A Micro-Civil War Around and Within the National Security Council?A struggle over the control of the ship of state seems to be ensuing. Neocons Dick Cheney & Co. are losing out to Conservatives Brent Scowcroft & James Baker, Inc.
Brent Scowcroft, was national security adviser to three Republican presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George Bush Sr. He may be pulling strings in the latest US foreign policy departures. He is definitely a pivotal figure behind the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group. This panel submits its final report to Congress on Dec. 10.
Scowcroft said in an interview he gave the Turkish Daily News of Nov. 9, 2006:
I think we need to embed Iraq in a larger regional solution, and that to me goes back to the Palestinian issue. I think this would put us back on the offensive psychologically and even make Iraq easier to manage.This is what most of us expected, on 12-September-01. It's five years late. And billions of dollars short.
But I don’t think this will start with some kind of a conference because everyone will come with their preset speeches and everything will freeze again. But I think that there will be some quiet consultations in the region. I believe the Arab states in the region are eager for such a conversation. Israel may not be eager, but Israel is in bad shape right now.
Vigilante,
ReplyDeleteSnowcroft is RIGHT!
I don't think it is farfetched to believe that Europeans in general realize that the unresolved Palestinian issue will continue to be an obstacle to any, I repeat, ANY comprehensive peace undertaking in the Iraq-Iran and Middle East regions, i.e., there must be some form of justice for the Palestinian people - they must be accorded an independent homeland, and recognized as such; they must be allowed to live a life with even the most minimum dignity.
Re: "And several billions dollar short"
The war on Iraq will have cost the US close to 290 billion dollars by the end of 2006.
Only seems that way. Both sides are the same. Perhaps one a little more competent in their brand of skulduggery.
ReplyDeleteThis new realism, while needed, may be short-lived since it appears Bush and Cheney both want to hold to their crusade. And with the Iraqi PM's abrupt cancelation of his meeting with Bush which was a pure snub and an attempt to shore up his Shiite support. The last word I heard was that the Al-Sadr loyalists who quit the government just suspended their membership leaving an opening for them to return. If they should quit for good even Bush could not refute that Iraq is in civil war All the realism now appearing is just to little and way to late.
ReplyDeleteThe new Conservative guard may indeed be correct, but I hardly think it matters to the Neo-Con agenda as I have pointed out in todays article on the ISG Report. Also I think it's Dec 6th isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAuthentic elders hold the ground while the youth make their glorious mistakes.
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