Posted on 12/06/2006 12:43:40 PM PST by West Coast Conservative
The White House has been examining a proposal by James Baker to launch a Middle East peace effort without Israel.
The peace effort would begin with a U.S.-organized conference, dubbed Madrid-2, and contain such U.S. adversaries as Iran and Syria. Officials said Madrid-2 would be promoted as a forum to discuss Iraq's future, but actually focus on Arab demands for Israel to withdraw from territories captured in the 1967 war. They said Israel would not be invited to the conference.
“As Baker sees this, the conference would provide a unique opportunity for the United States to strike a deal without Jewish pressure,” an official said. “This has become the most hottest proposal examined by the foreign policy people over the last month.”
Officials said Mr. Baker's proposal, reflected in the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, has been supported by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and National Intelligence Director John Negroponte. The most controversial element in the proposal, they said, was Mr. Baker's recommendation for the United States to woo Iran and Syria.
“Here is Syria, which is clearly putting pressure on the Lebanese democracy, is a supporter of terror, is both provisioning and supporting Hezbollah and facilitating Iran in its efforts to support Hezbollah, is supporting the activities of Hamas," National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told a briefing last week. "This is not a Syria that is on an agenda to bring peace and stability to the region."
Officials said the Baker proposal to exclude Israel from a Middle East peace conference garnered support in the wake of Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Saudi Arabia on Nov. 25. They said Mr. Cheney spent most of his meetings listening to Saudi warnings that Israel, rather than Iran, is the leading cause of instability in the Middle East.
“He [Cheney] didn't even get the opportunity to seriously discuss the purpose of his visit—that the Saudis help the Iraqi government and persuade the Sunnis to stop their attacks,” another official familiar with Mr. Cheney’s visit said. “Instead, the Saudis kept saying that they wanted a U.S. initiative to stop the Israelis’ attack in Gaza and Cheney just agreed.”
Under the Baker proposal, the Bush administration would arrange a Middle East conference that would discuss the future of Iraq and other Middle East issues. Officials said the conference would seek to win Arab support on Iraq in exchange for a U.S. pledge to renew efforts to press Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Golan Heights.
“Baker sees his plan as containing something for everybody, except perhaps the Israelis,” the official said. “The Syrians would get back the Golan, the Iranians would get U.S. recognition and the Saudis would regain their influence, particularly with the Palestinians.”
Officials said Mr. Baker's influence within the administration and the Republican Party’s leadership stems from support by the president's father as well as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Throughout the current Bush administration, such senior officials as Mr. Hadley and Ms. Rice were said to have been consulting with Brent Scowcroft, the former president's national security advisor, regarded as close to Mr. Baker.
“Everybody has fallen in line,” the official said. “Bush is not in the daily loop. He is shocked by the elections and he's hoping for a miracle on Iraq.”
For his part, Mr. Bush has expressed unease in negotiating with Iran. At a Nov. 30 news conference in Amman, Jordan, the president cited Iran's interference in the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.
“We respect their heritage, we respect their history, we respect their traditions,” Mr. Bush said. “I just have a problem with a government that is isolating its people, denying its people benefits that could be had from engagement with the world.”
Mr. Baker's recommendation to woo Iran and Syria has also received support from some in the conservative wing of the GOP. Over the last week, former and current Republican leaders in Congress—convinced of the need for a U.S. withdrawal before the 2008 presidential elections—have called for Iranian and Syrian participation in an effort to stabilize Iraq.
“I would look at an entirely new strategy,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said. “We have clearly failed in the last three years to achieve the kind of outcome we want.”
In contrast, Defense Department officials have warned against granting a role to Iran and Syria at Israel's expense. They said such a strategy would also end up undermining Arab allies of the United States such as Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.
“The regional strategy is a euphemism for throwing Free Iraq to the wolves in its neighborhood: Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia,” said the Center for Security Policy, regarded as being close to the Pentagon. “If the Baker regional strategy is adopted, we will prove to all the world that it is better to be America's enemy than its friend. Jim Baker's hostility towards the Jews is a matter of record and has endeared him to Israel's foes in the region.”
But Defense Secretary-designate Robert Gates, a former colleague of Mr. Baker on the Iraq Study Group, has expressed support for U.S. negotiations with Iran and Syria. In response to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee, which begins confirmation hearings this week, Mr. Gates compared the two U.S. adversaries to the Soviet Union.
“Even in the worst days of the Cold War, the U.S. maintained a dialogue with the Soviet Union and China, and I believe those channels of communication helped us manage many potentially difficult situations,” Mr. Gates said. “Our engagement with Syria need not be unilateral. It could, for instance, take the form of Syrian participation in a regional conference.”
I can't take any more of this insanity, I'm gonna go watch The Long, long Trailer. See ya later.
