The Ghost Of Appeasement

 

My site was intermittently down this morning, I am still trying to figure out why. I see Michelle Malkin had a DoS attack also this morning, and is posting on Pajamas Media until she is up and running properly.

Perhaps when Tiger Hawk told me to "watch my back", he may have been more right than he realized. Michelle and I have both been very vocal against the Islamofascists, and I guess they are waging their cyberjihad.

I feel like I am living one of the episodes of 24hrs, the one with the Turkish terrorist family living in the US, waging cyberjihad and finally kidnapping  Defense Secretary Haller....

Well I have one thing to say to them: Watch my middle finger, it's up! Scroll down for more links to others who are also disgusted. Thank you to Avi @ Tel-Chai Nation for the list.

Anyway, sorry for not posting, I hope you will all be patient with me, I need to get my breath back from all this drama. I have decided to publish a post I wrote this week that I was going to leave buried in draft form, thinking it would bore you all to tears. But now I don't have much choice so I hope you give me the latitude on it.

When you, President Carter, put it like this, it sounds just all too tempting:

[President Mahmoud ] Abbas has announced that he will not choose a prime minister who does not recognize Israel or adhere to the basic principles of the "road map." This could result in a stalemated process, but my conversations with representatives of both sides indicate that they wish to avoid such an imbroglio. The spokesman for Hamas claimed, "We want a peaceful unity government." If this is a truthful statement, it needs to be given a chance.

During this time of fluidity in the formation of the new government, it is important that Israel and the United States play positive roles. Any tacit or formal collusion between the two powers to disrupt the process by punishing the Palestinian people could be counterproductive and have devastating consequences.

Unfortunately, these steps are already underway and are well known throughout the Palestinian territories and the world. Israel moved yesterday to withhold funds (about $50 million per month) that the Palestinians earn from customs and tax revenue. Perhaps a greater aggravation by the Israelis is their decision to hinder movement of elected Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council members through any of more than a hundred Israeli checkpoints around and throughout the Palestinian territories. This will present significant obstacles to a government's functioning effectively. Abbas informed me after the election that the Palestinian Authority was $900 million in debt and that he would be unable to meet payrolls during February. Knowing that Hamas would inherit a bankrupt government, U.S. officials have announced that all funding for the new government will be withheld, including what is needed to pay salaries for schoolteachers, nurses, social workers, police and maintenance personnel. So far they have not agreed to bypass the Hamas-led government and let humanitarian funds be channeled to Palestinians through United Nations agencies responsible for refugees, health and other human services.

This common commitment to eviscerate the government of elected Hamas officials by punishing private citizens may accomplish this narrow purpose, but the likely results will be to alienate the already oppressed and innocent Palestinians, to incite violence, and to increase the domestic influence and international esteem of Hamas. It will certainly not be an inducement to Hamas or other militants to moderate their policies. [all emphasis added]

Of course the million dollar question is, What will? But President Carter elegantly ducks this bothersome detail by putting on his pink shades, declaring that renouncing violence and recognizing Israel's right to exist will be an "ultimately inevitable step" for Hamas. Really? Spoken like a true appeaser. Anyway, it gets better:

It would not violate any political principles to at least give the Palestinians their own money; let humanitarian assistance continue through U.N. and private agencies; encourage Russia, Egypt and other nations to exert maximum influence on Hamas to moderate its negative policies; and support President Abbas in his efforts to ease tension, avoid violence and explore steps toward a lasting peace. [all emphasis added]

I think Abbas should be recommended for Sainthood and definiately win the Noble Peace Price. Can anyone help me out to find any evidence for Abbas' efforts to ease tension, avoid violence and explore steps toward a lasting peace. I couldn't find any...

Professor Kurgman longs for the clear moral thinking of President Carter and exerts his satirical bite in response to the President's concern that withholding funds will likely result in alienating the already oppressed and innocent Palestinians.

I felt the same way about one year ago while shopping for tofu-based celery stalks in the food co-op. (Let the Tofu-Stalks age a few weeks, and they crunch like celery, too. Or you can accelerate the aging process by joining the freegans at the co-op dumpster.)

