By Michael Freund
March 21, 2003
Originally published in the Jerusalem Post.
In a few days time, hundreds of thousands of brave young American servicemen will converge on Iraq, seeking to liberate a beleaguered country and its people from the clutches of a tyrant who threatens the entire civilized world.
They will plunge into battle, putting their lives on the line in one of the most audacious and noble wars to have been fought in the modern era. Despite the prattle from Paris and the blather from Berlin, this impending clash has nothing to do with subjugating the globe, and everything to do with making it a safer and more livable place.
Whatever uniform they might be wearing, the Western soldiers and sailors, pilots and airmen who will do the fighting and the bleeding and the dying are representing far more than just their home countries.
They are, in a sense, "our boys" too.
For by removing Saddam Hussein from power, they will be eliminating one of the gravest existential threats to the State of Israel, making the region a tad bit safer for a permanent Jewish presence.
Shutting down Iraq's pursuit of nuclear arms, and doing away with its chemical and biological arsenals, has long been a top priority for Israeli strategic planners. A U.S. victory will not only get rid of Saddam and his weapons, but will send a strong message of deterrence throughout the region, one that will resonate for years to come. Hence, the battle for the streets of Baghdad will ultimately help to make the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem that much more secure.
Of course, America is acting out of its own self-interest, first and foremost doing what it thinks is best for itself. There is nothing wrong with that, since that is what rational actors on the world stage are supposed to do.
But that in no way should detract from Israel's appreciation toward the U.S. for disarming Saddam and dismantling his regime. A good deed, even if inadvertent, is nevertheless still a good deed.
So, regardless of whether Israel is dragged directly into this conflict or not, we are all soldiers in this war, and it is time we raise our voices in support of America's principled stand against the Iraqi dictator.
Israelis and Jews around the world need to be more outspoken in pressing the case for the upcoming battle, mobilizing to refute the naysayers and critics of an invasion. After all, one of our greatest foes is about to be routed from the scene. That alone should give us reason to cheer.
Even more important, though, is that Israel learn a few lessons from President Bush's handling of the current crisis, and apply them to its own situation. Specifically, they are the three Ps of national security - protect your people, punish your adversaries and pray for success.
Throughout the past several months, Bush has shown that as much as he values international public opinion, he realizes that it comes in a distant second to preserving the safety and security of the American people.
During his press conference at the White House last Thursday, Bush made clear that he is willing to defy the UN Security Council, the EU, Russia, China and the Arab world, because all the criticism abroad is not worth the loss of even one American life at home.
"When it comes to our security," the President said, "we really don't need anybody's permission."
Israel - take note. That should become our motto, too. Lesson number one of Bush's approach: Protecting your people must always come first.
Second, the President laid out a fairly convincing argument as to why Baghdad's awful regime could no longer be tolerated. "Saddam Hussein," he said, "has a long history of reckless aggression and terrible crimes... He provides funding and training and safe haven to terrorists."
Noting that Saddam was unlikely to change his mind and "become a gentle soul," Bush forcefully concluded that, "We are determined to confront threats wherever they arise. I will not leave the American people at the mercy of the Iraqi dictator and his weapons."
Those words are no less applicable to Israel's current confrontation with its neighbors. Replace the terms "Saddam Hussein" and "Iraqi" with "Yasser Arafat" and "Palestinian" in Bush's remarks, and substitute "Israelis" for "the American people," and you have an unambiguous policy prescription for ending the terrorist threat. Therein lies the second message contained in Bush's approach: Punish your adversaries until they can no longer do your harm.
But there is another, far more profound, lesson to be learned from Bush's handling of this crisis. For, despite the pressure he is under and the weighty decisions he must face, the President has had no qualms about invoking his abiding sense of faith as he aims to confront the Iraqi threat.
"My faith sustains me because I pray daily," Bush told the American people last Thursday. "I pray for guidance and wisdom and strength. If we were to commit our troops, I would pray for their safety," he added.
When was the last time an Israeli leader voiced such sentiments? Prayer and faith, as Bush pointed out, play an important part in upholding a nation's fortitude, yet can any of us recall a similar statement by our own political leadership?
Praying for success. It may sound cliched, but it too is part of the larger battle against evil. And if it is good enough for the President of the United States, the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces, then it should be good enough for us too.
A great victory is now within our grasp, one that will leave the United States and Israel far stronger and more resolute. But once Saddam is removed, and the post-war era begins, international pressure will quickly mount on Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians.
Now, therefore, is the time to remind Americans that Israel stands by their side, even as others have betrayed them. Hopefully, when Israel's moment of truth comes, the American people will be more than happy to return the favor.
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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