Middle east news
A publication of the princeton middle east society, inc. august 2006
www.pmes.org
The American University of Beirut (AUB) is
TABLE OF CONTENTS
coordinating efforts among its faculties and staff,
Note From The Editor .................................... 1 AUB Medical Center, the American University
To Give Financial Assistance......................... 1 Hospital and volunteers, to provide a level of
Arab States Must Repudiate Ties With Israel 1 care in emergency relief and patient services that
American Protests .......................................... 3 is unavailable anywhere else in Lebanon. These
Covering Up Gaza .......................................... 4 areas have the greatest demand and the need is
CBS Analysis Omits Palestinian Deaths ........ 5 growing as thousands seek refuge in and around
The ―Hiding Among Civilians‖ Myth ............ 5 Beirut.
A New Man For The Middle East? ................ 6
Contact www.aub.edu.lb/challenge/help.html or
U.S. Inactive On The Israeli-Syrian Front ..... 7
Syria Wants To Talk ...................................... 8 AUB/Medical Emergency Fund
The Neocons Next War .................................. 9 Church Street Station, P.O. Box 4011
Israel Goes After Both Hamas Leaderships . 11 New York, NY 10277-1857
Patrick McGreevy e-mailed from AUB on July
20 that ―Beirut is tense, but so far there are no
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR signs of social disorder. The University‘s
With the Israeli attacks in Gaza and on Lebanon, foreign faculty and staff are slowly being
the Middle East has been once more at the center evacuated. There are so many warships and
of international concern. The newspapers and cruise liners in the sea in front of Beirut that it
the Internet have been flooded with reports. looks like a cross between the Battle of Midway
From the plethora of sources, here are a few that and Aruba.
you may have missed, or value to pass on to ―AUB is moving medical staff and other
friends. If you have other sources and essential personnel on to campus apartments as
information that you would like to share, please foreigners depart. The hospital is in desperate
contact me at CuffordL@aol.com. need of blood. The refugee problem is over-
Letitia whelming. AUB is trying to do its part with the
folks who have moved in from the southern
TO GIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE suburbs.
American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) is ―The Fall Semester? I know people everywhere
responding to the immediate needs of displaced are doing what they can to help. Don‘t forget
people for food, hygiene, and medical care. us.‖
Right now, its staff in Beirut is distributing
hygiene kits and providing hot meals to ARAB STATES MUST REPUDIATE TIES
displaced families. They are also delivering WITH ISRAEL
medicines and medical supplies to health (An editorial by Ali Abunimah in The Electronic
facilities in hard-hit areas. ANERA is also Intifada, www.ElectronicIntifada, July 31, 2006)
continuing its twenty-five year old practice of
aiding Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. ―The scenes of carnage from Qana, where ten
years after an almost identical massacre, rescue
1522 K Street NW - Suite 600 workers are pulling the broken bodies of children
Washington DC 2005 from the rubble, break the heart and generate a
Middle east news Page 2 August 2006
deep and boiling anger. But it is not enough to that millions of people are merely puppets of
point the finger at Israel‘s war criminal some Syrian-Iranian conspiracy.
government which carried out the atrocity, nor ―Arab states must publicly break their ties with
the U.S. administration that encourages Israel, Israel, not merely as an expression of the
funds it and arms it. We must also demand that overwhelming outrage and grief of their own
all those with the power to act do so citizens, but as a strategic message to Israel that
immediately. it will face total and permanent isolation if it
―Over the past two decades, ―moderate‖ (pro- does not change course. Arab governments
American) Arab governments including Egypt, should also support the growing global civil
Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Morocco, society campaign for boycott, divestment and
Tunisia, Qatar and Oman have established ties sanctions against Israel…
with Israel, their public rationale being that ―Statements from Arab governments
integrating Israel into the region and normalizing
condemning Israeli actions are welcome and
it will encourage moderation on Israel‘s part. necessary but unlikely to be sufficient. Israel, as
Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority have
it has shown time and again, is not swayed by
formal agreements with Israel; the other states, words. On the contrary, it deliberately twists and
various official and unofficial ties. At the 2002 misinterprets them whether from friend or foe.
