SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM /// Platón, Vegetius

Lines of tanks, armored personnel carriers and jeeps are moving along roads that were carefully paved smooth earlier this year. Thousands of IDF soldiers already toting their gear are ready, seated in trucks and APCS, patiently waiting for orders that will decide their actions. But for now, they’re still in waiting mode. The orders haven’t yet been issued – they’re only getting into position – everyone’s just moving south to the border with Gaza. Disc jockeys and talk show hosts on Army Radio have that manic quality in their voices as they strain with extra effort to be especially funny in routines that have a sharper edge than usual. The music is jumpier, punchier. No information that could let you know what’s really going on. Standard procedure for the State of Israel in high-tension security mode. It would be smart for Gaza terrorists to rethink their actions, if they’re thinking clearly at all. Now is a good time to consider their families, if they ever consider anyone. The requisite warning to Hamas went out. They know the steps to the dance. No fools they, the entire leadership of that terrorist organization went underground at least 48 hours ago. No bellicose statements issued from Ismail Haniyeh since the beginning of the week. He’s hiding from Israeli fighter pilots and air strikes, content to let Gaza families pay the price for his belligerence when Israel is forced to bomb rocket launchers buried up against their homes. In that way, he’s not much different from Hezbollah terrorist chief Hassan Nasrallah, who has been in hiding for years, since the 2006 Second Lebanon War, for similar reasons. But the rocket fire continues, and it will soon have to be silenced one way or the other. The price for leaving it is getting too high. Tens of thousands of Israeli civilians cannot sleep at night, cannot function by day. Too many children are growing up damaged. It’s approaching the time to put the matter to rest. IT IS UP TO THE PALESTINIANS...IF THEY WANT PEACE...LET THERE BE PEACE IT IS UP TO THE PALESTINIANS...IF THEY WANT WAR...LET THERE BE WAR BUT REMEMBER...WAR IS BAD FOR EVERYBODY BUT ALSO REMEMBER THAT PEACE IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY...SO IT IS UP TO YOU SI VIS PACEM...PARA BELLUM