Recent events in Israel and Lebanon should be the final nail in the coffin for Middle Eastern diplomacy. Is there anyone left in the world besides Kofi Annan who believes in the possibility of peace through treaties and diplomacy where Radical Islam is involved?
 
In the quest for a peaceful existence, Israel has done just about everything the world has asked her to do. She's given up huge pieces of land to Palestine and showed admirable restraint in the face of aggression from Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel has openly embraced the notion of a Palestinian state as long as the attacks from Palestinian terrorists stop for all time. What has Israel gained from her sacrifices?
 
Nothing but more aggression from those who wish to see her wiped from the face of the Earth.
 
What we must understand is that Radical Islam has no intention of honoring any agreements it makes with Israel - or for that matter, any other non-Muslim nation. Gaining concessions from Israel, especially in the form of land, is simply another method of chipping away at Israel's existence. They don't see Israel's many concessions any differently than if they'd gained the land through violence.
 
And yet the United Nations still expects Israel to show restraint after this most recent aggression by Hezbollah. Kofi Annan still wants to declare a cease fire even though the blue-helmeted UN peace keepers are for the most part as corrupt and inept as Kofi himself. And don't forget that Russia and China are members of the UN. Where'd Hezbollah get those missiles it's firing out of Lebanon? If you guessed "Iran," give yourself a gold star. Both Russia and China have been instrumental in Iran's development of advanced weaponry. And Hezbollah is little more than a puppet of Iran.
 
It is failed diplomacy that has placed Israel in its current predicament. It is failed diplomacy that has led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Israeli citizens over the years.
 
Why have all diplomatic efforts failed to win a peace for Israel?
 
Diplomacy only works when all parties involved desire peace. Radical Islam seeks the destruction of Israel and the United States, and the subjugation of the entire planet. Radical Islam will never honor any agreement with a non-Muslim nation, and it is complete idiocy to believe otherwise.  These are people who believe they are on a mission from Allah to create a worldwide Muslim state. 
 
So… how can we deal with them?
 
It is unfortunate that there is only one way to deal with Muslim extremists. We have seen the results of attempting to appease them. Radical Islam sees any attempt at a diplomatic solution as a sign of weakness. They will not honor a cease fire agreement. They will break any and all treaties. UN resolutions are as meaningless to them as the UN itself.
 
At the risk of sounding like a bit of an extremist myself, I'll be the one to say what most civilized people are already thinking, though it pains them (and me) to do so…

"The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist. Kill them all, and let Allah sort them out."
 
 As long as even one radical Muslim cleric still lives, as long as even one Islamic extremist still plots to kill, none of us are safe - not even the millions of peaceful Muslims who play no part in the Global Jihad. The sooner the appeasers of the world face this unpleasant fact, the sooner we can eradicate an implacable evil from our world.

"We know Bush is the enemy of God, the enemy of Islam and the enemy of the Moslem people. America has declared war against God, [Israeli Prime Minister] Sharon declared war against God, and God has declared war against America, Bush and Sharon."
Abdel Aziz Rantisi (1947 - 2004) - co-Founder of Hamas

Related Reading:
About Hamas
http://www.cfr.org/publication/8968/

About Abdel Aziz Rantisi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd_Al-Aziz_Rantisi

About Hezbollah
http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/

Iran's Involvement in the Israel / Lebanon Crisis
http://www.cfr.org/publication/11125/iran_and_syria_exploit_crisis.html

Alan Burkhart is a freelance political writer, cross-country trucker, and proud citizen of the reddest of the Red States - Mississippi. You can reach him via e-mail at: alan@alanburkhart.com or by visiting his website: www.alanburkhart.com.