Abbas-Hamas reconciliation: Bushist Quarantine Wall crumbles further
So now PA President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to join the long stream of US Middle East allies-- including Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, and the UAE, etc etc-- who are having political dealings with Hamas.
Elliott Abrams, one of the key authors of the policy to "marginalize and if possible crush" all states and parties critical of the Bushist policy in the region, must be tearing his hair out.
Hamas's Ismail Haniya, head of the Palestinian government elected in 2006, "told a press conference that his government was ready to respond favorably to any Arab or international effort to initiate national dialogue in the Palestinian arena."
Still no news yet, though, on completion of Israel's tahdi'eh-plus negotiations with Hamas.
For background on all this, you can go to my recent Boston Review article on Hamas.
The current administration represents Republicans long-standing need to have enemies. The refusal to talk to Iran or deal with Hamas is truly counter productive, but it serves the aims of Republicans: foment conflict, spread fear, and spend obscene amounts of money on weapons and the military.
How can the criminal Elliott Abrams still be in government instead of prison where he belongs?
Right now in the United States, Jack, criminals are more likely to be discovered in government than in prison. So Elliot is right where one would expect him to be.
Not only on Hamas, but also Iran cooperating with Turkey against the Kurds, Qatar brokering the Lebanon settlement and Egypt facilitating the Israel/Syria talks -- the world is "re-engaging" (without the US) in the ME even before Bush's departure. Let's hear it for multi-polarity.
As a diversion, take a look at some momentos from Rick Steves's recent visit to an Axis of Evil member.
'Let's hear it for multi-polarity.'
Thanks, Don.
As for Elliot Abrams, why don't we just kidnap him, send him to Turkmenistan or Egypt for a bit, take him 'back home' to Chagos or Guantanamo, let him stew in isolation,and then charge him with 'plots against ..... whatever we can come up with.
Perhaps John Yoo, if we pay him enough, can help us with that
regards
Richard