Should Israel be bombed?

The Washington Times published an op-ed by Dick Chaney today, advocating U.S. air strikes on "Palestinian terrorists" operating in Jerusalem, arguing that the U.S.can't afford to stand by and do nothing.

Excerpts:

"With every additional day the Obama administration dithers, the terrorists grow stronger and the number of stabbings increases. This weakness can only encourage our enemies abroad, as the United States abdicates its leadership role, encouraging chaos and instability in the Middle East, and a power vacuum which Iran and other rogue states can exploit at will.

"Liberal objections on 'humanitarian' principles miss the point: collateral damage is unfortunate but unavoidable because the terrorists have imbedded themselves in urban areas like Jerusalem in order to use the civilian population as human shields.

"The cost of inaction far outweighs the necessary though regrettable consequences of a bold and decisive response, and future generations will thank us for resolutely stamping out the flames of terrorism before they spread and consume not only Israel, but the world. Refusing to act means the terrorists win. We can't afford to reward their tactic of using civilians as hostages to neutralize the U.S. military or to advance their geopolitical goals at the expense of regional stability and national security.

"Meanwhile, Russia will be watching for signs of weakness, hoping to exploit the Obama administration's passivity and expand its influence in the Middle East, as well as using American policy there as a barometer to predict just how far it can go with its expansionist aspirations in Europe. Only strong U.S. leadership can provide stability and prosperity in a dangerous and uncertain world."

Discuss.