Opinion
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Editorial
Ultimate Responsibility
T
here's a strong linkage between
Israel and the United States. Only
this time, it's not the kind we
want to trumpet weekly from our media,
our classrooms and our pulpits.
Have you noticed the trial balloons
about Iran that were floated in recent
weeks in the U.S. media? Suddenly,
Americans must contemplate another
invasion, an expansion of our increasingly
private war on terror beyond our ques-
tionable foray into Iraq.
It's not that we question the ultimate
goals. It's just that we, if not our political
leaders, have learned a bitter lesson over
the past six years: Rhetoric and action
don't necessarily mesh on the national
political scene.
After Sept. 11, 2001, where was the big-
gest threat to the United States and the
entire free world? Afghanistan and North
Korea stand out, with Iran ominously
lurking in the shadows. Yet, where did the
Bush administration pour the bulk of our
young soldiers, our national budget and
the world's attention? Into Iraq.
The one victory in this scenario seems
to be in Korea. There, a unified approach
and long-term negotiations seem to have
turned the focus of a tyrant back within
his own borders.
The United States is slowly find-
ing that a myopic worldview cannot be
imposed with blood and treasure. A more
realistic stance and a few more interna-
tional friends would go a long way toward
improving domestic and international
security, and prosperity.
Our brethren in Israel, just like
Americans, are re-learning the same
lessons again and again. We had our
Vietnam, and 30 years later we have been
destined to replicate that morass in Iraq.
Israel won the epic Six-Day War in 1967,
and allowed the resulting euphoria to
blind itself to the approaching disaster of
1973.
Move ahead to the last five years. While
Americans fought the War on Terror in
the wrong places, Israel has continued
to be bogged down by the wars on its
borders. Unlike America, Israel has not
always been able to choose it battles.
Israel has, however, has lost opportunities
to effect change.
The Bush administration is being
impacted by the six-year malaise that
seems to strike most U.S. presidencies.
After six years, it seems that Americans
finally discover the real persona of our
commander in chief, warts and all, and
the new reality is reflected in the lowest
popularity ratings of George W. Bush's two
terms as president. Much of that down-
Dry Bones '79 AZTG4 1?4 iTr
THE OSLO
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PEACE ACCORDS,
,
TEACHING ARAB KIDS
ward spiral is related
THAT
JEWS ARE THE
to the president's Iraq
EVIL SPAWN OF THE
policy.
DEVIL .
In Israel, political
leaders and military
commanders committed
the unpardonable sin
last summer of protract-
ing a war against a weak
foe. Israel managed to
minimize Hezbollah as
an immediate threat and
, AND ACCORDING,
prove to the Lebanese
TO THE "MODERATES"
people they can't rely
IN THE PALESTINIAN
on that terrorist orga-
AUTHORITY,
nization for protection.
Also, arms shipments
to Hezbollah now have
been impaired. And the
investment of both Iran
and Syria in Hezbollah
was exposed.
Still, the resulting
loss of military and
DryBonesBlog.CCIM
civilian lives and prop-
erty together with more
recent scandals involving politicians and
political leaders and foreign policies.
Israel's figurehead president have tumbled Ultimately, the public will continue those
Israel's more-characteristic swagger and
questions as new elections approach.
resolve.
In both cases, in the United States
E-mail letters of no more than 150 words to:
and Israel, the public is questioning its
letters@thejewishnews.com .
Reality Check
Dog Meets Girl
C barley thinks he can make
himself invisible. If he stands
very still for a long time, his
theory seems to be that the squirrels will
forget he's there, come down from their
trees, get just close enough and then...
WHOMP! Or something like that.
The fact that this never even has come
close to happening does not seem to
deter Charley at all. He is a terrier, West
Highland variety, and not a dog to let go
of a good idea.
His ongoing battle with the squirrels is
a feature of life in our back yard. It gives
his day structure.
His other high point is when our 17-
month old granddaughter comes over for
a visit. Caryn clearly adores Charley and
wants to offer tokens of her esteem and
regard. Charley remains non-committal.
He doesn't quite understand the use of
her.
For example, Charley wants to run and
fetch thrown objects. Next to the stealth
war on the squirrels, it is his favorite pas-
34
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time.
Caryn under-
stands the game
and would like
to participate.
Unfortunately,
her arm strength
is not up to her
ambition. While
Charley likes to
have one of his
toys flung clear
across the room, maybe even down the
stairs and into a back corner of the family
room, Caryn's tosses usually land right at
her feet.
Charley thinks this is hardly sporting,
not much of a challenge at all. Doesn't the
kid get it? You've got to hurl that thing,
wing it like Joel Zumaya. This is the chal-
lenge that stirs the blood, the chance to
prove that he is equal to any distance his
stuffed hot dog is thrown.
He looks at it disdainfully. While Caryn
claps her hands and waits in expectation,
he trots away with a yawn. She waves her
arm and babbles, expecting the game
to go on. He ignores her. It's more fun
to wage a guerilla campaign against the
squirrels.
There is a third event that thrills
Charley to the marrow. That is the arrival
of the school bus, which stops exactly
opposite our house. He seems to know
when it is about to come and stations
himself at the edge of the bed by the win-
dow. When he sees the kids disembark it
sets him off on a perfect frenzy of bark-
ing and racing about.
Should our neighbor, Conor, actu-
ally ring the bell to take him for a
walk, Charley goes into a dance of
ecstasy, paws barely touching the
ground. It reminds me of Snoopy's
big number in You're a Good Man,
Charlie Brown when he realizes that
supper is being served.
Ifs very odd, though. If given the slight-
est chance to break free of the house, he is
off like a shot.
This offends me. This dog actually has
it pretty good here; decent food, a warm
place to sleep, a back yard with plenty of
squirrels to annoy.
But when Sherry or I go after him on
one of these bolts for freedom, he refuses
to come.
Should Jack the Ripper be walking
down the street and hold out his hand,
however, Charley would bounce right over
to him, tail wagging.
My feeling is if this dog is dumb
enough to go racing off into the rain and
cold, that's his lookout. Usually, however,
I am forced to circle the block in my car
and call his name in the hope he will
return. This causes much marital tension.
Our neighbor tells us we should get an
invisible fence. I don't know. A dog who
thinks he's invisible surrounded by an
invisible fence? It sounds spooky to me. I
just can't see it.
George Cantor's e-mail address is
gcan tor614@aol. corn.