|
Monday Jul 28, 2008
Posted by Martin Kramer
In one of my earlier posts The Myth of Linkage, I brought a number of exemplary quotes from figures such as Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski to illustrate my point. Now another quote can be added to the collection - this one from Barack Obama, fresh from his quick tutorial in the Middle East:
I think King, King Abdullah [of Jordan] is as savvy an analyst of the region and player in the region as, as there is, one of the points that he made and I think a lot of people made, is that we've got to have an overarching strategy recognizing that all these issues are connected. If we can solve the Israeli-Palestinian process, then that will make it easier for Arab states and the Gulf states to support us when it comes to issues like Iraq and Afghanistan.
It will also weaken Iran, which has been using Hamas and Hizbullah as a way to stir up mischief in the region. If we've gotten an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, maybe at the same time peeling Syria out of the Iranian orbit, that makes it easier to isolate Iran so that they have a tougher time developing a nuclear weapon. "
Thus is the myth of linkage perpetuated from generation unto generation. This same savvy King Abdullah, in a CNN interview the day after 9/11, offered up the ultimate linkage thesis, when asked whether the attacks would have happened if Israelis and Palestinians had reached a peace agreement at Camp David in July 2000:
I don't believe so, because I think that if you had solved the problems of the Middle East, and obviously the core issue is that between the Israelis and Palestinians, I doubt very much that this incident would have taken place, and again, that was a reminder to all of us and why I think so many of us in the international community have been working so hard to bring a stop to the violence and bring people back to the peace process, because, in a vacuum, you do allow the extremists the upper hand and the chance to try things as what happened yesterday. And they will continue on trying until we can solve the problem once and for all. "
Savvy indeed.
Be the first to comment to this post
|
 |
About this blog
Inside the Middle East
Shalem Center's Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies' scholar of Islam and the Arab world Martin Kramer on this turbulent region.
|
Combined feed for all JPost.com blogs
Recent Comments
George Florida USA: Israel lost Turkey their only Moslem ally in the region due to in part to the Gaza offensive. One she trusted to the point of taking on Turkish interests as her cause in the US lobby. Posting anti Hellenic articles in the US press, even fighting against the Armenian genocide vote in the US Congress. Who from a nation that suffered massive genocide herself. Does Israel have any morals? Now that the Turks have turned on Isreal an have even called Israeli action in Gaza genocidal , It's time to find out who her real allies in the eastern Med basin may be and reach out to them.
Colin Beck, Surrey, B.C., Canada: The Holocaust occurred in 2 year increments from 1933 - 45. We are not aware of the gradual erosion of our civil liberties because we are under the delusion that the beast can be tamed. DOES NOT THE TURKEY HAVE TO THAW OUT UNDER WATER? DOES NOT CHARLIE POTATOES DEFINE THE TURKEY? The West has weak leaders who tell people what they KNOW they NEED to hear in order to get what they WANT which is their money or power. [or both] Was Dec. 7/41 and Sept. 11/01 caused by an ALAMO COMPLEX? Did Hitler have one? Was that what World War Two was all about? Is it caused by a wandering spirit? Luke 11:24:26
Jonathan_Liberaed Jewish Homeland: #3 and so, what's your point other than to brag about your son? He is spineless, do you know what true pioners in Israel have suffered through? Malaria, Fakestinians attempting to murder them.....I took a 90%cut in income as a physician and I have ever looked back
|
|
Post your own comment
