It is what political leaders leave out of their speeches that is often more interesting than what they put in. So with President Bush's speech this week to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of the founding of Israel. The peace process which he is supposed to be pushing as his final legacy of office barely got a look in.
Which tells you all you need to know about how the talks for peace set in motion earlier this year at Annapolis are going. The straight answer is nowhere. Although Washington would still hope to get some kind of statement of agreed principles by the time Bush leaves office in January, words are the very most they can hope for. On anything substantive or practical there just isn't the ability to deliver from either side. The Palestinians are divided between Gaza and the West Bank. Israel's government is too weak and its prime minister may fall any moment, charged with corruption.
Even on US demands for Israel to stop expanding settlements there is no sign of movement in Jerusalem. The settlement expansion goes on. And without that no Palestinian authority, let alone one led by someone so vulnerable as Abu Mazen, can afford to look as if he is giving ground and has supported Jerusalem on every major issue. It's reward? Not even a gesture of compromise.
But what is also interesting is what was in the speech - and that was a caustic attack on any of Bush's critics within America who counsel direct talks with 'terrorists and radicals' - i.e. Iran. Barack Obama has taken this as a direct attack on him, as well he might. It is, in direct contravention of the traditional rule of US politics that a president does not try and score domestic points abroad during an election time.
But it is more than that. It is a sad reflection of the way the Republicans are going to fight this presidential campaign. The question of direct talks is indeed the crucial issue of US foreign politics. And should be debated openly.
What Bush's speech in Jerusalem indicates, given its place and timing, however, is that he, and McCain, will try and pin those who want talks with Iran (who, after all, include Bush Sr's adviser and Republican stalwart, James Baker) with the charge that they are letting down Israel. This campaign is going to be dirty and any sensible progression in US policy in the Middle East is likely to be the loser.
Its is time to call a Spade a Spade
http://www.atlargely.com/2008/05/all-the-preside.html
All the President's Nazis (real and imagined): An Open Letter to Bush
(cross-posted at Huffington Post)
Dear Mr. Bush,
Your speech on the Knesset floor today was not only a disgrace; it was nothing short of treachery. Worse still, your exploitation of the Holocaust in a country carved out of the wounds of that very crime, in order to strike a low blow at American citizens whose politics differs from your own is unforgivable and unpardonable. Let me remind you, Mr. Bush, of your words today:
Posted by: Mark Edwards | Friday, 16 May 2008 at 06:53 PM
larisa alexandrovna is a pipsqueak.
sarah posner, also in huffpost, is a bit more solid:
http://tinyurl.com/65r2ck
Posted by: Rowan Berkeley | Friday, 16 May 2008 at 08:41 PM
Sorry in advance to all those about to pour vitriol on Mr Bush,
but he is a driven man, and unfortunately a very unsophisticated
one, typical of many presidents of the USA who we have got to
know and accept, but rarely admired. And I hate to say it, but
most are saints compared to the other political monsters walking
out there on two legs.
More interesting is to imagine just how the Republican Party
is going to do a Willie Horten on Barak Obama - just wait -
the election dirty is just being warmed up. I imagine there
are PR imaginations in the USA going berserk with what they
could unleash on Mr Obama.
Posted by: PHCO | Friday, 16 May 2008 at 08:41 PM
Ah, democracy! A billion dollars spent on a presidential candidate campaign, dirty tricks right and left, just had 8 years of a man entirely ill-equipped for the job - back in England, a faltering PM, delinquent politicians, much shredding of expense details, nobody knows nothing, no way of getting rid of an incompetent government elected with minimal voter support, and so on. I think I'll emigrate just across the border into Scotland, where I'll save money on my kids' education, my hospital fees, and, no doubt, a few other goodies which the English have not been told about. Closer than France and Italy, and they speak English, I believe.
Posted by: john problem | Sunday, 18 May 2008 at 09:40 AM
Keep in mind that all public criticism of Israel is almost illegal here in the States. If you do this you could possibly lose your job. Jimmy Carter is literally the ONLY person who can do this. The only reason is because he's a former president.
Meanwhile, in Israel people can debate literally anything with no problem. And AIPAC has absolutely NO influence over the U.S. government? Please.
Posted by: Tom | Sunday, 13 July 2008 at 12:09 AM