June 1, 2010, - 2:06 pm
Letter from a Dearbornistan Muslim Friend: Israel & the HAMAS Gaza Flotilla
You don’t answer terrorism with diplomacy, you hit them with a sledge hammer to remind them what the cost is.
–A Muslim friend of mine from Dearbornistan, in defense of Israel regarding the HAMAS Gaza war flotilla.
A Brave Muslim Speaks Out in Support of Israel on HAMAS Gaza Flotilla
You know my opinion on “moderate Muslims.” Yes there are a scant, scant few. But there are so few truly moderate Muslims that statistically they don’t exist and the term is largely an oxymoron. In general, if they are truly religious Muslims, they are not moderates. But I also have a very small group of moderate Muslim friends, whom I know are truly moderate. But I can’t let anyone know who they are, or they’ll be killed. Yes, here in America, these very few brave, righteous people would be assassinated for daring to be right.
One of those is friend from Dearbornistan (and if everyone there were like him, I’d go back to calling it “Dearborn,” minus the “stan.” He is a Shi’ite Muslim whose family comes from South Lebanon–Hezbollah country. His parents are working-class people, and he is educated and put himself through school. He wanted me to know that he supports Israel’s actions of self-defense with regard to the HAMAS Gaza faux-peace flotilla terrorist theater. He’s brave for reaching out to me and like the others, I can never tell you his identity, or his life will be in danger. Today, in his city, most of his fellow Muslims are having one of their typical HAMAS anti-Israel protests. But my friend’s letter, from early yesterday, is right on:
Debbie:
I still follow your blog and respect your opinion.
I went to bad last night knowing there was a convo headed to Gaza and that Israel was prepared to stop it. I woke up and saw on the news that nine people lost their lives as well as numerous Israeli wounded. But in the end, the mission succeeded because the ships did not make it to Gaza.
The point I tried to make today was one that I’ve made in the past to family and friends when I defend Israel’s actions. If the Israelis don’t “act” then it will embolden the enemy. Hence, why I applauded Israel’s decision to retaliate against Lebanon in 2006, and against Hamas in 2008. Had Israel not responded to what the terrorists–Hezbollah–had done, abducting the soldiers to force a swap, then Hezbollah would have been emboldened to do it again. But now they know not to ever conduct a cross border raid into Israel because of the repercussions. [Hezbollah leader, Sheikh Hassan] Nasrallah himself stated, had he known that Israel’s response would have been so strong, he would never have ordered the operation. That in itself shows that what Israel did is in reality the best thing for the nation and protecting its citizens. You don’t answer terrorism with diplomacy, you hit them with a sledge hammer to remind them what the cost is. And the same goes to Hamas, the continued launching of rockets, albeit their makeshift inaccurate, they were causing a legitimate threat to Israel’s national security. So, the IDF went in to Gaza, punished the terrorists, and the rocket attacks have dropped (I want to say the rocket attacks dropped drastically, but I’m not to knowledgeable on this issue. I do know for a fact that rockets fired from Gaza have been reduced, but to what extent I’m not sure). And, now, these so-called “humanitarian boats.” If the Israelis would have allowed them to cross the blockade and dock in Gaza, it would have emboldened others to follow suit. Now that the international community knows what the repercussions are to aiding the enemy, they will reconsider sending boats to Gaza.
I just thought that the issue of action to show the world what the costs are is a legitimate one to make. I haven’t read a single column or news article emphasizing this point. Its always about “disproportional response” and “need to show restraint”. While I agree that civilian deaths are terrible regardless of what side their on, a price must be paid for your actions and the actions of the people who represent you.
This is a viewpoint you probably know already, but I think it might do some good to point it out if you so decide to. You’re the only person so far that has defended Israel’s actions today. I thank you for that.
Anyways, take care, and keep up the good work!
In fact, the rocket attacks from Gaza have not stopped. Nor have the ones from Hezbollah in South Lebanon. You just don’t hear about them in the mainstream media. However, my Muslim friend from Dearborn is correct that there have been fewer of them. When Israel shows weakness, the rocket attacks increase. When the nation is tough in defending itself, they decrease. That’s the only thing the Muslim world respects, as my friend points out. They don’t respect spineless, polite “diplomacy.” They respect force. Period.
If everyone in Dearborn and South Lebanon and Gaza, and the rest of the Islamic world were like my rare, reasonable friend, we’d have peace. The fact is they are not, and we don’t. Israel must–and has the right to–defend itself against all interlopers and attackers.
Tags: blockade, Dearborn, Dearbornistan, Flotilla, Gaza, Hezbollah, Islam, Israel, moderate Muslim, Muslim, peace convoy, ships, South Lebanon
Israel should say to the U.S.: “Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. The time to stand with us as our true friend and ally is now. If you don’t, or won’t, then we will defend ourselves by whatever means necessary and we will no longer serve as your proxy.” I think Washington would absolutely soil itself.
Paul Curtis on June 1, 2010 at 2:44 pm