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Obama’s Brilliant Victory
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Obama’s Nameless War With a Nameless Enemy
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A Lost Opportunity of Historic Proportions
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What Judicial Activism?
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At Large
The Middle East Quartet
An institutionalized failure sustained by U.S. complicity.
Strange as it might seem, U.S. policy defers to others — sometimes, more than is good for it. Thus, for some time, there has been not been much of a U.S. policy towards Israel and the Palestinians. There has been a Middle East Quartet policy. And it has taken the U.S. into an expensive dead-end.
The Quartet is a decade-old, hastily conceived grouping of the European Union, the Russian Federation, the United Nations, and the United States. It includes entrenched pro-Arab bureaucracies. Unsurprisingly, it has adopted policies that prolong rather than mitigate the Palestinian/Arab war on Israel — while America funds both the Israelis and the PA.
The Quartet, in its latest communiqué, insists on a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations encompassing a Palestinian state alongside Israel, to be concluded “no later” than the end of 2012. No matter that, in 2000 and again in 2009, the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA) refused to accept peace plans delineating just such an outcome.
The Quartet demands $1.1 billion in international funding of the PA for 2012, active social and economic development programs in certain PA sectors, and so on. But it is less insistent about what is to be done about continuing Palestinian terrorism and incitement to violence.
Thus, the Quartet “calls” for Palestinians to “improve law and order … fight violent extremism, and … end incitement”; it “considers” matters to be “fragile and unsustainable” with the West Bank and Gaza remaining divided between rival Palestinian groups; it condemns “rocket attacks from Gaza”; it “stresses … the need for calm and security for both peoples.” But negotiations are not conditional on any of these changing.
Thus, the Quartet simply institutionalizes the state of war it is ostensibly designed to end.
So the “peace process” continues. With its lack of consummation comes Arab displeasure and international pressure on Israel to break the logjam. The U.S., as Israel’s principal ally, also incurs wrath. That suits Arab powers and American rivals — but the U.S. continues to lend its name to the Quartet. Under Barack Obama, it even has a president who sees it as a priority to relieve pressure on the PA.
Thus, U.S. funding for the PA is now virtually sacrosanct. The other week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton overrode Congress when House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) put a hold on $147 million in U.S. funding to the PA. Ros-Lehtinen sought to pressure the PA into dropping its bid for statehood via the United Nations and refusing negotiations without preconditions. The Obama administration wants negotiations — but it won’t penalize the PA when it evades them. All carrots and no sticks.
Similarly, the U.S. goes along with Quartet policy to ignore PA incitement and the routine honoring of terrorists, like Dalal Mughrabi. To cite a typical example, when Fatah terrorists murdered an Israeli in January 2010, the PA condemned Israel for hunting down and killing the perpetrators. PA president Mahmoud Abbas also sent condolences to the families of the three terrorists. His prime minister, Salam Fayyad, personally visited the terrorists’ families. But the Obama Administration said nothing, even when specifically informed of these events by the Israeli government.
Yet, three months later, the Obama administration said that it “will continue [!] to hold Palestinian leaders accountable for incitement.” It could at least be more honest, like the British Foreign Office, which admitted last week that it never even raises these matters with the PA.
Only weeks ago, a PA minister, Majida Al-Masri, called for Fatah and Hamas to unite in order “to turn to the struggle for the liberation of Palestine — all of Palestine.” The Quartet — and the U.S. — said nothing and did less.
Quartet policy, like so many multilateral ventures, is politics of the lowest common denominator. It ignores unpleasant realities (no Palestinian consensus for peace or leadership to deliver it), prioritizes means (Palestinian state) over ends (peace), while frustrating the capacity to attain them. So long as the Quartet exists, expect more of the same — including from the U.S.
About the Author
Daniel Mandel is a Fellow in History at Melbourne University and author of H. V. Evatt and the Establishment of Israel: The Undercover Zionist (Routledge, London, 2004). His blog can be found on the History News Network.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (45) | Leave a comment
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benny havens| 4.26.12 @ 6:29AM
If Madam Secretary were elected Madam President the results would have been exactly the same; nothing.
