"There will not be free, just elections in Egypt unless we agree to speak with persons who are part of the democracy," said Edward "Ned" Walker, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and Israel. While Israel hides its smirks over pictures of the broken propeller on one of the flotilla ships, and while it threatens to wage war against a few hundred citizens of the world who want to challenge its "sovereignty" in Gaza, Washington has decided suddenly to pursue realistic diplomacy.
The decision should come as no surprise. An American administration that engages in a dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan, which had a political discussion with terror organizations in Iraq, and which cooperates with a Lebanese government that includes Hezbollah members, does not need to make excuses when it holds meetings with an Islamist movement that takes part in Egyptian politics, even if its ideology is radical
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The contradictions in U.S. foreign policy are not the key point. Instead, the crux of the matter is the way Washington is drawing its new map of enemies and friends. To be precise, the United States isn't drawing the map - instead, developments in the Arab world are compelling America to revisit its policy in the region. What has been happening in Cairo, cities in Syria, and in Bahrain does not stem from planned American policy; these are venues where American policy is refashioning itself, and those who claim that policy will soon be compelled to reconsider their position on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Washington defines enemies and friends not just for itself; its foreign policy positions become a road map for other countries of the world. The "threat" posed to Israel has to do with this fact. Suddenly, it is becoming clear to the American government that Mahmoud Abbas is not cowering under pressure to not turn to the UN for statehood recognition. It is becoming clear that the internal Palestinian rapprochement agreement has been signed despite U.S. opposition, and that Hamas will be a cornerstone in any diplomatic process. What will Washington do when Palestinian elections are held? Should it boycott the Palestinian parliament or the new Palestinian government? Should it ostracize the new Palestinian president if that president belongs to Hamas? Hamas, after all, is "part of the democracy." Perhaps America will try to preempt a diplomatic debacle, and will reach out to talk with Hamas before the elections so that it can conduct a dialogue with the organization after the polling? The Gaza flotilla is soon likely to appear a pleasure cruise compared to the American diplomatic flotilla, which has disembarked in Egypt. But why fret about this right now, when we can ponder the Gaza flotilla carnival?
FP: The upheaval may have not resulted from “planned American policy”, but from America’s decline and lack of policy. With a strong and coherent America much of the current upheavals in the Middle East would probably not have happened. A realist policy does not mean confusing enemies-- who openly declare death to America and their intention to wage jihad against it--with friends, and funding them; that’s stupidity. And so is the notion that by engaging enemies, they’ll turn to friends. Those who delude themselves that “Hamas is part of the democracy” will have to learn the hard way the absurdity of that.The decision should come as no surprise. An American administration that engages in a dialogue with the Taliban in Afghanistan, which had a political discussion with terror organizations in Iraq, and which cooperates with a Lebanese government that includes Hezbollah members, does not need to make excuses when it holds meetings with an Islamist movement that takes part in Egyptian politics, even if its ideology is radical
…
The contradictions in U.S. foreign policy are not the key point. Instead, the crux of the matter is the way Washington is drawing its new map of enemies and friends. To be precise, the United States isn't drawing the map - instead, developments in the Arab world are compelling America to revisit its policy in the region. What has been happening in Cairo, cities in Syria, and in Bahrain does not stem from planned American policy; these are venues where American policy is refashioning itself, and those who claim that policy will soon be compelled to reconsider their position on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. Washington defines enemies and friends not just for itself; its foreign policy positions become a road map for other countries of the world. The "threat" posed to Israel has to do with this fact. Suddenly, it is becoming clear to the American government that Mahmoud Abbas is not cowering under pressure to not turn to the UN for statehood recognition. It is becoming clear that the internal Palestinian rapprochement agreement has been signed despite U.S. opposition, and that Hamas will be a cornerstone in any diplomatic process. What will Washington do when Palestinian elections are held? Should it boycott the Palestinian parliament or the new Palestinian government? Should it ostracize the new Palestinian president if that president belongs to Hamas? Hamas, after all, is "part of the democracy." Perhaps America will try to preempt a diplomatic debacle, and will reach out to talk with Hamas before the elections so that it can conduct a dialogue with the organization after the polling? The Gaza flotilla is soon likely to appear a pleasure cruise compared to the American diplomatic flotilla, which has disembarked in Egypt. But why fret about this right now, when we can ponder the Gaza flotilla carnival?
