CRITIQUE OF MID-EAST MADNESS AND POSIT FOR A PRAGMATIC END GAME 

A CANDID VIEW OF THE FOLLY OF NATIONS AND PEOPLE GIVES A VISION 
TO PUT THE MADNESS OF FIVE DECADES OF VIOLENCE INTO THE DUSTBIN 
OF HISTORY

Difficult even with a will and an open mind, impossible surely 
for some extreme ideologies, try to consider some admittedly 
limited observations, analysis, and suggestions here below that 
likely could lead to a comprehensive "end game" and follow 
through to create a strong enduring basis for peace, friendship,
and security between the Israeli and Palestinian people and most 
of the Arab States, as well as the world community of nations.

The reality of the exercise of power and interaction of nation 
states, suggests elite group interest, ego and personal spirit, 
motivates action in a complex of individual initiatives, with 
representations of motives, beliefs, history, tradition, economic 
and social theory, so called "values", authority, and a plethora 
of slogans, myths, demonology, calls to patriotism , racial or 
national identity, and other "spin", offered to different venues 
to solicit acceptance, or co-op dissent 

The public in general (the "street") throughout much of history 
has been seduced, intimidated or otherwise convinced to accept a 
compliant supporting role to the machinations and interest of the 
controlling elite - royalty, aristocracy, baronial class, 
oligarch, junta, theological elite, military- industrial cabal, 
financial elite, and political class (however they achieve and  
maintain power).

Rarely does  the humanistic spirit of a Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson 
Mandela survive attainment of power, though most "leaders" in 
the power structure, try to project a vision of overall societal 
value and "good" as they pursue their individual or elite agenda.

Now in "the information age" the beliefs, vision, understanding, 
and support of "the street"  (and reaction or "blowback"), as 
well as interaction of other elite venues on the world stage 
creates a challenge for governments usually  addressed by limited 
disclosure, secrecy, censorship, half truths, dissembling 
rhetoric,  deceit, spin, controls of the media, etc.

In this environment it's likely difficult for any leader to be 
fully knowledgeable to discern reality of history, events, and 
the "play of the game" , and it becomes difficult for "leaders" 
to reverse course, or to know how each venue reacts to action or 
spin directed to or for benefit of some other constituency. 

It appears that many "leaders" come to believe the myths and spin 
they create and close their minds to the realities of the world, 
the changing beliefs and experiences of the people, and nations, 
and reactions likely or possible  to policies proposed or 
underway.. 

As we elect to critique the policies, concepts, ideologies, the 
public, and private aims, strategy and motives, knowledge, wisdom 
or folly of any particular venues, a conflict of personal bias, 
historical perspective and priorities of values enters the game.

With this "short" introduction now let's consider the following.

“RIGHT” DERIVED FROM POWER MANDATING SUBMISSION – OBEISANCE.

The concept that “right” comes from the muzzle of a gun (words 
attributed to Mao), now in a complex interdependent technological 
and communications age, we may retain and rephrase that concept 
to say – “Right” belongs to the power elite that controls the 
political, economic, military, and through other agencies as well 
directly or by censorship persuasion or corruption (monetary or 
ideological) controls the press, congresses, committees, courts, 
police, and other agencies only theoretically dedicated to serve 
and or inform the people, TCMITS (the common man in the street)- 
as recently denoted “The Street”.

“RIGHT” FOR GOVERNMENTS BASED ON CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED!

The American revolution (circa 1775-1783)and French (circa July 
14, 1789 – the fall of the Bastille) were inspired to over come 
autocratic rule, and by a spirit articulated in classical works 
of Thomas Paine, (“Common Sense”, “The Rights of Man”, see also 
“Age of Reason”) John Locke (“Two Treatises of Government”), and 
immortalized for TCMITS and the USA as crafted by Thomas 
Jefferson and extracted below from :

The Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths o be self evident:  That all men are created 
equal… endowed…with certain inalienable rights;…life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness…governments …deriving their just 
powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form 
of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right 
of the people to alter or abolish it…when a long train of abuse 
and usurpation, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a 
design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their 
right, it is their duty, to throw off such government,,,”

DEMOCRACY – CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED

Democracy is a word and concept much used and abused, intended to 
describe the ideal of an informed constituency (TCMITS the people
“The Street”) , assuming a free press, a marketplace for ideas, 
dissent, discourse, critique, where the people can from time to 
time express there consent or change their government elite.

Democracy does not mandate wisdom, theological, legal, economic, 
historical or social justice, right or wrong, it only suggests 
consent of those participating in the process.

IDEOLOGY - DESPOTISM – HUMAN RIGHTS – REVOLUTION

Man seeking to understand his being and complex interaction with 
the cosmos, with nature, other people and societies has found 
theology and other ideology claimed to mandate societal behavior 
as both an inspiration (for some) and a curse. 

At the peak of Muslim rule in the West the Caliphate of Cordova 
in Spain (circa 961-1002) shared a reputation with Constantinople 
and Baghdad as one of the three centers of world culture with the 
Muslims, Christians and Jews in friendly collaboration – active 
in science, literary pursuit, agriculture, manufacture, business 
and maritime trade. 

The Christian re-conquest of Spain underway in the eleventh 
century was one element of wars and machinations of the Papacy 
and European nobility, for power and control of society, leading 
to the Spanish Inquisition in the sixteenth century.  It’s noted 
(Will Durant in “The Reformation”) that censorship of literature 
and suppression of heresy were unavoidable duties of the Church, 
founded by the son of God, and so divine, her opponents therefore 
must be agents of the Satan, and against the devil’s perpetual
war a religious obligation to an insulted God was required..

