Believe It When You See It

This Is The Problem...

...with UN peacekeepers:

UN to send peacekeepers into risky Mali conflict

There has to be a peace to keep.

And how many years have there been peacekeepers in Cyprus? Oh ya. More than forty years. It's not working, folks.

So Which Is It?

UPDATED AND BUMPED: Well, that lasted long:

"Palestinian president tells Al-Hayyat that his comments on not returning to live on land that is now Israel reflect his own stance, not policy; Netanyahu: Abbas has already taken back his words."

Doublespeak, as usual.
==================================
Is this the Pals inching ever so slowly toward peace with Israel or is it just the Pals engaging in a power struggle:

Abbas: There is no justification for Gaza rocket attacks

This has been going on since before I was born. I'll believe it when I see it. The Pals have passed up so many chances for peace, I couldn't begin to count them.

Tell Me Ahmadinejad,

...are you speaking out of both sides of your mouth, or are you unconsciously revealing your weakened position? Are you propping up your favourite American President hoping the Arab nations will take note? If it's the former, that should be encouraging news for the Green Movement in Iran. If it's the latter, then beware. This is classic doublespeak cultivated by the world's leading exporter of Islamism and we've seen your tricks many times before.

On the other hand, I suppose, he could be trying to capitalize on the Pal/Israel peace talks. You know, get a little sumtin for his losses, then cut his proxy thugs loose.

But then again, maybe it's just MSM spin. Better minds than mine are probably pondering these questions right now.

Sure There Will Be

Clinton: There may never be another chance for peace

It's just that there may need to be a few nukes before hand.

Ooooh. Obama Get's Tough With Iran's Proxy

...Syria

US warns Assad of Israeli counter strike for terror campaign

"The Obama administration has sent Syrian president Bashar Assad a stern warning that he will be held personally accountable and face consequences if Israel and the Palestinian Authority are subjected to a terror campaign - whether by Hizballah or the Palestinian extremist groups based in Damascus, debkafile reports from Washington. The warning went out Thursday, Sept. 2, as Israelis and Palestinians sat down to talk in Washington in the shadow of threats from extremists sheltering under Syria's wing and after two attacks on the West Bank."

I'm loving this. He's kicking their asses to the curb. I never thought I'd live to see the day.

More:

"Our military sources report that last week, Syria and Hizballah took joint steps against a possible Israeli strike against the sophisticated rockets which Hizballah is storing for safekeeping at Syrian bases close to the border and holding ready for immediate use. Hizballah militiamen have been visiting those bases to learn how to use the advanced hardware.

Assad is deepening his military partnership with Hizballah and advancing joint preparations for war under Iranian sponsorship. Last Sunday, Aug. 29, he urged Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri to stand solidly behind Hizballah when they met in Damascus. The Syrian ruler stressed to Hariri "…the importance of supporting the resistance [a euphemism for terrorism used by radical Arab elements] as the only way to preserve Lebanon's strength and security against regional threats."

Our sources report that the hands of Assad and the Iran-backed Hizballah are detected in fomenting terror in another part of the Middle East - Iraq, especially in Baghdad."

It sounds like even Lebanon is wavering. A big cleaver is about to come down on the Middle East. I'd like to see their balls handed to them on a platter along with Hamas. Just what the hell is Iran gonna do, if Syria and Hizballah are castrated and Lebanon flips. This is getting really, really interesting.

Just Try It, Asshole

Hit on Iran would spell Israel's 'eradication': Ahmadinejad

"Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ruled out an attack on the Islamic republic over its nuclear programme, during a visit to Qatar on Sunday..."

[---]

"'The Zionist entity and the US government would hit any country in the region whenever they are able to do so, and they will not wait to get permission. But (at the moment) they cannot,' he said."

[---]

"'There will be no war against Iran. What could take place is a psychological war,' he said."

[---]

"In renewed criticism of the relaunched direct peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel, Ahmadinejad charged that the "decaying" Jewish state was hoping to "revive" itself through the talks.

"The Zionist entity is decaying. It is in a critically difficult state, and hopes to revive itself through an unfruitful dialogue," he said.

Ahmadinejad had on Friday said the Washington-sponsored talks were "doomed" to fail, and infuriated the moderate Palestinian leadership by slamming it as unrepresentative."

[---]

"In May when the United States was pushing for a new round of UN sanctions against Iran, Qatar backed Turkish and Brazilian efforts to broker a deal that would avoid further punitive measures.

But Qatar is also a staunch US ally and hosts two American military bases.

As-Sayliyah base served as the coalition's command and control centre during the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, while the US air force used Al-Udeid airbase in the 2001 war in Afghanistan and in the aftermath of the Iraq invasion."

Oh yes. He's shaking in his boots. Shitting his pants. Apart from Hamas, he's only got one friend left in the Arab world, and even at that, it ain't much of a friend.

Bring. It. On!

Progress on Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks?

PA negotiator: Endgame peace deal could bring Hamas-run Gaza back into fold

"On Saturday, aides to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat that the atmosphere in the Palestinian delegation to the peace talks had "taken a 180-degree turn" for the better. The aides added the Palestinian delegation was pleased the United States planned to include all the core issues in an agreement to be reached by the end of 2011. These core issues deal with the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and borders."

