Don't read this post.

Yup!  Its another political rant. Just skip over it and hope that I post something else really soon.

 

George Bush's Biggest Nightmare and what can he learn from it. 

 

Something really interesting happened this week.  In a free and open election, the Palestinians overwealmingly elected Hamas to form a new government.  The Bush administration (can i call it a regime yet?) denounced this and said that it will not send financial aid to any government that includes Hamas. 

 

Hamas is an organization that has used violence to achieve its goals.  I don't think anyone denies that.  They also expend an enormous amount of effort and funds to provide food, housing, schools and medical care for its people.  In a part of the world where it is difficult to get anything done politically, Hamas has succeeded for its people and they're rewarded by being elected into governing positions in the Palestinian Authority. 

 

Here is the pitfall for George W. Bush.  He's all for free and open elections until someone he doesn't agree with gets elected.  He's now pulling financial support and aid for the Palestinian Authority. 

What is the point of that?  Hamas didn't need US support to get elected.  Hamas got elected by taking care of its people.  When in power, I imagine they'll do more to provide housing, food, schools and health care for their people... hopefully on a larger scale.  Will there be violence?  Probably.  There was before, there will be again. 

 

Isn't there some way that the US could work with the Palestinian Authority to help in its humanitarian ventures while helping provide a level of stability that would alleviate the need for violence?  That would be a hell of a balancing act.  It would be a major undertaking that would take a leap of faith.  At least it is an effort that has a worthy goal... one that is a lot better than just washing our hands of the situation. 

 

There are no easy answers in this kind of thing.  How do we balance support for Israel that is demanded by the powerful lobby in the US with a desire for true peace in the region?  Some of that is by supporting fair and free elections... regardless of outcome.  The US doesn't have a history of fairness in the Middle East.  Few actions it has taken over the last 70 years can be viewed as doing anything to promote peace in the region.  This is no different.

 

The US has missed an opportunity to promote peace in the region.  Would it have been easy?  Nope!  Would it have been bloodless?  Nope.  Will we ever find out if the cause of peace could have been helped?  Nope. 

 

Oh well.  Kinda makes you wonder what will happen if a fundamentalist Muslim government ever gets elected in a free and fair election in Iraq.  :D  They're not stupid.  They saw how Hamas just got elected.  Win the hearts and minds of the people and you'll win.  If they change their tactics and add a humanitarian effort to go along with their insurgency, then they might have a way win. 

 

Something to think about. 

 

You can wake up now.  I'm done ranting.

 

Pete