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When Defeat Turns into Victory!
Every single defeat that the Arab countries faced with Israel in the distant and near past was converted into an illusory victory.
Transforming defeats into imaginary victories, was done by populist and ultra-nationalist leaders who were and still are the main reason behind the suffering of their people and the backwardness of their countries. These leaders were and still consider the mere survival or existence after every devastating loss as a triumph that should be proud of.
Following the 1967 Arab–Israeli War, the Syrian Ba'ath, announced the defeat of Israel simply because the "wise" Baathist leadership remained in power, knowing that it was - and still is - usurping power through a military coup. The defeat of June 1967 turned into a simple and fleeting "setback" despite Israel's occupation of Sinai in Egypt, Golan Heights in Syria and what was left of Palestine.
The "Mother of all Defeats" that led to the humiliating escape of the Iraqi army from Kuwait in 1991 was described by Saddam Hussein as "the Mother of all Battles". The July 2006 war, which led to the destruction of much of the capital, Beirut, and the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters to the lines of contact, was, according to “the axis of resistance” which is practically “the axis of trading and auctions”, a divine victory. The October 1973 war, which led to the Israeli occupation of more Syrian and Egyptian lands, was considered a historic victory by the Arabs.
The last round of Israel-Hamas war that stopped a few days ago after 11 days of mutual bombardment was portrayed by Hamas and Jihad as a divine triumph. The war led to the killing of more than 240 Palestinians in Gaza compared to only 12 people in Israel. In addition to destroying dozens of residential towers in Gaza and damaging of the city’s infrastructure. The reason behind Hamas and Jihad’s account of the war as a heavenly victory is because that the leaders of the two movements, who were hiding in the basements like rats, eventually survived or just because the city of Gaza, which Hamas has dominated with force and intimidation, has not been completely wiped out.
Peoples and leaders who convert their current defeats into victories, inevitably, their reading and comprehension of distant and near history suffers from many drawbacks and fallacies. Consequently, nations and leaders who do not read and understand their history well cannot read and grasp their present well, even if they are a part of it and live in it.
On this basis, desired and hoped-for change in discourse, reason, and collective action becomes a form of fantasy and an aspiration that is very difficult to turn into a tangible reality.
Thousands of Gazans gathered in the streets and squares following the cease-fire to express their happiness. They did not do so, influenced by the lie of steadfastness propagated by Hamas leaders, but because they were and still love life and peace.
Perhaps most of them know that they have lost the last war as they had lost the previous wars. However, they have no choice but to be optimistic until they get rid of Hamas's rule and its policies that serve the agendas of Iran, Turkey and Qatar, the axis of evil and organised sabotage in the Middle East and North Africa.
The only case in which defeat can be turned into victory is when the correct and useful lessons are drawn from it. Also, when realism and rationality prevail in politics instead of recklessness and empty flashy slogans which increase the tragedy of peoples and double their poverty and deprivation.
by: Jwan Dibo
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