Sen. Kerry's trip to the Middle East

[TayTay]

This has been a fascinating trip. It has been all over the world press and garnered stories in China, New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East press. (However, it has not yet made the news in Massachusetts, alas.)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE51I2IU20090219">Reuters UK has a story up today about Senator Kerry visiting the Gaza Strip:

U.S. lawmakers make rare visit to Hamas-ruled Gaza

GAZA (Reuters) - A top U.S. senator and two other lawmakers made a rare visit to the Gaza Strip on Thursday but insisted a boycott of its Hamas Islamist rulers remained intact.

It was the highest-profile visit by U.S. legislators to the Gaza Strip since before the outbreak of a Palestinian uprising against Israel in 2000, U.S. officials said.

The article quotes Kerry on his views on Hamas:

Speaking to reporters in the southern Israeli border town of Sderot before entering the Gaza Strip, Kerry said U.S. policy on Hamas was unchanged.

"What has to change is behaviour. And what has to change, obviously, is Hamas's insistence on ... instruments of terror, which we have said, again and again, has no place at the table," Kerry said.

"The policy of the Obama administration and the policy of this Democratic Congress remains the same with respect to Hamas," he added.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304828993&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull">The Jerusalem Post reports that the Israeli Air Force bombed the Philadelphi Corridor in Gaza today to close tunnels being used to smuggle in equipment and goods:

IAF strikes smuggling tunnels near Rafah

The IAF carried out three air strikes along the Philadelphi Corridor on Thursday afternoon, destroying six arms smuggling tunnels. The IDF said "large secondary explosions" followed the strikes, "proving the presence of weapons and munitions."

Palestinians said that there were no casualties in the strikes.

Overnight Wednesday, Palestinians said that the IDF carried out operations in the northern Gaza Strip. Exchanges of fire were reportedly heard in the area.

The IDF said that the strikes came in response to continued rocket-fire on the South. An Army statement said that four rockets and mortar shells were fired at the western Negev on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, bring the total rockets fired since the end of Operation Cast Lead on January 18 to approximately 50.

More world press accounts: IRAN http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=86117§ionid=351020202
Israel: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3674311,00.html
China: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/19/content_10851774.htm
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/world/middleeast/20mideast.html?ref=world
AFP (France): http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gOF0n_LTErkVvM4jse6ELJUOEMig
Australia: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/20/2496483.htm?section=world
Jerusalem Post: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304828611&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Italy: http://www.agi.it/world/news/200902191502-pol-ren0025-art.html
Turkey: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=36888
CNN International: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/19/gaza.us.visit/

Lebanon: http://www.iloubnan.info/politics/actualite/id/32209 (This is short and is an article PROTESTING the visit Sen. Kerry made to Lebanon because it was not a standard trip made according to diplomatic protocol. Ah, I am not the sharpest card in the deck but methinks this is more than just a diplomatic protest. More than diplmatic feathers are being ruffled here.)

Oh and one more http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_11734913">looky-looky story to ponder:

Egyptian dissident abruptly freed

His confinement had strained Washington's relations with Cairo.

By the Los Angeles Times

CAIRO — An Egyptian political dissident whose imprisonment had strained relations between Cairo and Washington for more than three years was unexpectedly freed Wednesday in an apparent goodwill gesture toward the new Obama administration.

Ayman Nour, who ran against President Hosni Mubarak in 2005 and was later jailed on widely criticized forgery charges, was driven home from Cairo's Tora Prison. The Egyptian prosecutor's office said Nour, who has heart and eye ailments, was released for medical reasons.

Nour's five-year sentence was due to end in 2010.

Nour's case came to symbolize the relentless campaign by Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party to silence political opponents despite outcries from international human-rights groups. Former President George W. Bush and members of his administration repeatedly urged the Egyptian government to release Nour and to stop intimidation and harassment that marred the country's national and local elections.

"Why they did this is unknown," Nour told The Associated Press after his release. "I am coming out with an open heart and am ready to work, and nothing has changed. A lot of things have been put on hold over the past years."

Senator Kerry was in Egypt earlier this week.
Are we paying attention to this? And will any MA media notice this any time soon? (NY media did.)

[karynnj]

1. The international articles are interesting

One thing that might be interesting is that Israel allowed the trip to the Gaza.

From the article from Turkey,

"Israel barred U.S. diplomats from entering the impoverished coastal enclave since 2003.

Former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney attempted to travel to Gaza by sea in December, but the ship was rammed by an Israeli gunboat and diverted to Lebanon.

