Israel Is Not Carthage (and the United States Isn't Rome)

I read this late last night at JPost:

Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem are included in the US demand that Israel halt "settlement" construction, including for natural growth, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told The Jerusalem Post during a press briefing on Monday.

"We're talking about all settlement activity, yes, in the area across the line," he said, referring to neighborhoods in Jerusalem over the Green Line, or pre-1967 armistice line, in response to a question on where America's calls to halt construction in the settlements would be applied.

This latest clarification of the Marack administration's demands on Israel made me have a flashback...When I was in great big huge college, a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I took one of those Roman history survey weedout courses. It was taught by Professor Nebbishwho'dratherbedoinganythingelse, which meant going to the library to find some stuff out for myself. I decided to look into a topic that got glossed over in my pre-collegiate courses: the Punic Wars and the fall of Carthage.

The three Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage spanned nearly 100 years. The second Punic War, made famous by Hannibal's crossing of the Alps, ended with Rome defeating Carthage and exacting seemingly painful reparations for the heavy losses inflicted on Rome by Hannibal's army on the Italian peninsula. Carthage was expected to pay a tribute to Rome for 50 years, and its army was reduced to nearly nothing, save what it required for defense of the city of Carthage itself. They could also not engage in military action without Rome's permission.

Much to Rome's surprise, and consternation, Carthage thrived. It's economy boomed since it was not preoccupied with Rome. This really pissed the Romans off, and made them worry that perhaps Carthage would rise again to spill more Roman blood. They decided to goad Carthage into a war.

They began by demanding 300 hostages comprised of children of noble Carthaginian families. Rather than go to war Carthage consented. But Rome came again, demanding that the city completely disarm. A staggering number of weapons, armor, catapults, anything used in defense of the city was turned over to Rome. Then Rome issued its final demand: The Carthaginians must abandon the city, and move it 10 miles inland so they could not access the sea. This was the final straw. War was declared.

The citizens of Carthage threw all their efforts into rebuilding their defenses and restocking their armories. Rome delayed attacking for some time. By the time the Romans laid siege to the city they had built up enough of their defenses to hold back the Roman onslaught for 3 years. Finally, the Romans breached the city and leveled it, killing or enslaving virtually the entire population.

Marack and his minions are making demands on Israel that are not too dissimilar. Cease construction in your towns, effectively forcing controlled family planning on those communities; withdraw to boundaries that cannot be defended and leave all your population centers open to rocket attack; and divide your capital in half, leaving control of your holiest place in the hands of an international body that has a history of open hostility toward you.

And while some could contend that Israel's demand for a demilitarized PA is not dissimilar either, keep in mind that no one in the PA is objecting to this idea because they are afraid of Israel taking unprovoked military action against it. They object because it would hinder their ability to attack Israel.

Many have conjectured that this course by Marack is to provoke a rift between Israel and the United States to serve his overriding mission to be #1 swell guy with the Arabs. Again, I have a much simpler theory: He just doesn't like Jews or the Jewish state.

Here's a newsflash Marack: Israel is not Carthage, and with you at the helm the United States sure as hell isn't Rome; at least not the Rome of its glory republic days...more like victim of incompetent, narcissistic emperors Rome.

BTW; if you're interested in a great synopsis of the Punic Wars, complete with references to great sources like Livy, Polybius, and Herodotus, check out Dan Carlin's 3 part episode of Hardcore History on the Punic Wars (Shows 21-23). You might want to pick up your Polybius all over again. But please, keep your Herodotus to yourselves. This is a family show.