Regrettably, neither George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld or Tony Blair have reminded the general public that the people are usually against war, regardless of the need.
In America, before World War II, even as Hitler invaded Europe, the vast majority of the American people did not want President Roosevelt to enter the war. Hitler and Europe seemed far off and had nothing to do with the average American citizen. Roosevelt, his cabinet and some in congress knew, however, that Hitler?s war plans would sooner or later affect America. The people could not be expected to grasp the complicated geopolitics that mandated the vital entry of America against an expanding Third Reich.
In Europe, those nations passively watched Germany building its military. At first, they tried to appease Hitler by gifting him the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia as a bribe, hoping that would satisfy him. The bribe and the delay only aided Hitler to achieve conquest. Then, as now, the average citizen did not wish to confront Hitler by going to war. The French had sufficient troops to stop Hitler, but chose not to engage Germany in a war. The people protested against war, and the government was weak and indecisive, so Hitler was not stopped when it was still possible.
Josef Stalin thought he could avoid confronting Hitler by agreeing to a non-aggression pact. Hitler, at a time of his choosing, abrogated the agreement and invaded the Soviet Union. In those times, it did not matter what the people thought or wanted.
Aggressors can be delayed for a short time, but when they are ready, they throw aside agreements and move to conquer.
Even in the time of Mohammed in the 7th Century, the ruse of making false and delaying agreements with tribes who did not wish war was a useful strategy. When Mohammed was yet weak and did not have a formidable army, he made a treaty with the Quraish tribe for a ten year peace, called the Hudaibiya Treaty. But, when he built his forces to a point of sufficient strength, he came back in three years, attacked, and slaughtered all the men and sold off the women and children as slaves. The Arabs of today, planning to trick the Jews, Christians and nations of the free West, often refer to the Hudaibiya Treaty, when referring to the Oslo Accords in Arabic.
There are sufficient statistics available to President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to make the case of the public invariably protesting war and confrontation with the aggressor, only to later suffer the consequences of their delaying actions. One can go back to World War II and World War I, through the ancient wars with Rome and Greece, to find examples of victim nations delaying defending themselves until it was too late.
Today, in the time of instant war with NBCs, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons, delay translates into cities being destroyed in an instant. Populations can be decimated in a few weeks or months with the spread of Smallpox, plague, Anthrax or Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. The protesters, the marchers, would soon be pleading for relief once they were affected by these deadly substances.
Needless to say, they would not blame themselves for forcing the delay in dealing with the terrorist-supporting nations and their terrorist proxies, who have the means to deliver these horrific weapons.
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Emanuel A. Winston is a Middle East analyst and commentator with the Gamla and Freeman organizations.
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Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.
In America, before World War II, even as Hitler invaded Europe, the vast majority of the American people did not want President Roosevelt to enter the war. Hitler and Europe seemed far off and had nothing to do with the average American citizen. Roosevelt, his cabinet and some in congress knew, however, that Hitler?s war plans would sooner or later affect America. The people could not be expected to grasp the complicated geopolitics that mandated the vital entry of America against an expanding Third Reich.
In Europe, those nations passively watched Germany building its military. At first, they tried to appease Hitler by gifting him the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia as a bribe, hoping that would satisfy him. The bribe and the delay only aided Hitler to achieve conquest. Then, as now, the average citizen did not wish to confront Hitler by going to war. The French had sufficient troops to stop Hitler, but chose not to engage Germany in a war. The people protested against war, and the government was weak and indecisive, so Hitler was not stopped when it was still possible.
Josef Stalin thought he could avoid confronting Hitler by agreeing to a non-aggression pact. Hitler, at a time of his choosing, abrogated the agreement and invaded the Soviet Union. In those times, it did not matter what the people thought or wanted.
Aggressors can be delayed for a short time, but when they are ready, they throw aside agreements and move to conquer.
Even in the time of Mohammed in the 7th Century, the ruse of making false and delaying agreements with tribes who did not wish war was a useful strategy. When Mohammed was yet weak and did not have a formidable army, he made a treaty with the Quraish tribe for a ten year peace, called the Hudaibiya Treaty. But, when he built his forces to a point of sufficient strength, he came back in three years, attacked, and slaughtered all the men and sold off the women and children as slaves. The Arabs of today, planning to trick the Jews, Christians and nations of the free West, often refer to the Hudaibiya Treaty, when referring to the Oslo Accords in Arabic.
There are sufficient statistics available to President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to make the case of the public invariably protesting war and confrontation with the aggressor, only to later suffer the consequences of their delaying actions. One can go back to World War II and World War I, through the ancient wars with Rome and Greece, to find examples of victim nations delaying defending themselves until it was too late.
Today, in the time of instant war with NBCs, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical weapons, delay translates into cities being destroyed in an instant. Populations can be decimated in a few weeks or months with the spread of Smallpox, plague, Anthrax or Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. The protesters, the marchers, would soon be pleading for relief once they were affected by these deadly substances.
Needless to say, they would not blame themselves for forcing the delay in dealing with the terrorist-supporting nations and their terrorist proxies, who have the means to deliver these horrific weapons.
--------------------------------------------------------
Emanuel A. Winston is a Middle East analyst and commentator with the Gamla and Freeman organizations.
--------------------------------------------------------
Spend Passover with Arutz Sheva at a resort in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Kfar Pines (near Hadera). Click here for info.