Comments on reads 12/22 II

Report: Hamas agrees to join PLO

Senior Hamas leader Mashaal reportedly joins PLO elections committee during Palestinian unity talks in Cairo.

FP: On the one hand Hamas if facing short-term financial difficulties due to Iran’s and Syria’s circumstances. On the other hand, the Arab “spring” bestows a better long-term future on it. As I wrote yesterday, it is probably engaging in taquiyah to fool a declining West that has essentially abandoned Israel that it is part of the “peace process” without formally declaring such (but letting others say so). It probably has digested now that the West needs a fig leaf to continue funding of the “unity government” and even declare a Palestinian state at the UN, so it is playing along, knowing that if that’s gonna happen it can readily get rid of Fatah and PA when the time comes.

I always thought that if Hamas manages to do that long enough Israel will be in serious trouble.The only thing that can interfere with this strategy is its inability to restrain its murderous instincts sufficient time, fortified by the indoctrination of the Palestinian public to not accept any appearance of giving up resistance.
 
'Europe may become irrelevant if it continues criticizing Israel'

Following European condemnation of settlement activity, Jerusalem issues sharp rebuke to France, Germany, England and Portugal: Focus on Syria and Iran instead of criticizing Israel • U.S. also says European statements not conducive to peace.

FP: A rare show of spine. It’s about time. That’s how a collapsing, anti-Democratic, anti-Semitic, Islamizing Europe should be treated. Livni’s notion that it is Israel’s friend is delusional and continuing to appease it will prove lethal.

 
Zalman Shoval: The Turkey-US-Israel triangle

Turkey remains, however, an important U.S. ally. The significance of this alliance will only rise in the face of America's rapid loss of allies in the region. And of course there is Israel – the third side in this strategic triangle. The Turks, even if they are aware of the negative implications of their hostility toward Israel, are not admitting it. We cannot expect things to go back to the way they were either –Turkish pride will not allow it. The U.S. is aware of the situation, but this awareness has not translated into efforts to correct it, for now.

And Israel? Defense officials and economic experts realize Turkey's strategic importance, but their demands over the flotilla incident are irrational and unfair. Our diplomacy should be guided mainly, or only, by whatever serves our interests and not by considerations of pride or respect, however justified they may be.

Good diplomacy means that there is always something that can be done. Ways must be found to reshape the situation – in official channels or otherwise. In order to advance this initiative we must reexamine our past policies, which may have been effective in one avenue but may not be serving Israel's interests currently.

FP: Israel’s demands are irrational??? And if it is in Turkey’s interest to repair relations with Israel, but it refuses, why must only Israel do something about it? Is that in Israel’s interest? Another spineless member of the Israeli who either fails to realize or ignores the danger of signaling weakness by pandering to their honor-shame complex. Pleasantly surprised Barak did not fall for this:

Defense Ministry kills deal to sell intel system to Turkey

Officials say Israel working to improve ties with Turkey but can't permit delivery of advanced intelligence-gathering systems; decision nixes $140m. deal; Elbit, IAI may face Turkish lawsuit for reneging.

On the other hand, here’s the real Barak:

Barak opposes Foreign Ministry's Europe slam

Defense minister says Israel must remain diplomatic in correcting friendly European leaders' mistakes.

Good luck with that!



Dan Margalit: America is coming around on Iran

There are two possibilities: Either the U.S. and Israel (and Europe) are planning a military strike on Iran, or they are playing a hand of diplomatic poker meant to deter Tehran without firing a single bullet. …

Not only did Dagan's estimate of a nuclear Iran by 2015 turn out to be an overly optimistic forecast in comparison with the likely reality, but he also severely damaged Israel's ability to create credible deterrence. Dagan's proponents, former IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and former Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) security service chief Yuval Diskin, have argued that they both were forced to resign from the their key posts over disputes with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Iran. Their argument, which was not that convincing to begin with, is turning out to be not only dangerous, but also baseless.

FP: Second possibility is much more likely, as the clueless Obama administration finally realizes that if you’re unable and unwilling to take military action you at least should not declare it from rooftops. Unfortunately, some former Israeli security officials, who increasingly reveal themselves as disgruntled or politically motivated, don't stop to realize that, and Iran knows the reality (see next).

 
JoshuaPundit: Federal Court Ruling: Iran and Hezbollah Helped Al-Qaeda in 9/11 Attacks

In a long awaited decision, Federal Judge George Daniels in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York ruled that Iran and its Lebanese terrorist proxy Hezbollah, had joint responsibility with al-Qa’eda for the 9/11 attacks.

Of course, the real question to be answered is one I posed before, one some of us have been asking for a long time - exactly why did we go after Saddam Hussein and ignore the real threat in Iran? Especially since our government was aware of Iran's complicity?

From the Iranian standpoint, they have to be astounded as well. They've taken over an American embassy with impunity, killed our soldiers, armed trained and abetted our enemies and provided essential support for the worst terrorist strike on America's soil in our history.And these people are now actively seeking nuclear weapons via a rogue program.

Any of these actions are normally grounds for war. Yet the United States continues to attempt to 'engage' with the Iranians.

If I were them, I would assume that America was so petrified of Iran, so ineffectual and decadent that no accommodation with them was necessary and no attack or insult too insufferable to offer. I would hold America and its leaders beneath contempt.

That is likely how they regard us, and I certainly can see why.

FP: They regard us correctly. It’s the PostWest. And the major strategic blunder that was Iraq accelerated it.