This video of clips from Bush's speeches over the last 8 years was put together by journalists at MSNBC.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Investing in the Future
Pie in the sky politics has not yielded peace in Palestine. Perhaps common sense economics will.
At least, that is the hope of the Affordable Mortgage and Loan Company. It is backed by the Palestinian Investment Fund, the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, the Bank of Palestine, and the British government (all of whom combined are providing half the capital- $250 million) and the U.S. based Overseas Private Investment Corporation (providing the other $250 million). The mortgage company will provide the money necessary for the construction of 10 new neighborhoods in the West Bank. The West Bank is controlled by the Fatah government and its president, Mahmoud Abbas.
In an earlier post, the Palestinian Authority's apparent fondness for anti-American regimes was revealed. While that observation is valid, I must point out that however much Abbas and his government leave to be desired, they are still infinitely more pro-Western than rival Hamas in the Gaza Strip. We can only work with what we've got, and in the choice between the lesser of two evils, Abbas wins.
The population of the West Bank is exploding, and at the same time families are having a difficult time finding either jobs or adequate housing. The purpose of the new Affordable Mortgage and Loan Company is to meet both needs. They will help build 30,000 new apartments in a 5-year period and at the same time stimulate the economy by creating thousands of jobs in construction and real estate. This plan, negotiated and set into motion outside the traditional realm of politics, comes a year after a similar plan to spend $230 million on new small businesses in the West Bank.
Politically, this is a wonderful turn of events for two reasons. First of all, it will boost the popularity of Mahmoud Abbas among his people. Hey, who cares if it wasn't his idea- he'll still get credit for being the one in power when it happened. And as a more popular leader, he'll have more credibility when trying to talk to both Israel and the United States. Second, it makes Hamas look bad. While the citizens of Gaza face dire conditions and international isolation, those in the West Bank will be enjoying a higher standard of living and benefiting from an influx of international support. In a recent speech, Mahmoud Abbas said that he regretted that the same benefits could not apply to those in Gaza, but that Hamas' coup in 2006 made it impossible. That is one arrow that will not only find its mark in the hearts and minds of the people of Gaza, but it will sting.
Traditional methods of seeking peace in the conflict between Israel and Palestine have failed. The U.S. government keeps trying, but all efforts have produced alot of talk, worthless documents, and no action. Every attempt to orchestrate peace with a top-down strategy has stalled.
Before the region can have true and lasting peace, the people of Palestine have to want peace. They have to be willing to let go of past hurts and grievances, and be willing to compromise for the sake of the future. They will want peace when their families no longer live in squalor, when their children are no longer hungry, and when their men are too busy working and prospering to have time or inclination to fight.
This latest development is a step in the right direction. It doesn't solve all the problems, and it doesn't even completely fix this one problem. But it helps. And it doesn't waste time talking- it jumps in and does something. More of this, and we just might witness a peace that the older generation has only dreamed of.
Source Article
(New Home-Buying Plan May Bolster Abbas by Ethan Bronner)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/world/middleeast/15mideast.html?ref=middleeast
At least, that is the hope of the Affordable Mortgage and Loan Company. It is backed by the Palestinian Investment Fund, the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, the Bank of Palestine, and the British government (all of whom combined are providing half the capital- $250 million) and the U.S. based Overseas Private Investment Corporation (providing the other $250 million). The mortgage company will provide the money necessary for the construction of 10 new neighborhoods in the West Bank. The West Bank is controlled by the Fatah government and its president, Mahmoud Abbas.
In an earlier post, the Palestinian Authority's apparent fondness for anti-American regimes was revealed. While that observation is valid, I must point out that however much Abbas and his government leave to be desired, they are still infinitely more pro-Western than rival Hamas in the Gaza Strip. We can only work with what we've got, and in the choice between the lesser of two evils, Abbas wins.
