What can the US do to mediate the ME conflict?

Question

* Palestine is now in the middle of a civil war, with the Fatahs and Hamas trying to gain control of the country. Meanwhile guerilla violence is still being exchanged on the Gaza Strip between Palestians and Israelians
* The US is now arming Sunni insurgents to battle Al Quaeda, a Sunni insurgent network. Will arming the enemy of our enemy help us in the long turn or will they turn their guns elsewhere after wiping out Al Quaeda?

* Syria is supporting Palestian rejectionary groups and could possibly be still funding Hezbollah, Hamas and other anti-Israelian terrorist networks. US relations with Syria have not improved since the diplmotic fallout wiht Bush and the subsequent criticism of Pelosi's un-related responsibilities to normalize ties with the Syrian government

* Iran is playing an ever crucial role to the stability with Iraq. Just a few weeks ago, Iran finally engaged in bilateral talks with the US over Iraq, effectively severing the 27-year old silence. Given the proximity of the need to fashion a political strategy, the US backed away from any talks over Iran's capabilities of promoting a nuclear proliferation and instead focussed on stabiliizng Iraq. The Iranian President Ahjdimejad is raising his own warmongering rhetoric over Israel, while reformist and moderate factions within Iran contend to normalize relations with both the US and Israel. Iran is accused of supporting Palestian rejectionary groups, terrorist networks against Israel and funding the insurgency for Sunni networks. Recently, a senior US diplomat official accused Iran of funnelling money and weapons to the Taliban-- a traditional enemy of Iran. In 2001, the Iranian government with President Khatami expressed interests of wiping out the Taliban network in Afghanistan and working with the US in a collaborative effort, however given the Bush administration's glacial response and the subsequent unsavory label of "Axis of Evil" Iran was part of the global war on terrorism.

* Turkey is now involved in the Iraq quagmire as it sends its troops to keep away the Kurds.

* Israel's relationship with Iran has elevated from low-key hostility to an almost inevitable brink to war. Israelian ciricles are discussing over the possibility of using the "Samson Option" if Iran raises its provocations even further with more vocal threats. Israel is still the only country with a nuclear weapon in the ME.

* US troops are being sanwhiched in a three-ring conflict with insurgents battling out each other.

What post-Bush administration policy do you wish to see in the Middle East and what do cause/effect do you expect to see from the outcome of such a policy? Obviously, the neoconservatives' arguments of pre-emptive actions will fail to produce any desirable results in the end. If we are to combat against terrorism, we obviously need to maximize our utility of options on the table and by doing this we need more effective diplomacy.

Answer 1

Actually, the Muslim terrorists in Gaza seem very effective at eliminating one another. On the average, in the last several days Arabs have murdered 30 other Arabs per day in Gaza.

Their newest tactic is to tie up a fellow Muslim and throw him off a skyscraper.

Perhaps they are doing the work for the West.

The whole "Palestinian People" is made up, just to try to eliminate Israel. The Land of Israel is the biblical home of the Jewish People, and the Jewish People have maintained a presence there continuously.

If you were naive enough to believe what you hear on the news and media, you would think there is an entity called a "Palestinian people," who lived in a "country/state/area" called Palestine since Canaanite/Biblical/Muslim times. You would almost believe that the Israelis occupied "Palestine" in 1967. And you might even think that the Palestinians want the occupiers out of their land. And of course, you might feel, they are entitled to do whatever it takes to get their land back. No? No. Not at all, Here are the facts.

Who are the Palestinians? Palestinians are Arabs. They have no historical, national or cultural identity distinct from other Arabs of the region. Most of them came into Palestine in search of economic opportunities after World War I when the British and the Jews began to build up a land that was moribund.

What is Palestine? When the Romans conquered Judea, they renamed it Palestine. Since then, no occupying power ever made it an independent state or established a capital in Jerusalem. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was part of the province of Syria.

After World War I, the area was mandated to Britain to establish a Jewish national home. Instead, in 1922, Britain split off 75% of Palestine to establish the Emirate of Transjordan, as a throne for the Arabian Hashemite family.

The UN decided to split the remaining 25% of Palestine between Jews and Arabs. In 1948, five Arab armies attacked the newborn State of Israel. Transjordan annexed the area intended for an Arab state, and renamed itself the Kingdom of Jordan, calling the annexed area the West Bank. Egypt took over Gaza.

No Arab suggested making the West Bank and/or Gaza into yet another Arab state until 1967, when Israel was again attacked by the Arabs and took these areas.


.

Answer 2

You hit the nail on the head, more effective diplomacy is needed. Why do you think Putin didn't discuss the relocation of our missile defense with Condy Rice. He waited till GWB met with him at G8. She gets and deserves absolutely no respect in the middle east, and will never accomplish anything. She may be book smart, but that does not qualify her in the middle east. We need Colin Powell back.

Answer 3

you may keep in mind there's a civil conflict happening between the Palestinians. till between the factions comes out on precise or they adjust to bury the hatchet, they gained't be waiting to submit a united front to have interplay in any efficient verbal substitute with the Israelis. basically, it extremely is a issue the Israelis and Palestinians are going to could sparkling up on their very own. united states of america of america won't be able to play referee between the facets till they arrive jointly and set up some user-friendly floor.

Answer 4

For starters, tell Condi the negotiations are being held in a place other than the place where everyone will be talking.

She couldn't be a diplomat to save her life.

Answer 5

I think we need to stop supplying these groups with weapons of any kind. They say they're on our side today, then turn sides tomorrow. We give them weapons, teach them how to use them, then they use them on us. Let them fight it out with sticks and stones, because that's all they'd have today if the super powers didn't arm them up during the cold war.

Answer 6

Didn't Nancy Palosi talk with Syria.... but now Syria is backing and assassinating leaders in Lebanon that are anti-hamas....did she embolden them? or appease them?