, they left because it was in their interest to leave, and the Palestinians were not in a position to make them do anything. The Palestinians can annoy the heck out of them and make things expensive for them, but they cannot compel them to do anything. But I'm Ok with that, I just think that to then start complaining because the Palestinians didn't lay down their arms out of gratitude is a bit incoherent. I suppose it goes back to the fear of looking weak which seems to infect the Israeli political classes. As an American, it's a problem I am much familiar with, I just wish they would worry about looking foolish once in a while.

I do think they would have done better to negotiate a deal for leaving, done right they might even have kept Fatah in charge of Gaza or accomplished various other things. As it is it's made a small and unobtrusive mess into a giant mess that gets global attention. Of course the "Gaza War" played a part in that outcome too. Now it's just going to sit there and bleed all over the floor (sorry to be graphic) perpetually.