“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” — George Santayana

There are many who have been advocating for and praising the so-called “ceasefire” agreement between Israel and the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas. I know that the families of those held hostage want to have their loved ones released back to them, especially the elderly and little children. How utterly savage and barbaric, but that is to be expected from a terrorist organization whose existence is dedicated to the extermination and eradication of the Jewish people and their homeland . . . a continuation of Adolf Hitler’s final solution policy. I find it unconscionable that the Western “useful idiots” — a reference coined by Vladimir Lenin — vehemently call everyone racists and Nazis yet would align themselves in support of an organization that embraces those despicable qualities.

Israel has agreed to release some 150 Hamas terrorists for 50 Israelis, including several American hostages. There can be no doubt that the ceasefire is less about releasing hostages than providing Hamas an opportunity to rearm, refit, reposition, and realign for the ongoing assault waged against it. The demand of Hamas should, must, be that all hostages are released and that they only get a window of 12 hours upon which to do so . . . not four days. Why would anyone trust Hamas, or for that sake, any Islamic terrorist organization? History tells us why we should not.

It was 628 AD when Muhammad returned seeking conquest and victory in Mecca. He had fled Mecca, in what is called the Al-Hijra, to Medina. It was there that Muhammad began building his force, circa 622 AD. It was his full intent to return and overtake Mecca. As he arrived on the battlefield, he realized that his objective would not be achievable at that time. He did not possess the requisite strength for victory. Therefore, Muhammad went into agreement with the Quraysh tribe for peace. It was called the Treaty of Hudaybiyya. Once Muhammad attained the necessary military force, he broke the treaty that he had brokered resulting in the massacre of the Quraysh. The conflict between Muhammad and the Quraysh had been due to the former’s incessant attacks against them and their caravans.

In Islam, the traditions of Muhammad are followed, and one of them is that lying to “infidels” in the furtherance of the goals of the Ummah is acceptable. The Treaty of Hudaybiyya is one of those accepted traditions.

How often have we heard about Hamas, or any other Islamic terrorist organization seeking a ceasefire with Israel? It only serves to create the opportunity for rearming. It is never a rejection of their intended goals, objectives, and purpose, which, for them is Israel’s destruction and Jewish death. The governing authority in Gaza is Hamas. They have never had any intention of improving the quality of life of Gazans. As a matter of fact, the Gaza civilians only serve as pawns or human shields, allowing Hamas to blend into society in order to strike at a sovereign nation, Israel.

Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, ISIS, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Al Quds and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Houthis, Abu Sayyaf, Boko Haram, Al Shabab, or the Haqquani network . . . none of them are to be trusted. That goes as well for their major State sponsors — Iran and Qatar. We know that Iran is the number one state sponsor of Islamic terrorism. However, we should not trust Qatar, as, after all, Hamas’ senior leadership calls Qatar home. Just the same as when Barack Obama released the senior Taliban leadership from GITMO, they found sanctuary in Qatar, before triumphantly returning to Afghanistan, courtesy of Joe Biden.

There should be economic and diplomatic sanctions levied against both Iran and Qatar. We should shut down Al Uideid AB in Qatar. No, I am not some warmongering neocon as some might rant. I am a realist who has studied the history of this enemy and knows that compromise, negotiation, appeasement, and acquiescence will only be received with disdain and emboldened actions. This is the reason we have seen some 66 attacks against our troops stationed in the Middle East theater of operations, with only a tepid four responses, mainly against storage and warehouse facilities.

Offensive operations must continue against Hamas until all hostages are released, and no quid pro quo. It is not advisable to put innocent civilians on the same level as captured terrorists. And, we can expect Hamas to leverage other hostage releases in order to stymie the operational tempo (OPTEMPO) of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). The IDF has given the world evidence of Hamas’ use of tunnels and civilian facilities, including hospitals. There should be international condemnation of Hamas. And no, we should not expect the released hostages to denounce Hamas, due to threats certainly levied against remaining hostages.

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made a horrible mistake in believing that Adolf Hitler could be trusted, given the signed Munich Accords. The Quraysh trusted Muhammad and his Treaty of Hudaybiyya. Evil cannot ever be trusted. The enemies of freedom and liberty must never be given our trust, nor should we give heed and platforms to their duped enablers like those who glued themselves to the street to block our Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Perhaps it is John Stuart Mill who articulates it best:

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth a war, is much worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purposes of a master, such war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice, — is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever-renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other.”

Hamas’ attack on October 7th represents the most disgusting aspect of moral depravity. It is a clear example of injustice confronting the just. There has been no “occupation” of Gaza since 2005, but Israel has been exposed to constant maniacal tyranny that seeks its extermination. The ugliest of all things are those who do not believe that such an evil should be confronted, while justifying it and enabling it to exist.

Those who possess honor, valor, and virtue should never trust evil . . . a lesson history has repeatedly taught us all.

Steadfast and Loyal.