In 2008, former US President Jimmy Carter was denied permission to enter Gaza by the Israeli government. Carter did meet Hamas officials in Syria and Egypt."



This may well reflect some willingness on the part of Israel to work with the new Democratic administration. (I thought though that Kerry did visit Gaza in the past - but maybe he only went to the West Bank.)

PS It is appalling that the MA papers are not covering this.

[TayTay]

2. I wonder if this is indicative of Obama's FP strategy

I think that Senator Kerry has perfectly good standing as Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to visit the Middle East and observe conditions there. Congress is charged with oversight on the Executive and this sounds like due diligence on that oversight.

That said (and it is important that that be said, btw) I wonder if we aren't seeing a sort of signature move of the Obama Administration. There are a lot of chess pieces moving on the board at this moment in time. This is so unlike the previous Bush Administration which drew up lines of black and white in terms of who it considered friend or foe of America and then solidified the lines. No diplomacy was attempted. The Congress and the Obama Admin is all over this with diplomacy and with trying to triangulate the factions and get some movement. Any one of the stories coming out is big news, all of them together is a sea change from the last 8 years of non-diplomacy.

In just the first month of the Obama Admin, we have these really fascinating moves in the Middle East. George Mitchell is the sort of Tsar of the diplomatic effort. Richard Holbrooke is the new "special representative" of the Obama Admin for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Senator Kerry is in Egypt, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Israel and Syria. This is more like a benign "team of rivals" to help boost diplomacy for that region. There is risk as well as opportunity in this. (Can such high level people do all this work and not step on each other's egos?) Pres. Obama seems to like to put a lot of ante on the table and likes playing high stakes games of poker strategy, doesn't he?

It looks like Netanyahu is going to be the new Israeli PM. The coalition government is going to be formed with the support of the RW party formed by the Russian emigre who is very anti-Arab. I wonder if we aren't seeing very diplomatic warning shots being fired at Israel by the US. (How fascinating that Jimmy Carter, former US Pres and Noble Peace Prize winner can't get into Gaza, but John Kerry could. Times have changed, methinks.)

[karynnj]

3. It is all interesting as you say.

It is too bad that Netanyahu is going to be PM again and that to do so he needs to keep Lieberman happy. (Their Lieberman, not ours. )

[TayTay]

4. Agreed.

But even that might be part of this multi-layered chess game. IF the US "squeezes" the rest of the countries in that area and forces an opening to peace, then what does that do to the internals in Israel?

Sen. Kerry called Syria a "bad actor" on his Q&A with students after a speech he gave in Oct 2005 at Georgetown University. At that time, he agreed that Syria was meddling in the area and in Lebanon and he was not very pleased with them at all. This week, Kerry met with the son of the Lebanese PM who was murdered in early 2005, with suspected Syrian involvement:

Senator John Kerry visits Lebanon to reinforce diplomatic ties

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:56p.m.

Kerry's visit comes after President Barack Obama offered to engage countries that had been at odds with the US.

US-Syrian relations have long been tense, particularly since the US ambassador was pulled out by the Bush administration in 2005 to protest against Syria's suspected role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri - Saad's father - in neighbouring Lebanon.

Syria's army was in Lebanon at the time, but Damascus denied involvement and was forced to withdraw its troops.

The US-led invasion of Iraq, which Syria shares a border with, also created a deepening rift, with the Bush administration accusing Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq.
Kerry later met with Saad Hariri, the son of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated on February 14, 2005, in an attack that also killed 22 other people.

Hmmmmmmm........

[YvonneCa]

9. He also said, paraphrasing, that with these issues one...

...has to always be looking "over the horizon to what is coming with the change." He seemed to be suggesting that we plan our solutions by looking ahead and working longterm with new leadership in places like Syria. Wise words, IMO.

[TayTay]

5. Also, what is SoS Clinton doing in Indonesia

President SBY and Hillary Clinton discuss Palestine and ASEAN

(dijurnal) Jakarta. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, tried to emphasize the need that the establishment of Palestine state can be realized as soon as possible, said the Presidency spokesman, Dino Patti Djalal, Jakarta, on Thursday.

"U.S. needs to give attention to the efforts of the conflict in Palestine. I think this is also the policy President Obama," he said. Cease-fire in Gaza at this time still unstable, so it needs to be strengthened.

According to Dino, President SBY also conveyed Indonesia's position that supports the "2-state solution", where Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace. "The President says Indonesia will also participate in the reconstruction of Gaza in Egypt that will be also attended by Secretary Hillary," he said.