Arab League summit in Beirut, Arab Following the failure of the Rome summit Israel
governments unanimously reached out to Israel claimed it had a ‗green light‘ from all the
offering full peace in exchange for a full Israel participating states to continue bombing
withdrawal only from the territories Israel Lebanon. (Although Israel certainly did have a
occupied in 1967, allowing it to maintain its hold green light from the U.S. which rushed more
on all the land Zionist militias seized from the bombs to Israel, this public boasting by Israel
Palestinians whom they ethnically cleansed in was embarrassing enough to the U.S. that State
1947-48. Israel is giving its answer to the Beirut
Department spokesman Adam Ereli termed it
offer by destroying Beirut and all of Lebanon. ‗outrageous.‘)
―Israel has rejected all Arab peace initiatives, no ―Arab states must end their long forbearance,
matter how far-reaching and generous, in favor which sends the message to Israel that the lives
of continued colonial expansion and occupation. of their citizens are cheap. Action is required no
It has taken these peace moves as signs of Arab less for the best interests and domestic and
weakness and as a license for further aggression. international standing of these governments as
The Israeli public (except for Palestinian citizens for the region as a whole. In Jordan‘s case it
of Israel) almost unanimously supports Israel‘s would only be exercising rights and
massacres in Lebanon and Palestine, and until responsibilities that are contained within its 1994
Israelis start to feel there is a price in terms of peace treaty with Israel and thus could not even
international isolation, we cannot expect that to be interpreted as violating the treaty‘s spirit or
change. As long as Israeli colonialism remains
letter. The peace treaty was supposed to be one
unchallenged by supine governments, millions of element in a wider regional peace that has failed
people will see ‗non-state actors‘ like Hizbullah to materialize due to Israel‘s aggressive
and Hamas as their best option to protect their construction of new colonies on occupied
most fundamental interests, and the power and Palestinian land and refusal to withdraw from
popularity of such groups will grow as occupied Lebanese and Syrian territory. The
governments consign themselves to irrelevance. preamble to the treaty states that Israel and
Israel and its allies need to ask themselves why Jordan aim a ‗a just, lasting and comprehensive
demonstrators are shouting the name of peace in the Middle East based on Security
Hizbullah leader Hasan Nasrallah from Cairo to Council Resolutions 242 and 338 in all their
Ramallah to Doha, and stop deluding themselves aspects.‘ In Article 2 of the treaty, both states
commit themselves to ‗respect and recognize the
Middle east news Page 3 August 2006
sovereignty, territorial integrity and political Hagel also pointed out that a war against
independence of every state in the region.‘ Hizbullah and Hamas cannot be won on the
battlefield and that Israel‘s destruction of
―Israel‘s continued and deepening occupation of
Lebanon is ―deepening hatred of Israel across the
Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territory,
Middle East.‖ He called on the U.S. to engage
violations of their sovereignty, blatant
international partners to revive the Beirut
interference in the internal affairs of Palestinians
Declaration--or some version of it—that was
and Lebanese, and its mounting atrocities that
adopted by the Arab League in March 2002.
have claimed Jordanian and Egyptian as well as
thousands of Lebanese and Palestinian lives are Call Hagel’s Washington office at (202) 224-
not only crimes against humanity but violations 4224 and ask to speak with his foreign affairs
of Israel‘s treaty commitments. Jordan and staff to thank him for advocating a fair American
Egypt have a right and obligation to respond. policy and acknowledging the suffering of Iraqi,
Palestinian and Lebanese civilians.
―Arab governments have a slim chance to play a
genuine leadership role and prove that their The Board of Directors of the New Jersey
earlier positions were simply being Division of the United Nations Association has
misinterpreted and exploited. Breaking off sent to the press and to Senators Lautenberg and
relations may seem like a small step in the Menendez a statement deploring ―the lethal
current circumstances, but it is the minimum escalation of violent conflict in Gaza, Israel and
they must do and it will set an example for other Lebanon in recent weeks…The U.S. failure to
international actors such as the UE and the UN press for a fair negotiated solution over the past
who have also failed in their international several years and its persistent undermining of
responsibilities, siding with the aggressor against the role of the United Nations has left events in
the victim and thereby enabling Israel‘s the hands of extremist elements on all sides…
unspeakable crimes.‖ ―Contrary to repeated statements by the U.S.
leadership and many commentators featured in
AMERICAN PROTESTS the U.S. media, the present conflict in Gaza and
A speech by Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) on the Lebanon did not begin with border raids and
Senate floor, July 31 ―displayed the kind of kidnapped soldiers, however deplorable. It
leadership and courage Americans have been began with the failure to pursue a genuine peace
yearning for since this crisis began,‖ reports the process between Israel and the Palestinian people
Arab-American Institute. (AAlert@aaiusa.org) that could have demonstrated good intentions to
the rest of the world by all parties.‖
―The sickening slaughter on both sides must
end now,‖ declared Hagel. ―President Bush The letter goes on to describe Israel‘s oppression
must call for an immediate cease fire. This of the Palestinians and concludes by calling [like
madness must stop…The United States must Senator Hagel] for supporting the Beirut
focus all of its leadership and resources on Declaration of 2002.
