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Baker: US Should Negotiate With Syria to Soften Hamas [Baker has begun negotiations]
Arutz Sheva ^ | Jan 31, '07 | Ezra HaLevi

Posted on 01/31/2007 11:35:32 AM PST by SJackson

Former United States Secretary of State James Baker told a Senate committee Tuesday that America should negotiate with Syria so that the Assad regime will convince Hamas to accept Israel.

Baker was giving testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as part of the follow-up to the Baker-Hamilton report he took part in compiling. "We could get them (Syria) to get Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist,” Baker said as part of his argument for opening dialogue with Syria. “It would be a huge step in the right direction."

Baker said he had already discussed the matter with senior officials in Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s regime. He said that the talks could convince Syria to stop arming Hizbullah.

The Baker-Hamilton Report also recommended engaging Iran in dialogue for the purpose of bringing about a smooth U.S. exit from Iraq.

Another Senator, Florida Democrat Bill Nelson, visited Syria in December and met with Assad and his Foreign Minister. The Associated Press quoted Nelson as telling the Council on Foreign Relations that, "The administration has adopted the approach of an ostrich. And make no mistake. It is not working.”

Bargaining chips in negotiations with Syria are expected to include U.S. pressure on Israel to relinquish the Golan Heights, which Israel won in the Six Day War and subsequently annexed.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: wot
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1 posted on 01/31/2007 11:35:34 AM PST by SJackson
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To: SJackson

Hamas doesn't give a $hit what Syria thinks about their position on Israel.


2 posted on 01/31/2007 11:36:49 AM PST by RonF
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To: Tony Snow
Baker said he had already discussed the matter with senior officials in Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s regime

Why is he allowed to do this????

Will someone in the White Hose please stop this nonsense...

3 posted on 01/31/2007 11:37:46 AM PST by Dog
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To: SJackson

Oh fer goodness sake. What an idiot.


4 posted on 01/31/2007 11:39:02 AM PST by The Blitherer (I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself. -Reagan)
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To: RonF

And Americans should not give a rip what Baker thinks about anything.


5 posted on 01/31/2007 11:39:33 AM PST by pissant
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To: Dog

I agree. There are too many people in the mix trying to "negotiate" and this sends mixed signals. Especially when we have people representing the left talking points.


6 posted on 01/31/2007 11:43:58 AM PST by o_zarkman44
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel, WOT

..................

On top of the news the other day that Baker has been in contact with Iran with the objective of establishing diplomatic relations, we find he's been negotiating with Syria. If that's our policy, OK, but GWB should just fire Condi and bring back JB. Clearly Baker is functioning as a agent of the administration and not in his role as managing Baker-Botts and simply looking for business opportunities in the region.

James Baker Works to Establish Direct USA - Iran Diplomatic Ties

7 posted on 01/31/2007 11:44:48 AM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: Dog
Why is he allowed to do this????

If he's testifying about his contacts before Congress, it's reasonable to assume it's at the administration's request.

8 posted on 01/31/2007 11:47:45 AM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: pissant
And Americans should not give a rip what Baker thinks about anything.

Perhaps, but this is Congressional testimony, not a pep talk about business opportunities in the middle east to his law firm. Like it or not, he's representing America and American foreign policy. And while you and I might dismiss him, our enemies won't. My guess, the administration is paying attention as well.

9 posted on 01/31/2007 11:49:24 AM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: SJackson

Hopefully Bush pays as much attention to him as he did the Iraq Survey Group (bird cage liner)


10 posted on 01/31/2007 11:52:09 AM PST by pissant
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To: SJackson
Too bad arafat is dead. We could be negotiating with him too.
11 posted on 01/31/2007 11:56:48 AM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: paul51
Too bad arafat is dead. We could be negotiating with him too.

Arafat was an exiled terrorist in Libya. In the Madrid process, pre-Oslo, James Baker came up with the idea of legitimizing him, on the theory that he'd be better able to control Gaza and the West Bank than green, home grown leadership. Bush I still considers Madrid, doomed from the beginning by Arafat, one of his greatest accomplishments. Were he influential enough in GWB's first term we'd have been negotiating with Arafat. Though negotiating with Abbas hasn't been any more fruitful.

12 posted on 01/31/2007 12:01:26 PM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: pissant
Hopefully Bush pays as much attention to him as he did the Iraq Survey Group (bird cage liner)

Hope so. But if that's the case, he shouldn't be freelancing in opposition to the President's stated views. Given his history as a Bush family confidant it's not unreasonable for our enemies, Syria and Iran, to conclude Baker speaks for the administration.

13 posted on 01/31/2007 12:04:45 PM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: SJackson
Just as Chamberlain(sp) negotiated with Hitler.
14 posted on 01/31/2007 12:04:57 PM PST by YOUGOTIT
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To: SJackson

I agree. I mean we always have back channel diplomacy with our enemies. Its just not very back channel if it is Baker and he's yakking about it.


15 posted on 01/31/2007 12:07:53 PM PST by pissant
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To: pissant

I think this is a setup by the Bush admin.

Baker can't be this moronic. Can he?


16 posted on 01/31/2007 12:13:21 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (The Clintons: A Malignant Malfeasance of the Most Morbid)
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To: SJackson

and moreover, it isnt such a leap to say that State convinced Arafat to lie about recognition of Israel. Who actually believes that Arafat was sincere? "There you go again", lets just have Hamas lie the way Arafat did and then the fun begins... who is next, Haniya to say, he wants to live in peace with the Zionists too?


17 posted on 01/31/2007 12:14:55 PM PST by APRPEH (id theft info available on my profile page)
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To: APRPEH
it isnt such a leap to say that State convinced Arafat to lie about recognition of Israel.

His obligations under Oslo were clear, amend the PLO Charter. He never called the meeting needed to attempt the amendment. Yet the State Dept and our administration, Clinton, declared the requirement satisfied. It's worth noting that the demands made of Hamas, and Fatah, are not simply recognizing Israel, but ceasing terror, disarming militias, and honoring all commitments from Oslo forward. Not going to happen, and can be satisifed only by actions, not words. Actions not being in the State Departments area of responsibility.

18 posted on 01/31/2007 12:19:48 PM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: pissant; EQAndyBuzz

If it's back channel, it's a failure by virtue of making it public. If Baker is simply stroking his own ego, it's dangerous, because as I noted before, it's reasonable for Syria and Iran to conclude he represents a legitimate overature, aka a negotiated surrender in Iraq, with Israel being their prize. IMO a prize Baker can't deliver.


19 posted on 01/31/2007 12:22:54 PM PST by SJackson (Let a thousand flowers bloom and let all our rifles be aimed at the occupation, Abu Mazen 1/11/07)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

The Bush admin is going to set up Baker for a fall? I don't think so, as Baker and the Bush family go waaaaay back. Doubtful that dad would let junior treat baker that way.


20 posted on 01/31/2007 12:58:43 PM PST by dmz
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