In my daily scanning of the blogosphere, I invariably make a pause at my friend Abu Kareem's blog, The Levantine Dreamhouse.. For me, his passionate views, his immensely well-informed arguments, his robust and deep-rooted beliefs, are a source of inspiration and a focus of admiration..
His
latest offering is no exception..
I wanted to leave a comment, but realised that I was writing too much!.. I did not want to abuse his hospitality, so I decided to put my views on his post in a separate post of my own...
Abu Kareem, with his notable courage, tried to tackle a very difficult concept.. Can a leader commit his people to a battle they cannot win?.. Should a leader pursue a venture that will bring death and destruction to his people, in the name of honour and dignity?.. Are 'principles' more important than people?.. The corollary to that question is, of course, 'whose principles?!'...
Most reasonable people would agree with the right of self-defense.. and most should accept that it applies to both parties in any dispute.
Most reasonable people would agree that it is the duty of a patriotic leader to stand up to the enemies of his Nation, and to uphold and defend its sovereignty..
However, I believe that a wise and compassionate leader will have the protection of his people as his first and foremost aim..
A wise and compassionate leader will weigh the pros and cons of his actions, in terms of what miseries they will bring and what relief they provide.. Lashing out haphazardly at a vastly superior enemy will not be in the interest of the People, as the response is likely to be disproportionate...
A wise and compassionate leader will, if he has to, work
WITH his arch enemies to protect his people, until he can learn to defeat those enemies.. I am fully aware of the argument that cites Abbas's work with the Israelis as a demonstration of the failure of such strategy.. and I accept that, at face value, this example is a case against my argument.. However, I believe that the fault with this example lies in that it starts from the premise that Abbas is working for the interest of the Palestinian People, a statement I strongly disagree with.. Therefore, I do not accept this example in the first place..
A wise and compassionate leader will work with his people, all his people, to defeat their mutual enemy.. Both Hamas and Fatah are guilty of driving a wedge through the midst of the Palestinian masses.. Neither has the legitimacy to speak for the People, because each have their own hidden macabre agenda..
A wise and compassionate leader will know when to fight and when to sit back and wait.. Clearly, Hamas lack this insight.. They continue to provide Israel with excuse after excuse, in case Israel needed any, to pummel Gaza with more firepower, and inflict more misery on its besieged population..
Our modern history is awash with 'leaders' who could only see as far as their noses.. leaders whose own delusions of grandeur enticed them to take their People to the brink of the abyss.. and often beyond.. leaders whose people have paid a very high price for the leader's lack of insight, treason, stubbornness, or sheer stupidity.. leaders who are more than willing to send millions of their people to certain death, as long as they themselves are safe from harm...
Neither Hamas nor Fatah is a wise and compassionate leader...
Hamas and Fatah care only for their own interests..
And the wretched people.. the helpless children.. the unarmed men and women.. pay the price for the stubbornness and lack of foresight of their leaders...
