Letter: Not much optimism after cease-fire

Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006 | 7:43 a.m.

After hearing him interviewed by the likes of Tim Russert and reading his commentaries in the newspaper, I have a great respect for columnist Thomas Friedman and his intelligence and experience. However, I do not share his optimism that after the cease-fire the people of Lebanon and other Arabs will start asking, "What did we get from this and at what price?"

Looking at it from my perspective of watching the Arab-Israeli conflict longer than Mr. Friedman has been alive, my conclusion is that the Arab-Islamist world isn't smart enough to draw the same conclusions as Mr. Friedman. For almost 60 years it has been the total destruction of Israel that has driven the Arabs, not concern for the well-being and the future of their own children.

There could have been peace in the Middle East 100 times over if the Arab-Islamist world had been willing to coexist with Israel. Forget land and the occupation of Palestine. These are just excuses. Blinded by their hatred of Israel, they cannot be reasoned with because they are not reasonable. They cannot be dealt with in an honorable fashion because they have no honor if they cannot put their children's future ahead of their hate.

Mr. Friedman's faith in the ability of U.N. forces to keep Hezbollah from more attacks on Israel is misplaced. People were slaughtered in Bosnia, Croatia, etc., after U.N. forces were on the ground. A large number of U.N. countries are anti-Israel. Countries like France have large Arab-Islamist populations which have to be appeased. They cannot be trusted to help Israel.

The world stood by once before as the Jews were nearly destroyed and I believe it would do so again, led by the useless United Nations.

Nadia Romeo, Las Vegas