I think that being the guarantor is a bit much. I'd be happy with supporting democratic governments.
If you note, I stated that we should be the guarantor of the democratic governmental SYSTEM, not a particular non-democratic political entity that manages to hijack that system in order to demolish it.
Thus, with regard to Hamas and Palestine, my view is that we should willing to guarantee that a non-democratic party, such as Hamas, is UNABLE to demolish the democratic system that is evolving there. Hamas should be required to support, sustain, and advance, the system that granted them entree to power. If not, then our interests lie in protecting the system, not some intolerant and repressive non-democratic organization.
Btw, my view on this extends to Israel. If some reactionary, non-democratic fundamentalist group of Rabbis or ultra-militant Jews rose to power there, I would suggest we do what is necessary to protect the democratic system.
Hawk |
