By: George William
By now everyone, at a minimum, is aware of the conflict currently going on between Israel and Hamas, which started last Saturday. The question now is how the US should respond to this conflict instigated against one of our closest allies.
The unequivocal answer is that we should help Israel wipe Hamas off the map forever.
There are those who would like us to stay out of this conflict completely. That is not a terrible position since it is based in a concern for America’s best interests. However, what is a terrible and, in fact, morally reprehensible position is that now is the time for a ceasefire and that Israel should try and have peace talks with Hamas. Along the same lines is the idea that if you favor any level of intervention, you are a warmonger. This is the position Tucker Carlson embodied in straw manning Nikki Haley and Lindsey Graham.
The Israeli government has the right and duty to protect its citizens from evil people like those in Hamas. Not only that, but we must remember that in this region of the world, the mode of operation is “might makes right.” If Israel were not to retaliate and destroy Hamas, the allies and protectorates of this terrorist group would feel empowered to get involved. By calling for a ceasefire, one is calling for the destruction of Israel.
Now, to address those like Tucker Carlson. To equate a call for support to a call for war is abhorrent, unprincipled, and discreditable. These people fail to understand the ancient principle, “if you want peace, prepare for war” (“Si vis bellum para pacem” as expressed by Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus). George Washington said something similar at the beginning of our country, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” Most everyone’s favorite manly President, Teddy Roosevelt, said the same thing in a more simple manner. “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” And, of course, in recent history, President Ronald Reagan succinctly advocated “peace through strength.”
Those like Carlson don’t want America involved because they don’t want this to become a bigger conflict. A reasonable goal. But it is precisely America’s involvement that is currently keeping this to a small conflict. The United State’s threatening of Hezbollah, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran to stay out of it will achieve exactly that—unless they desire the same destruction as Hamas. And they most assuredly do not.
In fact, Nikki Haley’s statement that an attack on Israel is an attack on the US is not far off. Just last week, Hamas leadership called for a “Day of Rage” around the world—including in the US—on Friday the 13th. There is video of UCLA students doing the same thing today. And the outpouring of support around the world for Israel after the Hamas attacks has been accompanied by further anti-Semitic attacks. One of those places was Australia. When the state lit up the Sydney Opera House in support of Israel, Hamas supporters gathered outside chanting “gas the Jews.”
I am sure that the people calling for a ceasefire and non-intervention are well-intentioned. Stupid but well-intentioned. They don’t want innocent people who have nothing to do with Hamas to get hurt. I understand that. But let me ask you, where do you draw the line between innocent and combatant?
This is not the first time we’ve had to ask this question. When dealing with ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban, we knew they would use women and children to do their work. Part of the reason we dropped the A-bombs on Japan is because we knew that if we invaded the country, every single civilian would be recruited to fight. This situation is no different. In fact, we have video of children sharing their willingness to destroy the Jews:
Admittedly, I do not have the solution to this particular horror. It is evil and sad, to say the least, that Hamas uses children to carry out their wishes and as human shields. However, these children are likely to attack and kill Israeli soldiers and Israeli citizens. By doing so, they become no different than the terrorists who raised them.
The United States should fully support Israel in the destruction of Hamas. By doing so, these people will be freed from the rule of those who don’t care about their well-being, enabling them to live good lives. Furthermore, we should support Israel to make sure that the atrocities we’ve seen in the past week never happen again and that Israel’s enemies will leave them alone. Lastly, we should support Israel because we don’t want this evil coming back to America and attacking us again like it did once before.