Compare And Contrast

A quote from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday caught my eye:

“When missiles are launched at our residents and our towns, our answer will be war waged at full strength, with all determination, courage and sacrifice.”

For some reason, this reminded me of the famous quote from French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau in March 1918:

"My home policy: I wage war; my foreign policy: I wage war. All the time I wage war."

Clemenceau actually did wage total war, and went on to win (with quite a bit of help). I wonder if the Israelis will be able to do the same -- and if they do, if they'll have the same problem France did 20-some-odd years afterwards.

My guesses: No, Israel won't wage war "at full strength", and nothing will get solved in this current crisis except that some terrorists who deserve to die will die, as will some innocents who don't deserve to (as happens in any conflict). Maybe Israel should force a "final" (for a generation) showdown with the Syrians and Iranians... but they won't.

I honestly don't know what they should do. I don't offer any solutions... I just raise issues.

(Break -- New topic: I was thinking about the WWI quote because I just finished reading "A World Undone: The Story of the Great War 1914-1918". I've read quite a few WWI books, and this one is the best high-level coverage of the War I've seen.)