ending this madness in the Middle East—now! A newly formed site, www.justforeignpolicy.org
―Our relationship with Israel is a special and is promoting a sign-on letter from American
historic one. But, it need not and cannot be at Jews to President Bush calling for an immediate
the expense of our Arab and Muslim ceasefire in Lebanon and refusing to accept the
relationships. That is an irresponsible and President‘s ―Israel‘s right to defend herself‖ as
dangerous false choice…It is in Israel‘s interest, justifying the collective punishment of the
as much as ours, that the United States be seen people of Lebanon and Gaza.
by all states in the Middle East as fair. This is A letter published in The Guardian on August 3,
the currency of trust.‖ (www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/O,1835915,00
.html) and signed by Noam Chomsky and others
Middle east news Page 4 August 2006
accuses Israel of committing war crimes against belonging to peace organizations or being
the Lebanese people, while the U.S, and Britain recruited to work in Palestinian organizations.
are complicit. This letter has also been signed by Non-Israelis are held for lengthy questioning and
Richard Falk and Toni Morrison, retired faculty usually deported if Israel suspects them of
of Princeton University. planning to enter the occupied territories,
whether their purposes are legitimate or not.
COVERING UP GAZA Israel has claimed that its measures are designed
(Jonathan Cook writes in Al-Ahram Weekly at to protect these individuals and its own soldiers
weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/803/re71.htm) from unnecessary and dangerous confrontations.
But in practice, Israel has ensured that
One early and easy victory for Israel in Gaza has
independent witnesses are now largely absent
been in its battle to manage the news. Israel‘s
from the occupied territories.
invasion is a very private war against Gaza‘s
population, to which only invited guests—the Instead ―professional‖ reporters, based in Israel,
representatives of our major media outlets—are venture into these areas only to report after the
being given access. event, when the best they can hope to achieve is
to present two conflicting narratives: the Israeli
Gaza—a giant open-air prison—could not offer a
official version and Palestinian eyewitness
more perfect environment for an occupier
accounts.
wanting to manage the news. Israel controls the
borders and can decide who is allowed in and So how does Israel‘s version of embedding
who is refused access. Freedom of the press is work?
meaningless on these terms. First, to get into Gaza a journalist must be in
Israel developed its own ―embedding‖ strategy possession of a press card issued by the Israeli
during the disengagement from Gaza last year. Government Press Office (GPO). All other
Only journalists from the big news organizations journalist cards—even international ones—are
were allowed into the Strip, on special army worthless in the eyes of the Israeli government.
buses that drove straight to the settlements. To be eligible for a GPO card, applicants must
have accreditation with a recognized media
The big media organizations have no interest in
organization. Freelance reporters and
pointing out why they have special access to
photographers are considered to be impostors
Gaza and at what price such privileges were
unless they can prove that they have an
bought.
assignment from just such an accredited
Israel‘s system of embedding operates at two organization.
levels: it ensures that many potential journalists
Those journalists who do manage to gain a GPO
are not in a position to report from Gaza; and
card then have to jump through a second hoop:
then it imposes a range of pressures on those
they must sign a ―waiver,‖ exonerating Israel of
journalists who are there.
all responsibility if they are injured while in the
After the Israeli army killed two peace activists, Gaza Strip, including from the actions of the
Tom Hurndall and Rachel Corrie, other activists, Israeli army.
as well as free-lance journalists who might be
While media organizations provide their staff
mistaken for activists, were deterred from living
with war insurance, an armored car, and a flak
in the occupied territories. In consequence there
jacket and helmet, they do not feel the same
was a rapid loss of Internet diaries of life under
obligation towards freelancers, even those on
occupation, creating a fledgling but useful
assignment for them.
―alternative journalism.‖
And then there is the third and most problematic
Since then Israel has been on the lookout for
hoop of all. Reporters who receive a GPO card
anyone at its borders whom it suspects of
must agree to submit any reports that touch on
Middle east news Page 5 August 2006
―defense and security‖ matters to Israel‘s ambiguous or referred to both sides
military censor. Although in practice few simultaneously.
