Four More Mideast Points

Before I get back to everyday bitching about Michelle Wie, I would like to make some more points about the Middle East and the War on Terror. I have not seen any of this discussed elsewhere.

Point One. Despite the immediate media attention, Hezbollah is nothing. They are unimportant in the strategic direction of the Middle East. Yes, they are actors, but they are cannon fodder only. As soon as they have worn out the usefulness to their patrons, they will be done. It is useless to worry too much about them. Their patrons on the other hand....

Point Two. The War on Terror is a civilian war. The sooner the politicians understand that the better. (We average Joes know it. How often do you read about this or that airline passenger subdued by OTHER passengers.) The terrorists use civilians and they target civilians. The quaint late-20th century Geneva Convention idea that civilians are non-combatants is (pardon the pun) dead. This is having a profound effect on the GWOT and the ramifications are not recognized, let alone understood.

Point Three. While the pundits talk about Hezbollah re-arming little attention is being paid to Israel. The IDF and Knesset have learned a great deal in the last two months. When Act Two comes, I expect to be pleasantly surprised by the IDF.

Point Four. As much as I hate to admit it, President Bush has become a huge liability. It is a problem partly of his making (his consistent failure to clearly communicate the stakes), but mostly due to circumstances beyond his control. The 2000 election debacle cleaved off a large part of this country. While Bush is in office, the Bushitler crowd will not be able to think sanely about anything. (I am curious if they come to their senses afterward.) Further, they are prompting once relatively sane people (Kerry, Gore) to become hyperpartisan hacks. I had once hoped they would tire of this game. They have not.

I am not suggesting President Bush step down, but a President Romney or President Thompson (even another President Clinton) would go a long way in taking the wind out of the zealots sails and restoring some sanity to the discourse on national issues.