Comments on: Better Watch How You Talk http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/better-watch-how-you-talk/ Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:59:36 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Kilo http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/better-watch-how-you-talk/#comment-5809 Kilo Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:36:11 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/better-watch-how-you-talk/#comment-5809 <p>What don’t you believe ? Didn’t you post yesterday that “Rice was assisting negotiations for a cease fire in Gaza” ?<br /> Meanwhile, the Israelis have, are and will continue to negotiate with Hamas. I literally can’t imagine what Obama’s position could be if he alone refused to do the same as the Jews in question were doing. What principle would he be embracing other than a continuation of Bush’s childish playground policy and the willing forfeit of US influence on such negotiations ?</p> <p>The connection people aren’t making here is that the US isn’t essential. This is something that you want, you’re not punishing anyone else by avoiding these talks. Saudi Arabia hosted negotiations between the Taliban and Afghanistan. Turkey hosted negotiations between Israel and Syria. Either you think these were awesome alternatives that totally served US interests, or BS political rhetoric designed to win over some base (particularly during an election campaign), should not be confused with actual sentiment.</p> What don’t you believe ? Didn’t you post yesterday that “Rice was assisting negotiations for a cease fire in Gaza” ?
Meanwhile, the Israelis have, are and will continue to negotiate with Hamas. I literally can’t imagine what Obama’s position could be if he alone refused to do the same as the Jews in question were doing. What principle would he be embracing other than a continuation of Bush’s childish playground policy and the willing forfeit of US influence on such negotiations ?

The connection people aren’t making here is that the US isn’t essential. This is something that you want, you’re not punishing anyone else by avoiding these talks. Saudi Arabia hosted negotiations between the Taliban and Afghanistan. Turkey hosted negotiations between Israel and Syria. Either you think these were awesome alternatives that totally served US interests, or BS political rhetoric designed to win over some base (particularly during an election campaign), should not be confused with actual sentiment.

]]> By: Spencer Ackerman http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/better-watch-how-you-talk/#comment-5803 Spencer Ackerman Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:22:07 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/better-watch-how-you-talk/#comment-5803 <p>How often, when people come under violent and sustained attack from an ancient enemy, do they rally to the side of the <em>moderates</em>? I’m not saying that it’ll happen. Nor is it by any means certain that Gazans won’t blame Hamas, at least somewhat, for their plight. But I see all this loose blogospheric talk about how Israel’s killing of Palestinians will turn Gazans against Hamas without any consideration that doing so would, at a minimum, buck the historical trend.</p> How often, when people come under violent and sustained attack from an ancient enemy, do they rally to the side of the moderates? I’m not saying that it’ll happen. Nor is it by any means certain that Gazans won’t blame Hamas, at least somewhat, for their plight. But I see all this loose blogospheric talk about how Israel’s killing of Palestinians will turn Gazans against Hamas without any consideration that doing so would, at a minimum, buck the historical trend.

]]> By: macaquerman http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/better-watch-how-you-talk/#comment-5793 macaquerman Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:54:44 +0000 http://attackerman.firedoglake.com/2009/01/09/better-watch-how-you-talk/#comment-5793 <p>Do you have any reason to think that Gazans will increase support for Hamas?</p> Do you have any reason to think that Gazans will increase support for Hamas?

]]>