Western reporters refer to the censor, the
knowledge that they are breaking the terms of THE “HIDING AMONG CIVILIANS”
their agreement—and could have their privileges MYTH
withdrawn—is intended to encourage ―self-
(Mitch Prothero writes in [www.salon. Salon
restraint‖ on their part.
com], reporting from South Lebanon on July 28,
The most shocking aspect to this embedding of 2006).
the media with the Israeli army is the silence
Throughout this now 16-day-old war, Israeli
from the journalists themselves, from their
planes high above civilian areas make decisions
employers and from their professional
on what to bomb. They send huge bombs
federations. None has tried to challenge the
capable of killing things for hundreds of meters
restrictions imposed by Israel on those wishing
round their targets, and then blame the inevitable
to report from the occupied territories.
civilian deaths on ―terrorists‖ who callously use
The generally dismal standard of reporting the civilian infrastructure for protection.
during the invasion of Gaza has proven just how
But this claim is almost always false. My own
much a cozy club of well-paid journalists is
reporting and that of other journalists reveals that
being protected by these arrangements. As a
in fact Hizbullah fighters—as opposed to the
result, Israel‘s language and agenda have come
much more numerous Hizbullah political
to dominate the coverage. That is why, more
members, and the vastly more numerous
than a fortnight after an Israeli soldier was
Hizbullah sympathizers—avoid civilians. Much
captured, almost every Western reporter is still
smarter and better trained than the PLO and
referring to him as ―kidnapped;‖ why the
Hamas fighters, they know that if they mingle
destruction of vital civilian infrastructure such as
with civilians, they will sooner or later be
Gaza‘s only power plant is described as
betrayed by collaborators—as so many
―pressure‖ rather than what it is—collective
Palestinian militants have been.
punishment, a violation of international law and
a war crime; and why the deaths of large The almost nightly air-strikes on the southern
numbers of Palestinians, civilians and militants, suburbs of Beirut could be seen as making some
in the current attacks are receiving far less sense, as the Israelis appear convinced there are
coverage than the deaths of the two soldiers command and control bunkers underneath the
enforcing the occupation that gave Israel the continually smoldering rubble. There were some
pretext to launch its invasion. civilian casualties the first few nights in places
like Haret Hreik, but people quickly left the area
CBS ANALYSIS OMITS PALESTINIAN to the Hizbullah fighters with their radios and
DEATHS motorbikes.
(From Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting But other attacks seem gratuitous, fishing
(FAIR),www.fair.org/index.php?page=2913 of expeditions, or simply intended to punish
June 30, 2006) anything and anyone even vaguely connected to
Hizbullah.
From the start of the Intifada in September 2000
through March 17,2002, FAIR monitored the use In the south, where Shiites dominate, just about
of ―retaliate‖ on the three major news networks. everyone supports Hizbullah. Does mere
Out of 150 uses of some form of this word, 79% support for Hizbullah, or even participation in
referred to Israeli ―retaliation‖ against Hizbullah activities, mean your house and family
Palestinians and only 9% to Palestinian are fair game? Do you need to fire rockets from
―retaliation. Approximately 12 percent were your front yard? Or is it enough to be a political
activist?
Middle east news Page 6 August 2006
The Israelis are consistent. They bomb everyone about on schedule, he has emerged again today
and everything remotely associated with in the incarnation of Hizbullah leader Hassan
Hizbullah, including noncombatants. In effect, Nasrallah.
that means punishing Lebanon. The nation is 40 ―Many have walked this dangerous path: Gamal
percent Shiite, and of that 40 percent, tens of Abdel Nasser in the late ‗50s and ‗60s, Yasir
thousands are employed by Hizbullah‘s social Arafat and the Palestinian guerillas in the ‗60s
services, political operations, schools, and other and ‗70s, Muammar Kaddafi of Libya and
nonmilitary functions. The ―terrorist‖ Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran in the late ‗70s and
organization Hizbullah is Lebanon‘s second- early ‗80s, and Saddam Hussein in the ‗90s. All
biggest employer. failed to alter history. Yet the Middle East seems
Even before the war, on many of my trips to the to have a perpetual reservoir of contenders for
south, the Lebanese army, or the ubiquitous guy this elusive and often fatal mantle. Nasrallah‘s
on a motorbike with a radio, would halt my trip rise says much about the Arab world‘s recurring,
and send me over to Tyre to get permission from almost genetic need for a strong political
a Hizbullah official before I could proceed, personality who emerges to lead its quest to
usually with strict limits on where I could go. regain its honor. If he succeeds, he will be a
Every other journalist I know who has covered truly historic figure, perhaps finally slaying the
Hizbullah has had the same experience. A ghosts of Arab humiliations past. But if he fails,
fellow journalist, a Lebanese who has covered the monster of mass degradation will grow, fed
them for two decades, knows only one military by the unquenched Arab need for a dose—even a
guy who will admit it, and he never talks or small dose—of political and military victory.
grants interviews. ―To be sure, some Lebanese and other Arabs see
So the analysts talking on cable news about Nasrallah and his party as reckless fanatics,
Hizbullah ―hiding with the civilian population‖ bringing ruin to Lebanon. Yet many more rally
clearly have spent little time if any in the south to him, waving Hizbullah‘s distinctive yellow-
Lebanon war zone and don‘t know what they‘re and-green flag across the Middle East. The
talking about. Hizbullah doesn‘t trust the reason is not ideology, but psychology—a basic
civilian population and has worked very hard to human need for self-respect and affirmation.
evacuate as much of it as possible from the Three generations of Arabs have endured painful
battlefield. And this is why they fight so well— humiliation at the combined hand of Israel and
with no one to spy on them, they have lots of the West. Five major wars, once each decade:
chances to take the Israel Defense Forces by 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973, and 1982—all ending in
surprise…. defeat. The false and cruel promise of peace
talks emerges and withers just as regularly.
