Word: barak
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...year occupation that cut short the lives of hundreds of Israeli soldiers, mostly young conscripts. It was the erasure of a long-standing blot on Israel's international credibility. And it was the fulfillment of an election promise so radical and attractive that most voters, for or against Barak, had originally written it off as mere gimmickry. "The tragedy," Barak declared, "has come...
...Barak hopes his threats of massive retaliation will prevent such a development. Still, uncertainty about the other side's response made the pullout a risky move, for both Israel's security and Barak's political longevity. "The decision to leave was very much Barak's," says a government official, "and it was taken in the face of a lot of hedging by others. The consequences, good or bad, will also be uniquely Barak...
...Barak's natural toughness is supposed to be the antidote to that kind of violence. In recent days, for the first time, he has said explicitly that if Israel is attacked again, it will aim its retribution at Lebanese troops and at Lebanese-based Syrian forces, targets the Israelis have assiduously avoided. Barak asserted to TIME that those working to mobilize Hizballah fighters and Palestinian extremists include "Syrian generals--and not only generals," an apparent reference to Syrian intelligence agents in Lebanon who presumably would now fall within Israel's sights...
With the U.N. expected to certify this week that Israel's withdrawal is total, Barak hopes any future reprisals will be seen as self-defense rather than the bullying tactics of an occupier. By quitting Lebanon, he meant to add right to Israel's might. "We have a talmudic saying, 'Truth is self-evident,'" Barak reflected in his office last week. "When you do the right thing, it cannot weaken you. I'm not working for ratings or for the momentary mood. It doesn't matter. If we act to change reality in the right direction, it strengthens...
...EHUD BARAK D'oh! Saigon-style evacuation of Lebanon embarrassing. Uh, got a plan if Hizballah starts shelling...