Jack in Wi.| 4.26.12 @ 7:10AM
I agree the quartet is a total failure. The only solution is a one state solution with equal rights for all in old Palistine. Israel cannot keep running it's racist and apartheid regime on the backs of the American taxpayers. The whole Idea of a Zionist entity put in the Middle East by the the colonial powers was disasterous from day one. The fervent Zionist Albert Einstein said. ' If we cannot learn to live in peace with our Arab neighbors, then the whole experiment will have been a failure. ' Well Israel is about as failed a state as there ever was. It has had 64 years to make peace with it's neighbors and carry it's own water. It is the biggest welfare queen in history of the world and has cost this country trillions in foreign aid , intrest on the aid, high oil prices, needless defense spending, wars, and worldwide hatred and bad will.
The World's greatest terrorist regime must be ended not mended. There were no more fervent apostles of integration and equal rights in South Africa and the USA then our Jewish brothers and sisters. It is long since time that they practice what they used to preach. Integrate Israel now. Equal civil, religious, and human rights for all. It also should include hundreds fo billions in reparations to the Palistinian half of the population. After 65 years of murder, mayhem and theft it is time for Jewish Israelis and the zionists worldwide to pay for their crimes with money, and full rights for all, just like we have in this country. The Holyland belongs to the whole world, not just a small group of squabbling Jewish sects.
Vox pop| 4.26.12 @ 9:25AM
You leave out many of the JOOS' crimes. What about the wear and tear they caused on the German railway system, and their consumption of valuable gas? Anyone would think you were a secret JOO agent yourself. Come to think of it, have you been circumcised? If you neeed new tin-foil for your beanie to counter the JOO death-rays, will they get it for you wholesale? Your pro-JOO apologetics seem sinister and racially suspect.
Dustoff| 4.26.12 @ 10:03AM
Jezz jack. Talk about a ONE trick pony.
Talbot| 4.26.12 @ 12:11PM
"The World's greatest terrorist regime "
Right off of the SHOAH website. Just like a parrot.
Dave Williams| 4.26.12 @ 1:01PM
Keep squawking, Herr Jackboot. The world NEEDS to see your anti-semitic ravings, which, every day you post (and I know you never miss a day) reveals you as an ignorant, bigoted pinhead.
Occam's Tool| 4.26.12 @ 1:44PM
One day, the Palestinians will wake up and decide to get rich rather than blown up by being assholes. On that day, there will be peace.
The biggest tragedy in the Middle East is the number of bright Arab kids who are twisted into Islamic putzes. A bigger waste of human potential over 1400 years has not been seen. And people like Jack, who are cowardly (by his own admission) 4-Fs (by his own admission) who believe that only a simpleton fights for his country (by his own admission) have no advice to offer.
By the way, jack, where do Arabs have the greatest number of rights in the Middle East, including the right to be gay without being killed, or Catholic without being pogrommed against? Israel.
See many Catholic churches in Jordan?
Jack in Wi.| 4.26.12 @ 3:58PM
Yet another comment from the Psycotic Psychiatrist. What would you think of a shrink who advocates genocide and mass muder everyday on a public webbsitte? I think it is probable that our friend Occam is a patient in a mental hospital, pretending to be a Dr.
Clint| 4.26.12 @ 4:42PM
" Vatican supports two-state solution in Israel-Palestine conflict
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican’s number two State Department official, called Sept. 27 for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in remarks delivered in New York. He insisted that “if we want peace, courageous decisions have to be made.”
Tool Job's A Bottom Of The Barrel "Government Hire " Sorry-Assed Excuse For A Shrink
RCV| 4.29.12 @ 9:59PM
Every word in Occam's post is absolutely true, Jack.
Mike Hawk| 4.26.12 @ 6:46AM
The Red Queen has no more diplomatic savvy than Madline Halfbright, that is zip.
Moe Blotz| 4.26.12 @ 7:00AM
The old bag is just out looking for the next party as we saw in Columbia. When Missus Clinton travels to the mideast does she party down with Sheik Yerbouti?