A NEW MAN FOR THE MIDDLE EAST? Meanwhile, Arab political systems remain
stubbornly unchanging—top-heavy security
(Rami Khouri [editor-at-large at The Daily Star
states riddled with favoritism, corruption and
in Beirut] writes in the August 21-28, 2006 issue
mismanagement, ruled in seeming perpetuity by
of Newsweek International about Hizbullah
the same autocrats and dictators and feudal
leader Hassan Nasrallah)
families.
―He appears, almost mystically, every decade or
―Today, this bizarre history leaves ordinary Arab
so in the Arab world—a charismatic, militant
men and women triply embittered. First, by the
figure who challenges Israel, defies the United
cumulative ignominies of repeated defeat by
States and rallies millions of Arabs to his cause,
Israel. Second, by the West‘s chronic
usually to disappear soon after in defeat or
neocolonial disdain for Arabs and their world.
deflation. He is the Man who promises Arabs
And third—the cruelest cut because it is self-
honor instead of shame, victory instead of defeat,
inflicted—the incompetence and inertia of their
empowerment instead of subjugation. And just
own societies, sapped by corruption,
Middle east news Page 7 August 2006
governmental fecklessness and repression. Is it haplessness; political empowerment instead of
any surprise, then, that hundreds of millions of marginalization; resistance instead of forced
Arab men and women, suddenly seeing a man submission to Israeli-American threats. A new
who promises a way out of this emotional and man, indeed, responding to a stubborn need
political hell, should rally to his call, however among all Arab societies.‖
misguided or suicidal it may be? For more on Hizbullah, see Middle East Report
―The sad truth is, they have never had any other Online for Lara Deeb‘s 14 page article:
option. Individually or collectively, Arabs have ―Hizballah: A Primer,‖ at
never had the opportunity to build democratic www.merip.org/mero/mero073106.html.
cultures, enrich civil society, develop quality
education or promote the rule and globally U.S. INACTIVE ON THE ISRAELI-SYRIAN
competitive businesses. Their three nemeses— FRONT
self-appointed leaders for life, constant war with
Ori Nir writes in the August 4, 2006 issue of
Israel, tensions with the West—have never let
Forward that in the past, when tensions between
ordinary, decent Arabs construct what amounts
Jerusalem and Damascus approached a boiling
to a more modern culture, reflecting the consent
point, the U.S. intervened, typically by sending
of the governed. Their choices have always been
an envoy with chilling messages for leaders in
war or enforced docility—each inhuman, in its
both countries. This time, however, despite
way, and terrible.
Israeli requests for American intervention, the
―Nasrallah‘s fate could well be different from Bush administration has not sent a senior official
that of the charismatics who preceded him. to Syria and shows no signs of upgrading its
Under his leadership, Hizbullah became the first low-level contact with Damascus.
Arab movement to force Israel to withdraw from
Assad has declared a willingness to hold
occupied Arab land. Now it is also the first to
comprehensive talks with Israel, and Israeli
fight the Israelis for a month and compel them to
Defense Minister Amir Peretz reportedly has
seriously explore a diplomatic solution.
pressed his government to explore the Syrian
―However violent Hizbullah‘s military aims, it option. But elements in the Bush administration
has offered a model of local governance based are said to oppose any steps to relieve the
on knowing its people and delivering on pressure on Syria.
promises—among them useful human services,
In recent internal discussions, according to one
from health clinics to schools. Hizbullah‘s
well-placed source, who spoke on condition of
leaders have also shunned the corruption and
anonymity, some administration officials went so
public ostentatiousness that plagued many other
far as to advocate that America encourage Israel
Arab movements and have maintained the
to attack Syria in order to induce the fall of
internal cohesion, sense of purpose and secrecy
Assad‘s regime. It was impossible to
that so far have largely preserved them from
corroborate that information with other
betrayals by spies and collaborators. And they
independent sources, but some Israeli media
have presented their message to the entire
reports suggested that officials in the Bush
Middle East through skillful media work that
administration have encouraged Jerusalem to
highlights their achievements without making
consider strikes against Syria. Several hawkish
boasts they cannot fulfill.
pro-Israel scholars and pundits, including
―The fervent support that Hizbullah enjoys will Michael Oren and Daniel Pipes, have written
grow with a ceasefire and diplomatic settlement columns in favor of such an approach.
that sees Israel leave occupied Lebanese lands.
