U.S. State Department to investigate failure to foresee Hamas victory

H a a r e t z ^ | 2/2/2006 | DPA

[Sabramerican]

U.S. State Department to investigate failure to foresee Hamas victory By DPA

The United States is examining why it was caught off guard by Hamas' victory in Palestinian legislative elections last week, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged earlier this week that she was surprised by Hamas's defeat of the Fatah party, which had dominated Palestinian politics for years.

"She's asked her staff to look into that. Why is it that we didn't see this coming?" US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

The United States designates Hamas, formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, as a terrorist organization and has said it will review all financial aid to the Palestinians.

Under U.S. law, the government cannot fund groups considered terrorist groups. ......

The U.S. strongly backed holding the January 25 elections on time, despite concerns by Israel and Fatah that Hamas would make a strong showing.

[Sabramerican]

Hey Condi: Save the taxpayers money and just read FreeRepublic.

[bnelson44]

This has to be a joke. Even I predicted it.

[kenth]

How could they not see this coming? I guess at some point while repeating the propaganda that the Palis only want their own state, they convinced themselves.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Unfund all of them.

[Damifino]

Zogby!

[Seeing More Clearly Now]

Duh - The policies of the pro-Arab U.S. State Department that created this situation. The State Department has been strongly tilted toward Arab terrorists for almost 60 years. Had they not been in bed with the Arabs, the world would be a safer place today.

[Alberta's Child]

Maybe those Palestinians aren't as easily bought off as the U.S. State Department thought they'd be.

[TheBrotherhood]

Democracy works!

[Stellar Dendrite]

ping

[Onelifetogive]

U.S. State Department to investigate failure to foresee Hamas victory

I'd sure like to see which side the lifers in the State Dept were giving money to...

[Spirited]

That is utterly hilarius. It is what State and the WH set as a course awhile back. We even support those animals.

[takenoprisoner]

this must be some sort of pathetic joke...didn't see it coming? Now that's scarey I don't care where you are from.

[Wuli]

"She's [Condi] asked her staff to look into that. Why is it that we didn't see this coming?"

I am sorry all you Condi supporters, but this is extremely disconcerting.

It is completely indicative of someone living in the policy wonk world of the State Department, getting 99.99% of their news and "analysis" from that world and clueless as to what is actually going on. 9/11 was the result of 40 years of that kind of myopic foreign policy thinking.

"Didn't see it coming?? Let's see -

(a)the Palestinians more than anyone saw the years of constant corruption and corrupt cronyism of Arafat and his lackeys;

(b)without their public figurehead, Arafat's lackeys were more concerned about divying up the spoils and the perks of the PA, and the Palestinian people knew that as well,

(c)for all its moral and political corruption, Hamas was :

(1)not associated organizationally with Arafat or the PA,

(2)spent millions every year on Palestinian welfare and charity institutions, buying the support of millions of poor Palestinians and

(3)never adopted the "we will recognize Israel" position that Arafat and the PA adopted in the Oslo accords;

and finally -

(c) the "street" in the Palestinian territories credited Hamas and its terrorism as having secured Gaza from Israel.

And Condi, in what I can only look at as ignorance, says : "how did this happen?".

I am no more fond of "the media" than the next Freeper, but there is a difference between not being fond of the media and not believing all the media says versus being totally uninformed and clueless.

To recognize the biases in the media is one thing, but to turn all outside, independent information off; to not be informed beyond what only your staff and your bureaucrats tell you; to not seek information beyond the confines of those who are trying to shape your opinions, and still make public policy is the equivalent of having your head buried in bureaucratic quicksand. It's dangerous.

[Simo Hayha]

Didn't see it coming? When terrorist work continues, who will be blamed? Who will be behind continuing terrorism? Hamas? Syrian backed folk? Does Syria stand to gain more by having the terrorists they back continue their work, knowing probably (?) that Hamas will take the blame?

If we didn't see it coming, does that mean that the uppy-ups are afraid to say what they may know, and are saying instead what they believe others want to hear? If we didn't see it coming, does that mean that the CIA is still PC-orientated and still lacks any reliable sources in the area?

[Itzlzha]

The United States is examining why it was caught off guard by Hamas' victory in Palestinian legislative elections last week, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged earlier this week that she was surprised by Hamas's defeat of the Fatah party, which had dominated Palestinian politics for years.

"She's asked her staff to look into that. Why is it that we didn't see this coming?" US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

Well, for starters, they might wanna take these off when looking at the world...especially where Islamazis are concerned.

Secondly, they may want to purge morons like Sam Hamod, Ph.D from either their employ, or in any "advisory" capacity! They are nothing but Islamazi shills and Hamas-hole and PaleSimian mouthpieces, bought and paid for!

Oh, and if Con-doofus is REALLY intent on getting to the bottom...she may look at the revolving door between the State Department and getting jobs with Saudi Government/Entities (Like there REALLY is a difference) after they leave the State Dept.!

Then she may look to her own mentors...James ("F" the Jooos) Baker III, and Brent Scowcroft!

Oh, and maybe they could read certain members of Free Republic, they'd have more of a clue than just sitting around and swilling the Kool-Aid from the "Cult of Bush" chalice that is lying around!

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.

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[Wuli]

"If we didn't see it coming, does that mean that the CIA is still PC-orientated and still lacks any reliable sources in the area?"

You did not need the CIA to know how strong Hamas was.

[familyop]

There's no need for such an "investigation." Simply fire every government employee who believes "Zionists" to be the source of his/her problems.