The Martian Perspective [Victor Davis Hanson]

NRO (The Corner) ^ | 9 Feb 07

[rellimpank]

A person from Mars reading the latest communication from the Hamas/Fatah summit in Saudi Arabia might conclude there is something very wrong with the West that would inspire the Palestinians to say such crazy things.

Reuters ran the account of the agreement by its reporter Mohammed Assadi. In it, we are told by Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad, thanks to Saudi talks with the Americans and Europeans, there is a good chance to "market this agreement" in order to "win back Western aid halted because of Hamas's refusal to recognize Israel."

But then the Hamas spokesman warned, "They cannot ignore this agreement and impose their own conditions

[AliVeritas]

Wasted away again in al-taqiyyaville...

[Clioman]

This is one of those moments when you want someone in the US Govt with sufficient stones to write a letter. "Dear Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad, In reference to your recent announcement asking for a restoration of western funding to the Palestinian Authority, we must ask a simple question. Do the letters "F.O." mean anything to you? I remain yours sincerely, etc. etc."

Oh, well. One could hope...

[SJackson]

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[PGalt]

Another very good article by VDH. Thanks for posting.

[Witchman63]

Was going to post this VDH NRO post but you beat me to it. Nobody clarifies the Middle East conundrum as well as he.

[kellynla]

BUMP TO READ

[Tolik]

Looking at the Palestinians from Mars.

...Why would any Arabs want any money from the US, when the latest Zogby poll, we are told, reveals that the United States is the least popular country in the Arab collective mind?

Surely a proud people would logically announce, "We do not wish one cent of tainted American money"? And surely they would not suggest the lack of such tainted American money leads them to kill each other.

And why, with $500 billion in excess petrodollars floating around the Middle East, is a few hundred million from the US, that is pouring money into Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, seen as the make or break subsidy that either ensures peace or leads to war?

Couldn't Hamas simply instead ask Iran, to cut back a little on the rockets to Hezbollah, and send it instead a few million for groceries?

And if impoverished, where does the money for all the machine guns, rockets, RPGs, and explosives come from?

And does any Reuters reporter grasp the irony that it is precisely the US cut-off of this subsidy that at last has made Hamas pay any lip-service at all toward reconciliation?

This bathos summarizes what infuriates Americans the most about the Middle East-a sort of infantile, passive-aggression, in which America is alternately blamed, then shaken down for cash, libeled and simultaneously beseeched.

Worse still, is not just the fact that Fatah and Hamas act in such a bizarre manner- but rather what is it about us that has led them to believe  that it will work?

And what would be so difficult about something like the following request to the Palestinians: please issue a statement recognizing Israel as a sovereign nation and renouncing terrorism, and then the  US and Europe will consider aid in a degree commensurate to that offered by the Arab League? Period.

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[Lurker]

But then the Hamas spokesman warned, "They cannot ignore this agreement and impose their own conditions

Actually, you murderous scumbag, we can.

L

[FreedomPoster]

I'd prefer FOADIAF, but I'd settle for FO.

[maica]

...aid in a degree commensurate to that offered by the Arab League? Period.


((((((


Double Period!!! VDH knows how to negotiate!! I hope they are reading this at State.

[contemplator]

If we have to coerce them into making a statement just for an exchange of money then the best we can ever hope for is that they give us the lip service we are asking for and nothing more. It would be the same as a prostitute claiming she loved you in order to get a tip. At this point I don't care if we ever give them any more money regardless of whether or not they claim to recognize Israel. It would mean the same thing as if they said "Israel numba 1, we love them long-time.'

[AmericanExceptionalist]

Only in the Middle East does the recipient announce to the benefactor the conditions of the hand out.

Very well stated.

[Ignatz]

Wow! Watch this:

"This bathos summarizes what infuriates Americans the most about the Middle East Jesse Jackson-a sort of infantile, passive-aggression, in which American corporations are is alternately blamed, then shaken down for cash, libeled and simultaneously beseeched."