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When you think of the words Middle East envoy and peace, what’s the first name that comes to mind? If you said, George W. Bush, you’re not alone. From Newsweek comes this brainstorm of an idea.
On Sunday, George Mitchell, President Obama’s Middle East envoy, arrived in Israel to confer with its leaders. Also visiting this week are Defense Secretary Robert Gates, national-security adviser James Jones, and Gulf States envoy Dennis Ross. It’s a full-court press on the Israelis, and the American wish list is long. They want Israel to stop expanding settlements; to stop building Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem; and for hawks in the government to chill out while the U.S. is negotiating with Iran. And yet, odds are, they’ll come back to Washington empty-handed, for reasons having to do as much with atmospherics as policy: Team Obama just doesn’t have Israel’s full trust.
But there is someone who does—someone who could use a job, someone who argued straightforwardly for a Palestinian state, and yet someone who has the implicit admiration and regard of Israel. President Obama needs a new envoy to the region who can get results—and George W. Bush is his man.
Brilliant. About as ingenious as appointing Sarah Palin head of PETA.
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Help Help, the world is tipping off it’s axis one whacked idea at a time. Superman we need you.
funny stuff “Sarah Palin appointed head of PETA”
…..and have a seat on the board of the World Wildlife Fund
Orly Taitz appointed head of MENSA
Glenn Beck appointed head of NAACP
Rush Limbaugh appointed head of Loveline Online Radio Show
Mario, “I hate Bush” is not a substantive basis for any argument.
The Israelis do not trust President Obama and for good reason, whether you agree with those reasons or not. I think they view him as weak, inexperienced and indecisive. Iran presents an existential threat to Israel and they can not afford to get this one wrong or wait for President Obama to mature into the Presidency.
On the other hand, President Bush displayed unwavering support for Israel and even though YOU despise him, he was not weak or indecisive. He may have, in your supremely qualified opinion, been wrong on many issues, but he WAS strong and decisive.
Anyway, all that aside. President Bush is a logical choice to negotiate with the Israelis because they trust him. Surely your hatred and bias cannot blind you to that fact?
@Hank
Ok. This one’s easy.
Only a fanatical Bush apologist could possibly think that the former president would be a qualified choice to be the Middle East envoy. Israel is not the only consideration in finding peace in the Middle East. Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, etc. are all players. Bush is DESPISED by all of these nations. Thinking that Bush could possibly be any help in resolving the conflict is the stuff of rose-tinted glasses.
“President Bush…WAS strong and decisive.”
You left out ‘and stupid’. It’s easy to be strong and decisive when one lacks the intellect to see alternate solutions and operates on 17 brain cells. Also, Attila the Hun, Hitler, Mussolini, Castro and Yosemite Sam were all strong and decisive.
Mario, as you said, this one’s easy.
It appears the focus of these negotiations is gaining concessions from the Israelis. As an envoy to Israel, President Bush should be perfect.
I’ll ignore your insults to President Bush while respecting the demands of your “audience” to respect President Obama. But it would truly help the discourse if you could keep personal feelings and name calling from bleeding through.
Most of the Mid East Countries have expressed dissatisfaction with President Obama and his policies also. Are you suggesting he “give up” because they don’t fawn over him?
I’m a afraid Bush is no Superman.
Please — Not Bush — Never Bush
At least wait till my kids come home. They are up North now on Israel’s northern border. There sits Hezbollah, which continues to build an arsenal of rockets to terrorize and kill Israeli civilians, and has placed that arsenal in towns and villages within a few hundred yards from where they are as we speak.
The idea of my daughter, my son-in-law and my two grand children being there now causes me a lot of angst. The idea of Bush being there with them, produces a cold chill down my spine. It’s a bad omen. Yes, I know it’s not all about my kids, but for me it is.
@Hank, put YOUR children in this situation and then get back to me. I cannot discuss this issue any further at this time.
It’s not “envoy to Israel”…it’s envoy to the Middle East. And no, no one actually thinks Bush would be an intelligent choice.
As for the man himself, hey, you believe him to be a strong and decisive leader. I (and everyone else on the planet except the 20% of Americans who still see him favorably) see him for the moron he is. Cool.
As for personal feelings, this is what a blog is all about. The trick is to keep the personal feelings on topic and not direct them at other posters.
