Wednesday, August 22, 2007

What You Really Need To Know About Christiane Amanpour’s "God’s Warriors"

.

I watched part of the first two installments of Christiane Amanpour’s “God’s Warriors” series on CNN.

The contextual misreporting and cleverly chosen video editing left me gasping. I’ve never met Christiane Amanpour so I won’t challenge the motives that underlie what she passes off these days as reporting.

The bigger truth is, it is simply absurd to lump together Jewish, Christian and Muslim “Warriors” as she calls them, into a series.

“Warrior Jews” as a group don’t go around killing other people. And Jews as a whole publicly and loudly denounce such acts of violence.

“Warrior Christians” as a group don’t go around killing other people either. And Christians as a whole publicly and loudly denounce such acts of violence.

“Warrior Muslims” on the other hand have a different ethic entirely. And Muslims as a whole—most don’t actually side with the warriors' ways—are too afraid to denounce them.

And that difference in mentality is why, in short, Christiane Amanpour can happily make a living lumping her “Warriors” together on TV in Christian majority United States. She could also safely lump her “Warriors” together on TV in Jewish majority Israel. But she couldn’t safely offer any real exposé in Muslim majority Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Western civilization’s enemies are deadly, and they are real. And that is why it is so dangerous to insist that Israel be made too small to properly defend itself.

That’s what you really need to know about Christiane Amanpour’s “God’s Warriors.”

--David Naggar

Friday, August 03, 2007

Thankfully, the Two-State Solution is not an Inevitable Fait Accompli

.

With even the Prime Minister of Israel working feverously to create a two-state solution, it is fair to ask, “Is the two-state solution an inevitable fait accompli?”

The answer is a resounding no. The global powers are NOT pursuing justice in their solution. They are pursuing tranquility.

If the two-state solution cannot bring tranquility, they will seek out a new path and a new consensus position will be built.

That is why after years of diplomatic taboo, some now talk openly about involving Jordan, much to King Abdullah’s dismay.

The open political discussion about a larger Israel will not happen immediately because as of yet, no credible statesman in our time has been willing to risk the wrath of being labeled an extremist by presenting an argument to counter those who demand that Israel withdraw to its pre-1967 borders.

No statesman has offered Palestinians any way to better their lives other than to pursue becoming citizens of a future feckless state.

No statesman has effectively put forth a case that the sole Jewish majority state, to be a self-sustaining viable state, must have adequate territory.

If you say there are no realistic alternatives to the two-state solution, you need to read my book.

The two-state solution is unworkable and unjust for both Israelis and Palestinians. It will not bring tranquility. And therefore, thankfully, it is not an inevitable fait accompli.

--David Naggar