Submitted by Bob Steinberger, Jan 17, 2008 15:39

Scott, your analysis is much closer to reality than anything Yousseff had to offer. However, I'd like to add a few thoughts of my own, as Yousseff's scenario is an illusion for the following reasons:

1. Even if they were willing to forgo the obvious rallying cry for their people, the Arab states surrounding Israel cannot accept the Arab refugees within their countries. Just as the Pals had been a fifth column in Lebanon and Jordan in the 70's, they would also be a huge threat to them as well.

2. The PLO cannot accept them in a nascent State because they won't have the capability to feed even their existing population for generations to come, thus prohibiting their settlement there.

3. For obvious reasons. Israel could not accept them as well, and the same for Europe

4. Soon after Israel disengaged COMPLETELY, Gaza has become a terror state sending dozens of rockets into Israel daily, after having been given every opportunity to prove the world wrong by spending it's energies developing it's economy and supporting it's people.

5. Soon after Israel completely departed Lebanon, Hizbulla has turned South Lebanon into a terror state reporting only to Iran for guidance.

6. With regard to international forces being a buffer between Israel and those terror states: UN res. 1701 installed international forces in Lebanon to protect Israel's northern flank, and Israel's defense minister just last week has commented that Hizbulla is stronger than ever.

7. Israel finds itself being "protected" in it's southern flank by Egypt under which over 160 tons of explosives, missiles and other arms have been smuggled to Hamas, Not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars (just last week over 100 millions came over from Mecca with returning "Pilgrims").

8. The only accomplishment an international force would offer would be to prevent Israel from pursuing terrorists after they return to their bases after trying to kidnap other Israeli soldiers or some other mission.

9. Last and more damning than all of the above, is the fact that this is a holy war. Not only involving Israel and the Palestinians, but East and West. The West has always held the opinion that reasonable men can come to reasonable compromises. Translate compromise as throwing money when all else fails.

The people of that area will feel betrayed by their leaders if they were to agree to anything less than complete victory. They've been told for generations that if they will only hold on and hold out, victory will be assured. Changing that mindset is the only possible solution to this dilemma.

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