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"Israeli officials are unsure" whether Assad could actually "deliver a deal." And Rice says that a Palestinian state must come first.
Both the Israelis and the Secretary of State are, quite simply, not dealing with reality. The public discourse about Islamic jihad and the challenge we're facing has been dominated by fantasy since 9/11 and before that, and if anything, the fog is thicker now than ever. In reality, a Palestinian state won't bring peace, because it will not only not herald an end to Palestinian demands, but will only embolden the jihadists to continue to press for the destruction of Israel altogether -- and provide them a platform for doing so. Evidently no one takes the Hamas Charter seriously except Hamas.
But does Syria present a viable alternative for peace? As we have noted here many times, although Syria is a relatively secular state, and Assad is not an orthodox Muslim, it is a foremost base for jihad activities and the advancement of Islamic supremacism. And now The Truth About Syria, an excellent new book by Barry Rubin of MERIA and the GLORIA Center, exposes the full scope of Syria's activities on behalf of the jihad. Rubin explains how Assad and his father have kept themselves in power by bringing together jihadism and Arab nationalism in Damascus -- and the hollowness of the arguments that contend that those two forces are and ever shall be irreconcilably opposed. Taking a long historical view, Rubin notes that the "window of opportunity" many have seen over the years for an accord between Israel and Syria -- and which Israeli officials seem to be seeing again today -- is actually for Damascus nothing more than a "window of weakness," Israeli weakness, which the Syrians will exploit for everything they can get. He lists fifteen cogent reasons why Syria will never make peace with Israel, and enters into peace talks never intending to compete them.
And of course there is much more involved than just Israel when it comes to Syria. The Assad regime is also deeply involved in jihad activities in Iraq, and is working closely with Iran and jihad terror groups such as Hizballah. As such, with or without Nancy Pelosi and her naive and counterproductive overtures, Syria cannot be ignored. Rubin explores all of this and more, not from the standpoint of fashionable politically correct fantasies, but from a realistic evaluation of Syria and the Assad regime on its own terms.
If Rice and the Israelis read this book -- and the Hamas Charter -- they might be able to embark on the road to policies that were actually viable to protect both Israel and the U.S. from the global jihadists, rather than embroiling us yet again in a round of futile and deceptive peace talks that will, ultimately, only advance the jihadist cause.
"Rice Cautions Israel on Syria: 'No Substitute' for Peace With Palestinians, Secretary Says" by Glenn Kessler in the Washington Post (thanks to Sr. Soph):
BERLIN, May 29 -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday cautioned against a growing sentiment in Israel to pursue peace with Syria instead of with warring Palestinian factions, saying there is "no substitute" for creating a Palestinian state.Rice, who will discuss the stalled peace process with diplomats here Wednesday, has worked for months to lay the groundwork for Palestinians and Israelis to begin discussing what she calls a "political horizon" -- the parameters of a possible Palestinian state.
But with violence erupting between Palestinian factions -- and with Israel under constant attack from rockets launched from the Gaza Strip -- Rice has faced criticism from some outside experts for spending so much time on a diplomatic long shot, rather than seeking to quickly end the violence.Israeli officials have confirmed Israeli news media reports that there is intense discussion about whether to pursue a peace agreement with Syria, which would in effect abandon the Palestinian track for now. Syrian President Bashir al-Assad has strongly suggested he is interested in reaching an agreement similar to one nearly concluded by his late father a decade ago, but Israeli officials are unsure whether he could actually deliver a deal.
Posted by Robert at May 30, 2007 2:27 PM
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i say we shut down our state dept., redirect all funds but salaries & travel to pull them home to defense spending.
then, after we've taken all the necessary countries to task, we can reinstate our diplomacy efforts.
Posted by: Miss_Anthrope![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 30, 2007 3:45 PM
You are absolutely correct, Robert. We can grant the Palestinians a state just to get that off the table, but will it make any non-Muslims safer? Of course not. Islam is in hot pursuit of world dominance now because we are not holding the progenitors of Islamism accountable.
It's beyond time to react in ways that should give even suicidal jihadists nightmares. We have got to stop the farce of negotiations with a culture of death that does not know the meaning of compromise and deal with Islam in the language it understands best -- brutal force.
Yes, I sound harsh, but after so many years of coming to understand this vile enemy, I am just telling it like it is.
Posted by: Foehammer at May 30, 2007 4:18 PM
Many Jewish people were forced from Muslim lands in the last 100 years. That should be seen as half of a swap forced by those lands. The other half is for the Palestinians to go to the countries that forced out Jews.
If the Palestinians stay in Gaza and the West Bank, Israel's future is at risk. In the same way, the lands that forced out Christians should take the Muslims in Lebanon.
Christians and Jews both have a legal, moral, and historic right to live in the Middle East. But every Muslim land has shown they don't respect in reality that right.
