Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

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

To: jcky who wrote (47801)	9/28/2002 8:58:18 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Respond to of 281500

Have you ever wondered what is perceived as the greater weakness to the credibility and national interest of the US: the perception that we are "afraid" to confront the Islamic fundamentalists or the perception that our foreign policy in the Mideast is dictated by the pro-Israeli lobby? But jcky, they have perceived this since 1948, when we recognized Israel. About the only way we could change it would be to un-recognize Israel, and give them the green light to destroy it if they can. When Bush I pressured Shamir, or Clinton pressured Barak, it wasn't enough to change the perception. Something like a withdrawal to '67 lines, which pro-Palestinian propagandists portray in the West as the answer to everything, is widely regarded as an unendurable insult, since it would require the Arabs to recognize Israel as a country. This perception is part of the 'change American foreign policy so Arabs will like us' argument. Trouble is, so much of their hatred for us is redirected from their own governments (or in some cases, because they blame us for their own governments), that changes are not really possible at this end only. Change won't happen until conditions improve for Arabs at their end.