Dick Nome| 4.26.12 @ 10:39AM
She has one big bouti to Sheik too. Meanwhile Bill was seen in China with his girlfriend Wun Fat Ho.
John786| 4.26.12 @ 7:02AM
peace has failed because Israel has continued to steal Palestinian land: a policy based on Zionist ideology which is now seriously outdated. The Arab nations have offered a grand bargin based on well known parameters. Zionist have continued to reject these overtures. Only this week Israel has announced the recognition of new settlements deep in the west bank. The Zionist ideology wants it both ways: a jewish state at the same time as occupying and taking more and more Palestinian lands. In the land that is historic Palestine today there are more Palestinians than Jews. Zionist dreams shattered by its own overreach & exuberance. This is heading for a single state or an apartheid state?
Von Mises Jr| 4.26.12 @ 9:31AM
The Jewish people lived in Jerusalem for at least three thousand years. The Palestinians do not have an acknowledged state and are not accepted in by Egypt, Syria or Jordan. You should read some history, John.
John786| 4.26.12 @ 9:51AM
Some of my ancestors came from central Asia- Russia. Where should I put a claim in. Or do I just grab what I can. wake up from these fairy tales : we are living in the 21 st century. The Palestinians will have justice today or tomorrow. It is in Israel's interest for it to be today and accept the Palestinians as indigenous people of the land with full inalienable rights.
Von Mises Jr| 4.26.12 @ 9:58AM
Why don't you donate your house to a Palestinian family? Here is what you are commanded:
“I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
Show an Arab some love, brother!
Dustoff| 4.26.12 @ 10:05AM
Let me guess. Another Ron Paul nut.
Talbot| 4.26.12 @ 12:24PM
The Ron Paul leftovers and dead enders have become homeless Dustoff, and they are back taking up residence with the fringe nutjob groups they started with.
Occam's Tool| 4.26.12 @ 1:45PM
Yup. John can't count, either--678, John.
John786| 4.26.12 @ 1:55PM
For Muslims 786 has special significance.
Von Mises Jr| 4.26.12 @ 2:35PM
So that's why you hate Jews? I thought John was referencing the Bible. So love thy neighbor is out of the question, especially if he is an infidel.
Why don't you go back to Palestine?
John786| 4.26.12 @ 2:53PM
I don't hate Jews ( or anybody else). You obviously hate Muslims/ Arabs. I support the inalienable rights of the Palestinians to live unmolested in their lands. I support their peaceful right to resist humiliations in their own country.
Von Mises Jr| 4.26.12 @ 4:13PM
I'm not sending secret messages to my peeps. I say what I mean and mean what I say.
It's not my job to break your secret code, John 8&6/7
John786| 4.26.12 @ 6:57PM
If you spent your life more productively like supporting the disposed-downtrodden then maybe there would be less time for mind games.
Von Mises Jr| 4.26.12 @ 10:09PM
How do you know anything about what I do with my time. I just got back from charity for my Church. My G-d teaches love thy neighbor, not kill the infidel.
JT| 4.26.12 @ 3:53PM
786, yeah thats the number of wars they have lost vs. the IDF. I can see the significance in that.
Clint| 4.26.12 @ 4:50PM
When Dustoff Choppers Were Taking Our American Casualties From Nam Firefights. The Israeli IDF Was Busy Attacking Our U.S.S. Liberty.
Dick Nome| 4.26.12 @ 10:43AM
There is no such thing as Palastinians. They are Bedouin Arabs who have lived all over the mid-East. Their titular 'homeland' is now Jordan. Palastine is a term aapplied by the British to the region. Israel is and was a state from ancient times. The Hebrew/ Jews have more claim to it than the itinerant Bedouins now called Palistinians.
Johntyd| 4.27.12 @ 7:12AM
@John786
The 'palestinians'have about as much right to the land in question as you do to yours. In the case of the latter , European claims are only by force of possession. That principle of ownership has been put to the test and found wanting. Jewish successful recovery of their ancient birthright unnerves the imperialist userpers. You exterminated the American Indians. You tried to do it to the Jews but failed. Your agents still try. But they will, in the end, be wiped out themselves. Their punishment comes from their own mouths. There is nothing anyone, least of all you, can do about it. Israel holds the mandate of Heaven.
