Saving Corporal Shalit

He may be just a lowly corporal in the Israeli Army, but Galid Shalit's humble rank was not a good excuse for Israel to leave him behind enemy lines as it launched a mini-invasion of Palestinian territory to rescue him. For a state that ensures that the enemy losses more lives for every life that it takes away - its Air Force has maintained a very high kill-loss ratio in dogfights, a feat which the U. S. Air Force can be envious of - its actions to move heaven and earth to rescue the abducted soldier can be considered drastic, even by its own standards. But it is understandable.
Surrounded by a sea of hostile states, it wants to send a very strong message that it should not be trifled with. It has the rumored nukes, a topnotch armed forces and the political will to enforce its policies, even if it meant international condemnation - things which the Philippines sorely lack.
To start with, the Philippines has no nukes, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is weaker than a paper tiger, and its leaders have no political will. How many times did the government allow itself to be slapped by marauding rebels before the world? First, they allow the proliferation of armed groups, both rebel and criminal(the line here is very thin), when the AFP and PNP should be the only legitimate armed forces in the country. Second, it has turned a blind eye to the establishment of camps which have become enclaves for terrorists. Third, they have a penchant for negotiating from a weak position. The negotiators sent to peace talks tend to spoil rebels with concessions that negate the gains made in the field. And fourth, Filipino leaders like to be kicked and bullied around by their counterparts when our neighbors should not be meddling in our affairs.
I wish that the balls of steel that Israeli leaders seem to genetically possess can be transplanted to our officials. Then, maybe, the troublemakers would not be so bold in raping the Filipino nation.