I would like to join the chorus of voices hoping that the death of Yassar Arafat will lead to a new era of peace in the Middle East. Arafat was a sponsor of terrorism who was more concerned with his own power within the PLO than the real needs of the Palestinian people. I tend to think that the President was trying to wait Arafat out before pursuing peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But is there hope for peace now? If a reasonable Palestinian leader emerges, there is new hope for a negotiated peace (always tenuable). However, and I fear this is a more likely scenario, if Palestine degenerates into increased violence, Israel may well crack down and reassert itself in the region. This will mean violence in the shortrun, but victory in the longrun for Israel. If the Global War on Terror has taught us anything it is that peace comes through victory.
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