Ken (Old Texican)| 4.26.12 @ 7:27AM
All one has to do is read the posts by the Israel haters here to understand their unmitigated stupidity.
They just cannot look in the mirror of their own failures as a people.
Clint| 4.26.12 @ 10:57AM
The ObamaBots.
" President Obama’s support among Jewish voters remains high according to a new survey – despite heavy criticism of his policy towards the current Israeli government.
A new poll of American Jews, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute, finds that 62 percent of Jewish voters prefer Obama over a generic Republican. "
Occam's Tool| 4.26.12 @ 1:48PM
Down 16%. And dropping. But you are going to vote for Obama anyway, Clint, because Paul is not in the race and you are going to oppose Romney---so your vote will essentially be supporting Obama. So why are you upset with people who are also going to be supporting Obama.
Or, are you planning to vote for the viable alternative to the Worst President in the last Century? Enquiring minds want to know. Myself, I think you are going to vote Libertarian, which essentially means a vote for Obama. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you are not going to vote Libertarian, or Constitutionalist, or any other third party.
You lost, and you are taking your marbles home.
Mike Hawk| 4.26.12 @ 2:53PM
Clint will stay true to his kooky side. He helped elect Bob (with one 'o') Casey vs Rick Santorum in'06 and will be beholden to his priciples.
Clint| 4.26.12 @ 5:06PM
I Never Voted For Junior Casey Or Any Democrap, Mittens' Kittens Pussy Chow Eater. Little Micky Hawklette.
Don't Try To Play Your Half-Assed Word Games On American Spectator Readers, Punk.
These RINO-CINO's Think They Can Use Us Conservatives, As Their "Useful Dupes".
There's A Rebellion Goin' Out Here ,Ya Phoney Sniveling Bastard, Little Mickt Hawklette.
Mike Hawk| 4.26.12 @ 10:20PM
You voted for Rick Santorum then??
Clint| 4.26.12 @ 5:00PM
That's A Lie.
You're A Serial Sociopathic Screwball Israel Firster Smear Bund Neo-Chickenhawk Liar Traitor Bastard Coward,Tool Job.
Tool Job's The Israel Firster Smear Bund Coward Liar,Who Said He Would Vote For The Ruling Elites' Fop Frontman Chickenhawk, Mittens Romney Way Back In June.
We Are Being Set Up By These Israel Firster Smear Bund RINO-CINO Agendista For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.
These Are The Same Israel Firster RINO-CINO Agendists Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.
Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....
Mike Hawk| 4.26.12 @ 10:17PM
Calm down, take your meds and slowly breathe in and out deeply Clint. You will feel better.
BarocheDique | 4.26.12 @ 7:48AM
AG Holder has "his people" ready to burn down Florida while President Obama has "his people" ready to burn down Israel. I know, I know....conspiracy, crackpot, tin foil hat wearing futility, right? Its amazing what we'll know after these un-American, marxist, Nation of Islam radicals are thrown out in disgrace (and hopefully imprisoned for treason and murder) in November.....unless they have their own Sandy Burglar to steal incriminating evidence like Slick Willie. Democrats are a disgusting abomination of our nation's freedom and opportunity. Are there ANY Democrats left who actually love their country and have any modicum of decency and respect left? If there is....your country needs you, if you even care.
david singer| 4.26.12 @ 8:05AM
The Quartet has become irrelevant since the two-state solution was achieved with the admission of Palestine as the 195th member state of UNESCO on 31 October 2011.
The Oslo and the Bush Roadmap are now extant - and the Quartet has become extinct.
If Palestine wants to make any demands on Israel then it will have now to do so under a new negotiating process agreed to by Israel.
Please refer to my latest article for further information:
http://www.jwire.com.au/featur.....dmap/24616
C Smith| 4.26.12 @ 10:47AM
Saturday, January 19, 2008
How are the mighty fallen!