Thus there must be a Christian homeland and a Jewish one. Both must be viable. These are in essence Christian and Jewish sections of the Middle East created by the Muslims to crown in the Christians and Jews. But now the Muslims want it to be zero.
Posted by: Old Atlantic at May 30, 2007 4:21 PM
New and improved! Like the stuff we buy they already know how to pefect it but they steadily go through new and improved costing us! What has Rice given Israel in the way of money?! To help Israel to show the aggressor we are not with them our true concern is the Peace of Israel! Road to peace pathway to ...political horizan? keep on rizing riding riding....sorry Jim Morrison,, Cannot imagine it! Keep putting new words on it. Nothing gets solved. The Israeli's have proved time and time again they are for peace. The Palestinians will never. When will Rice Get It?
I blame Clinton! Clinton had this going on then and had Arafat at White House! How long Rice? Not going to happen!
at May 30, 2007 4:26 PM
One thing that I have noticed is the utter denial that everyone in power is in. And I won't even go into the level of denial of my fellow citizens since they are only a reflection of the ones in power, in the universities, and in the military.
So, when I come across someone who cannot fathom we are in a war and that it should be labeled Islam vs us - I try to be patient and say... "it doesn't matter what we believe - it is what they believe. They are the ones who have declared war on us. They are the ones who are the aggressors. It is their koran, hadiths and the example of their prophet they follow. And what they do is make sure we stay in this state of 'confusion and conflict within our own country' by practicing deception so they can keep on gaining headway. And their war against us is not only in battles, but by deception and the continual 'battering' against our laws and our other social norms. All the while they wait until their numbers increase to such a point and then... we start having the same problems that Lebanon, East Europe, India, Southeast Asia, Africa, etc have."
Nowadays I would like to say: 'crack open a freaking (medina version) of the koran and wake up and find out their battle strategies, ya moron'! But, I don't because that only defeats the purpose.
Posted by: R_not at May 30, 2007 4:30 PM
The Israeli people seem to be slowing warming to the idea of facing reality square on. (hopefully, before reality "wipes them of the face of the earth") Once they do, and once they jettison their current worse-than-worthless PM and install a clear-minded leader if one can be found (perhaps the deputy PM?), they need to tell Rice to either become educated or become ignored.
Posted by: Infidel33 at May 30, 2007 4:50 PM
First of all, the Palestinains can't have a state unless they stop being a bunch of genocidal jihadists. So, there will never be a state.
Second, even if they suceeded to statehood, does any one think they will abandon their directives in the Koran and by Mo against Israel? Hardly.
Statehood would not make the slightest difference.
Posted by: sounder at May 30, 2007 4:54 PM
o/t Lewiston (‘ham-steak’), Maine alert:
Bomb scare at Lewiston Mall. Mall shut down for a couple of hours. Army containers found at mall, triggering scare. Containers turned out to be filled with sand. No suspects.
Mall is re-opened. Nothing to see here, move along statement from mall ownership. Lewiston pictures and commentary at link.
at May 30, 2007 6:06 PM
There has to be someone from the State Department with a brain cell that allows them to understand what islam is all about, or am l wrong ?
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at May 30, 2007 6:09 PM
There has to be someone from the State Department with a brain cell that allows them to understand what islam is all about, or am l wrong ?
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at May 30, 2007 6:10 PM
Butt that brain cell is a stem cell!
Posted by: MZ at May 30, 2007 6:55 PM
it could be. . . you know the cell of. . . . ..al-
Posted by: MZ at May 30, 2007 6:57 PM
old atlantic stated above:
Many Jewish people were forced from Muslim lands in the last 100 years. That should be seen as half of a swap forced by those lands. The other half is for the Palestinians to go to the countries that forced out Jews.
A video documentary, by "The David Project" called
"The Forgotten Refugees" covers these events well, with special attention played to 'dhimmi' status and 'jizya' (protection tax on people of the book).
at May 30, 2007 6:59 PM
Condi is Bush's mouthpiece, and he hasn't done anything for ME Seculars, except undermine them.
Oilpatch muttonheads believe that a passive ME is a conservative ME. Hence, Bush's spread of dhimmism from the Saudi theater to the Ayatollahs. If he had any common sense then he would be talking to their successors instead of those terrorists. Failure isn't part of the brat's vocabulary.
at May 30, 2007 7:13 PM
Condi is Bush's mouthpiece, and he hasn't done anything for ME Seculars, except undermine them.
Oilpatch muttonheads believe that a passive ME is a conservative ME. Hence, Bush's spread of dhimmism from the Saudi theater to the Ayatollahs. If he had any common sense then he would be talking to their successors instead of those terrorists. Failure isn't part of the brat's vocabulary.
at May 30, 2007 7:13 PM
a) A deal means giving back the Golan Heights.
b) The Golan heights are vital to Israel's security.
c) Syria is an outlaw terrorist-supporting state that if it reneged on a treaty would be an outlaw terrorist state again. NOTHING to lose and EVERYTHING to gain.
d) Yeah, sounds great, go far it.