Top Israeli and American officials have
Almost overnight, Nasrallah will have produced
disagreed repeatedly over the appropriate policy
what three generations of ordinary Arabs have
toward Syria. As Bush has pushed for regime
yearned for: Military effectiveness instead of
change, Israel continues to seek stability in
Middle east news Page 8 August 2006
Syria, viewing Assad as ―the devil it knows‖ and the Syrian government. And it remains
objecting to the creating of a political void that fundamentally wrong.
could be filled by Islamists or by sheer chaos. ―It hasn‘t always been this way. When President
Moshe Maoz, a leading Israeli expert on Syria, George H.W. Bush faced Saddam Hussein‘s
declares that America‘s insistence on isolating invasion of Kuwait in 1990, he realized the
Syria is not in Israel‘s interest. He advocates strategic need for Syria and knew how to lure us
harnessing the resolution of the current crisis to a into the American-led alliance by inviting Syria
broad resolution to Israel‘s conflict with Syria to the Madrid peace conference.
and the Palestinians. Syria is considered weak ―As a result, and within a short period of time,
and vulnerable to manipulation and the the Clinton administration engaged Syria and
extraction of concessions. Israel in serious peace talks that, had they
Some pro-Israel commentators, however, are succeeded, would have created a very different
arguing for a military response to Syrian support paradigm in this troubled area.
for Hizbullah. Daniel Pipes suggested August 1 ―In Syria, we consider the assassination of Israeli
in the New York Sun that Israel should shift Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin as the fatal blow
attention to Syria from Lebanon and warn that felled the peace efforts, and since that tragic
Damascus that Syrian targets would be bombed event, Israel has had no leader with the courage
each time Israel was hit by Hizbullah. or vision required to accept the inevitable ―land
for peace‘ compromise enshrined in U.N.
SYRIA WANTS TO TALK Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
(From an article in the Los Angles Times of ―In sharp contrast, the current U.S.
August 4, 2006 by Imad Moustapha, Syrian administration has publicly dissuaded Israel from
ambassador to the U.S.) responding to the repeated Syrian invitations to
―Late last month, a number of congressmen revive the peace process. Syria still hopes that
called me and asked for an urgent, unscheduled this position might change, as there exists a
meeting. There, at the Rayburn House Office growing alienation against the U.S. and its
Building, we spent a couple of hours discussing policies in the Arab and Islamic world, which is
in depth the crisis in the Middle East. The undoubtedly creating fertile breeding conditions
paramount concern of these legislators was not for terrorism. Syria thought that the atrocious
the typical Capitol Hill rhetoric (offering events of Sept. 11, 2001, would be a much-
unconditional support for Israel, or delivering the needed wake-up call for the Bush administration.
routine condemnation and demonization of ―After September 11, we cooperated with the
Syria). Instead, they simply wanted to know U.S. in fighting terrorism. Syria had been
what they could do to stop the ongoing massacre fighting extreme fundamentalist movements in
in Lebanon. the region for the previous three decades, so we
―Their frustration and exasperation about the promptly initiated intelligence and security
total nonchalance of the U.S. administration was cooperation with the U.S., providing a wealth of
overwhelming. The very first question they had information about Al Qaeda, some of which was
for me was to clarify the confusion about described in a letter to Congress by former
whether the White House is talking to Syria or Secretary of State Colin Powell as ―actionable
not. Although the media have reported that no information‖ that led to ―saving American lives.‖
contacts have been made between the two Consequently, bilateral relations improved
countries over the last three weeks, dramatically at the time, much to the chagrin of
administration officials have sent vague signals the neoconservative cabal that doggedly opposed
that this might be happening through back any engagement with Syria, no matter how
channels. But no communication whatsoever productive.
has taken place. U.S. policy remains to ignore
Middle east news Page 9 August 2006
―This effective cooperation ended when Syria any ability to influence a major player in the
and the U.S. found themselves at odds over how Middle East. In the wake of the ongoing
to address the Iraqi problem. Syria fiercely instability in Iraq and violence in Palestine and
opposed the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq Lebanon, it begs the larger question: Has
and continues to do so. The fact that Hussein isolating Syria made the region more secure?
was Syria‘s archenemy did not blind our eyes to When the United States realizes that it is high
the grave consequences such an occupation time to reconsider its policies toward Syria, Syria
would bear on our region: bloodshed, will be more than willing to engage. However,
destruction, instability, extremism and the ugly the rules of the game should be clear. As
face of sectarianism. President Bashar Assad has said, Syria is not a
―The Bush administration never forgave Syria charity. If the U.S. wants something from Syria,
for its opposition to the war. Despite the fact then Syria requires something in return from the
that Syrian-U.S. intelligence and security U.S., i.e. Let us address the root cause of
cooperation continued, even after the fallout on instability in the Middle East.
