"Young men make wars, and the virtues of war are the virtues of young
men: courage, and hope for the future. Then old men make the peace, and
the vices of peace are the vices of old men: mistrust and caution."
-- Prince Feisal from Lawrence of Arabia
I cannot be convinced that Israel lost militarily to Hezbollah, but mine seems to be a minority opinion. But it is self-evident that observers will say that there were two wars, one on the battlefield and one in the media. Evidence for my side, I think.
With Terry Gross today was an Israeli MP, Yossi Beilin, who said something I think is rather remarkable in its faith towards negotiation. He said that now is the opportunity, since so many people are convinced that Israel is weakend, to negotiate peace with those Arabs and Muslims who by dint of Hezbollah's 'military victory', are more confident in their equality with the once mighty nation. He said that Syria is willing to talk. He said that Abu Mazen is willing to talk. He said that Lebanon is willing to talk.
It makes perfect sense that a 'defeated' Israel might do so. So while we don't have the pacification of real war - in other words we have a war that solved nothing - it's time to get creative in the peace. This is so very reminescent of the closing scenes of 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Now is the time for crafty old men to work their work.
BTW. Hezbollah doesn't want to talk, nor does Hamas. Mistrust and caution indeed.
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