Two things that bug me here...
What's next for the Palestinians? - Mideast/N. Africa - MSNBC.com
Item 1: "...Hamas will now be able to use its position to reject any suggestion that it should disarm its militants, a process that is meant to start under a U.S.-backed peace 'road map.'" On one hand, I agree that "militants" should "disarm." What I mean by that, is that "militants" should be spending their time fighting military targets; not blowing up innocents at a cafe. Which leads to "the other hand:" every nation should have the right to defend itself, which includes having a military. So these "militants" should, in word as well as spirit, become a "military."
Item 2: "Washington rules out any talks until Hamas changes. The European Union has said it would only work with a government that uses peaceful means. Western aid is vital to running the Palestinian Authority and both the United States and Europe have suggested it could be cut if Hamas won." So... we'll support democracy only if it goes our way? That is asinine. I can begin to understand why the Muslims of the Middle East hold a special hatred in their hearts for the West. I, also, hate hypocrisy. The US has done a lot of good things for the world, but this is a ridiculous provision. Instead, the EU and US should threaten to cut aid if Hamas ...well, misbehaves. Doesn't act like a responsible political body should. I mean, that Hamas continues to use tasteless actions to further its agenda, namely using suicide bombers. I'm sure that was what was in the US and EU's minds when they made a blanket threat to cut funding. But it still smacks of hypocrisy.
It all comes down to this, though: if the Palestinians want to be treated like a responsible sovereign nation, they need to behave like one.
Item 1: "...Hamas will now be able to use its position to reject any suggestion that it should disarm its militants, a process that is meant to start under a U.S.-backed peace 'road map.'" On one hand, I agree that "militants" should "disarm." What I mean by that, is that "militants" should be spending their time fighting military targets; not blowing up innocents at a cafe. Which leads to "the other hand:" every nation should have the right to defend itself, which includes having a military. So these "militants" should, in word as well as spirit, become a "military."
Item 2: "Washington rules out any talks until Hamas changes. The European Union has said it would only work with a government that uses peaceful means. Western aid is vital to running the Palestinian Authority and both the United States and Europe have suggested it could be cut if Hamas won." So... we'll support democracy only if it goes our way? That is asinine. I can begin to understand why the Muslims of the Middle East hold a special hatred in their hearts for the West. I, also, hate hypocrisy. The US has done a lot of good things for the world, but this is a ridiculous provision. Instead, the EU and US should threaten to cut aid if Hamas ...well, misbehaves. Doesn't act like a responsible political body should. I mean, that Hamas continues to use tasteless actions to further its agenda, namely using suicide bombers. I'm sure that was what was in the US and EU's minds when they made a blanket threat to cut funding. But it still smacks of hypocrisy.
It all comes down to this, though: if the Palestinians want to be treated like a responsible sovereign nation, they need to behave like one.
posted by xanadian at 9:15 AM
2 Comments:
Updates.
Item 1: Hamas has recently been discussing folding their militants into the security forces, forming an army. The Fatah people hate it. Hate it, hate it, hate it.
Item 2: President Bush is two steps ahead of me. He has already stated that we sometimes have to face the fact that we may not like the outcome of a democratic process. Damned if I can find the link, though. Rrrgh!
FOUND IT! Well... not IT, but very close. Quote: "You see, when you give people the vote, give them the chance to express themselves at the polls and they're unhappy with the status quo, they'll let you know," [Bush] said. "The people are demanding honest government. The people want services. They want to be able to raise their children in an environment in which they can get a decent education and they can find health care. And so the elections should open the eyes of the old guard there in the Palestinian territories. I like the competition of ideas. I like people who have to go out and say, vote for me, and here's what I'm going to do. There's something healthy about a system that does that."
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