Iraq, well up to January 2005, heavyweights in
the White House continued to engage in a THE NEOCONS’ NEXT WAR
rhetorical campaign against Syria. Members of
Sidney Blumenthal writes in Salon of August 3
Congress, influenced by the powerful pro-Israel
(www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2006/08/03
lobby, overwhelmingly passed the Syria
/mideast/index.html)
Accountability Act in November 2003, enacting
trade sanctions on Damascus without serious The National Security Agency is providing
debate or reference to the crucial intelligence signal intelligence to Israel to monitor whether
support provided by Syria. Syria and Iran are supplying new armaments to
Hizbullah as it fires hundreds of missiles into
―Concurrently, administration officials devised a
northern Israel, according to a national security
new ‗policy‘ toward my country: Don‘t talk to
official with direct knowledge of the operation.
Syria at all, and maybe its regime will collapse.
President Bush has approved the secret program.
That is why the U.S. decided to change its 20-
Inside the administration, neoconservatives on
year position toward Syrian involvement in
Vice President Dick Cheney‘s national security
Lebanon. Suddenly Syria‘s ‗stabilizing and
staff and Elliott Abrams, the neoconservative
necessary presence‘ in Lebanon became,
senior director for the Near East on the National
overnight and without any change in Syria‘s
Security Council, are prime movers behind
behavior, ‗an evil occupation that should
sharing ANSA intelligence with Israel, and they
immediately be ended.‘‖
have discussed Syrian and Iranian supply
The underlying idea behind demanding Syrian activities as a potential pretext for Israeli
withdrawal was simple. It would precipitate the bombing of both countries, the source says
fall of the Syrian regime, and the U.S. would end (Intelligence including that gathered by the NSA,
up with a new government in Damascus that is has been provided to Israel in the past for various
both Israel-friendly and an ally of the U.S. Does purposes.) The neoconservatives are described
that have any resemblance to the as enthusiastic about the possibility of using
neoconservative justification for the war on Iraq? NSA intelligence as a lever to widen the conflict
To the dismay of U.S. policymakers, this between Israel and Hizbullah and Israel and
belligerent attitude only rallied Syrians behind Hamas into a four-front war.
their own government. Secretary of State Rice is said to have been
Ultimately, the Bush administration has to ―briefed‖ and to be ―on board,‖ but she is not a
realize that by trying to isolate Syria politically central actor in pushing the covert
and diplomatically, the U.S. continues to lose neoconservative scenario. Her ―briefing‖ appears
to be an aspect of an internal struggle to
Middle east news Page 10 August 2006
intimidate and marginalize her. Recently she has secretary of state, Colin Powell, by rejecting any
come under fire from prominent effort to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace
neoconservatives who oppose her support for process. When Powell warned that ―the
diplomatic negotiations with Iran to prevent its consequences of that could be dire, especially for
development of nuclear weaponry. the Palestinians,‖ Bush snapped, ―Sometimes a
show for force by one side can really clarify
Rice‘s diplomacy in the Middle East has
things.‖ He was making a ―clean break‖ not
erratically veered from initially calling on Israel
only with his immediate predecessor, but also
for ―restraint,‖ to categorically opposing a cease-
with the policies of his father.
fire, to proposing terms for a cease-fire
guaranteed to conflict with the European In the current Middle East crisis, once again, the
proposal, and thus to thwarting diplomacy, elder Bush‘s wise men have stepped forward to
prolonging the time available for the Israeli offer unsolicited and unheeded advice. (In
offensive to achieve its stated aim of driving private they are scathing.)... On July 30, Brent
Hizbullah out of southern Lebanon. But the Scowcroft, the elder Bush‘s national security
neocon scenario extends far beyond that advisor and still his close friend, published an
objective to pushing Israel into a ―cleansing war‖ Op-Ed in the Washington Post written more or
with Syria and Iran which somehow will redeem less as an open letter to his erstwhile and errant
Bush‘s beleaguered policy in the entire region, protégé Condeleezza Rice. Undoubtedly,
says the national official. Scowcroft reflects the views of the former
President Bush. Adopting the tone of an
In order to try to understand the neoconservative
instructor to a stubborn pupil, Scowcroft detailed
road map, senior national security professionals
a plan for an immediate end to the Israel-
have begun circulating among themselves a 1996
Hizbullah conflict and for restarting the Israeli –
neocon manifesto against the Middle East peace
Palestinian peace process, ―the source of the
process. Titled ―A Clean Break: A New Strategy
problem.‖ His program is a last attempt to turn
for Securing the Realm,‖ its half-dozen authors
the president back to the ways of his father.
included neoconservatives highly influential with
…But Scowcroft‘s plan resembles that of the
the Bush administration.
