Mark Kirk: “there comes a time in the life of a democracy when their leaders must respond to terror by unleashing a terrible, swift…”

“there comes a time in the life of a democracy when their leaders must respond to terror by unleashing a terrible, swift sword. That is this time for our allies in Israel. Under the previous prime minister, Yasar Arafat was offered a choice. At Camp David and again at Taba, he chose between an offer of 97 percent of the territories or the gun. He chose the gun. Many Americans thought that Arafat could make a courageous decision like Nelson Mandela to surrender the gun and govern a state, or Arafat could follow the path of Fidel Castro and preside over increasing isolation and destruction. Arafat chose unwisely and conducted a wave of violence against teenagers and commuters. His apologists say that Arafat has no power. They are wrong. He has no judgment. President Bush put the question clearly after September 11, you are either with the terrorists or you are with the West. You cannot condemn the Taliban and hug Hezbollah. Egypt and Jordan chose wisely: Peace with Israel. Arafat chose war. He is now harvesting the wrath of a democracy and her American ally. Americans are best when we stand with our democratic allies, and now is the time to stand with Israel. Together, we will show that the way of the suicide bomber leads nowhere, and only negotiations with the democratically elected leaders of Israel can lead to peace.”