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

To: LindyBill who wrote (102491)	6/23/2003 6:57:54 PM
From: Sig	Respond to of 281500

<<<This article is probably fairly accurate. Robin is one of the best ME reporters in the country. The Road Map to Bush's Conversion>>> A prime example of how GWB purposely sets out to make a name for himself by setting an inflexible pre-ordained agenda and then exaggerates the threat offered by ME intelligence to call for imminent action to eliminate a threat to US security. Without consulting with anyone except the US Congress and Administration officials, and - paying no attention to citizens desires or retired State Department men from the Cold War era or the College professors. He unilaterally and personally talks to top ME leaders......... Heaven only knows what kind of an impossible situation he has dragged us into, and I dont know what it will cost if they actually have peace in the region. Its bound to hurt our Arms sales, and those of Germany, France,Belgium. Russia China, and the UK. And the drop in oil prices could put many of our oil workers out of business .... I predict a world wide depression as a result Sig .

To: LindyBill who wrote (102491)	6/23/2003 7:40:31 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

I get a queasy feeling in the pit of my stomach when a state official says, "Bush gets it". What I see, all too well, is that Bush now needs momemntum to sustain his credibility. As everybody in the Mideast knows, this is the moment for all the Arab governments to deliver nothing at all while making louder demands on Israel, knowing that America can effectively pressure only Israel. Sure enough, Abu Mazen and Dahlan are now demanding an Israeli pullback to the lines of September 2000 before they even try to get Hamas to promise a truce. The Israelis stopped a large car-bomb on the Tel Aviv - Jerusalem highway today, btw. But attempts don't count for Hamas et. al.

To: LindyBill who wrote (102491)	6/23/2003 8:51:10 PM
From: Jacob Snyder	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

<"Bush is now energized," said the well-placed official. "He has an idea of what he wants to do. He gets it. He really gets it."> No, unfortunately, he doesn't get it. The two crucial missing elements here, and it means the whole process falls apart, is: 1. Bush is unwilling to use American leverage, in any meaningfull way, to force Israeli compliance with the Road Map. Briefly, very briefly, there was a flicker of hope, when Sharon said he would dismantle the settlements as called for in the road map. But, as is so often the case, action falls far short of the promises. A few uninhabited outposts have been taken down (and the Jewish zealots put them back up the next day, and more new ones). The dismantling of inhabited outposts looks to be tied up indefinitely in the courts. And Sharon has just said that growth in the older settlements will go on unchanged, in direct violation of the road map. 2. There still is no plan for disarming or destroying the Palestinian terrorist groups. Bush just keep saying endlessly, "let's keep talking". Talk isn't going to stop Hamas. This was predictable, both Nadine and I pointed out this fatal flaw in the Road Map, a long time ago. Settlements (for the Israelis), and terrorism (for the Palestinians) are still the litmus tests of sincerity, in seeking peace. Looking at both sides' actions, (and ignoring their words, which have zero correlation with their actions), it appears neither side wants peace.