Europeans, already rejected by the Bush
―A Clean Break‖ was written at the request of administration, and Rice is the one offering a
incoming Likud Party Prime Minister Benjamin counterproposal that has put diplomacy into a
Netanyahu and intended to provide ―a new set of stall.
ideas‖ for jettisoning the policies of Rabin.
Despite Rice‘s shunning of the advice of the
Instead of trading ―land for peace,‖ the neocons
Bush I sages, the neoconservatives have made
advocated tossing aside the Oslo agreements that
her a convenient target in their effort to
established negotiations and demanding
undermine all diplomatic initiatives. ―Dump
unconditional Palestinian acceptance of Likud‘s
Condi,‖ reads the headline in the right-wing
terms, ―peace for peace.‖ Rather than
Insight Magazine on July 25.
negotiations with Syria, they proposed
―weakening, containing, and even rolling back A month earlier, Richard Perle, in a June 25 Op-
Syria.‖ They also advanced a wild scenario to Ed in the Washington Post, revived an old trope
―redefine Iraq.‖ Then King Hussein of Jordan from the height of the Cold War, accusing those
would somehow become its ruler; and somehow who propose diplomacy of being like Neville
this Sunni monarch would gain ―control‖ of the Chamberlain, the British prime minister who
Iraqi Shiites, and through them ―wean the south tried to appease Hitler. Wrote Perle,
Lebanese Shia away from Hizbullah, Iran and ―Condoleezza Rice‘s influence on the president
Syria.‖ is undiminished. It is, rather, that she is now in
the midst of and increasingly represents a
At his first National Security Council meeting
diplomatic establishment that is driven to
President George W. Bush stunned his first
accommodate its allies even when (or, it seems,
Middle east news Page 11 August 2006
especially when) such allies counsel the more moderate statements coming from
appeasement of our adversaries.‖ Palestinian leaders elected in January.
Rice, agent of the nefarious State Department, is When Israel arrested 64 Hamas officials,
supposedly the enemy within. ―We are in the including cabinet ministers and members of the
early stages of World War III,‖ Gingrich told elected parliament, it gave a loud message that it
Insight. ―Our bureaucracies are not responding was not willing to distinguish between the
fast enough. We don‘t have the right attitude.‖ political and military Hamas. An additional 23
Palestinians were later arrested.
Confused, ineffectual and incapable of filling her
office with power, Rice has become the voodoo Hisham Ahmed, an expert on the Hamas
doll that Powell was in the first term. Even her movement and a political scientist at Bir Zeit
feeble and counterproductive gestures toward University near the West Bank city of Ramallah,
diplomacy leave her open to the harshest attacks says the arrests and the overall Israeli military
from neoconservatives. Scowcroft and the Bush operation have largely served to close the gaps in
I team are simply ignored. what has been a deeply divided Palestinian
public. ―With the assault on Gaza, the
Having failed in the Middle East, the
differences have evaporated now and all of the
administration is attempting to salvage its
internal disputes have been put aside.‖
credibility by equating Israel‘s predicament with
the U.S. quagmire in Iraq. Neoconservatives, for
their part, see the latest risk to Israel‘s national
Middle East News
security as a chance to scuttle U.S. negotiations
with Iran, perhaps the last opportunity to realize Box 2162, Princeton, NJ 08543-2162
the fantasies of ―A Clean Break.‖ www.pmes.org
By using NSA intelligence to set an invisible Editor: Letitia Ufford
tripwire, the Bush administration is laying the
Layout and Production: Wood Tate
condition for regional conflagration with untold
consequence—from Pakistan to Afghanistan, Middle East News is published nine times per year
from Iraq to Israel. Secretly devising a scheme from September through November and January
that might thrust Israel into a ring of fire cannot through June by the Princeton Middle East Society,
Inc. (PMES). The members of PMES, founded in
be construed as a blunder. It is a deliberate,
1983, come from the academic, business, religious
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Ilene Prusher and Nicholas Blanford write in the
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For membership in PMES, mail a check for $30
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Hamas would continue to fight Israel, despite