From Thomas Paine’s Corner
By Nathaniel Turner

Capitalism has begun wheezing and sputtering under the influence of its fatal contradictions. One of the more graphic illustrations of the system’s growing irrationality is being vividly painted now in one of its outposts–Israel. The state that Zionism created sees its own death coming and is thrashing around accordingly. Because the rulers of Israel see the end of the line they are gripped with fear. The indiscriminate bombing in Lebanon and Gaza and the resultant killing of civilians and destruction of infrastructure, the kidnapping of Hamas legislators, and the targeting of a U.N. observer post are acts increasingly outside the bounds of rationality. And their fear is bound to grow now that their military adventure has failed. Olmert’s security cabinet has already given up on the idea of driving to the Litani River to establish their so-called buffer zone and realize they will not defeat Hezbollah militarily. This turn will further electrify the Arab people and put additional pressure on Israel.

Under normal circumstances the impending death of a form of racism like Zionism and the establishment of a secular state on the territory Israel now occupies where Palestinian Arabs of various religious persuasions and Jews could peacefully co-exist as equals would be cause for human celebration. Unfortunately, the insanity that clearly grips Israel means they will likely resort to their nuclear arsenal when all else fails. And that, on a small scale, is the dilemma that the whole world faces as the capitalist system passes into history.

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