Recognizing Israel

Bruce has had some great posts debunking the whole threat posed by the alleged Iranian nukes. I tend to agree with Bruce, I think we are seeing a situation similar to the build-up to the war in Iraq, and I believe that if we don't start poking holes in this fantasy of the great Iranian threat, we are going to end up with a situation that will make the war in Iraq look like a bungled boxing match. Today on his first visit to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated that Iran's nuclear ambition "is hanging over this visit like a black cloud," but maybe that black cloud is some of that great shit these guys are smoking? Have we forgotten the analysis of our own intelligence agencies that say that Iran is at least ten years away from a nuclear weapon? Have we also forgotten that our own intelligence agencies have said that we don't actually even have a clue as to what Iran is doing, because we have no assets there?

This information that Bruce passed on to us today about a peace initiative from Iran that never saw the light of day is one of those puzzle pieces that require more scrutiny. In two years time, we might be looking back and wondering why the hell our State Department didn't snatch up the deal and run with it. But think about was happening in 2003. Ariel Sharon had the most powerful military in the world sending it's own young men and women to die for Democracy in Iraq. We were committed to a war on terror that was going to be long and costly, and Israel was our ally. Why would Israel make peace? They didn't have to, they had us.

And today there is more talk of peace.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of the rival Fatah Party, said after talks with Hamas officials that all sides should work to avoid further tensions.

Haniyeh, in an unusual interview with an Israeli newspaper, also is offering a long-term truce to Israel in exchange for Israel's withdrawal to the 1967 borders.

A long term truce sounds good to me, I think we should let Israel know that we will defend them, if they take the deal. NO deal, no Americans in Iran. A good show of faith by Israel would be a great first step towards healing the festering wound of Palestine, and if it turns out to be a bum deal, then Israel can just go back to occupation.

In America, recognizing Israel should be done with eyes wide open, and if Israel makes an effort to have peace with the Palestinians, we will recognize our responsibility to our allies. If ignoring peace offerings because the might of the American military says that Israel doesn't need to make peace, then we need to recognize that Israel is part of the problem.

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