Our Coarse President Can’t Fix Middle East By: Joe Conason

[jbfam4]

Our Coarse President
Can’t Fix Middle East

By: Joe Conason
Date: 7/24/2006
http://www.observer.com/printpage.asp?iid=13090&ic=Joe+Conason

Their marvelous theory lies in gory ruins, but the neoconservatives are again banging the drums with as much gusto as if they had been vindicated. The missile barrages between Israel and Lebanon are actually the harbinger of World War III, they burble, and frankly they can’t wait for World War IV. Things haven’t worked out in Iraq, but why not take this opportunity to hit Iran and Syria?


The President’s disengagement from Israel and Palestine—combined with his strategic blunder in Iraq—created the conditions for the current crisis and the danger of global disaster. By abandoning the traditional American role in peacemaking followed by his father and by President Clinton, Mr. Bush permitted the enemies of peace to achieve their aims. Despite the Hamas electoral victory, there was the prospect of a revived peace process in the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the commitment by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to a negotiated settlement, and the endorsement by prominent Palestinian prisoners of a two-state solution. It seems likely that the provocations ordered by the Hamas military chiefs abroad were intended to prevent any tacit recognition of Israel by the local elected officials.

Forced to respond to unprovoked aggression, the wiser Israelis know that they can never obtain security through military force alone. The only way forward for them and for us is to achieve a rapid cessation of hostilities—and to revive international initiative toward a political solution as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, that would require the American President to abandon his own illusions and step forward in a way that seems far beyond his feeble grasp.

[glitch]

1. Love Joe Conason. He's a talented writer and speaker. Nails * K & R nt.

[pberq]

2. Kick & Nominated

". . .the wiser Israelis know that they can never obtain security through military force alone."

Imagine if this thought were being broadcast by the MSM.

[applegrove]

3. Exactly. Clinton would have been all over Hamas and Iran and Lebannon.

Pushing for peach. Micro-managing. Trying..trying to come to agreements.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Well said by Mr. Conason

Let us hope that Mr. Bush resists this mad counsel. While his performance so far has been dismal, especially in his reluctance to endorse an immediate ceasefire, at least he isn’t promoting a wider war. Yet while he dithers, the killing and destruction continue—which is exactly what Hezbollah and Hamas want.