Most fail to understand the complexity of "cracking down on terrorists"..

[Dehumanizer]

It's not as simplistic as it sounds. Let me explain.

As it's too soon to make a judgment (something half of you have already done), let's say hypothetically Mahmoud Abbas did genuinely intend to resolve the region's conflict. Well as the new Palestinian leader, he has to first prove to his own people, the extremist elements included, that he can be trusted to lead them into the future. Without that trust, the leader has no credibility, his action, control, and word will mean nothing to his people, and he'll soon be booted out of power. Meanwhile, he also has to prove to the Israeli government and people that he is worth negotiating with, as well as to the American and international governments that he is committed to peace. It's a huge balancing act.

If Abbas today launched a full-scale 100% military campaign to hunt down every terrorist in the Palestinian ranks like his detractors seem to want nothing short of, Abbas would be accused by Palestinians of diverting resources from the Israel/Palestine conflict to instead launch a civil war, he would be accused of being a traitorous puppet of Israel/US and he would be looked at as a guy who was unwilling to stand up for his own people. Soon enough, the Palestinians WILL find a leader who can stand up for them above all else, and he/she may be an ACTUAL extremist.

My point is this: no leader can support or condone terrorism. But what people are criticizing Abbas for as of late is that he is not hardline against terrorism enough, and I'm just expressing that as a new leader of a country, his message isn't strong enough only because if his people reject him a week into office, it would risk, undermine and potentially, overthrow his power. This is NOT an excuse, but merely a cold hard fact on the psychological games of diplomacy. If what they've said about Abbas all along is that he is capable and pragmatic, it's better off he in power than the leader of Hamas.

[number6]

1. Amen

:kick: yes, most do

[DemFromMem]

2. That would be easier to accept if.....

There was solid evidence that ANY effort was being made to stop terror other than just praising non-violence. Abbas fears using the force at his disposal because he does not want to provoke a civil war. The problem is that by NOT using such forces, he assures his eventual failure in reaching peace with Israel since militant groups will respond logicallly to his show of weakness.

Abbas is in a really tough position. But his only real hope for long term success is to crack down on the terror groups and demand Israeli concessions in exchange for his taking such risks. Trying - and failing - to stop the terror attacks will probably be good enough, by the way. Good faith is what he needs to demonstrate and that will probably be enough for Sharon and the Israeli public. Hopefully, real progress for the Palestinians at the peace table and on the ground will take away the oxygen Hamas and Islamic Jihad depend on to survive.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Excellent post.

Many people just don't understand how complicated the situation is.
Unfortunately, the idiots in the whitehouse don't get it either.

[The Magistrate]

4. Of Course It Is Complex, Sir

But the problem remains, and it is a thing that will have to be bearded sooner or later. The real problem is two-fold.

First, the actions of the various Arab Palestinian militias are counter-productive in the extreme. They cannot achieve anything of military signifigance, and the leading political effect of their actions is to create Israeli resolve to disregard Arab Palestinian grievances and aspirations, in favor of self-preservation, which only empowers the Israeli right. The various actions of these militias invariably result in Israeli actions that do real damage to the people of Arab Palestine and their prospects. It does no good to complain of this, or to style it in sundry perjoratives; these things will be done, each time there is an attack by the militant factions. Thus, the actions of these militia bodies only worsen the situation of the people of Arab Palestine, and injure the prospects for their betterment, or the satisfaction of their legitimate grievances and realization of their legitimate aspirations. They represent nothing more than "feel good" politics at its most grotesque extreme: they do make some Arab Palestinians feel at least their foes suffer too, and serve as a "symbol" that struggle continues, while in actual fact, they do nothing but worsen the condition of the people, even those who thrill to report of them. The effect is as pernicious as an addict's euphoria as the plunger is pressed to inject the enslaving poison into the vein.

Second, unless Mr. Abbas can actually possess a monopoly on the use of violence for political ends in the polity of Arab Palestine, he is nothing more than a spectator to the conflict, albeit a well placed and impressively titled one. So long as signifigant armed bodies of Arab Palestinians exist who do not acknowledge Mr. Abbas' word on the use of violence against the state and people of Israel, there is really very little point in talking to him on such matters, for he can have nothing useful to say. His agreement to refrain from violence would be meaningless, because any number of men with guns could be relied on to pay no attention whatever to it. Whatever he said, Israel would still have to deal with Hamas, Islamic Jihad, al'Aksa, and the rest. Israel, to put it mildly, is disinclined to negotiate with these bodies, even if there were a reasonable prospect that they would negotiate, and in my view, at least, there is no such prospect. These groups, as a matter of practical usage, are going to have to be broken and muzzled by some power, and the only real question is whether it will be by Mr. Abbas or by Sharon.

[Lithos]

5. Locking

This is true, but it is also against I/P guidelines which require a recent news or op-ed post.

There are plenty such posts discussing Abbas and this very topic. Please continue in one of them.

Lithos
I/P Moderator
Democratic Underground