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Rice Admits U.S. Underestimated Hamas Strength
NY Times ^ | January 30, 2006 | STEVEN R. WEISMAN

Posted on 01/30/2006 10:35:05 AM PST by Sabramerican

Rice Admits U.S. Underestimated Hamas Strength By STEVEN R. WEISMAN

LONDON, Jan. 29 — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that the United States had failed to understand the depth of hostility among Palestinians toward their longtime leaders. The hostility led to an election victory by the militant group Hamas that has reduced to tatters crucial assumptions underlying American policies and hopes in the Middle East.

"I've asked why nobody saw it coming," Ms. Rice said, speaking of her own staff. "It does say something about us not having a good enough pulse." .......

Indeed, Hamas's victory has set off a debate whether the administration was so wedded to its belief in democracy that it could not see the dangers of holding elections in regions where Islamist groups were strong and democratic institutions weak.

"There is a lot of blame to go around," said Martin Indyk,......."But on the American side, the conceptual failure that contributed to disaster was the president's belief that democracy and elections solve everything."

Ms. Rice pointed out that the election results surprised just about everyone. "I don't know anyone who wasn't caught off guard by Hamas's strong showing," she said on her way to London for meetings on the Middle East, Iran and other matters. "Some say that Hamas itself was caught off guard by its strong showing."

With increasing vehemence in the last few days, when itadministration officials have defended their decision to back Mr. Abbas with American aid and to rebuff Israel when it warned that the election should not be held as long as Hamas participated while refusing to lay down its arms.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: hamas; israel; paelection; rice
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"I don't know anyone who wasn't caught off guard by Hamas's strong showing,"

Here, here, Miss Rice. Right here. This way. Look here.

administration officials have defended their decision to....... rebuff Israel when it warned

You don't have a clue, do you Miss Rice? But you sure are good at Rebuffing Israel.

PS- Rice for President

1 posted on 01/30/2006 10:35:07 AM PST by Sabramerican
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To: Sabramerican

One more thing Miss Rice, so that in the future you won't claim you didn't know:

The Saudis are not our friends.


2 posted on 01/30/2006 10:37:51 AM PST by Sabramerican
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To: Sabramerican

Why are you complaining...Arafat, Fatah, and the rest of the PA groups were terrorists and thugs too! Now they are on the verge of a civil war and that is a good thing.


3 posted on 01/30/2006 10:39:31 AM PST by penelopesire
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To: Sabramerican
Indeed, Hamas's victory has set off a debate whether the administration was so wedded to its belief in democracy that it could not see the dangers of holding elections in regions where Islamist groups were strong and democratic institutions weak

Translation: See, we told you that Arabs can't handle democracy. It just separates the sheep from the goats better. Let Hamas run the show.

4 posted on 01/30/2006 10:39:47 AM PST by neodad (Rule Number 1: Be Armed)
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To: Sabramerican
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that the United States had failed to understand the depth of hostility among Palestinians.

Could have stopped right there. The current generation under 25 has been raised to hate the West and Israel in particular. Practically to a man, woman ,and child, they all dream of murdering their way into heaven.

5 posted on 01/30/2006 10:41:34 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: Sabramerican

The Saudis are very fiendly..


6 posted on 01/30/2006 10:41:53 AM PST by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
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To: penelopesire

Are you kidding, I'm not complaining about the result. I'm ecstatic.


7 posted on 01/30/2006 10:43:21 AM PST by Sabramerican
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To: Sabramerican

By the way, Ms. Rice, the sky is blue.


8 posted on 01/30/2006 10:44:57 AM PST by Mr. Beamish
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To: Sabramerican

Rice: You mean YOU underestimated Hamas. Many American already knew what you're just finding out. State Dept is not worth a dump in the toilet.


9 posted on 01/30/2006 10:44:58 AM PST by lilylangtree
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To: Sabramerican

"Are you kidding, I'm not complaining about the result. I'm ecstatic."

Good. For a minute I thought you were Rice/Administration bashing...(wink)


10 posted on 01/30/2006 10:45:46 AM PST by penelopesire
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To: Sabramerican

well, she's told us that she didn't want to run for president or VP.

she is doing her best to make sure of that with statements like this.


11 posted on 01/30/2006 10:46:25 AM PST by oceanview
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To: Sabramerican

Rice joins State and becomes blind. What a shock.


12 posted on 01/30/2006 10:49:24 AM PST by zarf (It's time for a college football playoff system.)
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To: Sabramerican

And who do they quote as an expert...Martin Indyk...the same ignorant jerk who's been part of this disaster called "the peace process".


13 posted on 01/30/2006 10:50:41 AM PST by zarf (It's time for a college football playoff system.)
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To: Mr. Beamish

How could anyone who watched Hamas celebrate their success at suicide bombing an Israeli war hero prime minister into ethnic cleansing Gaza of all Jews be surprised that Hamas would win a popularity contest among terrorists?


14 posted on 01/30/2006 10:54:08 AM PST by Mr. Beamish
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To: Sabramerican

Q for Rice. Tell us what you have been right about over there. It won't take you long to answer.


15 posted on 01/30/2006 10:55:42 AM PST by ex-snook (God of the Universe, God of Creation, God of Love, thank you for life.)
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To: Sabramerican
One more thing Miss Rice, so that in the future you won't claim you didn't know:

The Saudis are not our friends.

Try telling that to my boss, who thinks Islam is a religion of peace, and we all worship the same God. - Condi


16 posted on 01/30/2006 10:58:27 AM PST by Capt. Tom (Don't confuse the Bushies with the dumb Republicans - Capt. Tom)
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To: Sabramerican
The landslide victory of Hamas was aided and assured by the capitulation and cowardice of the Israeli government in the face of the enemy, becoming a de-facto partner in their victory. They will now reap what they have sowed.
17 posted on 01/30/2006 11:01:41 AM PST by FFIGHTER (Character Matters!)
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To: Sabramerican
What I hear is that Hamas underestimated Hamas. They wanted to be a strong minority and not the majority. Now they will be the ones responsible for the Palestinian people with little if any financial support.

It should be interesting to see play out.

18 posted on 01/30/2006 11:03:53 AM PST by bygolly
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ping


19 posted on 01/30/2006 11:14:09 AM PST by Miztiki (Pearland, TX (just south/southeast of Houston))
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To: Sabramerican

She also added that the sky is blue, water is wet, bears poop in the woods, and babies cry. Deja vu, I remember Jimmuh Carter bemoaning in late '79 early '80, right after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, that he could not trust the Soviets. "Well, duh" was my reaction to his words, and my reaction to her words.


20 posted on 01/30/2006 11:17:03 AM PST by Convert from ECUSA (Not a nickel, not a dime, stop sending my tax money to Hamastine!)
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