In the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Jewish atheist meditation guru Sam Harris became one of my rabbis. In the midst of tragedy, he spoke calmly and sensibly about the situation in Israel and for Jews in the rest of the world.
The sexual violence and murder of the Hamas attack was followed by worldwide support for the attackers: and complete silence by women's rights groups. The progressive left, especially on college campuses, defended and exalted Hamas. Black Lives Matter Chicago used a hang glider like those used by Hamas as a symbol of freedom at a rally days after the attack.
In that moment, Sam Harris said the world could choose between Jihad and civilization. We cannot have both. As long as Hamas, Boko Haram, ISIS, The Iranian regime, the Houthis and Hezbollah exist, civilization is at risk.
The proper response to Jihadi terror is war.
In the past few weeks I have spoken to many people who believe war is always wrong.
I believe they are wrong. War is the right response implacable evil.
War against the Nazis and the Death Cult of Imperial Japan was right. War against Jihad until they have no ability to rape and slaughter is right.
Right now, Israel is the only nation to make the affirmative choice to fight against armies that have vowed in their founding documents to destroy Israel and kill Jews. If the Jihadis win, the rest of the civilized world is their eventual target.
Hamas has lost most of its fighters, but refuses to negotiate, preferring death, especially the death of Gazans other than themselves. The Houthis attack ships to close the Red Sea to world trade. Iran threatens to build and use a nuclear weapon. Hezbollah planned another rape and slaughter attack on Israel but was thwarted recently when Israel killed and maimed thousands of Hezbollah leaders in a series of sabotage attacks.
For those who do not know what real evil sounds like, Sam Harris posted a transcript of a Hamas murderer bragging about the ten Israelis he killed.
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Another war of necessity against an evil foe who intends destruction of their nation is The War in Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine to carry out a program of Imperial expansion by Vladimir Putin.
The majority of Americans support Ukraine seeing it as the front line of a fight against Russian expansion in Europe. I have supported the Ukrainians in every way I can since the beginning of the invasion.
In the strategic sense, Ukraine is defending America as it defends itself. Russia has lost a million soldiers killed and wounded since the war began. We have sent only weapons to Ukraine. No American soldiers are fighting and dying in Ukraine, only Ukrainians defend their homeland.
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In both wars, if the invaders stop fighting, the wars will end. If either Israel or Ukraine stops fighting, their nations will cease to exist and their people will be enslaved or killed.
Every person I spoke to who is against these wars and against all wars said, "Why don't they negotiate?'
Which only makes clear they know nothing of negotiation. To make a deal, both sides have to have something they will compromise on.
Jihadi terrorists want the destruction of Israel and the death of Jews.
The ground for compromise is?????
Putin believes Ukraine is not a nation and that he, as ruler of Russia, is the rightful ruler of Ukraine.
The ground for compromise is?????