Posted by: poetcomic1 at May 30, 2007 7:51 PM
About a year ago there was a small "Draft Condi for 2008" movement. Why not? She'd be the most beautiful president ever. I'd still love to go on a date with her.
She lost my support a while back, however. I flipped when I read her speech saying that the greatest legacy America could leave in the Middle East would be the creation of a Palestinian state. 1) Paging Tom Lantos... 2) There is already a Palestinian Jewish state, Israel, and a Palestinian Arab state 3 times as big, Jordan. There isn't room for another viable country perched among the Judean and Samarian mountaintops. 3) We can see how well the Palestinian Arabs are doing with their protostate in Gaza; even their own journalists are ashamed. 4) Did anyone forget the Palestinian Arab celebrations on 9/11/2001? I saw the video a few days ago. Sorry, I forgot the link.
Hey, Old Atlantic - few people talk about a Christian homeland. Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily has said that he thinks Lebanon should be for Christianity what Israel is for Jews - indeed, it once was, in part.
Did you see my comment on another thread a few days ago? I was talking about the fact that not only is Islam Arab cultural imperialism outside the Arab League, but even inside, destroying numerous indigenous cultures like the Berbers, Tuareg, Copts, Assyrians and Kurds. And - the punchline - most of northern Africa and western Asia were Christian before Muhamad. A Christian homeland? Basically the entire Arab League plus Turkey would be your patrimony. Man, talk about reconquista - talk about al-Andalus - this is huge!
One more Condi story. At that recent Iraqi confab with Iran and Syria, there was a musical performance by an Iraqi woman cellist who was not dressed in traditional Muslim modest clothing. The Iranian diplomat left the room. Dr. Rice commented to a reporter, "I don't know which woman he was more afraid of..." Oh, Dr. Rice, if you only followed that train of thought to its logical conclusion...!
Posted by: Surak at May 30, 2007 8:24 PM
By what magic does a Palestinian state lead to peace? Does Condi Rice think the anarchic and extremist infested miasma known as the PA will miraculously change after a paper is signed?
Years after the peace treaty with Egypt, Egypt is the world center of anti-Semitism in its educational curicula and media, in complete violation of the agreement. Egypt uses Israel as the mock enemy in military exercizes, and Egypt prevents her citizens from visiting Israel, again in violation of the treaty. The Israeli army keeps the peace.
The situation is only a little better in Jordan, where the King routinely threatens Israel over al-Aksa, sounding like your typical paranoid fanatic.
Israel needs deterrence, not more worthless peace treaties.
Condi really believes the jihadist propagande about Palestine. And people like her are managing Iraq.
at May 30, 2007 8:34 PM
I think Israel's agreement to a two-state solution was suicidal, given the genocidal aims of jihaddism. It is time the West Bank and Gaza were taken back. The "Palestinians," as we call them, have done nothing to merit international trust. Their vote for Hammas is proof positive of this position.
Posted by: Triphammer at May 30, 2007 9:47 PM
I think Israel's agreement to a two-state solution was suicidal...
Suicide-by-Islam or suicide-by-Marxism?
America, with the eager help of its "allies" in NATO, pushed the former; Israel's Jewish voters have consistently demanded the latter with their voting habits over the last decade.
The problem is information. Not the volume of information, but the precision and articulation thereof.
Ariel is gone. It's time for us to grow up and be adults on our own now. Maybe Hillary or John Edwards or Barack Hussein Obama will provide us the True Grit to be able to weather the forthcoming Jihad war terror storm forming over Israel.
Maybe.
Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at May 30, 2007 10:06 PM
There they are again, Mo, Harry, and Curly!
Posted by: MZ at May 30, 2007 10:36 PM
I don't understand why the "Jordyptians" can't have a "homeland" in Jordan or Egypt, where they came from.
http://www.israel-mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts%20About%20Israel/History/HISTORY-%20The%20State%20of%20Israel
at May 30, 2007 11:09 PM
Rice lost me when she took the Gitmo flushed Koran rumors seriously, and began to nervously prattle about the "Holy" Koran this and the "Holy" Koran that.
(Mistakenly assuming that Muslims talk about "The Recitation" the way Christians refer to the Bible.)
Such fawning rhetorical obeisance was nauseating.
And indicative of a naivete bordering on fatality.
at May 30, 2007 11:16 PM
Assad, Supermodelette Wife Sell Phony Syrian Elections; GOP's Jihad Darrell Pimps US on Assad
Posted by: Infidel Pride at May 31, 2007 2:01 AM
Having Condi, the US needs no other enemies.
Should be declared " public enemy No 1"
at June 2, 2007 12:46 AM
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