Great news: US to 'engage' Taliban... and Hezbullah
Continuing its wildly successful strategy of 'engagement' with terror regimes, the Obama administration is now seeking to engage the Taliban and Hezbullah. I'm going to let you read about the Taliban in the original, but here's some of what they have to say about Hezbullah. No, this is not a Purim post (for those of you who don't know what I mean by a Purim post, think April Fool's). The Hezbollah issue is still being framed, in terms of policy debate. But the White House has focused on it in recent weeks because of a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Hezbollah that is nearing completion.But we already know that there is no difference between Hezbullah's 'military wing' and its 'political wing.' Hezbullah has no moderates. This is from an interview with Hezbullah's number 2 man, Naim Qassem.
Officials who have read draft versions of the estimate say it assesses Hezbollah in a broad context, as a political and social force in Lebanon in addition to the militia officially designated by the United States as a “foreign terrorist organization.” Like most NIEs, this one is said to contain a broad array of views, with some analysts stressing Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and others noting the organization’s growing political role, including its representation in the Lebanese cabinet.
The political time bomb ticking away in the NIE is the question of whether the United States should seek some kind of direct or indirect engagement with Hezbollah — at least with its political wing. Officials who support this course argue that the organization is like the IRA or the PLO — with nonmilitary components that can be drawn into a dialogue.
Contrarian thinking about Hezbollah was voiced publicly by John Brennan, the White House counterterrorism adviser. In May 2010, he described it as “a very interesting organization” and said the United States should try to “build up the more moderate elements.” And at a conference in August 2009, he offered this summary: “Hezbollah started out as purely a terrorist organization back in the early ’80s and has evolved significantly over time” to have members in the Lebanese parliament and cabinet.
The high-level discussion of Hezbollah illustrates the ferment in U.S. thinking about a Middle East that is being transformed by democratic uprisings. Officials caution that for now, the Hezbollah question is a matter for intelligence analysts, not policymakers. The White House recognizes that it has enough to deal with already without opening a new question that would produce shock waves in Israel, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Neither Qassem nor Washington distinguish between the Shiite militant group's political wing, which has members serving in the Lebanese Cabinet and parliament, and its military wing, preparing for the next round of battle against Israel. "Hezbollah has a single leadership," said the 57-year-old cleric in a rare interview with an American reporter recently.What could go wrong?
"All political, social and jihad work is tied to the decisions of this leadership," he said. "The same leadership that directs the parliamentary and government work also leads jihad actions in the struggle against Israel."
Labels: Barack Obama, Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbullah, John Brennan, Taliban
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:29 PM
3 Comments:
Assume another 2 years of an Obama presidency. How much more damage can this idiot do to all of us?
Quite a lot as it appears. Engaging Hezbullah? I'd ask if they were mad, but I already know the answer.
I am of the opinion that its time to introduce articles of impeachment against Obama. He is acting against the interests of the US. His inaction and indecision in other areas have been extremely damaging to us. His engagement of autocratic theocratic failed governments and societies have made our situation worse in the world.
His targeting of our allies has diminished our standing. His feckless incompetence in all things economic have pushed this country to the brink.
His foreign policy is a disaster, a train wreck of epic proportions. Only outdone by his economic policy train wreck.
Engage murderous thugs who glorify baby murderers?
I have comments in mind that I cannot write on a blog of this caliber.
Well, Hezbollah and Hamas for now are most directly threatening Jews so there's no skin off the back of new left elitists in the White House; as for later, the primary response in foreign policy to meet challenges by declared hostiles reached for by Obama and his wingnauts is to appease enemies and then redefine them as friends--problem gone.
That said, if the French (the French!) tire of Hezbollah's upsetting of Sunni apple carts, then the Anointed One may be persuaded, as in Libya, to protect interests other than the interest in scrounging up this weeks mutton to keep up appearances at the lion lying down with the lamb theme park still harmoniously playing out between our Presidents two jug ears (but a tad more bloodily proceeding in the carnivore house itself).
The French!
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/19/france-fires-libyan-military-vehicle/
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