Anyway, some young men entered the store and threatened to shoot the clerk unless they were given all the money in the store. I felt sorry for these young men. After all, what sort of monster could feel bitterness towards anyone stealing a loaf of bread to feed their family? And so, I urged the clerk to hand over all the money in the store, and whatever was in his wallet, too.

In almost the same words that Jimmy Carter used, I cried, “Please give them all of your money, your credit cards, your ATM cards, and all of the associated PINs and passwords. They are oppressed and innocent, and your denial to give them money will only alienate them, incite them to violence, and increase the influence of bad role models.”

The clerk, distracted by me, hesitated -- and the young men, understandably enraged by our racist culture, began beating him. Because I abhor violence, I immediately left the store and ran home. I heard gunshots behind me, and wept for the hungry young men who were being brutalized by our cruel society.

But Saint Abbas--did you know that he is related to von Papen, who famously boasted: "Within two months we will have pushed Hitler so far in the corner that he'll squeak"--has it all in hand and will of course impress moderation upon Hamas, just like von Papen did on Hitler.

And of course, as expected, words are cheap:

Nominating Ismail Haniyeh as the Prime Minister is Saint Abbas' way of adhering to his promise to Jimmy Carter not to choose a prime minister who does not recognize Israel or adhere to the basic principles of the "road map. As if there were such a person amidst the ranks of Hamas...

In his speech to parliament, Abbas is to lay out the cabinet's basic policies as well as ask Hamas to recognize agreements with Israel and abandon violence. He is not expected to ask Hamas to recognize Israel.

Who is Haniyeh?

Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, 50, held the top seat on Hamas' list of candidates in the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections. Haniyeh, in conjunction with Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar, was responsible for leading Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after the death of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. He had served as bureau chief for Yassin, but was given a higher leadership position after Yassin's death. Haniyeh was one of the leading figures who urged Hamas to form a party list and participate in the Palestinian elections, and was the top seat in both the municipal and parliamentary elections.

Like many other terrorist leaders, Haniyeh was targeted by the IDF for assassination for his roles in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. In 2003, following a suicide bombing on a bus in Jerusalem, the Israeli air force dropped a bomb on a house in Gaza in an assassination attempt of Haniyeh, Yassin, and bombmaker Mohammad Deif; all three escaped unscathed.

Haniyeh was born in the Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, although the exact date of his birth is unknown. He began studying Arabic literature at the Islamic University in Gaza in 1987, where he became active in Islamic student movements. In 1992, he was deported to Lebanon along with 400 other Hamas activists, but was eventually allowed to return to Gaza. Upon his return, he was appointed dean of the Islamic University, and became the leader of Hamas' student movement.

Haniyeh has always favored violence over diplomacy, and said the Hamas' wins in the municipal elections in 2005 were proof that the majority of Palestinians support terrorism against Israel. However, now that he is in a position of national responsibility, he has spoken about “resistance according to the interests of our people,” which could mean that Hamas terrorism could be suspended while a settlement with Israel is negotiated. He also has expressed his wish to form a national unity government with former ruling party Fatah in order to more effectively run the new government.

Two comments at Haaretz sum up the mood:

(2) Abbas is the arab Jimmy Carter: He does nothing but make empty gestures of stupidity in the face of danger and irrelevance. Yes, oh boy, HE will tell hamas what to do-I bet you they laugh in his face. He has a great job now-international PA darlin, a title earned by being ineffectual when he was in power.

(14) Jimmy Carter`s TERRIBLE MISTAKE let the iranian islamic revolution to rise the head. After 2 choppers were down he just did nothing. Hostages humiliation and ... nothing. and the result is to see today from bin ladin to the dworf of teheran. He should have give a serious ultimatum if the soviets got it from kennedy why the mullas would not?

Go figure.

