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Picking up on the small news items in recent days, I’ve seen an upturn in willingness by leaders in the Middle East to step forward and begin talks without setting conditions. It seems there is a sobering effect to regional players as a result of the Baker-Hamilton report, the Iraq Study Group, the naked truth a military victory isn’t in the cards. The findings, conclusions and advice in the report were rejected by all sides, however watching recent visits and meetings, leaders are making an attempt to reach out to peace options. The power play of the U.S.-British invasion of Iraq has ended in failure and regional leaders are picking up the pieces. Only U.S. stubborness by adding fuel to the conflict, the so called “surge” option, could lead to further escalation and disaster in Iraq.
AMMAN, Jordan (CS Monitor) Dec. 22 – Over the past week, power brokers in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq have engaged in talks to resolve conflicts.
A good example is Israel. Watching the unfolding tragedy in Iraq and with its own war this summer against the Shiite militants of Hizbullah in mind, it’s reaching out to the Jordanians, the Saudis, and the Lebanese to find solutions to its own security problems.
“In the late 1990s, Israel’s worldview was that ‘we are the military superpower in the region and we are very closely allied with the world’s only superpower. So we have very little to worry about,’ ” says Gidi Grinstein, a former peace negotiator for the Israeli government and now president of the Reut Institute, a Tel Aviv think tank.
Now, he says, “you have America in a situation of very serious overstretch, unable to get a decisive victory across the region … we have to look for new partners, alliances, and means of cooperation.”
TEL AVIV (IHT) Dec. 24 – Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said inspections would be eased at 16 checkpoints, and 27 unmanned roadblocks would be removed. Also, crossings for people and cargo between Gaza and Israel would be upgraded “in order to accelerate the economy in Gaza to lessen the poverty and despair.”
«« click image for info Israeli wall
Palestinian youths throw stones at Israeli soldiers taking position during an Army operation at the Qabatya village near the West Bank City of Jenin. (AFP/Said Dahlah)
Olmert singled out Abbas as a Palestinian leader who is interested in peace with Israel — a clear contrast to Hamas, which rejects the existence of a Jewish state in an Islamic Middle East and has rebuffed international demands to renounce violence. Hamas controls the Palestinian government.
Peretz also came out in favor of releasing some Palestinian prisoners.
Speaking to reporters at parliament, Peretz said, “Every year there has been a humanitarian release of prisoners” around the Christmas and (Muslim) Eid al-Adha holidays, and the government should carry out a similar goodwill gesture this year,” he said.
PM Olmert agrees to transfer $100 million in frozen PA taxes to Abbas
In another development, Jordan invited Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas for talks in Amman, the Jordanian capital, a Palestinian official said Monday.
Palestinian government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Haniyeh was expected to go to Jordan this week, and Abbas would also attend.
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In 2003, 14 percent of Sunni Arabs thought it legitimate to attack US personnel and facilities. In August, 2006, over 70 percent did. How long before it is 100%? Winning guerrilla wars requires two victories, a military victory over the guerrillas and a winning of the hearts and minds of the general public, thus denying the guerrillas support. The US has not and is unlikely to be able to repress the guerrillas, and it is losing hearts and minds at an increasing and alarming rate. They hate us, folks. They don’t want us there.
Asia Times by Gareth Porter – Apr. 12, 2006
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."If anything good could possibly come from any of this, it would be that: that those who live in those land somehow come to see that only through collaboration with each other, can any of them survive the kind of threat a leader such as ours presents.
I was reading the ISG last night, the sections pertaining to the I/P issue, and there is a reference to the “Bush two-state solution.”
actually, the proper bush 2 state solution seems to be:
create occupied territories in Iraq that make it look like I/P on steroids. behind that cover, the real I/P issues can be worked out.
kidding aside, I do welcome the area peoples talking to each other. it’s obvious the US currently cannot contribute much in diplocmacy or credibility.
“By RAVI NESSMAN, Associated Press Writer
34 minutes ago
JERUSALEM – Israel has approved a new settlement in the West Bank to house former Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, officials said Tuesday, breaking a promise to the U.S. to halt home construction in the Palestinian territories.
Construction of the settlement in the northern West Bank town of Maskiot began months ago, but the project only received final approval from the Defense Ministry last week, said Dubi Tal, head of the Jordan Valley regional council.
Saeb Erekat, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the construction and urged the government to revoke its authorization, saying it violated the spirit of cooperation inaugurated by a meeting Saturday between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
“What message are they trying to send?” Erekat asked.”
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to make a one-sided exchange of the Gaza strip settlements for major parts of the West Bank, including East-Jerusalem. The settlers from Gaza do need a space to live in security, don’t you think? Hey, we’re fighting the terrorists together you know!
April 2005 - President Bush said that Israel must honor its commitment to halt the expansion of settlements on the West Bank after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon."But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."the infrastructure of so many countries, either directly or indirectly killed so many people, ruined the lives of so many people and totally wrecked whatever reputation we once had in order to lose an illegal war and also insure the dominance of a single nuclear armed colonial state over the region.
We have a lot to answer for.
Military victory is not in the cards but (via TPM) hanging Saddam will substitute quite nicely just as “catching bin Laden is a success that hasn’t occurred, Yet”
In the country of fear, Bush needs a victory at any cost.
Gotta hand it to this Cheney/Bush Administration’s perfection of what was once called manipulation of words.
As for Israel’s dismantling 27 checkpoints, what of the other 473 checkpoints/barriers, the remaining $500 million Palestinian tax revenues consfiscated since April ’06 and their policies of fear that fuel the hate and wars?
Our former president, Jimmy Carter is right. RIGHT. Carter was chastised for using the A word. Do read
Israel, Apartheid and Jimmy Carter