The only way some form of quiet will ever exist in the Middle East is if Israel is given the latitude to totally defeat its declared enemies. Only then will the terrorist attacks on Israel’s civilians come to an end. Perpetual negotiations, diplomatic half measures, or land for peace deals will not bring peace to the Middle East. For those who believe this is an irresponsible notion, I use history as my guide. …

This week Hamas and other terrorist groups – which, like certain of the countries that surround Israel, seek the destruction of Israel, not co- existence or even the establishment of a Palestinian state – intensified their war against the Jewish state by unleashing 5 fanatic suicide bombers against innocent civilians, mostly children. The result: hundreds of casualties, including 26 dead. In the past 14 months, more than 230 Israelis have been killed – the proportional equivalent to the U.S. losing some 11,000 people. …

When attacked by terrorists, Israel has been urged to show “restraint,” to make more negotiated concessions and even accept the creation of a hostile Palestinian state on its border.

— November 27, 2007

[Via our pal Adam Baldwin, who dug this out of Rush’s archives. It’s amazing how prescient this is, and how the advice is perhaps even more applicable today. Be sure to read it all, because Adam and I will discuss this in our next Amiable Skeptics show. And I still miss Rush. — Ed]