Notes & January 15, 2009 Jeffrey Goldberg vs Reuel Gerecht on the Military and Moderating Jihadism Goldberg:There is a fixed idea among some Israeli leaders that Hamas can be bombed into moderation. This is a false and dangerous notion. It is true that Hamas can be deterred militarily for a time, but tanks cannot defeat deeply felt belief. Gerecht:it is military defeat that produces the fatigue and the spiritual deflation that leads to acquiescence (and, sometimes, reflection)...decisive military defeat is history's great "moderator". (Just ask the Germans.) Me:I imagine this is a question that Israeli politicians grapple with regularly. (also, Tumblr needs a way to add commentary to a dialogue)