I have another native saying that fits here: Expect a long period in which the Islamists will pee on the US and the US will pretend it’s raining, acquiesce to their demands and pump them full of funds. It has already started—see next.
Muslim Brotherhood to U.S.: Stop Backing Israel and We'll Talk
Muslim Brotherhood says it would be willing to speak with the United States, so long as it stops "backing the Zionist occupation."
FP: See what I mean?Hamas Hints at More Kidnappings to Force Shalit Deal
A Hamas-run newspaper hints in a report that PA-based terror groups may kidnap more Israeli soldiers to pressure Israel to release terrorists.
'Democratic' Tunisia's New Gov't Bans Ties with Israel
One of the first acts of Tunisia's new government was to ban normalization of ties with Israel under its new constitution.
FP: Arab spring. Plus ca change…Khaled Abu Toameh: Facing crunch, PA unable to deliver full salaries
Facing financial difficulties, the Palestinian Authority will pay only half to its civil servants for June, PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced on Sunday. …“We’ve reached a point where we can no longer delay the salaries or take loans from the banks,” Fayyad told reporters. “That’s why we decided to pay half salaries with the hope that the employees would display understanding.”
Fayyad added that the main reason behind the financial crisis in the PA was failure of the international community to provide funds. He said that last year the PA’s deficit reached $100 million. Since the beginning of this year, the deficit has reached $30 million each month, he revealed.
FP: Hey, but the Palestinians are clearly ready for statehood, or so said the IMF and the UN. I suggest they get used to the idea that they will need to continue to support them for decades, as for all practical purposes there is no economy to speak of—just government employees, security forces and terrorists. Can a bankrupt West do that?Fayyad added that the main reason behind the financial crisis in the PA was failure of the international community to provide funds. He said that last year the PA’s deficit reached $100 million. Since the beginning of this year, the deficit has reached $30 million each month, he revealed.
See alsoStatehood not in the cards.
'Spiegel': Germany ready to sell Saudi Arabia 200 tanks
Der Spiegel said Saudi Arabia has long sought the Leopard tanks from Germany but the country had repeatedly turned down the requests, citing a danger to Israel. The report said the government no longer considered Saudi Arabia a threat for Israel.
FP: It is more accurate to say that Germany no longer cares about threats to Israel, which have actually increased with recent developments in the Middle East.Claire Berlinski: Airport Security and Political Culture
The author of the first piece, Ayşe Karabat, sees political significance in that incident. "We are learning to look for our rights, at least at the door to a plane."
Now, I don't think you have a "right" to fly in a commercial aircraft, so I don't think the TSA's searches are a violation of one's "rights." But I do think the American public's collective willingness to go along with what any thinking person can see is a ritualized, invasive, offensive, time-wasting and humiliating farce is a very bad omen about our political culture.
It's alarming both because there should be some kind of enraged reflexive reaction--"Hey, we shouldn't put up with this, this is insane!"--and there just isn't. Most people seem willing just to submit to it; the objections to these practices seem to be confined to the political periphery. Is there a single 2012 candidate who has made this a campaign issue? Why not?
And it's alarming because it suggests no one party to this farce can think his or her way out of a paper bag. To see a stunning lack of common sense, on this scale, and to see a national willingness to believe that somehow it must all make sense and we should just trust the people who say it does--well, that's really disturbing.
FP: Another factor associated with dominant power decline.Now, I don't think you have a "right" to fly in a commercial aircraft, so I don't think the TSA's searches are a violation of one's "rights." But I do think the American public's collective willingness to go along with what any thinking person can see is a ritualized, invasive, offensive, time-wasting and humiliating farce is a very bad omen about our political culture.
It's alarming both because there should be some kind of enraged reflexive reaction--"Hey, we shouldn't put up with this, this is insane!"--and there just isn't. Most people seem willing just to submit to it; the objections to these practices seem to be confined to the political periphery. Is there a single 2012 candidate who has made this a campaign issue? Why not?
And it's alarming because it suggests no one party to this farce can think his or her way out of a paper bag. To see a stunning lack of common sense, on this scale, and to see a national willingness to believe that somehow it must all make sense and we should just trust the people who say it does--well, that's really disturbing.
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