The following is an axiom of symbolic logic:
In other words, if F is a true statement, then any statement of the form
IF G THEN Fis inherently true, whether or not G is a true statement.
For example, 2+2=4 is a true statement, therefore the two sentences
If we let all of the wild animals out of the zoo tomorrow, then 2+2 will equal 4and
If we don't let all of the wild animals out of the zoo tomorrow, then 2+2 will equal 4are both inherently true, because 2+2 will always equal 4, whether or not we let all of the wild animals out of the zoo tomorrow.
Along these lines, the following statement from Abu Mazen is also inherently true:
If we wait for three months without any release of the prisoners, the cease-fire will break down
I leave it as an exercise to the reader to figure out why. (Here is a hint).
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at July 02, 2003 04:37 PMObviously the cease fire will break down is axiomatically true, no matter what happens. The truce is obviously the arab attempt to save face for being weak as a temporary truce so as to attack with much force later on. It seems to me that if Israel in the meantime can change realities on the ground, Hamas will not be in the same position. I asked this question of zeev schiff, but did not really get an answer.
my recommendation would be to keep on building the fence in the west bank and to expand settlements in the west bank, quietly. this will give israel tangible gains which are helped by the respite of the truce. when the cease fire ends for real, say in a few weeks, maybe israel is in a better position.
Posted by: anon on July 2, 2003 06:15 PM...that is the best blog post I have ever read. You made my day.
Posted by: Matt on July 3, 2003 04:49 PMone leading to Pittsburg Simili, the dust-veiled to the D'amboise road from Ansiol Landing, intersecting it at a point not far from the colour-blindness of our army under General Resolv'd, as it enshr
stop smoking