Links via Avi @ Tel-Chai Nation on the Cyberjihad: Debbie Schlussel, La Shawn Barber, All Things Beautiful, Ordinary Everyday Christian (plus, another one), Sister Toldjah, Conservativity, JunkYardBlog, Centerfield, Badger Blogger, And THAT is MY Opinion, Below the Beltway, Daily Spork, ThreatChaos, The Dread Pundit Bluto, Suitably Flip, The World According to Carl, Soldiers' Angels, Life~Florida~Whatever, SubTerfuge, Collosus of Rhodey, Lone Pony, DCThornton, Christian Pundits, Iraq War Today

Comments

[RL]

i don't think that it is unreasonable to start comparing carter
to hitler; especially as somebody who has been directly
impacted, in a negative manner, by his radically-incompetent
and totally-failed foreign policy in the Middle East.

One of my mentors(RIP) was a highly decorated USAF test-pilot
and General who was directly involved in Operation Eagle Claw
from his base in Germany. As tough and manly as a gentleman
and an officer that he was, he always had an extremely
difficult time discussing this only blemish on an otherwise
brilliant and extraordinary USAF career, up until the very
day that his case of advanced cancer finally took him home.

you can learn more about this failed mission at,

specialops.org

[Alexandra]

John,

You also ignore the fact that Abbas has asked Hamas to adhere to all agreements already made with the Israelis.

Actually I don't. I make several references to that point specifically, summarized as adhering to the "road map":

"Nominating Ismail Haniyeh as the Prime Minister is Saint Abbas' way of adhering to his promise to Jimmy Carter not to choose a prime minister who does not recognize Israel or adhere to the basic principles of the "road map".

In his speech to parliament, Abbas is to lay out the cabinet's basic policies as well as ask Hamas to recognize agreements with Israel and abandon violence. He is not expected to ask Hamas to recognize Israel.

And I repeat: "As if there were such a person amidst the ranks of Hamas...".

My point is, that it doesn't really matter much what Abbas is asking Hamas to do, when Hamas have made it perfectly clear that they will neither recognize Israel's right to exist nor abandon violence--any talk of a long-term truce is nothing but window dressing. That doesn't mean to say that there will never be any change for the better; just that those who are talking now are clear about their hard-line stance and religious convictions and certainly would not imagine any in their life-time.

As to your assertion, that "blogging has little use for political subtlety and patience, I am disappointed that you have misread my direct reference to the German aristocrat Franz von Papen and his dubious role of helping Hitler to power as merely another ad hominem "comparison to Hitler, Chamberlain, etc".

If Abbas's intentions and claims are genuine, which, you must admit, is at least questionable, then he is deluding himself in the exact same way as von Papen did when he famously boasted: "Within two months we will have pushed Hitler so far in the corner that he'll squeak". The title "The Ghost of Appeasement" reflects the unwarranted latitude President Carter has been willing to extend throughout his political career.

You will find that the only person I am comparing to Hitler on this blog is thug-in-chief Ahmadinejad and I stand by that.

[John Wilkins]

The article would be in the NYRB. By the way, hacking into your site is an atrocious thing for others to do.

[John wilkins]

Alexandra. Please check out the extensive article on Abu mazen on February 10th, 2005. It's long, but fascinating. You'll discover that he was one of the only persons in Arafat's inner circle to oppose violence.

You also ignore the fact that Abbas has asked Hamas to adhere to all agreements already made with the Israelis. That includes the 1988 agreement when the PLO recognized Israel's right to exist and asserted that Palestine be within the borders accepted by res 242 and 338, which is supported by the US [and I believe the US worked hard to get those two voted on]. I recognize that blogging has little use for political subtlety and patience, as the constant comparison to Hitler, Chamberlain, etc, illustrates.

Is it possible that complaining about appeasement all the time is probably what a modern Goebbels himself would use, to ensure that the people he didn't like wouldn't get a fair hearing.

Besides, Chamberlain wasn't merely appeasing. Lots of Brits, and french, were collaborators. As were plenty of Americans. All because the Soviets were the greater threat.

[RL]

The USA gave the PA $500 million last year.
The EU gave the PA $600 million (classic one-upmanship) last yr.