Hezbollah’s Nasrallah emerged from hiding on Ashura, Shiite Islam's holiest day. It was his first appearance since the conclusion of the 2006 war with the "cancerous entity" (his euphemism for Israel). He carried joyful “tidings” to almost two million of his followers: "We have the [Israeli] heads, the [Israeli] hands, the [Israeli] feet, and even a nearly intact [Israeli] cadavre from the head down to the pelvis." And men and women and children waving Hezbollah flags joyfully responded: “Death to Israel”!
"Now the Philistines [Palestinians] fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul…. And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. And they stripped him, and took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto their idols, and to the people. And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon"
(1 Chronicles 10:2 – 10).
"Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him. And they wailed, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword…. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and said… Thy beauty, O Israel, upon thy high places is slain! How are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of choice fruits; for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan, the lovely and the pleasant in their lives, even in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan upon thy high places is slain! I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; wonderful was thy love to me, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen…" (2 Samuel 1:11 – 27).
"… And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the terebinth in Jabesh, and fasted seven days" (1 Chronicles 10:11 – 12).
http://yisraelmyglory.blogspot.....allen.html
cicero| 4.26.12 @ 2:06PM
Why the United States is still sending our citizens' money to the Palestinian Authority is beyond me. We have been supporting terrorists for decades now, and lament when we are victimized by them. How foolish do we have to be? If the Isrealis want to live in peace, they will have to take complete control of everyting and everyplace between the sea and the Jordan River., including the Golan Heights. They will have to drive the Arabs out of their lands, and only allow those to remain who agree to live as citizens of Isreal. The Europeans will villify them no matter what they do, and the Muslim countries will continue to live for the day that they can destroy the Jewish people. If the Arabic peoples want to destroy Isreal, they need only continue on their current path. There is no downside for them. No matter how horrible their actions are, excuses are made for them as if they were mindless, out of control children. No matter what they do, they still receive billions of dollars from the people they have sworn to destroy, and are allowed to continue on their path. If all aid were cut off, they would have to actually join the modern world if they wished to continue to feed themselves.
FeFe| 4.26.12 @ 6:03PM
Sport Elliott Abrams failed. Must we have Romney re-inflate the bubble?
POST American| 4.26.12 @ 11:12PM
READING the SIGNS.
"Understand, with the capstone,
something is not brought down
and finished off without being
carefully dis-honored first.
Notice, as culture gives way to
'CULL---chore' ---art -painting
-sculpture -music etc. are being,
each in turn, deflated and dis-honored."
And so with larger cultural and
political forces.
Notice Greece, the historic cradle
of democracy, being dishonored and
dismembered by world capstone USURY.
Notice, even more telling, Egypt, 'fave'
Mecca for capstone pilgrimage, being
'RA--dick--all-ized' and, we expect, empowered
to become the seat of, as they themselves state,
a NEW Caliphate.
Notice it's in E--jipped that Ginzburg chose
her treasonous public DISS of the US Consitution.
"----The NEO-Cons are really just
a bunch of Trotskyists who realized their
EUGENICS NWO could NOT happen
without a religious component.
---ISLAM is to be that component."
-Jay Weidner
RED Ice Radio interview
ISLAM, the religion of slaves, by slaves,
that thrives in prisons. --OF COURSE!
ISLAM worked from ALLLLL angles of
'the 'Ordo ob K---OZ' grid'.
ISLAM which itself means ---SUBMISSION
and SURRENDER.
CAIN using ISHMAEL to mark (ID--all society)
and takedown the yet at large ABEL.
---OF COURSE! ---OF COURSE!
ISLAM! ----with MASS conversions across
the west --and even the US, Mexico, Latin America
as Rockefeller-rotten 'chrisitanity' disenfranchises
itself from simple Law of Moses morality.
OF COURSE!
CHECK OUT!
Jay Weidener
latest interview
'Clash of Civilizations' pt 2
RED Ice Radio
(available yahoo videos)
------BUT OF COURSE!