Rice Acknowledges a Reality

[tw]

From the NY Times of 16 Jun 2008 is an indication that George Jr's administration is finally deviating from their extremist position and finally confronting a reality that undermined the Oslo Accords eight years ago.

Rice Says Houses Hurt Mideast Talks
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday that thousands of housing units that Israel is building on captured land were harming peace talks with the Palestinians. She also said she could not understand why Israel was still blocking three Fulbright grantees from leaving Gaza.

... Ms. Rice was more explicit than usual in asserting that the construction was reducing confidence in the talks. ...

Referring to the construction of which Israel considers Jerusalem neighborhoods but which much of the world considers illegal settlements, Ms. Rice said, "I do believe, and the United States believes, that the actions and the announcements that are taking place are indeed having a negative effect on the atmosphere for the negotiation - and that is not what we want."

She stressed that any such building would not be considered permanent by the United States ...

Jimmy Cater also noted this long ago and was roundly criticized for it. The Taba negotiations in 2002 were a last ditch attempt to save the Oslo Accords - negotiated without the US. Since then, Isrealis under the extremist Sharon began a program to all but cut the Palestinians off from what should be their capital - West Jerusalem. See Har Homa as a typical example of that occupation. During Taba, Clinton had defined the maximum annexation of the West Bank at 6%. Palestinians were willing to concede 3.1%. Peace was possible had time been sufficient and extremists kept from governments. It was the closest both sides came to an agreement. But time ran out.

During the Egyptian peace settlement, all Israeli settlements were removed which angered right wing extremist zionists. Even though a complete withdrawal from the West Bank is necessary for long term peace, it just is not possible with so many hard core Israeli extremists having remembered their insult in the Sinai.

Israel is building new settlements as fast as possible in the West Bank. Even Rice acknowledges that this action - once tacitly approved of by the George Jr administration - is probably the greatest impediment to peace. So finally even the George Jr administration (at least parts of it) are conceding to reality (as they also conceded with N Korea after Chinese pressure forced them to accept reality and the original Carter negotiated solution). After nearly eight years, some finally recognize a mistake.

[deadbeater]

They finally acknowledged a mistake, a first from the Administration.

[DanaC]

Anti-semite! :P

[classicman]

Originally Posted by tw

Jimmy Cater also noted this long ago and was roundly criticized for it.

Does anyone really care what Jimmy Carter thinks?

[tw]

Originally Posted by classicman

Does anyone really care what Jimmy Carter thinks?

Moreso than you. Jimmy Carter does things. You simply attack others. Which makes a good man? Did I dumb down that question enough for you?

[classicman]

I'm sure he'll go down in the annals of history as one of our greatest presidents.

I haven't attacked you. I repeatedly asked you to back up your claim, which you still have not done. I must say though, your continued attempts at avoidance and deflection are rather telling.

[glatt]

classicman, what's your real name? If you insist on calling tw by a name that he chooses not to use publicly on these boards, why don't you tell all of us your real name?

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[classicman]

Good point, I apologize and edited the post.

[tw]

Originally Posted by classicman

Good point, I apologize and edited the post.

You have finally admitted to my point. And apologized. A significant improvement over what has been happening (has changed) in the Cellar: posts based on disparagement rather than facts for the topic.

[glatt]

[classicman]

Originally Posted by tw

You have finally admitted to my point. And apologized. A significant improvement over what has been happening (has changed) in the Cellar: posts based on disparagement rather than facts for the topic.

Yeh right?!? You have got to be kidding. Its time for you to back up your claim or apologize. Which is it gonna be?

[lookout123]

Classic, you do realize he doesn't read the posts, right? Reading is too difficult a task for a troll.

[HungLikeJesus]

I thought a lot of people call tw a name he chooses not to use...

[glatt]

It was really when classic used a first and last name the other day that it bugged me.

[Radar]

How is it a mistake to build houses on your own land? They won the land in a war that others started without provocation. By all rights, they could have taken ALL of the land, but they chose to be generous and only take a small part of it. And now you want to criticize them for building homes on their own honestly acquired land?