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May 7, 2009
Has smart diplomacy outsmarted itself?
If newspaper reports are to be believed, the United States and Israel are on a diplomatic collision course. The Obama administration has decided that "smart diplomacy" means mollifying enemies and pressuring an ally. If this is what's happening, then it would appear that Israeli public opinion is turning suspicious of American intent.
But has the smart diplomacy backfired?
Washington's efforts to start a dialogue with Iran have sent ripples of alarm through the capitals of America's closest Arab allies, who accuse Tehran of playing a destabilizing role in the Middle East. The concerns being raised by Arab leaders sound strikingly like those coming from the mouths of Israeli officials. "We hope that any dialogue between countries will not come at our expense," said a statement Tuesday by the six oil-rich nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, who have long relied on US protection in the region.
(h/t Jennifer Rubin)
There's good reason for the Arab world (and the rest of the world) to be worried about Iran's strategic posturing and expansionist aims. But does the administration get it?
Has smart diplomacy outsmarted itself?
Crossposted on Yourish.
Posted by SoccerDad at May 7, 2009 6:08 AM
Hezbollah in passive voice
A cynical and mistrusted offer
Wapo: peace process succeeding because of the great work of the administration
Council speak 100610
Nyt: peace process failing despite the great work of the administration
Do we have enough regulations yet?
Iranian General: "US, Mossad played roles in 9/11 event"
Absolving arafat, ten years later
Rahm can't run? antisemites!
The politics of peace
"said a statement Tuesday by the six oil-rich nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council, who have long relied on US protection in the region".
..............................................
Interesting that those who bemoan Israel's "dependence" on America, never complain about these Arab states dependency on America nor of our other allies for that matter. Yet in fact Israel, alone among America's allies, doesn't depend upon America's physical protection, it fights its own battles. We've never gone to war for Israel, but we have for the Arabs, rescuing Kuwait from saddam. I just thought I'd throw that in as another example of the hypocrisy and selective outrage of Israel haters.