Here is a screed. I hate politicians of all stripes:  right, left, and center. They have tasted the honey of power and become corrupted by it. They are addicted to it. Consequently, they declare wars with heedless thought about the thousand and millions of lives that will be destroyed by them.

About Netanyahu:  again, I ask the question, why should he? Our expression of displeasure at his war policies? This is Biden’s position about the war. Israel should change its policies to enhance its world support. It’s a weak argument that politicians don’t hear. George W. Bush squandered world support after 9/11 after he needlessly invaded Iraq. Obama did not heed it during his tenure. Biden pulled out only when he decided that its continuance wasn’t worth the cost. World opinion never entered the equation. Meanwhile, thousands died.

There’s another factor that must be considered about world opinion. Antisemitism is virulent in the U.S. and Europe. Two university presidents were fired for not providing academic, and  perhaps physical, security to its Jewish students.  The newspapers have documented other instances of antisemitism.  Consequently, Israel’s reputation is in the toilet. So, Netanyahu gains nothing by trying to court world opinion. Hamas will get some brownie points but no arms. No nation will overtly supply arms to Hamas that could turn the tide of battle. Netanyahu knows this; Hamas knows this; and Biden knows this. World opinion as an effective political tool is a chimera.

Next, Netanyahu has a military background, and he fully understands asymmetric warfare. Israel’s founding was based in it. Ben Gurion and others were terrorists against Britain. The premise of a weaker force is keeping a political force in the field long enough to wear down the will of a stronger nation until its political objective is met. That’s what we did during the American Revolution. That’s what Ho Chi Minh did in Viet Nam. That’s what the Taliban did in Afghanistan. In all three cases, the stronger force left the field and the weaker force marched to final victory. Netanyahu understands this same objective by Hamas. Give them respite and they’ll resurrect themselves to continue the war. This Netanyahu cannot allow to happen. He will continue the war until Hamas is physically crushed by using every tool at his disposal. He cannot afford to do otherwise. His internal support demands it.

David, your compassion for the Palestinians is commendable. I often note how warriors who bring destruction are more compassionate that the politicians who demand its deliverance. But, on the international scene, it’s real politic that counts and nothing else. So, the question is: why should change be made? Answer: only when it’s in the best interest of all the players, and so far, no good answer has been heard.

Now, changing subjects, about my book. It’s already written in draft. My question is to postulate in the Forward and Conclusion how painfully our Constitution came to be. Seven hundred years of trial and tribulation passed before the liberties we enjoy were guaranteed by the miracle we call the Constitution. We have seen during 6 January how close the nation came to losing them. For me, this is an existential matter for the world. If we lose our liberties, who will be strong enough around the world to champion them?

I talked at length about real politic and corrupt politicians. At the same time, I’m hoping, vainly perhaps, that another George Washington might come along and change our course towards a better nation. One that can carry the flag of human worth and dignity. Perhaps my book, vainly perhaps, might inspire such a person.