Oct 25 2008
And then there were ten, plus some foreign policy
Is it really just ten days away? Ten days away from what could easily be viewed as the most historic (and perhaps most important) election that our country has faced yet?
Nah, that’s just sensationalism. I would know, I’m a journalist! :)
Nevertheless we are 10 days away from electing a new President of the United States and the stakes could not be greater (there I go getting all sensational again).
Ten days, just a little thought.
Now earlier I had been getting into U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and I wanted to follow up on this subject a little bit. I know it’s not the most interesting of all subjects to read about, but what happens over there directly affects what happens to us in the United States. This is true now more than ever before. I only wish I could be the bearer of better news.
Where to start… Israel? Let’s start out with Israel.
According to reports out of Jerusalem, Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni has abandoned her quest to become Israel’s second female prime-minister and will most likely ask for a general election (which would probably take place in February).
Livni was charged with the task of creating a coalition for Israel’s new government and was lobbying for the support of the Orthodox-Shas party. The talks apparently fell through because Livni refused to pledge that the future status of Jerusalem would not be on the agenda in negotiations with the Palestinians.
To make matters worse the conservative Likud party led by former prime-minister Benjamin Netanyahu is favored heavily in the polls and would be expected to take power again if it does go to a general election. Netanyahu takes a hardline stance on negotiations with the Palestinians.
So that whole peace-with-Palestine thing? The returning of taken lands? Arab countries recognizing Israel and vice-versa? Not happening, forget about it, peace in the Middle East is a pipe-dream anyways.
Now let’s move on to Iraq, where the news isn’t much better.
Iraq’s largest Sunni party has apparently decided to “suspend all official contacts with the Americans, both military and civilians,” due to a U.S. military raid on Friday.
Our news report states: U.S.-backed Iraqi soldiers arrested a wanted insurgent leader suspected of training roadside bomb cells in an operation Friday that killed an armed man who opened fire on the troops.
Their news report states: A senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party was killed in his bed and five others were arrested during the raid in the Halabsa area on the outskirts of the former insurgent stronghold.
Which one’s the truth? Probably neither one, actually.
The IIP is demanding an apology and an explanation from the U.S., essentially signing their own death warrant. You don’t get an apology in Iraq from the U.S. government, if you’re lucky you get nothing. If you have any power or pull, you’ll get a bomb.
Wow, what a great post. I can’t believe I was just commenting the other day here re: Netanyahu. It is amazing to step back and get an international view on world news… We are way to self absorbed in this election. Thank you! ~k
I don’t think a lot of people realize just how important that was. I’m not going to guarantee that there would have been peace in the middle east or anything, but it would have been a huge huge huge step. Not looking good now though.
First off, thanks for commenting on my blog. Second, reading this made me aware of how soon that is coming up….guess it is time to pack and head for Canada, as I fear the destruction from both candidates.
Oh how I would love to live in Canada.