Well, big shocker, folks... after his much-ballyhooed trip to meet with Hamas, former President Jimmy Carter was unable to get Hamas to recognize Israel, exchange Israeli prisoners, or even to agree to a simple one-month cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Read the Chicago Tribune coverage here.
State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey was quoted as stating that "What is clear to us is that there certainly is no change in Hamas' position. It does not recognize Israel's right to exist, it has not eschewed or walked away from terrorism and violence, nor has it said it will honor any of the previous agreements that have been made with the Israeli government."
Carter, of course, continues to 'blame America' and believes the problem is us, not them: "We believe the problem is not that I met with Hamas and Syria. The problem is that Israel and the United States refuse to meet with these people, who must be involved."
Hmm... so whatever happened to the notion that he was going over there as a simple representative of his foundation, and not an international diplomat? Sure sounds like he went over to try to manipulate U.S. and Israeli foreign affairs to me.
Well, now that Carter is wrapping up his little Middle East escapade, maybe he can get back home and start stumping for Barack Obama and do some damage where it would do the most good (that is, to the Obama campaign).
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16 comments:
I expected nothing less from him.
So the State Dept criticizes Carter for daring to talk to Hamas, then with relief says, "I told you so."
Well, NOT talking to Hamas has certainly produced wonderful results.
Possibe Future: Carter is one of the most pro-Arab, anti-Israel people around. There's a very good reason why decent people do NOT engage in talks with known terrorists that obviously escapes you and your ilk. Hamas, especially Khalid Meshall, has the BLOOD of at least 26 AMERICANS on his hands. Still think you can just "talk" to him about anything that reasonable, moral people can talk about? And then there's this: Hamas has contined to say that they will never recognize the State of Israel's right to exist. Believe them. So what's the basis for talking? The State Department KNOWS it's pointless unless and until there is a recognition of Israel's right to be on this planet. Do YOU get it? Obviously not. Perhaps you also think that you can sit under some tree and sing Kumbayah with Meshall. There's a plane leaving soon - get on it.
We can go around and around on the Hamas-Israeli issue. You simply cannot talk with someone that wants to destroy you. Both sides can bring up arguments as to why the other is evil. At the end of the day to get true peace both sides have to acknowlege their actions in the past. BUT, there is no future if one side insists on the destruction of the the other.
Anon,
Great points - how much time should be spent dealing with irrational people - I say little - they are not children, they are adults, they do not seek peace - they seek the destruction of Israel and the U.S. - our position must be to protect this Nation and our allies and to build support throughout the Middle East with other rational states...
Bravo, Just a Girl, you are absolutely right. The issue in the Middle East is not about land for peace. The issue, as stated by Hamas in their Charter and never revoked calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. So those like possiblefuture who think that talking is the way to the future are, and forever will be, hopelessly out of touch with reality. That person comes from the fringes of reality. Jimmy Carter will go down in history as one of the worst presidents ever. He continues to meddle into things that hurt US interests in that region. He did a whole lot better when he just "lusted after women".
Wait, how did I get an "ilk"? And why does my trying to make a point condemn me to singing Kumbayah while sitting under a tree? Good grief.
I thought you people wanted to be rational? Listen to yourselves: "So those...who think that talking is the way to the future are, and forever will be, hopelessly out of touch with reality." Hello?
I didn't really mean to threaten you so much. I guess I need to watch my back.
No, possiblefuture, your back, your front, all of you is safe because you are priviledged to live in America, most likely on the advantaged northshore. YOU are out of touch with reality because you fail to see or understand that one doesn't gain a thing by engaging terrorists who refuse to acknowledge a country's right to exist. We're not threatened by you or those who are naive and think like you. And yes, you DO belong under that tree singing merrily along drinking that Kool Aid. Enjoy it.
Possible Future:
Most of the comments in regard to not talking to Hamas have been spot on. Calling you names really is not helping the discussion. I certainly disagree with you. I would say that if Hamas said they would recognise Israel's right to exist the negociations should start immediately.
But it seems that, as a result of Carter's trip, Mashaal's statement "amounted to a tacit acceptance of Irael's right to exist alongside a Palestinian state," according to the London Times (April 21, 2008).
I guess if it's not on Fox News, it never happened.
Israel has a long list of documented human rights abuses, but let's just ignore that.
1. Mark should have an intern dig up all the b.s. Dan has said about Israel downtown and research the ties of the wing nut groups that have funded Dan and put out a cute little ditty or have the RJC do something so that people get the picture. The GOP-outside of the wsj and redstate is doing a really really crappy job of defining Obama and Seals right now and no one seems to get Obama is raising more in a week running against democrats than McCain is in a month. Dan's anti-Israel, he already has name i.d. so all this does is define him in a negative light. Define and destroy him.
2. We still don't have a positive message to run down the democrats with. Cantor's comments were uninspiring and won't get us anywhere and certainly won't win us independents. We have to show voters that health care reform, pension reform, and cleaning up government waste-earmarks are geared towards empowering people not government. Mac and Mark need to say something on the economy like grow the economy not government with solutions. We win that argument hands down, we aren't making it now so forget it and I don't care how many factories you go to.
3. I continue to believe that the issue plaguing our party locally and nationally the most right now is that our base has ceded too much control over issues to them and that they are therefore disconnected in our national and local message from what is facing voters.
4. Every illinois gop should ask themselves right now, if Obama wins in november and runs up big liberal policy victories with a democratic congress next year, does that mean lights out for us for a generation and how do we avoid becoming texas democrats?
The Iraq War cost nearly ten times as much in 2007 as all earmarks secured by all members of Congress combined.
possiblefuture and Anon 10:22 show their true "colors" as not in support of Israel. No amount of truth is going to convince either of them that Hamas is, was, will forever be dedicated to Israel's destruction. As to a list of human rights violations, I'm happy to know that you believe and want to disseminate those falsehoods. Those who claim those charges are well known and recognized as anti-Israel. possiblefuture, sorry, it's not just Fox News that understands what Hamas is saying. You "forgot" to include the rest of Meshall's statement: Hamas will never recognize Israel. End of the discussion.
Not talking to Hamas makes sense. Neville Chamberlain spent quite a bit of time talking to Adoph Hitler. Even came away with some "understandings." And came home bragging about them.
The rest was history.
Israel's stance with Hamas is right. There is no talking to an enemy who has the sole goal of destroying you.
Louis G. Atsaves
While we’re all discussing the merits of talking to or ignoring Hamas, we seem to be forgetting that Iran is getting closer and closer to possessing nuclear arms. Hamas and Hezbollah may be unwilling to recognize Israel, but their benefactor, Iran, still wants it “wiped off the map.”
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert said last week Iran, “Will never have a nuclear weapon.” It is also common knowledge Iran’s nuclear facilities are too deep underground to be destroyed by conventional weapons. Fortunately, I believe Olmert. He and his people are painfully aware of Chamberlain’s success talking to Hitler.
Sen. Clinton, to her credit, has said she would obliterate Iran if it attacked Israel with nuclear weapons. She has made a promise she will not have to keep because Israel will act before Iran has those weapons.
What will our leaders, including Mark Kirk, say when Israel uses its tactical nukes to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities. That will be their true test of friendship toward Israel and what it takes to fight terror.
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