Et
Tu, USA?
Approaching the heights of imperial greatness, fresh from
victories in Gaul and Germany, Emperor Julius Caesar had every reason to
feel proud.
His legions were unstoppable. His strategies unparalleled in
military history. His victory celebrations legendary.
Trooping through the streets of ancient Rome, conquering
legions under the standard of the eagle wheeled carts piled high with the
booty of war. Plundered were the treasuries of the vanquished. Gold, silver,
jewels, livestock and grain overflowed. Captured enemy soldiers, their faces
lowered in defeat and humiliation, were forced at spear point to march past
the cheering crowds of patriotic patricians.
At the rear of the procession rolled Caesar’s chariot,
equipped with an unusual, human safety device. To prevent pride from
consuming him, the man of the hour had positioned a lowly servant at his
side. His sole responsibility was to temper the boundless enthusiasm
expressed by Caesar’s adoring fans with the three word warning, "Sic
Transit Gloria."
A literal Latin rendering of the phrase is translated
"Thus passes glory." A more fluent English version might be,
"All fame is fleeting."
Shortly after one such tribute, General Julius received
another warning from a local oracle cautioning him to "Beware the Ides
of March." Alias, March 15th.
Sure enough, that was the blackest day in Roman history. A
circle of conspiratorial senators who resented and envied Caesar had sworn
not to rest until he was dead. Walking down the Capitol steps flanked by his
close friend, Senator Brutus Cassius, white togas suddenly surrounded the
fearless leader, knives flashed and when the homicidal crowd had hacked away
and backed away, Julius Caesar lay mortally wounded on the landing.
Looking to his friend Brutus for support, Caesar was
shocked. Brutus held a bloody knife, as well.
With his dying breath, Julius Caesar asked the piercing,
incredulous question, "Et tu, Brute?"…or "You too,
Brutus?"
I am a firm believer that history repeats itself and that
America is on the verge of making a huge mistake in stabbing our ally Israel
in the back.
Clearly, there are those within the US State Department who
follow the dictum, "Nations do not have friends…only interests."
Maintaining a close relationship with Israel through the years has often
worked to Washington’s advantage. The Jewish State has served as an island
of democracy in a Muslim sea of tyranny for the past 53 years. For over five
decades, the presence of Israel has clearly prevented Russian domination of
that region through its Arab client states. It has even undertaken surrogate
missions for us like the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear plant in the 1980’s
that prevented Saddam Hussein from joining the nuclear club of nations.
In the aftermath of the September 11th attack on
the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Israel appeared at liberty to come
against its domestic enemies with a free hand. The US was otherwise occupied
and there seemed to be a basis for common understanding between Jerusalem
and Washington. Both nations were in mourning and facing further terrorist
threats. Common sense should have placed such Palestinian goons as Hizbullah,
Hamas and Islamic Jihad high atop the list of international desperados.
It appears common sense has been sacrificed for expediency.
I cringed when President Bush and his minions began a
full-court media press to portray Islam as a "peace-loving, gentle
religion" when a brief browsing of their holy scriptures proves the
precise opposite to be true. There are enough bloodthirsty verses in the
Koran to make Michael Jordan’s hair stand on end.
Then, we compiled our incomplete terrorist hit list and
invited perpetrators like Syria and the Palestinian Authority to come on
board the US "peace train."
But now, the true nature of the Middle East sell-out is
becoming apparent. Somebody in the State Department probably devised this
whopper, hoping the American public would swallow it.
Our media are now reporting that the US government intended
to announce its support for a Palestinian state BEFORE the September 11th
attacks. In other words, no way is our pressure on Israel to bargain away
its existence dependent on the threat of future Muslim attacks at home and
abroad, including the threat of disrupted oil supplies.
No, we had independently decided it was in Israel’s best
interests to commit national suicide and that our true friends in the region
are the ones who have a gun put to our collective heads, loaded, locked and
trigger fingers twitching. We know the Palestinians do not intend to be
satisfied with the establishment of their own nation on Israeli soil. They
will not be satisfied until the last Jew in the Middle East is destroyed or
subdued.
We’re being told the word "Islam" stands for
"peace." It actually means "submission."
So, how do the two warnings of ancient Rome apply?
Actually this work of demonic duplicity may herald the
downfall of both Israel and the United States. Our Pax Americana has held
captive nations at spear point under the standard of the bald eagle ever
since the close of World War II. A still small voice of national conscience
has been whispering in our ears, "Sic Transit Gloria," but Caesar
has not been listening.
Instead, we’ve chosen to play the role of Brutus Cassius,
plunging our dagger deep into the back of unsuspecting Israel, a nation
already besieged by envious enemies, their sharp swords unsheathed and ready
for the kill.
We’re promised in the Christian Bible that God will bless
those that bless Abraham, the father of Israel, and curse those that curse
him.
If we betray Israel, we will fall on the knife ourselves.
America, beware the Ides of October.
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