At the 45 minute meeting, the President also explained about the development of the Southeast Asia region, especially after the transformation of the ASEAN Charter. Before the visit of homage to President SBY, Hillary has been met foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and the Secretary General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan.

http://dijurnal.blogspot.com/2009/02/president-sby-and-hillary-clinton.html

This compliments what Senator Kerry is doing. As has been said many, many times, the key to better relations with the Muslim world is to get movement on the Palestinian issue.

[YvonneCa]

7. Times HAVE changed...

...at long last.

You said, "Any one of the stories coming out is big news, all of them together is a sea change from the last 8 years of non-diplomacy."

I agree. It's a sea change...and it's what John Kery has advocated forever. I am THRILLED to see this approach...and, I am confident that the security of our nation will trump the egos (huge as they may be :) ). Obama has chosen well.

[YvonneCa]

6. This has not yet made the news in...

...California, either. I'll keep watching. ;)


My theory (totally devoid of factual evidence :) ) on Nour...maybe they were encouraged to 'unclinch their collective fists.' :7

[TayTay]

8. I think that is an excellent guess

And it is so refreshing to see a real diplomatic push being made. So different from the Bush years when roles calcified.

[YvonneCa]

10. It is refreshing. You know, with all the bad news around...

...particularly with the economy...I see a lot of people REALLY worried and losing their hope. I find myself in such a weird place right now. On the one hand, I'm concerned too about the economy, Afghanistan(I have a young family member headed there soon), and all the other critical issues the Obama Administration has been handed. (And then there is the California budget. :7 )

But, strangely, I feel SO much more hopeful. It's like a burden has been lifted because I at least know we have GOOD PEOPLE...competent people...in charge now. I am VERY confident that a good outcome is possible...whereas before I didn't think that.

But these good public servants need our support. That's why we can't just all fade away...even though sometimes we want to.(I want to especially when I turn on cable TV...they are SO awful right now I feel like unsubscribing.:grr:)

[karynnj]

11. The foreign Minister in Lebanon who protested Kerry may be allied to Hezbollah

Here is his wikipedia bio:

"Fawzi Salloukh is the current Foreign Minister of Lebanon. He has been in this position since July 19, 2005.

Salloukh was born in 1931 in Qammatieh, Lebanon. Salloukh graduated from the American University of Beirut in 1954 with a Diploma in Political Science.

Salloukh is said by some to be closely allied with Hizbullah, despite little substance to these claims. Before taking up his ministerial position Salloukh was the Secretary General of the Islamic University in Lebanon from 1998 to 2005. Salloukh is a Lebanese career diplomat who served as Ambassador to Sierra Leone (1964-1971), Nigeria (1978-1985), Algeria (1985-1987), Austria (1990-1994), and Belgium (1994-1995). A minister never afraid of speaking his mind, he has had verbal tangles with the likes of George W. Bush and continues to be a well respected political figure in Lebanon."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fawzi_Salloukh

That sounds vague, but this chart shows Hezbollah as his party and he is clearly in the opposition to the current leadership. This may be out of date.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_government_of_July_2008

It also seems that his nose might have been out of joint because Kerry did include him and because he praised the March 14 coalition - who from the chart above are his political opponents.

"US Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived yesterday in Beirut and met with President Sleiman, PM Siniora and MP Saad Hariri.

In his statements, Kerry emphasized the unwavering US “commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence and to the democratic process in it.” Kerry praised the March 14 coalition and stressed “the need for Syria to change its behavior.” http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=80596

The people Kerry met with included the ones he praised in this excellent op-ed from January 2007.

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/entry/a_crucial_time_for_saving_lebanons_fragile_democracy/

[Mass]

12. CNN had a scrolling banner this morning indicating that a congressional delegation was in Gaza.

But I am not sure they spoke about it later.

The Christian Monitor has it. I guess it is technically a paper from MA.

http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/02/19/kerry-steps-cautionsly-into-hamas-territory/

I would not hold my breath for the Globe and the Herald to hear the news, or our local TVs.

[YvonneCa]

13. NPR radio carried the story this afternoon. They mentioned Kerry...

...by name and two congressmen that also went to Gaza. I was pleasantly surprised. :)

[YvonneCa]

14. CBS affiliate in LA just showed video clip...

...of JK in Gaza. KCAL9. :) Real news coverage...things are looking up.:patriot: