WaPo: Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Strip Imperil Obama's Peace Chances

[laststeamtrain]

Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Strip Imperil Obama's Peace Chances
Likely Escalation Complicates Already-Delicate Diplomacy

By Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 28, 2008; A20

<snip>

There is little doubt, however, that if the situation escalates, it could hand yet another crisis to Obama, who will already be inheriting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and an unstable situation in Pakistan. If the past is any guidance, the United States will probably come under great pressure to restrain Israel if the tit-for-tat violence grows.

One senior Bush administration official said he thinks the Israelis acted in Gaza "because they want it to be over before the next administration comes in." Although Bush has largely been supportive of almost any Israeli action taken in the name of self-defense, the official pointed out: "They can't predict how the next administration will handle it. And this is not the way they want to start with the new administration."

This official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said the Israelis are being vague about how long the offensive will last but have hinted it could continue well into the week. "I think the Israeli goal now is to damage Hamas enough so that Hamas will accept a real truce," this official said. "I think it's a plausible goal. They are not trying to overthrow Hamas. They are not trying to take over the Gaza Strip."

But other U.S. analysts were skeptical the Israeli offensive would succeed in intimidating Hamas. "By now Israel should have realized that (this kind of attack) rarely has any decisive effect," said Anthony H. Cordesman, a military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "At best you get another faltering cease-fire, and then the whole thing begins again. Both sides have been escalating to nowhere."

<more>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/27/AR2008122700962.html?hpid=topnews

[FrenchieCat]

1. Escalations to Nowhere.....

Sums it up.

Hope Obama can get them to see that nowhere ain't nowwhere anyone would want to be. :shrug:

Boy, that man's plate is massive way beyond those plates that the "All you Can eat Buffet".

Wouldn't wanna be him. :(

[leftofthedial]

2. Israel pretty much threatens everyone's peace chances.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. hyperbole much?

:eyes:

[Name removed]

5. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Truth2Tell]

3. Obama has plenty of free will.

If he chooses to let his "peace chances" be imperiled, then they will be. If he really chooses peace, then the world will move toward it. So far he has not chosen it, but he is not President yet, so maybe he will choose peace next month... or in the spring? :shrug:

[burythehatchet]

6. "tit-for-tat violence"

HAHAHAHA!


you have to love the US media.

[Ani Yun Wiya]

7. Hopefully Obama will work for peace.

Perhaps if he took the path his predecessors have failed to take in the past we will finally see the end of this useless and hateful oppression.

Perhaps he will be stong enough to defend the weak.


Edited for spelling error.

[hulka38]

8. Floating the idea that funds may be withheld conditional to Israel's behavior

will reestablish our authority. But I don't expect Obama to do that.

[oberliner]

9. It's not like the US ever bombs anyone or kills civilians

I would note that the US funds countries often because of their military aggressiveness.

[subsuelo]

13. Israel is a prime example of that

[malaise]

10. My only question is

'wasn't that the plan'?

[madokie]

11. I feel only a fool would think otherwise

There needs to be a much smaller window between the election and the swearing in of the new next President.

[formercia]

12. Collective punishment is a sad way to go

considering History.

[Poll_Blind]

14. It's true: The first rogue government to test Obama's resolve won't be Iran or Afghanistan...

....it'll be Israel.

PB

[Maru Kitteh]

15. It's a little early to declare Obama's chances "imperiled" isn't it?

And Bush has been a lame duck for a substantial amount of time now.