Bush Sr. committed no major sin, that is my point. He lost the election. He accomplished monumentally good things. And BTW he did it in defiance of the usual left wing opposition. You don't know or don't remember how he stood up to them to defeat Sadaam.
I know the reason and it's like every other person Bush has ever chosen. POPPY FRIEND! Yes another Poppy Friend failure our POTUS once again embraces for wisdom and advice. If Bush was smart he would remove any and all former members of his dads and Fords terms from his cabinet and list of advisor's. But that will never happen. The whole past 6 years has been about continuing in Poppy's Failed Legacy. On a positive note GW Bush has only two more years in office. Maybe once he leaves the GOP base can once again unite to a conservative agenda. Until such a time however it's not going to happen.
Hopefully the WH won't even dignify this with a response.
Knowing that nobody in the world will hear my voice other than those that read this post, I still can't help BUT TO SHOUT WITH ALL MY STRENGTH!
What nonsense is the world anymore. When Iran's leader says Israel must be destroyed and wiped out what is there to negotiate? Will James Baker come right out and call Iran on their leaders statements? Will he ask them if they will make peace with Israel and if not to clarify what Amanutjob means when he says to wipe out Israel and the great satan? Will he tell them that if they threaten to destroy Israel again it means war and the end of Iran?
When Hamas and Hezbollah say Israel must be destroyed what is there to negotiate? If they will never accept an Israel with secure borders will Baker tell them without a peace Israel has the green light and U.S. support to take them out? Syria lost land in a war they started and they support terror. Are we know conceding defeat because terrorist blow up roadside bombs in Bagdad? How does a car bomb in Iraq lead to Israel giving up more land for peace that never comes from enemies that are never appeased until every Jew is dead?
GOD IS COMING SOON, VERY SOON TO WIPE OUT THESE KILLERS AND IT WILL START AFTER ISRAEL HAS BEEN BACKED INTO A CORNER AND COMES OUT FIGHTING THE WHOLE BUNCH ONCE AND FOR ALL! WHEN THAT HAPPENS ALL BETS ARE OFF AS GOD WILL SETTLE ALL SCORES AND ALL MANKIND IS JUDGED ONCE AND FOR ALL!
“Baker sees his plan as containing something for everybody, except perhaps the Israelis,” the official said. “The Syrians would get back the Golan, the Iranians would get U.S. recognition and the Saudis would regain their influence, particularly with the Palestinians.”
Well, guess that's everybody allright.
Hmmmmm, perhaps Israel and the US don't really exist after all.
Baker was hostile to Israel during the Bush Sr administration. Many people don't remember it. W's policy towards Israel has been a complete 180.
It was Baker and Scowcroft who basically told Israel to just shut up and take it when Saddam fired Scuds at Israel so our Syrian "coalition partners" wouldn't be offended.
There is a reason for all these "old fart" solutions. All the members of that group are OLD FARTS. These holdovers should be mandatorily retired...they are just blustering blatherers and experienced appeasers.
Time for new blood, new ideas and new courage. Time for a new generation of Americans. Let's start taking names.
sp
:-(
So's the the Marine ex-Republican I met at the polls in November. First time he, or anyone in his family voted Democrat.
He'd been over there.
With the current sentiment in the US being strongly against any war, I would guess we would throw Israel to the wolves in a hot second if it comes down to us or them.
That appears to be Baker's message, 'here's your sacrificial lamb, now leave us alone.'
As if that would work. Everyone should know by know that the Arabs want us eliminated as much as they want Israel eliminated
His cohort Hamilton has the same stench.
In an interview with Brian Williams, when asked if he has ever had a similar feeling about his country (our ship is in a state of blah blah), Hamilton said yes, one of those times was the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
Too bizarre.
Makes me want to dig a fallout shelter...
Hmm, My wife wants to remove the pool from the backyard... a nice modular "Tornado Shelter" would fit nicely in the hole at the deep end.
Baker sounds like a drunk Mel Gibson.
Don't forget the cat food.
I'll pick the Israelis, and then we can jointly take the FReaking oil. And not sell any to the Eurowienies or the Chinese.
The ChiComs can they try to take it away, or just take the Russian's oil. I'm betting they'd rather fight the Russians.
Rush is calling it the Iraq Surrender Group. If the shoe fits....
I'm thinking that's a Red Phone, similar to the one the President once had available to talk to CincSAC, after receiving "disturbing" news from CincNORAD.
What function exactly would such a conference have? Serve to convey a Munich Dictate for the 21st century?
And our enemies either have or are much closer to having nuclear weapons than Hitler was. Hitler would have used them in the final days if he'd had them.. Ahmadidajad would use them in the opening days.
Possibly, the Munich agreement, giving part of Czechoslovakia to Hitler, was negotiated without the Czechs having any say in the matter. Negotiating with the Arabs over Middle East peace without including the Israelis is pretty much the same sort of thing.
Like last time, this will not result in "Peace in Our Time".
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