Did Obama Set-up Mitchell to Fail in the Middle East?

[DogPoundPup]

excerpt~
As articulated well by President Jimmy Carter, it is wrong to frame this conflict simply as “democratic Israel” facing “terrorist groups like Hamas” and it is wrong to continue to fund Israeli wars while claiming to be an “honest broker.” It is analogous to describing the struggles in South Africa in the 1980s as “democratic South Africa” facing off against “terrorist groups like the ANC” (actually that was President Reagan’s framing in his first term in office as he supported Apartheid). Yes, some members of the ANC did use terror (including “necklacing” or burning their rivals alive) but that was miniscule compared to the state terrorism and apartheid they faced. The US cannot be an honest broker so long as the US government continues to:

a) Give billions in military aid to Israel that is used to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity (see human rights reports on the recent Gaza aggression including use of White Phosphorus and DIME weapons).

b) Use its veto power and diplomatic muscle to shield Israel from International Law and Human Rights obligations

c) Demand that Hamas accepts Israel’s right to exist, renounce violence, and abide by previous agreements (that they did not sign) while they US refuses to demand the same from Israel. Why not insist that Israel recognize Palestine’s right to exist (or at least Palestinian right to true independence on the land that Israel has been stealing since 1947 partition resolution). Why not ask Israel to renounce violence and why not demand it abide by the signed agreements (e.g. freezing settlement activities, opening borders, allowing freedom of movement etc.)

Both Palestinians and Israelis have work to do but one cannot equate the nuclear armed 4th strongest army in the world with a dispossessed and occupied people (2/3rds of the 10 million Palestinians in the world are refugees or displaced people). It is ironic that Mr. Obama talks about Israel’s need for security when in three weeks 1300 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces (most of them civilians, over 400 children) while in the same period 13 Israelis (10 of whom soldiers) were killed by Hamas! It is more ironic that Israeli Prime Minister Olmert interrupted President Bush while the latter is giving a lecture and instructed him to stop Condoleezza Rice from going along with the UN resolution (per Olmert testimony) when Bush continued to read a story to schoolchildren when told that America was under attack on 9/11!

entire article: http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=14733

[Trajan]

1. Why of course ....

Obama has been planning failure all along - He LOVES war, and when women and children get blown to bits or scream from horrible injuries ....

I thought EVERYBODY knew that ....

:sarcasm:

But seriously folks: Why didn't Jesus predict this problem 2000 years ago, and put into motion the required actions to MAKE SURE this would not happen ?

Therefore: I am blaming Jesus for setting up Mitchell to fail .....

[IndianaGreen]

2. Jesus was a Jewish patriot executed by the Roman occupier

Occupations always lead to resistance, and resistance invariably wins in the end.

Obama did not set up George Mitchell to fail, or to do anything else other than to restart a moribund peace process. Unlike Bush, Obama won't be AWOL on the Middle East.

[Trajan]

3. I was riffing on Jesus's presumed omniscience ....

It was not intended to be an honest representation of fact ....

And yes: I believe Obama did NOT set Mitchell up for failure, my comments being clearly marked 'sarcasm' .... The only failure is to NOT seek peace ....

[Jim Sagle]

4. Uhh...no.

This has been another in the series Simple Answers to Really Easy Questions.

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. no I don't think Sen. Obama is setting up Mitchell to fail, but if Likud and Netanyahu win on 10 Feb

I cannot imagine him succeeding. And I don't know how the Obama Administration will respond to a overt and transparent intransigent government as opposed to a government that at least in theory rhetorically supports a two-state solution and at least recognizes the need to at least appear to be somewhat conciliatory.

It will take a great deal of political capital on the part of President Obama to succeed under the best of circumstances. I do not know how prepared he is to do that.

[iconicgnom]

6. Hmmm, I don't like the way you display the terms, "Set-up Mitchell to Fail",

with your excerpt~.
That title should at least have:
"In naming George Mitchell as special envoy to the Middle East, President Obama unfortunately made statements indicating no departure from the failing policies of previous administrations."
to explain it.

Otherwise it's deceiving, suggesting that Obama is engaging in some machinations. Anyhow, I disagree. Obama has been very up front and open to criticism. He's only a few days in office. This article is doing nothing more than raising warning flags, that Palestine is burning and that people are watching. Nothing more.

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. that is the title the author of the article gave it...although I certainly don't agree

http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=14733

that President Obama set up Mitchell to fail. The President has a global status that would very much want Mitchell to succeed. But if Likud comes to power in the February 10 election, it will be with coalition partners even more intransigent than Netanyahu - circumstances beyond the control of the President will make any success extremely unlikely.

Unfortunately the likelihood of a transparently extremist Israeli government now appears almost a certainty:

"However Livni's ruling Kadima party may suffer a setback in the upcoming elections, with weekend polls giving the centrist party 24-25 seats, against 29 in the current parliament.

Netanyahu's hawkish Likud party is tipped to head the next government in a right-wing coalition including the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, which has advocated the expulsion of Arab citizens.

In coalition with Jewish religious parties and Yisrael Beitenu, a Likud-led bloc would secure a majority of 62-63 seats, Friday's polls said."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g1ducHrywPiOO6svu1qYFsiefACQ

[iconicgnom]

8. You misunderstood. My complaint was that the *exerpt~* cut a few necessary explanations of context.

I think everyone can see the danger as Israel goes off the rails, to the right. It's going to cost us more than just a few votive candles for the commemoration of the souls of departed Palestinians to see us through, if we acquiesce to a continuation of the Bush policy.

The author is demanding a break from continuity with Bush admin. policy re. the mid-east. The author is saying that if no such break occurs, Mitchell will fail. That's the thesis that's cut.