>>>We station a couple of carrier battle groups off Israel. And some nuclear subs.<<<
Why not NATO or a UN peacekeeping force?
>>>Tell the Israelis they are going to pull their settlers out of the West Bank. Or leave them on their own. Any more incursions into the West Bank or Lebanon and they deal with us. Any military action against their neighbors and they deal with us.<<<
Again, why not NATO or a UN peacekeeping force.
>>>Tell the Arabs and Palestinians we will guarantee a Palestine state's borders. Yassir Arafat has to go though. New elections. And they leave the Israelis alone. No attacks, no suicide bombings, or they deal with us.<<<
Yes, indeed, a guarantee. Arafat can stay, however, if his people elect him. As to the Palestinians dealing with us, what makes you think dealing with 'us' is worse than dealing with them?
>>>And the Arabs have to recognize Israel and its pre-1967 borders.<<<
Shouldn't it be the other way around, that Israel recognize the pre-1967 borders? After all, Israel did the land grab after that war, did they not?
>>>Otherwise no aid and no trade for any offending party. Plus the possibility of US military action against them.<<<
Aid and trade compatibility is a very good stick. As to military action, I think a NATO or UN peacekeeping force. And, again, I don't think dealing with 'us' can be any worse than dealing with them. The only thing different in your scenario is that Israel would finally have to deal with some entity beyong its borders.
>>>It would probably be cheaper than dealing with the current mess.<<<
Too bad Sharon got elected again, as Arafrat, after initially rejecting it, was later willing to accept the Barak offer but Sharon took it off the table. The real loss isn't a monetary one as too many lives have been lost and are being lost due to this conflict; and way too much ill will has spread throughout the region as a consequence.
>>>And it'll never happen because of US domestic politics.<<<
Sorta like the drug war, eh?
All in all, not a bad approach, Lazarus. Still needs some tweaking and still lots to figure out like who gets what priority over the respective religious shrines, etc. How about if those disputed religious areas become neutral, UN-controlled and administered or where one side gets access on the even-numbered days, the other side on the odd numbered days, sorta like inner city parking--lol? |
