May 24, 2003
THE ROADMAP....Arial Sharon has accepted the Middle East "roadmap." Grudgingly. George Bush explains why: Sharon
"accepted it because I assured him that the United States is committed
to Israel's security, and that since we're committed to Israel's
security, as we move forward we will address any concerns that might
arise regarding Israel's security," Bush said during a news conference
at his Texas ranch.
God knows I have precious little sympathy for Palestinian suicide bombers and the intifada, but it's stuff like this that gives me precious little sympathy for Ariel Sharon too.
He accepted only because George Bush personally assured him that we
are "committed" to Israel's security? Did he have any doubts? The
United States has been the firmest ally any country could hope to have
for the past half century, and George Bush has probably been the firmest
ally of them all. Why on earth does he need to reassure Sharon of this
fact?
If the president of France had expressed similar doubts,
conservatives would be howling about the disrespect he was showing
toward both our president and our faithfulness as an ally. So why do we
put up with this kind of crap from the prime minister of Israel?
Posted by Kevin Drum at May 24, 2003 11:07 AM
| TrackBack
Huh? Israel owes its status as a US ally more to the fact that the
Arabs do so much to make themselves hard for us to really love them. I
think that Israel's reliance on US goodwill could be easily undermined
by a change in the behavior of the Arabs. Cut down on hijackings,
suicide bombers and anti-Americanism, add the reality of one billion
Muslims, mix with a little Middle East oil and you've got the recipe for
Bye Bye Israel cake.
Given Israel's precarious geographical realities, certainly vis a vis
FRANCE, I don't blame Sharon for wanting some assurances. And I'm
certainly no fan of Ariel Sharon.
I think you need to pay more attention to the phrase "address any
concerns." Most likely Sharon got more than a generic commitment to
Israel's security; he got a commitment to side with Israel's
interpretation of any aspects of the plan that it doesn't like.
And if those interpretations cause the plan to derail further down
the line . . . well, as long as it's past the 2004 elections, who cares?
Sharon got something from Bush that led him to believe he wouldn't
have to dismantle too many settlements. The idea of a roadmap is that
there is good-faith in increments. If Isreal gets to keep building
settlements, or doesn't have to remove settlements built in the last few
years, Bush's supposed committment to the roadmap will have been proven
a sham.
I know that we're not supposed to make snarky remarks about GWB's
lack of brains, because he's really very smart and has great emotional
intelligance. And I know that we're not supposed to talk about how
smart Sharon is because it sounds like we're talking about the Zionist
World Conspiracy, etc. But every time Bush goes head to head with
Sharon, it makes me think of those pictures of 12-year-old guerillas
carrying Kalishnikovs. He's really overmatched.
Arial Sharon is never going to do what Bush wants him too. The Sharon
is only politician in whole world who is unafraid to give Bush the
finger.
The Jewish constituency must be a hard core bunch that could rival the likes of talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh anyday of week.
Notice how Sen. Lieberman never really seem to be a Democrat.
I believe Sharon agreed to go along with the "road map" because GWB
gave him an offer he could not refuse - play ball with the US or lose
your $3billion/year foreign aid. I recall that Bush I played a similar
game.
Or (far more likely), Bush said to Sharon 'pretend to go along for now, we'll grant you more money, and derail things later'.
Yikes..I fear that this just gives Bush the excuse he needs to invade
Syria or any Mid East country that is shown to look the other way at
the terrorist groups that are responsible for the suicide bombings that
are so common these days in Israel. This will be Bush's "reason" to
invade these countries. I can hear him now after a suicide bombing
occurs..well as part of our agreement for the peace process we all
agreed upon, we are just protecting Israel so we are invading country X
because they harbor terrorist (sounds like a familiar theme think
Afghanistan, Iraq). Unfortunately I still don't think any leader can
possibly prevent all suicide bombers no matter how hard they try.
Perhaps the optimist in me says the bombings will subside..but the
realist in me doesn't believe it for a minute.
For sigh.. :
If it makes you feel any better, it won't give Bush and excuse to
invade Syria or wherever, because Bush doesn't NEED even a
quasi-legitimate excuse to invade. If they can't find a real
justification, they'll just make stuff up, just like they did for Iraq.
And, in the end, when it's proven that what they made up was lies,
they'll say it was a war of liberation, and what are you, some sort of
dictator-lover?
It makes a difference what Sharon SAYS about the road map?
The question is, what will he, or any Israeli leader, DO when it comes to implementing one?
I predict that there will be no land for peace in the Mideast, not
now, not ever. Israel is on a collision path with apartheid, and its
supporters will degrade their own souls as they find ever more corrupt
arguments to justify its actions: they will turn into people they would
have once despised.
YT,
I agree with your thoughts. I must admit when I first wrote it I had
used the word "INCENTIVE" instead of "EXCUSE" and changed it. The
sentence would have read
"I fear that this would give Bush and the INCENTIVE he needs to invade Syria or any other country..."
Not that he probably needs this either...when your that ruthless it really doesn't matter I guess.
Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.
Good people strengthen themselves ceaselessly.
We are as God made us, and often a great deal worse.
There's nothing to gain and nothing to lose.
Buy www.i-directv.net this it is a wonderful addition to anyones home entertainment system.
Anyone can learn from pain.
you can play blackjack here! http://www.blackjack.greatnow.com
online casino
If you've ever been curious about how to play online poker
then you'll want to read over the following online poker guide. This
guide is designed to give you a basic overview of the game concept and
rules. After reading this guide you should be in a god position to play
poker. We suggest you try an online casino that offers free play in
order to practice a bit before placing any real wagers.
online casino
If you've ever been curious about how to play online poker
then you'll want to read over the following online poker guide. This
guide is designed to give you a basic overview of the game concept and
rules. After reading this guide you should be in a god position to play
poker. We suggest you try an online casino that offers free play in
order to practice a bit before placing any real wagers.
online casino
If you've ever been curious about how to play online poker
then you'll want to read over the following. We suggest you try an
online casino that offers free play in order to practice a bit before
placing any real wagers. You can also play blackjack online fo free!
7996 You can buy viagra from this site :http://www.ed.greatnow.com
7396 Why is Texas holdem so darn popular all the sudden?
http://www.texas-holdem.greatnow.com
Is it true or not? Could the pill work for me? Get more information!
Inform about possible penis enlargement exercises
Read the truth about penis enlargement pills
Penis enlargement
For webmaster: if you consider that the comment is unapropiate I'm sorry and please remove it from your database. Contact me
at georgeadams1978@yahoo.com.
4935 ok you can play online poker at this address : http://www.play-online-poker.greatnow.com
7571 get cialis online from this site http://www.cialis.owns1.com
2128 you can buy tramadol online.
http://www.tramadol.owns1.com
603 Keep it up! Try Viagra once and youll see. http://viagra.levitra-i.com
7497 Get your online poker fix at http://www.onlinepoker-dot.com
1739 black jack is hot hot hot! get your blackjack at http://www.blackjack-dot.com
Posted by viagra at 20.08. 2004 20:50:58 for http://www.viaga-viagra.greatnow.com powered by car hire at http://www.car-hire.greatnow.com and diecast http://www.diecast.greatnow.com
2492 check out the hot blackjack at http://www.blackjack-p.com here
you can play blackjack online all you want! So everyone ~SMURKLE~
7728 Herie http://blaja.web-cialis.com is online for all your black jack needs. We also have your blackjack needs met as well ;-)
|
