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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (21868)	3/21/2002 1:08:09 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

I still don't think you're giving enough weight to the dangers of appeasement, And you would be wrong on that account. The greater danger is having the extremist focus upon the conflict as their "new" Jihad, and undermining stability throughout the region. But let's face some facts here. The Palestinians have the upper hand in the PR battle (for whatever reason). Sharon is not "cute and cuddly" and has no ability to make Israel's case before the world. Netanyahu has that appeal and charisma, but he's not in office. And since the US wants to go after Iraq, and this Israeli-Palestinian conflict is getting in the way, there is going to be a peace settlement, whether voluntary or imposed. Israel has no choice in this anymore, except to cut the best deal they can with the cards they are being dealt. If they resist the peace process, the US will cut off all foreign and military aid and side against them until they fall into line. But once Palestine is announced as a state, there will be a new "shuffle" and new cards will be dealt to each player. And how each side play that new deal, is what will really be important. If Palestine undertakes actions that directly threaten Israel's security, Israel has the ability to nip it in the bud through state on state military action. In fact, given the pressure Arafat will be under to make the peace a lasting one, it's conceivable to venture he'll have even more scrutiny than in the past and less opportunity or justification for creating turmoil. Right now the pressure is upon Israel to grant a Palestinian state... Sign on the dotted line and cross all the "t"s and dot the "i"s later on... if only to prevent this extremist wave sweeping through the Mid-East from blowing everything away. After the peace, the pressure will rightfully be laid upon Arafat to bring his people into line, and establish order and security throughout the territories. If he fails to do that, then he becomes just as much of a target as Saddam Hussein currently is. That's how I see this playing out Nadine... You and I might have reservations, but they don't matter. Hawk