Yes, Friedman certainly deserves to be slammed for his shtick. So the settlers want to colonize Greater Israel, and Hamas wants to kill 5 million Israelis, hey, what's the difference? Seen one extremist, seen'em all.
Also, Tom Friedman legitimating PA "reform" is scary to me. Not only was this "reform" the product of American and Israeli pressure, but it's a total crock. Abu Mazen (always named as a little gray man who would suffice to lead a post-Arafat caretaker PLO government) is not going to lead any kind of real reform, for heaven's sake. The law he's working under doesn't give him control of the money, the security services, or the peace talks - in short, anything that matters. He is supposed to be able to appoint his own ministers, but Arafat is stalling and blocking even that fig leaf of "reform". But I can just see all the Arabists of State crying, hey, the PA has reformed, now you have to resume the "peace process" with Abu Mazen - which is just talking to Arafat by proxy. And Tom Friedman is giving them ammo for the fight. |