[---]

"Erekat also referred to the possibility of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip accepting a possible peace deal with Israel."

Surely Obama will want to claim credit, and well he should, but the real credit should go to ..... drum roll please ..... Ahmadinejad and the Mad Mullahs".

"The one who does not represent the Iranian people, who falsified election results, who oppressed the Iranian people and stole authority has no right to speak about Palestine, its president or its representatives," Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaineh said about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad".

[---]

"'President Mahmoud Abbas came to power through free, democratic and authentic elections supervised by more than 2,000 international and Arab monitors,' Abu Rudaineh said in response. 'We are the ones who fought for Palestine and Jerusalem ... the Palestinian leadership did not oppress its people as did the Iranian leadership under Ahmadinejad.'"

[---]

"Last week, Egypt canceled a visit by Iran's foreign minister to protest comments he made accusing Arab leaders of betrayal for attending the new round of Mideast peace talks in Washington."

Still, I think it might take more than that to bring Hamas into the fold. Saving face, you know, that honour thing, is a big deal with Arabs. Especially ones who aren't directly involved and those who have built their careers on fomenting hatred.

Yup. The Arabs are Afraid of Iran

Jordon sees speed to Mideast talks

"'I don't think we should put a one-year target date,' Abdullah said in an interview with Israel's TV1 late on Saturday ahead of the direct talks being relaunched in Washington this week.

'I believe words coming out of the United States is within one year (for a two-state settlement). Why wait for one year? The longer we wait, the more we give people a chance to create violence,' he said."

[---]

"Abdullah warned the military dynamics in the Middle East had changed, with the Jewish state waging short wars on average every two years in the absence of a settlement with the Palestinians.

'Today the dynamics have changed. Conflict with Israel today is not necessarily to win against Israel but to survive. Therefore that opens the dynamics to a completely different threat towards Israel,' he said." [Ed: read Iran]

I always liked this guy, and his father, too. But I think Israel is going to have to make some very big concessions, and considering the history of these efforts, a blind leap of faith. I don't see that happening. It will take generations to erase the rabid anti-Semitism from the Muslim world's mindset, let alone the Arab psyche. A lot of heads could roll if their governments no longer have Israel to blame, whipping up excuses and promulgating hatred of the Joooooos for every ill and failure of their own making. And, what, pray tell, will all the world's leftards do? Rally 'round Iran, I suppose. What else is new?

Yeah, Right!

How many American Presidents have sought to leave this as their legacy?

US 'ready' to unveil Middle East talk plans

"The US is preparing to release a statement establishing details for direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, the BBC has learned.

Both the US government and other international Quartet members have been working towards a formula to persuade both sides to begin negotiations, after several months of indirect talks.

US special envoy George Mitchell has tried to establish enough trust to begin direct talks - with the ultimate aim of two states existing side by side in peace."

[---]

"The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has insisted for many weeks that he is ready to come to the negotiating table, but without preconditions.

But Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, wants guarantees that a future Palestinian state would be based on the 1967 ceasefire lines.

He has also demanded that all construction in illegal Jewish settlements would end before he sits down with the Israelis.

The international Quartet on the Middle East, consisting of the US, the European Union, the UN and Russia, has been working hard to narrow the gap."

All the power to The One if he can pull it off (and the Quartet), but I'm not holding my breath. It does, however, kinda sorta puts his statements on the Ground Zero Mosque in a new light. Don't want to upset the apple cart when you're this close to the big prize.

And what does that say about the rumours of an Israeli strike on Iran? No reason, as far as I can tell, why it couldn't go ahead as speculated. It might even help the negotiations. And then there's Hamas. Whatever will the Gaza flotilla gang do if Hamas is emasculated and they don't have their favourite whipping boy to beat on? Or, never mind, where there's a will, there's a way. The Palestinaholics have a nice frothy head of anti-Semitism worked up. They won't let that go to waste.

More here:

"Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had called Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad late Wednesday and spoken Thursday with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the special representative of the "Quartet" of Mideast peacemakers — the U.S., the U.N., the European Union and Russia.

Officials said tentative plans call for Israel, the Palestinians, the Quartet and the U.S. to release separate but near simultaneous statements saying the stalled talks will resume early next month in either the U.S. or Egypt. The U.S. statement is expected to be issued in Clinton's name."

Holding it in Egypt would be a good move, I think.

And here:

"Diplomatic sources said the draft invitation was being discussed by the so-called Quartet of powers in Middle East peace-making -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations - and may be issued by Friday afternoon."

That's tomorrow. Will it also be the day Iran gets a bomb or two or ten dropped on it?

"The Quartet in June said peace talks would be expected to conclude in 24 months. The new draft says 12 months. The Palestinian Authority government intends to have established all the attributes of statehood by mid-2011.

Diplomats say the idea that a unilateral declaration of statehood could win support if talks do not start or collapse in the next 12 months is gaining interest."

There will have to be something pretty new and startling from both sides of the divide to prevent collapse from happening, IMHO. And as far as a unilateral declaration is concerned, this bluster almost seems like a non-starter as a negotiating position. Why not just go ahead and do it? Of course, nothing will change in the realm of reality.

Oh, Snoopy the Goon. Calling Snoopy the Goon.  Please report.