There will always be horrifying personal accounts from both sides of any given military conflict to enflame the emotions of people who have already made their mind up as to who the "bad guys" are. The more important consideration is...who is the dominant power on the scene? In their hands lies the greater opportunity to effect a positive resolution, because they have the power to do so. Who holds greater killing force and can wield it more effectively? And how can someone persuade both sides to show restraint and stop seeking further vengeance?

An aggressor seldom sees the need to cease aggression when he is winning.

History has shown that dominant powers never admit to committing terrorism (although they practice it routinely) but they reserve it as a label for the less powerful forces with whom they are fighting....particularly if those forces are "unofficial" (not in a national uniform). This situation lasts as long as a dominant power (like Nazi Germany, for instance...or Serbia...or Turkey...or Japan...or...) is undefeated and still in command of the situation.

Upon its irrevocable defeat, however, the tables are finally turned, and the leaders of the formerly dominant power find themselves being accused of crimes against humanity.

For this, as well as even more pressing reasons, the Israelis must pray that they never go down to a serious defeat or they will find the shoe on the other foot...

I have stated repeatedly, as I think you all know, that both Israel and the Palestinians have used terrorism on each other over and over again, and are continuing to do so. Each does it in the manner that they think is most workable and effective, given the resources each has to work with.

To ignore this, and to fulminate against one side only is to be blind...but I will say this: my sympathy is less with the side which has the far greater firepower under a single, unified command...because that side is in a position to make real and effective moves toward peace...if they only have the will to do so. The will is simply not there, at the top levels where it is needed. The only will there is the will to seek revenge, to punish, and to triumph.

The Romans saw no reason to negotiate with the Jews when they crushed the Jewish rebellion and destroyed Jerusalem either. He who has the power to win decisively has little inclination to offer favours to his opponents...despite his protestations of nobility, humanity, etc....and he refers to those opponents as "barbarians", "rebels", "terrorists", "bandits", and other convenient labels of that sort, in order to justify wiping them out or conquering them.

There is a deep unthinking hatred being expressed on both sides in the Middle East, and a deep sense of moral superiority as well...two blind men, fighting in a pit of their own creation, both accusing the other of being...blind.

- LH