Giuliani: "Too Much Emphasis" on Mid-East Peace, Opposes Palestinian State

[DrFunkenstein]

Please don't let this thread devolve into the usual shenanigans surrounding just about any discussion of Israel and Palestine these days. Whatever you may think of the issue, we can at least all agree that the situation remains front and center in the hearts and minds of the Arab world - therefore representing the frontline of the war on terror. However, the mayor of 9/11 seems to disagree.

Outlining his foreign policy views in the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs magazine, Giuliani said "too much emphasis" has been placed on brokering negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians — an apparent swipe at President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who have been pushing both sides for final status negotiations despite Hamas's takeover of Gaza in June.

"It is not in the interest of the United States, at a time when it is being threatened by Islamist terrorists, to assist the creation of another state that will support terrorism," the former New York City mayor said.

"Palestinian statehood will have to be earned through sustained good governance, a clear commitment to fighting terrorism, and a willingness to live in peace with Israel," Giuliani said. "America's commitment to Israel's security is a permanent feature of our foreign policy."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070815/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail;_ylt=AoYnAdyY2hkO_8PE1GZ5ja1Wr7sF

When you are to the right of the pro-Israel neo-cons in the Bush administration, that is certainly one way of drawing a line in the sand. Well, to be fair, the neo-cons have lost some sway after the WMD debacle, and Rice does represent a teency-weency shift from the farthest corners of the right. But Guiliani would head straight into Richard Perle land.

The 9/11 mayor knows absolutely nothing about how to win a war on terror, not only by openly opposing the creation of a Palestinian state (rather than simply dragging ones feet like other politicians). That is rendered even more clear with his comments on Iran.

"The theocrats ruling Iran need to understand that we can wield the stick as well as the carrot, by undermining popular support for their regime, damaging the Iranian economy, weakening Iran's military, and, should all else fail, destroying its nuclear infrastructure," Giuliani said.

Guiliani doesn't understand that "the stick" would only rally moderate Iranians behind the regime, a fact that has been proven repeatedly by the United States over the last 50 years. Secondly, we should not aim to "damage" their economy. Precisely the opposite, we should work hard to build up the middle-class, which has historically led to major reforms and stabilized, democratically-leaning governments. The rich will stay rich no matter how we "damage" their economy (as if we could stop buying their oil in the near future, or stop Russia and China from doing so).

We need to build up the elements below the ruling class, which will lead to further education and - more importantly - give the desperate something to live for besides suicidal jihad. If they have hope for their children, a chance for their success anc well-being, then we have won the first battle in the war on terrorism.

I don't recommend eliminating all military actions, but they should remain limited. As even the new military training manuals understand (worth the effort to read them), winning over the civilians is the most important weapon to use in the 21st century. Without it, there is nothing but protracted losses and deepened divides.

Listening to the GOP debates, it remains starkly clear that none of them recognize the nature of asymmetrical warfare in the 21st century. What they propose is frightening in its consequences. As Democrats, it is criminal for us to remain silent on this issue. This is no time for paper displays of "toughness." We need to speak out loudly about what is truly effective in the war, which will come to define the new century if we do not suffocate it in these early years.

Hope is the only weapon against terror.

[Double T]

1. Rudy forgets that he is NOT running for the Mayor of New Yawk.

Rudy certainly is not the person to broker peace in the ME.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Giuliani exposes his fundamental lack of foreign policy knowledge

Lumping all sorts of terrorists together might work on John Q. Moran, but not all terrorists are created equal, nor do all terrorists from a region share a singular goal.

[grytpype]

3. He is so fucking nuts.

[dtotire]

4. He would be worse than Bush n/t

[TwilightGardener]

5. He's right. We've about had our fill of peace in the Middle East.

Let the cannons roar!!!