Guest Essay: Unilateralism, Deterrence and the War in Lebanon
As part of this evening's event, we are posting short essays by each of the speakers, so that those who cannot attend can get a sense of the issues that will be discussed. Our first essay is by Guy Grossman, a Ph.D student at Columbia University in Political Science, and one of the founders of the refuser's movement in Israel. For the whole text of the essay, click here...What follows are selections from
Unilateralism, Deterrence and the War in Lebanon
by, Guy Grossman
"Recognizing its inability to militarily enforce a change in the status-quo, Israel – in what seems the most dramatic result of the latest round of violence - is turning to the international community for help in securing its northern border."
"But the fact that the war was unplanned or that it is achieving its exact opposite goals (from Israel’s stand-point), should not be interpreted as if there is no underlying “logic” to the operation’s deterioration...Instead I argue that the war was a logical outcome of the confluence of three political developments: (a) Israel’s unilateralism; (b) the strengthening of the Islamist forces in the Arab world; and (c) America’s commitments to “war on terror”."
"Unilateralism meant that Israel abandoned the (rhetorical) search for peace, which was no longer viewed as a superior strategic option. This meant that Israel was to rely more heavily on its military’s deterrent power."
"Finally, in terms of Israeli domestic politics, as this war continuous to be fought out, the government’s ultimate goal – its own survival – is also being undermined. Left with little maneuvering space, it seems that the days of Olmert’s government are numbered...Thus the war that is fought now is not about the survival of the country, but rather it is about the survival of the government. This of course is not the entire story, but I believe it goes a long way in explaining how a collective punishment expedition, which was launched with little preparation and deliberation, and which was based on distorted and arrogant evaluations and on unattainable promises, morphed into a dreadful all-out war."
Read on...
Unilateralism, Deterrence and the War in Lebanon
by, Guy Grossman
"Recognizing its inability to militarily enforce a change in the status-quo, Israel – in what seems the most dramatic result of the latest round of violence - is turning to the international community for help in securing its northern border."
"But the fact that the war was unplanned or that it is achieving its exact opposite goals (from Israel’s stand-point), should not be interpreted as if there is no underlying “logic” to the operation’s deterioration...Instead I argue that the war was a logical outcome of the confluence of three political developments: (a) Israel’s unilateralism; (b) the strengthening of the Islamist forces in the Arab world; and (c) America’s commitments to “war on terror”."
"Unilateralism meant that Israel abandoned the (rhetorical) search for peace, which was no longer viewed as a superior strategic option. This meant that Israel was to rely more heavily on its military’s deterrent power."
"Finally, in terms of Israeli domestic politics, as this war continuous to be fought out, the government’s ultimate goal – its own survival – is also being undermined. Left with little maneuvering space, it seems that the days of Olmert’s government are numbered...Thus the war that is fought now is not about the survival of the country, but rather it is about the survival of the government. This of course is not the entire story, but I believe it goes a long way in explaining how a collective punishment expedition, which was launched with little preparation and deliberation, and which was based on distorted and arrogant evaluations and on unattainable promises, morphed into a dreadful all-out war."
Read on...
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