Bob SparksThis week marks two rather grim anniversaries that few in this country will mark. They are significant events in U.S. and world history, but they have either faded over time or were events many wished to forget.
On Aug. 6, 1945 the city of Hiroshima, Japan nearly ceased to exist after the first atomic bomb exploded over the city, killing more than 100,000 souls, most of them civilians. Three days later on Aug. 9, the second bomb fell on Nagasaki, killing 70,000 more civilians.
Less than one week later, the fighting in World War II ended. An end to hostilities against a determined (fanatical was a term often used) was something to celebrate in America. The mood in neighborhoods, or what used to be neighborhoods, in Japan was quite different.
To hasten the end of a costly war both in blood and resources, this country made the decision to kill innocent civilians, including women and children. Atomic weapons were not designed for pinpoint strikes.
History tells us the U.S. brain trust, from President Harry S Truman on down, agonized over the decision. The goal was to avert an invasion of the Japanese mainland that would purportedly cost thousands of American lives.
This atomic strategy replaced another harsh measure designed to bring Japan to its knees. The firebombing of Tokyo also took thousands of innocent lives, some say more than the two atomic bombs, to no avail.
Few Americans disagreed with the decision to use atomic bombs. Mothers, fathers, wives, sisters and brothers were happy their loved ones would be spared the invasion and would be home soon. After all, they thought, Japan attacked us in 1941, not the other way around.
The moral of this story is nations sometimes may do extraordinary things under extraordinary circumstances. I do not criticize Truman for his critical, agonizing decision, but when everything is placed in context, it is possible to better understand what happened.
Fast forward to 2014. A nation is attacked, threatening the very security of that country. The state of Israel is a constant target of missiles not from a country, but from a band of terrorists called Hamas disguised as a government in Gaza.
These terrorists have a ground game — cross-border tunnels they use to export their hate into Israel itself. Instead of helping the people who somehow elected them to lead Gaza, Hamas uses limited resources to buy missiles and build dozens of these tunnels.
Finally, Israel had enough and in these extraordinary times, took extraordinary actions. Defending against missiles fired from or near schools and mosques, the Israelis destroyed legitimate threats to their people.
Of course, many innocent civilians in Gaza have been killed. Israelis have lost lives as well.
Unfortunately, many commentators blame Israel. The recent Sunday talk shows are perfect examples where Obama administration officials Valerie Jarrett and Jen Psaki admonished the Israelis.
All of this could end tomorrow. There will be two states in the region eventually. One will be Palestine and the other is Israel. Both existed in Biblical times and can again.
Once the Palestinians acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, the borders and capitals can then be negotiated. But they won’t even do that.
Peace negotiations can last no more than 30 seconds until the Palestinians say those magic words. Then, the “occupation” can end.
Hamas deserves most of the blame here. The calls from the U.S. State Department for Israel to “do more” are a reaction to loss of life, but wouldn’t it be great to hear them let loose with a major dose of outrage at the terrorists?
How is it that Islamic countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia are far more understanding than Israel’s supposed allies in the United States? The Egyptians and Saudis know precisely what they are dealing with in Hamas.
The Israelis say they have eliminated most of the tunnels and missiles and have pulled their ground troops out of Gaza. The killing has stopped for now. In the meantime, Israel’s critics in America need to remember our own history and what this country did when our people were being killed.
How would we react if missiles were being lobbed into Miami, Tampa or Orlando from residential areas of Cuba? Until we walk a mile in Israel’s shoes, let’s save the sanctimony and put the pressure where it belongs.
The Middle East’s short-term and long-term future depends on it.
Bob Sparks is a business and political consultant based in Tallahassee. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