In the twentieth century Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, democratically 
Elected leader, deemed a despot by critics, has created a secular 
State from a British entrepot colony (“From Third World to First… 
1965 – 2000”), eliminating corruption, creating an environment 
for trade, high tech jobs, housing and world class infrastructure 
for all the citizens, and forbidding religious spokesman to 
participate in the political process.

COMMENTS CRITICAL – AS CONDITIONS FOR A PRAGMATIC END GAME

Israel can not accept a vision of the loss of a Jewish majority.

The Palestinians and Arab States can accept nothing less than a 
two State resolution of the conflict as outlined in the recent 
Arab Summit reflecting the spirit of the relevant UN Resolutions.

The USA, has domestic political interests, also a history of open 
and covert collaboration with Israel, that together recommend a 
very strong essential supporting role, with others including the 
UK, EU, UN, Australia (today offering to send troops), Arab 
States, and or others taking the lead role, initiative for the 
creation of an International Team dedicated to formulate an 
overall comprehensive detailed plan for two viable States with 
follow through – economic, social, military – with specialist 
team members all on the ground soonest to assure security and 
implementation as the plan is submitted to the Palestinian and 
Israeli people, ratified by governmental representatives, foreign  
treaties agreed to, etc.

The USA, UK, and UN, having all played major roles in creating 
and then allowing this “game” to continue to the current crisis, 
I believe have an obligation, and surly extreme self interest at 
stake to bring assets of every kind to bear, and the State of 
Israel and Palestinian community also, to find and quickly begin 
with timely implementation of a comprehensive “end game”.

Rhetoric of criticism, demonology, repetition of dissembling 
myths of history, highlighting views of blame or failures, evil 
motives, insisting on impossible action or vocal exhortation, or
contrition at this time, likely shall be counter-productive.

Albeit difficult in the extreme, in the interest of an enduring 
friendship and collaboration between the Israeli and Palestinian 
people, I would hope to see the leadership, inspiration and 
vision for a “post peace agreement” series of historical 
examination, revelation and exposure of actions of major players 
in the conflict of peoples and ideology since 1947, and with 
emphasis on the years of the occupation beginning in 1967, with 
some expression of contrition.  

Those who decline to participate invited to choose to depart or 
to accept trials to examine evidence that could result in fines 
and or incarceration.  Given the diametric opposite views of 
history, motives, and compulsion, the South African model of 
exposure and forgiveness is the pragmatic option! 

HUMAN RIGHTS AND REVOLUTION

Clearly the indigenous Palestinian people living in the British 
Mandate of Palestine in 1947 have suffered “a long train of 
abuses and usurpation, (by the Israeli government and people)
pursuing invariably the same object evincing a design to reduce 
them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their 
duty, to throw off such government…”

I choose to refer to the USA “Declaration Of Independence” rather 
than the UN declarations concerning violation of human rights, 
and similar crimes against humanity, to wake up my President, the 
USA State Department and government spokesman, to the American 
Constitution, and American principles and traditions.

In my view President Arafat has devoted his life to the people of 
Palestine, and is the leader of a totally honorable and justified 
peoples revolution, having the full support of his people, the 
neighboring Arab Nations, the international community of nations, 
and their association in the UN as well.

ISRAELI ACTION IMPLYING STRATEGIES IN PLAY

The present Israeli government appears to be engaged in a policy 
of abuse driven by a Zionist ideology to take land without people 
in violation of international law and convention, a policy of 
Apartheid and dispossession, targeted murder, all crimes against 
humanity, that goes beyond the folly of the Inquisition. 

Recently since September of the year 2000 this policy has become 
more provocative inciting a reaction of violence including 
suicide bombing from the Palestinian people, acts of complete 
desperation, since it has become quite evident that the Israeli 
government is playing a game of deception, with rhetoric of 
negotiations leading to peace, however also demonstrating by word 
and deed that they have no intention to agree on justice for the 
Palestinian people.

The current Israeli game plan continues to try to intimidate the 
Palestinian people to leave (to where I do not know since the 
Arab Sates would find their entry quite destabilizing), to accept 
enclosure and control in Bantustan enclaves, and to be targeted 
and killed en mass as “terrorists” (all Palestinians have been 
defined by Israel as terrorists, non-people, insects or worse) 

Another game plan suggested is that Israel is determined to 
inspire, create or invent an incident to support and justify 
another “pre-emptive” war (all in self defense of course) by 
Israel against her neighboring Arab States.  Expecting a quick 
victory by the Israeli formidable armed forces, built with much 
USA help, Israel would then deliver the Palestinian people into 
these neighboring States as a condition for peace and withdrawal 
of the Israeli armed forces.

These strategies surely represent total folly for Israel, for USA 
interests and for the people and nations of the Middle-East.

THE WORLD NOW CALLS FOR JUSTICE BRINGING PEACE TO THE MIDDLE-EAST 

Israel and it’s people choose to learn nothing from history – the 
rise and fall of civilization in Spain, the depredations of 
colonialism and two world wars, the reaction of the world 
community to  1956, 1967, 1982  - the “pre-emptive “ aggressions 
by Israel, the provocations of these past 18 months!

When will Israel wake up to reality.  The occupation and policy 
of Apartheid with increasing military incursions and destruction 
by the IDF constitutes Rogue State terrorism, ethnic cleansing, 
and the proximate cause of rebellion by the Palestinian people.  

Each targeted death or collateral death, or act of abuse, by 
Israel drives the family, friends, and now the entire Palestinian 
community closer to a sense of despair and sympathy for acts of 
violence against all Israeli targets of opportunity 

Demonstrations by “The Street” in Montreal, Australia, USA, 
Europe, the Pacific Rim, and reaction by almost all of the 
leaders of the worlds nations, in support of the substance of the 
Arab Summit outline for Middle–East peace and normalization of 
relations, should inspire a meaningful and constructive role now 
for the USA.