“fanatical Bush apologist”; “rose-tinted glasses.”
Moving forward…..the focus of your post is that they are looking for someone who can gain concessions from the Israelis and for that purpose, President Bush would make a logical choice as a member of “Team Obama” as a Special Envoy to Israel.
Right now, the Israelis do not appear to trust in President Obama’s administration and it’s commitment to Israel. I don’t either. And I am not alone. (This is only one site of many and I didn’t fully vet it. I’m just using it as an example.)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3726358,00.html
Under the status quo, it is going to be difficult to gain concessions from Israel. And I think if Israel is not convinced to exercise self restraint, they will eventually launch a preemptive strike on Iranian Nuclear facilities. I’m not sure any reasonably knowledgeable person doubts that. (Except for maybe that less than 50% and falling that think President Obama can do ANYthing!!
)
So my question then to those of US, (please note I used the inclusive pronoun “us”) that have loved ones in harm’s way over there, is will they be safer if President Obama is unable to gain Israel’s trust and they launch strikes against Iran?
I am only half Jewish and I wasn’t raised in the Jewish faith but I have been studying Israel and the Jewish faith for the last 10 years. I would like to remind everyone that it doesn’t matter “who” goes to Israel because it is not about which personality could “persuade” the state of Israel. It is all about “NEVER FORGET!” and that is it. After the Holocaust, Israel will never, ever forget that they are despised by all Arab countries or at least most! Most seek their destruction and the few who have been willing to be at truce status right now still emotionally hold their noses as they do and Israel knows it. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Israel will not be shamed! They will not be fooled and they will not permit any other nation to seek their destruction and get away with it. Period! No person from the U.S. (even Bush!) will ever turn this attitude and fear off. They will always do whatever they feel they must for survival and no one will dissuade them if they feel their very survival is threatened. All this talk of “emissaries” to change their attitudes is useless. They will “NEVER FORGET!” Thanks for listening!
@mario
I am not a Bush follower. I happen to love our president and did vote for him. But calling Bush a moron or anyone for that matter is not respectful. Where is the weed wacker?
I cannot believe you called Bush a moron.
@Melody Brynne
Thank you for your comments @Melody. You always impress me and I respect the way you write without attacking others, but attacking their views. I appreciate that. You are a true journalist!
@Maria
Let me make this crystal clear for you: I have NO respect for the former president. He is not only a moron but a lying one at that. He took the country into a needless war which has seen over 4300 American soldiers killed and a hundred thousand innocent Iraqis dead. Not only that but he sold the war based on lies. This is not conjecture. It is fact.
I’m not going to list the many crimes committed by his administration. They are all well documented. If justice prevailed, he and Cheney and Rove and a dozen others would be behind bars right now.
So feel free to respect him if you wish. As for me, calling him a moron is the nicest thing I can say about that intellectually challenged weasel. And here’s a heads up; don’t take a look at my next post. You won’t like it.
@Melody
I’m in agreement with much of what you wrote but it IS important as to who represents the U.S. in Middle East negotiations if any real hope of peace is to ever be achieved. Appointing a person who is vilified by one side of the debate is not the way to go. I think we can all agree on that.
I will take a look at next post and will comment whether anyone agrees or not.
We do not need to call each other names or put labels on each other to make points. You can very well talk about Bush and his lousy 8 years and his behavior throughout his administration without calling him names.
@Maria Sofia Belgara
I agree with you Maria, Melody does express herself well. She always writes intelligent comments and is a true journalist.
Some of us (and by us I mean me) are not that erudite or intelligent, nor do we have journalistic training and therefore express ourselves in a different fashion.
Self-expression in the form of humor, satire, is a completely acceptable form.
If anyone in this comment section gets out of hand, rest assured Mario will let that individual(s) know.
@Janine
Thank you very much for your explanation. I really appreciate it, regardless of whether I agree or disagree.
By the way if I in any way offended you, please accept my appology. I did not refer to anyone else because I dont read everyone’s comments. So you can feel fortunate that I do read yours and respect it.
And yes, I know that Mario will take care of getting rid of all the weeds that are not conducive to his ideal blogpage, and rightfully so.
@Maria Sofia,
I appreciate your sensitivity. I’m not offended by your remarks, no need to apologize.