A Man For All Seasons
There he is, the supreme arbiter, the superior exponent of conflict resolution, the seasoned diplomat, the grand-daddy of peace, order and goodwill. Well, he believes in himself. He believes that he has been ordered by his Deity to undertake a difficult task, that of reconciling the irreconcilable.The course of world events did, at one time, flow within his gambit, under the auspices of his high office. He did what he could, and he received a passing grade. His fervour unabated, although his reasoning appears to have been somewhat disordered through the passage of time, he forges ahead.
An independent source of determined goodwill. A still-honoured (though barely), still-influential (in certain circles) missionary for peace. Would we not all of us embark on similar journeys if peace could be achieved through the simple expedient of explaining to the bad boys on either side that their conduct is simply unacceptable?
Appeasement of those engaged in determined social upheaval, human carnage, political disarray, has never proven to be particularly successful in achieving its stated goal. It has, instead, acted as an encouragement to the belligerents, ensuring that they receive the impression that no matter how brutally egregious their plans and their behaviours, nothing more than a gentle censure will come their way.
And, in light of the fact that tribal-generated religious fanatics dedicated to bloodshed have been vindicated beforehand for the simple reason that, like Jimmy Carter, they have consigned themselves and their martyred futures to the greater purpose of their own Deity, the spiritual figurehead of Islam, there is little this man could convey to them that might turn them from their purpose.
However, a mission of deluded jihad doesn't rule out the collective understanding of the power of public relations. Particularly in a part of the world where normal discourse is supercharged at any time with heated rhetoric, bearing at least some passing resemblance to the efficacy of clever advertising, as representatives and supporters of the victims, the Jew-downtrodden of the Arab world.
The public at large relates to that. They understand the images conveyed, of oppressed and oppressor. Call it gullible, call it a natural proclivity to defending the idea of the underdog requiring rescue from the predations of a superior-forced melange of Zionist ideologues; it seems to work very well.
So Jimmy Carter tells the impressionable West that he has succeeded in obtaining a "significant concession" from Hamas with respect to the prospect for peace. And that the Syrians are not only amenable to peace, but eager for a full peace treaty with Israel. Ha! Got you there, didn't he?
Might you have imagined, given what we think we know about that incendiary geography that Syria is falling all over herself in her eagerness to sue for peace, alongside her proxy militia?
But there it is in black-and-white in our local newspapers: Syria believes "about 85% of the issues between it and Israel had been resolved in prior negotiations and wanted a peace deal as soon as possible". Bet that'll come as a bit of a surprise to Tzipi Livni, Israel's Foreign Minister; she, after all, has been engaged in those secret talks for quite a while.
Clearly, it's the little details, that extra 15% where the devil resides.
And, says Mr. Carter, Hamas had promised to respect the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, if it were ratified by a referendum of the Palestinian people. Sounds good, really good. Oops, what's this? Brave Hamas numero uno - hidden safely away from public view and potential wipe-out - Khaled Meshaal, adds a few inconvenient caveats.
While Hamas would "accept" the establishment of a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel in 1967 (in another of its defensive wars), it was not prepared to recognize Israel. Damn! Got that wrong, didn't we, now? Oh right, and then there's that little issue of right-of-return, and one supposes a whole raft of other nuisance issues.
Hey, Mr. Meshaal claims no referendum could take place until Hamas and Fatah become reconciled. And get this: the Palestine Liberation Organization be "reformed" to welcome Hamas into its hallowed circle. Why the need for the PLO once a Palestinian state is accomplished? To liberate the Palestinians from what, exactly...?
Oh, now I remember: that closing statement, repeated time and yawning time again: "...but Hamas will not recognize the state of Israel". Finis.
Hallooo... Mr. Carter, you still there?
Labels: Israel, Middle East, Terrorism, World Crises
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, April 22, 2008
<< Home