Potential for Three Middle East Civil Wars
According to Haaretz, King Abdullah II of Jordon stated this weekend,
"We're juggling with the strong potential of three civil wars in the region, whether it's the Palestinians, that of Lebanon or of Iraq."
He went on to state,
"I keep saying Palestine is the core. It is linked to the extent of what's going on in Iraq. It is linked to what's going on in Lebanon. It is linked to the issues that we find ourselves with the Syrians. So, if you want to do comprehensive - comprehensive means bringing all the parties of the region together."
Ok, I will go with what he says for the moment.
Israel was beginning a unilateral withdraw from the Gaza Strip and West Bank after the PLO refused to accept a return to the 1967 boundaries when then President Clinton failed to get Arafat to sign on to the peace deal. Israel had already returned the Gaza Strip and was considering the release of several prisoners when Hamas kidnapped an Israeli Soldier, Cpl Shalit, in an effort to shore up its strength against Fatah, beginning this round of conflict. Also, this kidnapping has stopped any withdraw from the West Bank and stopped the prisoner release.
Lebanon is at the verge of a civil war because an illegally armed Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli Soldiers in an effort to shore up its representation in the Lebanese government. This started the summer Lebanon-Israeli war. Now, with many in Lebanon questioning whether Hezbollah should be disarmed, they are seeking to topple the democratic government of Lebanon since the government will not grant them a disapportionately large share of ministers.
Iraq is on the verge of a civil war because Sunni Salafists keep blowing up civilians for the past three years. In turn, Sadr's is gaining favor, with the help of Iran, and his militias are indiscriminately killing Sunnis as a reprisal.
So, we need to negotiate with Palestinians who just signed a cease fire but broke it within minutes by firing Qassam rockets. We need to negotiate with Hezbollah who started a war to gain more than their representative power. Finally, we need to negotiate with Salafist terrorists who are killing civilians indescriminately.
If this is where we are and if we believe this will bring us peace, then we have already lost the war.
"We're juggling with the strong potential of three civil wars in the region, whether it's the Palestinians, that of Lebanon or of Iraq."
He went on to state,
"I keep saying Palestine is the core. It is linked to the extent of what's going on in Iraq. It is linked to what's going on in Lebanon. It is linked to the issues that we find ourselves with the Syrians. So, if you want to do comprehensive - comprehensive means bringing all the parties of the region together."
Ok, I will go with what he says for the moment.
Israel was beginning a unilateral withdraw from the Gaza Strip and West Bank after the PLO refused to accept a return to the 1967 boundaries when then President Clinton failed to get Arafat to sign on to the peace deal. Israel had already returned the Gaza Strip and was considering the release of several prisoners when Hamas kidnapped an Israeli Soldier, Cpl Shalit, in an effort to shore up its strength against Fatah, beginning this round of conflict. Also, this kidnapping has stopped any withdraw from the West Bank and stopped the prisoner release.
Lebanon is at the verge of a civil war because an illegally armed Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli Soldiers in an effort to shore up its representation in the Lebanese government. This started the summer Lebanon-Israeli war. Now, with many in Lebanon questioning whether Hezbollah should be disarmed, they are seeking to topple the democratic government of Lebanon since the government will not grant them a disapportionately large share of ministers.
Iraq is on the verge of a civil war because Sunni Salafists keep blowing up civilians for the past three years. In turn, Sadr's is gaining favor, with the help of Iran, and his militias are indiscriminately killing Sunnis as a reprisal.
So, we need to negotiate with Palestinians who just signed a cease fire but broke it within minutes by firing Qassam rockets. We need to negotiate with Hezbollah who started a war to gain more than their representative power. Finally, we need to negotiate with Salafist terrorists who are killing civilians indescriminately.
If this is where we are and if we believe this will bring us peace, then we have already lost the war.
posted by Lieutenant Colonel Caveman at Monday, November 27, 2006
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