Nicholas Kristof is a self-described progressive, and a regular Op-Ed writer for the New York Times. He has even won two Pulitzer Prizes. Unfortunately, he lacks moral clarity. In the Sunday, November 12th edition of the paper's Opinion section, he had this article: "President Biden, Please Do More to Build Peace." So far, so good. Everyone wants peace. But at what cost?
Kristof: "I'm fine with Israel taking out Hamas's military leaders or destroying tunnels in a surgical way, but not with it leveling large sections of Gaza..." First of all, Israel does not give a damn about what you are "fine" with, Mr. Kristof. Secondly, Hamas needs to be completely eradicated. It is not enough to only take out their military leaders. Their political structure cannot be allowed to continue to exist. Otherwise, they will rebuild their military and Israel will be facing the same problems over and over and over again. Nothing short of complete victory or an unconditional surrender by Hamas will solve the problem.
Kristof: "Israel has a responsibility to value Palestinian lives even if Hamas doesn't." Israel does more than any other country to protect civilians. They make phone calls into Gaza to warn people. They drop dud bombs on the roofs of building to warn people. They drop leaflets out of airplanes to warn people. Your premise is utter nonsense, Mr. Kristof.
Kristof: "The Biden administration has already encouraged Israel to rachet its assault on Gaza several notches toward the surgical end by using smaller bombs and allowing humanitarian pauses." This reminds me of a skit on Saturday Night Live years ago when a "reporter" was asking the "defense secretary" (may have been a Dick Cheney player) why smart bombs sometimes kill innocent people. To which the Cheney player merely slapped the top of his head in disbelief. But that "reporter" is Kristof.
And just what does Kristof think happens with these "humanitarian" pauses? Here is what I think happens. Hamas regroups and rearms. Hamas takes the humanitarian aid for themselves and their fighters. They have already announced publicly that they are not responsible for the people of Gaza. They believe the UN has that responsibility. We know they use the people of Gaza as human shields, and then someone like Kristof falls for it and blames Israel when civilians die. And just how "humanitarian" does Kristof think Hamas is? They murdered civilians of all ages. They raped women. They took as hostages people of all ages.
Kristof: "I'm skeptical that the Israeli Army can actually eradicate extremist forces from Gaza, so it seems to me that what's unfolding there now - with American complicity as we supply Israel with bombs and artillery shells - is neither militarily nor morally sustainable." You're skeptical, Mr. Kristof? I bet the leaders of the newly formed state of Israel, in 1948, were skeptical that they could defeat the five Arab armies that attacked them. Israel was outgunned and outmanned. But Israel won. I bet Eisenhower had a healthy dose of skepticism about the chances of success on D-Day. Maybe Kristof thinks the US should supply Hamas with an equal number of bombs and artillery shells in order to satisfy his mistaken sense of fairness.
Kristof: "Looking ahead, the next initiative must be a major push by Biden for an Israeli-Palestinian peace"... but "both sides lack credible leaders to get there." What nonsense. The Arabs of Palestine have been offered their own state numerous times, Starting in 1947 when the UN voted to partition the British Mandate in Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state. They refused. They have been offered a state numerous times since. They refused. They don't want a state as long as Israel exists. They want all the land "from the river to the sea." And you, a two time Pulitzer Prize winner, fall for all their propaganda.
Here's Kristof's hope in the meantime. The State Department should again declare the "settlements" to be in violation of international law. And this gem: "The United States could also abstain at the United Nations Security Council on a resolution calling for humanitarian pauses, instead of vetoing it as happened last time." After all, "How many dead Gazan children are too many," Kristof asks.
So what are the common themes in all of Kristof's comments? First, Israel is at fault, or at least equally at fault with Hamas. Second, as is typical of leftwing "progressive" thinking, no demands are to made of the bad guys. No, appeasement is the answer. Appease them with more and more of these "humanitarian" pauses - because this Pulitzer Prize winner does not understand that such pauses are for the benefit of a terrorist organization.
Third, these progressive leftists do not believe in winning wars. Just imagine if Kristof had the ear of Roosevelt or Truman or Eisenhower? Just take out the Nazis' military leaders, but allow their political structure to remain. Allow the Nazis to remain in power? What could go wrong there? Well, Hamas has revealed themselves to be the new Nazis, slaughtering men, women and children and even babies for the sole reason that they are Jewish. Hamas can no longer be allowed to exist. Unfortunately, there will be civilian deaths in the meantime.
And wouldn't it be nice if Kristof had any concern for the devasting impact October 7 had on the people of Israel. 1200 murdered. 240 taken hostage. 200,000 having to leave their homes in the south and the north as well, because Hezbollah joined in the fight. The economic and psychological consequences of October 7 are of no apparent concern to Kristof, because "how many dead Gazan children are too many." Here is the answer, Mr. Kristof - one is too many. But that cannot deter Israel from doing what it must to defeat Hamas. Were it otherwise, Israel would have to sit back and just accept attack after attack after attack.
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