Well, okay, so the U.S. "has ruled out a connection between the threat against its consulate in Lahore, Pakistan, and the current stream of troubling information that prompted closures of American diplomatic facilities this week through the Middle East and Africa." Perhaps that's true at the tactical level, but there is an overarching connection at the level of ideology.
Jihadists smell weakness like they haven't in years. They see the Benghazi scandal, the closing of 19 embassies, the utter indifference of the MEC as manifested by his choice of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as his first forum to discuss the heightened threat level, his vacation on Martha's Vineyard, the sputtering of yet another attempt at Israeli-Palestinian "peace," the completely ineffectual US policy toward Iran, the al-Qaeda-driven deterioration of public order and safety in Iraq (from which we withdrew with no plan for preventing this eventuality), and the classifying of Nidal Hasan's act of jihad as "workplace violence," and they conclude that this is an ideal time to pounce.
Is there the tiniest shred of evidence that they're mistaken?
Regarding that sputtering of another attempt at Israeli-Palestinian "peace," Hebrews in high places had their hopes too, as short a time ago as, well, just last May, uh, like, less than 3 months ago:
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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Israeli President Shimon Peres officially invited Pope Francis to Israel, telling the pope “the sooner you visit the better, as in these days a new opportunity is being created for peace, and your arrival could contribute significantly to increasing the trust and belief in peace.”
The Israeli president’s remarks were reported in a statement released by the Israeli Embassy to the Vatican after Peres met Pope Francis April 30.
The statement said Peres told Pope Francis about efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, mentioning specifically the meeting April 29 in Washington between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign ministers of the Arab League. Peres also told the pope that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “is a genuine partner for peace,” the statement said.
Peres left the meeting at the Vatican telling the pope, “I am expecting you in Jerusalem and not just me, but all the people of Israel.”
You big tough armchair warriors out there wouldn't brook a little prayer would ya, or doth that smell of weakness?
ReplyDeletePope Francis and Peres expressed hopes for a resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians so that “with courageous decisions and availability on both sides, as well as with the support of the international community, an agreement that respects the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples can be reached,” the statement said.
A resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would contribute to peace and stability throughout the region, the Vatican said.
The two leaders also spoke about “the conflict that plagues Syria” and the need for a political solution in Syria that favors reconciliation and dialogue.
The statement released later by the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See quoted Peres as congratulating the pope on his election and praising Pope Francis’ leadership, which is “characterized by humility, the pursuit of peace and not by force. Your leadership creates a new spirit of hope for peace, of dialogue between nationals and of the promotion of a solution to global poverty and illiteracy.”
The Israeli president, according to the statement, told Pope Francis, “the Middle East is disintegrating” and a severe lack of employment, food and water are making many people vulnerable to those who advocate violence.
“You have an important role in progressing peace and the belief in it,” the statement quoted Peres as telling the pope. The president asked the pope to continue publicly praying for and appealing for peace in the Middle East.
Read more at http://www.catholicfreepress.org/vatican/2013/05/02/israeli-president-invites-pope-to-visit-israel-the-sooner-the-better/
Well, you see, first Israel is going to have to have an actual negotiating partner, which it does not now now have, since Fatah and Hamas both want Israel to cease existing.
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