The population of the West Bank is exploding, and at the same time families are having a difficult time finding either jobs or adequate housing. The purpose of the new Affordable Mortgage and Loan Company is to meet both needs. They will help build 30,000 new apartments in a 5-year period and at the same time stimulate the economy by creating thousands of jobs in construction and real estate. This plan, negotiated and set into motion outside the traditional realm of politics, comes a year after a similar plan to spend $230 million on new small businesses in the West Bank.
Politically, this is a wonderful turn of events for two reasons. First of all, it will boost the popularity of Mahmoud Abbas among his people. Hey, who cares if it wasn't his idea- he'll still get credit for being the one in power when it happened. And as a more popular leader, he'll have more credibility when trying to talk to both Israel and the United States. Second, it makes Hamas look bad. While the citizens of Gaza face dire conditions and international isolation, those in the West Bank will be enjoying a higher standard of living and benefiting from an influx of international support. In a recent speech, Mahmoud Abbas said that he regretted that the same benefits could not apply to those in Gaza, but that Hamas' coup in 2006 made it impossible. That is one arrow that will not only find its mark in the hearts and minds of the people of Gaza, but it will sting.
Traditional methods of seeking peace in the conflict between Israel and Palestine have failed. The U.S. government keeps trying, but all efforts have produced alot of talk, worthless documents, and no action. Every attempt to orchestrate peace with a top-down strategy has stalled.
Before the region can have true and lasting peace, the people of Palestine have to want peace. They have to be willing to let go of past hurts and grievances, and be willing to compromise for the sake of the future. They will want peace when their families no longer live in squalor, when their children are no longer hungry, and when their men are too busy working and prospering to have time or inclination to fight.
This latest development is a step in the right direction. It doesn't solve all the problems, and it doesn't even completely fix this one problem. But it helps. And it doesn't waste time talking- it jumps in and does something. More of this, and we just might witness a peace that the older generation has only dreamed of.
Source Article
(New Home-Buying Plan May Bolster Abbas by Ethan Bronner)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/world/middleeast/15mideast.html?ref=middleeast
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Friends with the Enemy
Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, would have the U.S. believe that he is a friend. That he is committed to the peace process. That he represents a government that values democracy, freedom, and good relations with the West. But is he telling the truth?
A group called Palestinian Media Watch brought a report before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in which they conclude that the Palestinian Authority has allied itself with nations considered to be enemies of the U.S. PMW had compiled a long list of examples from the Palestinian media that went as far back as 2005. Among the nations that the Palestinian media has spoken of favorably, it is little surprise to find both Iraq and Syria. Saddam Hussein is known throughout the world as a cruel dictator with no respect for the rights of his own people, and yet schools are being named after him in the Palestinian Authority in memory of "the values of Arabness and jihad, which he represented." The U.S. State Department lists Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, funding and arming not only Palestinian terrorist groups but also Hizbullah in Lebanon. While the choice to support these countries is inexcusable from an American standpoint, it does not come as a surprise and could possibly be explained, although not justified, by the ties of religion that they share. Is it not natural that Muslim countries would support other Muslim countries?
What is more shocking, and far more revealing, is that the Palestinian media also approves of and courts the favor of non-Muslim countries; notably, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea. These countries are openly anti-American and have no respect for democracy.
Using common sense, most people would probably agree that friends are friends for a reason. They typically share common views, values, and goals. What is true for individuals is also true for states. In international relations, a state chooses its allies for one of two reasons; either, 1) they share a common ideology, or 2) they share a common enemy. Unless one of those two conditions exists, states will not form an alliance. Therefore, if an alliance does exist, the only logical conclusion is that one or both conditions have been met.
Having established the above, it is easy to explain why the Palestinian Authority has chosen as its friends the enemies of the United States. In the case of Iraq and Syria, the nations share a common ideology. They are all Arab, and they are all Muslim. In the case of Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea, the common denominator is that they share an enemy: the United States. If the Palestinian Authority has made friends of them, the only conclusion to be reached is that the PA is also anti-American. This combination of allies suggests that the PA could logically be considered an enemy of the U.S.
