But the hopes of tired old men, as precious as they may be, cannot be a foundation for national security. One reality that must never be denied is the imminence of war as a constant in a volatile Middle East. But fear of war, like fear of death, is a reality in which we must live. A nation that would determine its course based upon the fear of war, would cripple itself just as an individual would, if he lived according to his fear of death. Wars, as Henry Steele Commager explained, are a part of the diplomatic and international landscape.
War is aggression on a very large scale and aggression is endemic to the human condition.
When Cato retired from the government of Rome, he warned the Senate that a Rome that was afarid of war would be drawn into war. As we see during this latest round of hostilities, it was our constant fear of violence that permitted such violence. Only by restoring the IDF's deterrent power will this violence cease. And the last bit of delusional thinking is that Israel's power lies in its advanced technology such as its missiles, tanks and aircraft. The fact is that this equipment was sidetracked in the intifada style of warfare.