What happened to all of this money ?
Why does the PA have a major debt, and budget deficit ?
How much of these funds is used to assist Palestinian
Christians ?

interesting reading at:

crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/1373857.html

christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/131/53.0.html

humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=3023

[Paul of York]

I haven't the words to describe the feelings which race through me every time I see former President Carter or, even much worse, hear him talk. He is a total walking disgrace and a total talking disgrace. He must be viewed as the best comedian in the Muslim world. To hear him talk from their point of view must be hilarious and useful. He is after all, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and using an old phrase, that and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.
I'm humiliated whenever he appears anywhere in the world to castigate his country, taking the side of those who hate us. We do not hate like them and yet he preaches that we do, he preaches shame on his countrymen. He hasn't the decency to move like others of his kind who choose to hate their own country.

[Stefan]

So, Carter is telling us that the Palestinian’s have an irrevocable right to receive American tax dollars? Hmmm. People on welfare in this country have to show they are actively seeking work in order to receive welfare benefits and even then there is a time limit for them to get it together. Shouldn’t we have some right to demand that when we give support to a country or a people that we expect some level of responsibility as well? I am not one who sees all Israelis as saintly and all Palestinians as vile terrorists. Not for a second do I fall for that childish “good-guy/bad-guy” formulation. However, that being said, if they vote collectively and democratically for a terrorist regime as their leadership, they, as citizens of a real-world, perspective nation-state, must be grown-up and deal with the consequences. We say: “Congratulations on a successful and democratic election but we regret to inform you that we can no longer do business with you because of your chosen governmental make-up. We would like very much to continue a constructive relationship with you all and we are always ready to help. If you, future citizens of Palestine, decide that you would like to renew your relationship with us then we hope that you will take that into very serious consideration if and when you get a chance to vote again. Our door is now, and has always been open to those who genuinely seek friendship.” I don’t think we should worry too much about Abbas’s talk. We should cut the money and sit back and let the Palestinians figure out what to do. If it forces Abbas to shift ground in order to push back against Hamas, well then good. We are no worse of for it. If he realizes that it is through some level of friendship with the US and Israel that he can best come out on top then let’s see it. This is scary for Israel but it could be healthy in the long run. This is the first time a Palestinian government has been responsible for the welfare of their people to such a major extent. They now are off welfare and must provide for themselves. Cutting off “welfare” to a Hamas led government is not “undermining” the Palestinian people any more than if one were to stop giving money to a friend who spends it all on crack cocaine would be depriving them of them of the necessities of life. It is because we actually care what the encouraging of self-destructive behavior would do to the future of the long suffering citizens of Gaza and the West Bank. They need to make steps towards kicking the terrorism habit before we lend them any more. Period. It is "tough-love."

[RL]

i forgot to mention much respect & love to Dr. Condoleezza Rice
for refusing to meet with the "President" of Lebanon (his name
will go unmentioned) during her surprise visit to Beirut today.
This gifted & supersmart lady has class, and lives a very
disciplined and principled life. She also stressed the
urgent importance of UN Resolution 1559 in a very clear,
diplomatic, and effective manner. God Bless Condi.

She is the daughter and granddaughter of Conservative
Presbyterian Ministers, and it definitely shows.

Condi '08
(Wishful thinking)

: )

[RL]

i think that it would be great if Brother Andrew is
able, healthy-enough, and willing to make another one of
his legendary visits/meetings with the islamoterrorist
"leaders" of hamas and hezbollah; they respect this
genuinely Godly man, and he is totally unashamed about
sharing the only Message on earth (eeinternational.org/dykfs)
that has the Supernatural power of regenerating the hearts
and minds, and transforming the lives of both Jews and Arabs.

For those of you who are inclined to prayer, please keep
this faithful and Godly man (Brother Andrew) in your prayers.
Thank you and God Bless you.

You can learn more about him and Open Doors International at,

sb.od.org
opendoorsusa.org

: )

[MarcH]

"Can anyone help me out to find any evidence for Abbas' efforts to ease tension, avoid violence and explore steps toward a lasting peace. I couldn't find any..."

Well ... yes ... but, he really does look good in a suit, White House lawn photo-ops and all that. And don't mind all that silly talk about financing the Munich Olympics massacre and writing that Holocaust denial paper! He really does look quite grand-fatherly.

[chris]

inre your site troubles, you my find the article linked below interesting...

http://www.zone-h.org/en/news/read/id=205987/