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Explain to me how executing prisoners of war, blowing up the town of Qibya in Jordan, or enabling the massacre of helpless women and children in Lebanon were acts of self defense for Israel. Explain how they were necessary, particularly when Israelis themselves found this conduct shocking, offensive and unacceptable? Explain how its all right? I'm sitting here waiting to be convinced.
There's nothing to explain, Den, and no convincing to do, because cherry picking history is a waste of time. I'm sure those who know better could match each of Sharon's criminal incidents with one of valor and duty. By your own standards Nelson Mandela was a criminal, as was George Washington, and since Lincoln subverted the constitution, he should be hauled to the dock as well. I don't deny the horror and the violence you refer to, but I say soldiers and leaders do horrible and violent things and we often benefit from those actions even if the cold hard truth about our myths are tarnished and stained. Den, I live in a country so soaked in blood (USA) that the murder of 49 Egyptian POWs or the destruction of some village in the overall context of the endless Holy Land struggle just doesn't raise my bile as it does yours. If you can honestly judge Sharon as one of history's great monsters, then judgment is hereby passed.
