[My2Cents]

It's not your fault, but I knew this post would attract the naysayers. It's fine to cast doubt upon Bush's "roadmap" (I'm not very optimistic it will succeed), but it's really the only thing going right now. Other than to ethnically-cleanse the west bank and Gaza with carpet bombs, what would the naysayers suggest as an alternative policy? It's way too easy being critical. I usually read these Arab/Israeli threads, and I don't recall ever hearing any practical alternative to Bush's policies. The naysayers here are about as bad as the Democrat candidates for President. All nay-say, all the time, and never a positive alternative.

[SJackson]

Since Israel has agreed to the road map, alternatives are a bit off the point, however the Elon plan is a viable alternative (and transfer isn't mandatory, it's voluntary with financial incentives, or Jordanian/palestinian citizenship if they stay), or a unilateral separation providing Israel with defensible borders and a barrier (fence?), which might be where we're heading.

The problem I see emerging is GWB divergence from his plan, and the road map.

Fences aren't a part of the plan.

Prisoner releases aren't a part of the plan.

Terror infrastructure was to be dismantled. The hudna isn't a part of the plan, nor is Israel party to it.

Arafat is running things, Mazen acknowledges that. That wasn't part of the Bush plan, though it's OK in the road map. IMO, and GWBs too, negotiating with terrorists won't work.

The PA will be an islamic state, not a democracy, it's in their constitution. That's not part of the plan.

Incitement is to stop, throughout the Arab world. It's not, and we're saying nothing.

Unfortunately, even here in it's early stages, the road map isn't being followed. Are we giving a forceful message behind the scenes, I can't know, but I don't see the results, so I presume we're conveying an image of weakness to the Arab world. That's not going to get them to give up their long term objective of destroying Israel and expelling the Jews from the middle east. Unfortunately, no one wants to confront the ugly reality of the Arab world.

Personally, if he's going down this road, I'd rather see GWB negotiate with Arafat. If this is really the "double secret plan" (give them a state, let them kill Jews, then destroy them) that some Freepers claim, then the message of his impending demise needs to be presented to Arafat clearly and directly. Maybe he'd listen.