FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The crisis in the Middle East has revealed an important reality to the world. Although American influence may not be what it once was, it is still true that no other country can replace the United States as a major player on the global stage. But to maintain this influence, the US will have to act wisely and go further than it has done so far.
Think how absent Russia and China have been in this crisis. Over the past few years, both powers have tried in different ways to inject themselves into the region. Russia built its own ties with Israel. China helped facilitate the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. And yet, since the Gaza crisis erupted, neither has been able to play any role in easing tensions, or offering solutions.
Meanwhile, the United States has been actively engaged from the beginning. President Biden's first order of business was to condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas and stand in solidarity with Israel. Having done so eloquently, he has now moved into the position of giving advice on prudence. He urged Israelis not to be consumed by anger and reminded them of the United States' response to 9/11, admitting that Washington, consumed by fear and anger, made mistakes.
Hopefully Israel is listening. The president is right: The United States made a series of disastrous decisions after 9/11, for which it is still paying a price. The US rushed to build a new "homeland security" bureaucracy involving hundreds of thousands of people and two dozen organizations. It dramatically expanded executive power, infringing on individual rights, expanding government secrecy, and sanctioning what many would describe as torture.
Washington's military strategy was also flawed from the start. Instead of focusing narrowly on the people who planned and executed 9/11, the US adopted a broad and ambitious approach that, in the words of President George W. Bush, made "no distinction" between terrorists and "those who harbor them." . Thus, the country went to war not only against al-Qaeda but also against the Taliban, trying to ensure that the latter never again ruled Afghanistan, a goal that included a 20-year war that the United States lost. And, of course, then went to war against Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Washington's response to 9/11 — wars, bureaucracy, etc. — has come at an estimated cost of $8 trillion.
The lessons for Israel are clear. A ground invasion in Gaza is an emotional response to the Hamas terrorist attack. Israel is responding with something big and bold, demonstrating that it can go beyond a small approach and do something dramatic. But is this wise? Such a course would plunge the Israeli army into the alleys and tunnels of Gaza. It will surely produce more humanitarian tragedies in Gaza, further angering Arab countries and turning world opinion against Israel. Even if after all this he wins, what will he have won? Who will govern Gaza after Hamas? Who will be willing to conquer the Belt and fight what is sure to be an uprising against his authority? No Arab or European country would take it over, so it will fall to Israel. There was a reason why one of Israel's most decorated soldiers and right-wing political figures, Ariel Sharon, chose to leave Gaza.
The purpose of terrorism is to provoke an overreaction. The best response to it is not to lose your mind. In the past, Israel has often responded to terrorist attacks by taking its time, tracking down those who actually planned and executed the missions, and then killing them. This was his response to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, carried out by the Palestinian group Black September. If Washington had approached al-Qaeda with a similar strategic approach, the United States would be in a much better position today.
In addition to his advice for prudence, Biden should press the Israeli government to provide a political path to Palestinian aspirations. For several decades, the United States – under both Republican and Democratic administrations – was seen as an effective mediator between the two sides. Palestinian officials trusted American diplomats like Martin Indyk, Dennis Ross and Edward Djerejian because they worked tirelessly to find a negotiated path to a Palestinian state. The United States pressured the OCL to renounce terrorism and recognize Israel, but simultaneously pressured the Israelis to stop building settlements.
All of these efforts have weakened as the Palestinian leadership has shown itself foolish and Israel has been governed by a series of right-wing governments that do not believe in a two-state solution, have increased settlements and turned a blind eye to the plight of the Palestinians. These are ideal conditions for Hamas, which argues that there is no non-violent solution, and that acts of terrorism are the only option.
It is a major effort for American diplomacy. But the alternative is for this crisis to escalate, and now it could easily turn into violence, which will be even worse than what we are seeing now. / The Washington Post – Bota.al
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