Redstate

On how many fronts is this a fatal case of the stupids?

(1) Israel has been a loyal friend.
(2) Israel remains the only functioning democracy in the Middle East (as Iraq comes on line to eventually change that).
(3) The thugs in charge of the PA have demonstrated NOTHING that indicates that the favor and trust of the USA or Israel is warranted.
(4) Ditto for the various tin-pot dictator thugs in surrounding lands.

And most of all......
(5) Never, ever make unilateral concessions to punks and bullies. Kick them in the mouth a couple of times, and perhaps THEN invite them to the table to negotiate what concessions THEY are interested in making.

Mr President sir, with all due respect, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP.

Stare decisis is fo' suckas -- Feddie

This ia a purely masturbatory ritual by a lame duck president that never will produce anything but some brief gratification. Look for a similar exercise in four or eight years, with the same unicorns pulling the great and misunderstood leader to delusional glory.

Maybe it should be made a requirement of the office just so supporters don't have to wince when it happens.

Whether you like it or not, the United States must act in its national interest, not in the national interest of the State of Israel.

The U.S. did not sign on to protect the interest of the Settlement community in the Knesset, or in the interest of those who decided to set up shop in conquered territories. This wasn't smart. It was stupid.

We don't have to endorse stupidity. We don't have to underwrite it with our tax dollars, either.

We should and do underwrite Israeli security against all sorts of enemies, such as Hezboallah, Al Qaeda, and those goons in Hamas. My God, Rice just announced a huge arms package to the Israelis. They'll probably be first in line, ahead of everyone else (as well they should be, they are the best) to get the F-22 air superiority platform.

The formula has always gotten back to 242 and 338: land for peace. In the end, stuff like Right of Return will be tossed over the side for the sake of an agreement, depending on how bad both parties want one. Depending on how bad the Saudis feel like leaning on people, an agreement may be for the taking.

But my God, people, let's not pretend that it's in our national interest to get behind the whole Judea/Samaria project, because it is manifestly not. Israel's a friend, and a good one, but even friends do stupid things. Their occupation policy has been wrongheaded from the beginning.

Perhaps they believed they had no other alternative in the early seventies when they started their colonization program, but I suspect that if the Israelis could go back and undo it, they would.

This is not to give a pat on the back to the Pallie community. They have been shortsighted, vicious, stupid, and greedy. They were into suicide bombing before it became stylish. Leila Khaled, back in the early seventies, was the grandma of modern terrorists. The European money that flowed into Yasir Arafat's piggybank in the nineties put paid to the notion that the "founding generation" of Pallie politicians could govern themselves without Adult Supervision. They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

However, U.S. foreign policy needs to be about something more than pointing out what a bunch of craven dogs most Pallie leaders turn out to be when left to their own devices. My God, part of the reason we went to Iraq is that we've made a bet that we can turn Iraqi society around and give them a head start, and that it is in our national interest to make that bet!

Do you honestly believe that we can lay a foundation for continued American presence in the Middle East by ignoring this issue, or coming down on the side of the Israelis every time? I simply disagree, and believe that it is long past time for the Palestinians to have their own state.

"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it"-Winston Churchill

I don't think his comment necessarily means that he is going back on his commitment. In the end, any peace deal will have to provide Israel with defensible borders or will have to commit thousands of US troops as a barrier to an Arab invasion. I can't imagine either of those scenarios being palatable to the American people or any American president.

I sincerely doubt that the President is serious about this issue. Can't you see? Bush said from the begining that he felt that there was no chance for peace and he wasn't going to waste his time on it. Why the change? Because he doesn't expect peace to happen!

The idea is simple, what does Bush really want? Answer: A united Arab front against Iran. But Iran is the only "Real" muslim power that is willing to stand with the Palestinians against the evil zionist entity. Thus these Arab regimes are feeling pressure for the more radical elements of their populations to support Iran against America and Israel. How to get around this problem?

Both Olmert and Abbas are moderates who lack any real gravitas back home. Olmert is widely seen in Israel as a failure who doesn't have the strength that Sharon had. Abbas is seen in Palestine as a failure who lacks the strength of Arafat and lost more than half his "state" to Hamas, which is boycotting the Annapolis meetings.

Olmert and Abbas more or less have nothing to lose, Olmert will never be seen as a strong leader and neither will Abbas, the only card they have to play is their people's exhaustion with never ending warfare.

Thus neither has anything to lose with comming to an "agreement" for peace. Olmert can accept this "return to the old borders" clause and Abbas can accept the "end to terrorism clause". More importantly all the Arab neighboring countries (Syria being the exception) can then say "Look! The Palestinian people, through their leader, have agreed to peace!They don't really want to fight anymore, we can turn against our greater enemy, Iran"

Iran incidently also happens to be the greatest financial supporter of Hamas. So, when Hamas refuses to halt attacks on Israel (conviently giving Olmert a reason to delay withdrawing to the old borders) the Arab nations can denounce this "Persian Proxy, which is undermining the hopes and dreams of Palestinian statehood and the Palestinian People's chosen leader Abbas".

Peace won't ensue but we get the facade of an opportunity lost due to Persian meddling and thus the ultimate prize, an Anti-Iranian Alliance.

At least, thats what I am hoping the boys at Foggy Bottom are planning.