"In Israel's actions today we can detect many of the elements of hubris: an imperial arrogance, a distortion of reality, an awareness of its military superiority, the self-righteousness with which it wrecks the social infrastructure of weaker states, and a belief in its racial superiority. The loss of many civilian lives in Gaza and Lebanon matters less than the capture or death of a single Israeli soldier. In this, Israeli actions are validated by the US."
- Tariq Ali
"A belief in racial superiority"? I sure hope not. Israelis, of all people, should know where that leads.
Posted by pearce at July 25, 2006 2:40 PMA belief in their racial and moral superiority, as well as a following the "best defense is a good offense" dogma is *exactly* why we're seeing Israel doing what it's doing today.
Myself, with my reading of the history of the region, always found myself somewhat sympathetic to the Israeli position in the early decades of the existence of their country. They were, more often the not, the victim.
But since the 1982 invasion of Lebannon, then the responses to the intifada in the late 80s, and onwards... well, there's not a lot of moral high ground left for Israel, or it's people.
Posted by: Scott A at July 26, 2006 2:11 PM