TheObiBlog

So, I didn't start paying attention to world events until the mid-90's. But I found an old newspaper from 1986 recently - I wonder if it has any light to shed on the current events in the mideast?

Here, we see France taking flak for caving in to a terrorist attack by Syria, with an arms deal.



Hmmm - the notion of taking hostages as a way to get an enemy to do what you want? Apparently, someone felt that the US was powerless, in the clutches of Syria and it's buddy Iran. Perhaps this event from 1986 provides a bit of backdrop for Hezbollah capturing Israeli soldiers. Perhaps it also explains a little of why Israel reacted as strongly as it did.


Hm - another swipe at a western leader working deals with terrorists. Apparently, back in 1986, there was an echo.

One might conclude, assuming political cartoonists portray reality, that France and the US chose to deal with Syrian terrorists who had bombed and kidnapped. Now it's 20 years later. We saw Spain actually changing governments in response to getting bombed. We see lots and lots of pressure on Israel to come to the bargaining table.

I wonder - is there some act of terrorism that is bad enough, that appeasers would call for war?