So what is up with Mahmoud Abbas? Well, he's a politician, and he's trying to have it both ways. Assuming that he is an intelligent individual, surely he recognizes that without American support the chances of establishing a Palestinian state (currently the PA is only a territory) are pretty slim. He needs the international pressure that the U.S. brings to the table. Right now the U.S. Congress is pouring incredible amounts of money into the Palestinian Authority as relief aid. Without that money, where would the PA economy be? So, Abbas has little choice other than to publicly claim support for America and democracy and the peace process. But, actions speak louder than words.
Source Article
(PA Cozying up to America's Enemies by Herb Keinon)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208246578923&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
A group called Palestinian Media Watch brought a report before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in which they conclude that the Palestinian Authority has allied itself with nations considered to be enemies of the U.S. PMW had compiled a long list of examples from the Palestinian media that went as far back as 2005. Among the nations that the Palestinian media has spoken of favorably, it is little surprise to find both Iraq and Syria. Saddam Hussein is known throughout the world as a cruel dictator with no respect for the rights of his own people, and yet schools are being named after him in the Palestinian Authority in memory of "the values of Arabness and jihad, which he represented." The U.S. State Department lists Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, funding and arming not only Palestinian terrorist groups but also Hizbullah in Lebanon. While the choice to support these countries is inexcusable from an American standpoint, it does not come as a surprise and could possibly be explained, although not justified, by the ties of religion that they share. Is it not natural that Muslim countries would support other Muslim countries?
What is more shocking, and far more revealing, is that the Palestinian media also approves of and courts the favor of non-Muslim countries; notably, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea. These countries are openly anti-American and have no respect for democracy.
Using common sense, most people would probably agree that friends are friends for a reason. They typically share common views, values, and goals. What is true for individuals is also true for states. In international relations, a state chooses its allies for one of two reasons; either, 1) they share a common ideology, or 2) they share a common enemy. Unless one of those two conditions exists, states will not form an alliance. Therefore, if an alliance does exist, the only logical conclusion is that one or both conditions have been met.
Having established the above, it is easy to explain why the Palestinian Authority has chosen as its friends the enemies of the United States. In the case of Iraq and Syria, the nations share a common ideology. They are all Arab, and they are all Muslim. In the case of Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea, the common denominator is that they share an enemy: the United States. If the Palestinian Authority has made friends of them, the only conclusion to be reached is that the PA is also anti-American. This combination of allies suggests that the PA could logically be considered an enemy of the U.S.
So what is up with Mahmoud Abbas? Well, he's a politician, and he's trying to have it both ways. Assuming that he is an intelligent individual, surely he recognizes that without American support the chances of establishing a Palestinian state (currently the PA is only a territory) are pretty slim. He needs the international pressure that the U.S. brings to the table. Right now the U.S. Congress is pouring incredible amounts of money into the Palestinian Authority as relief aid. Without that money, where would the PA economy be? So, Abbas has little choice other than to publicly claim support for America and democracy and the peace process. But, actions speak louder than words.
Source Article
(PA Cozying up to America's Enemies by Herb Keinon)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208246578923&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
President G.W. Bush on the Middle East
George W. Bush
This young century will be liberty's century. By promoting liberty abroad, we will build a safer world. By encouraging liberty at home, we will build a more hopeful America. Like generations before us, we have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom. This is the everlasting dream of America.
Acceptance speech at Republic National Convention (September 2, 2004)
Acceptance speech at Republic National Convention (September 2, 2004)
George W. Bush
Are the peoples of the Middle East somehow beyond the reach of liberty? Are millions of men and women and children condemned by history or culture to live in despotism? Are they alone never to know freedom, and never even to have a choice in the matter? I, for one, do not believe it. I believe every person has the ability and the right to be free.
George W. Bush
Nov. 6, 2003
If the Middle East remains a place where freedom does not flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation and anger and violence for export. And as we saw in the ruins of two towers, no distance on the map will protect our lives and way of life. If the greater Middle East joins the democratic revolution that has reached much of the world, the lives of millions in that region will be bettered, and a trend of conflict and fear will be ended at its source.
George W. Bush
Nov. 19, 2003
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