Reference:
America Must Recognize Palestine
By JIMMY CARTER NOV. 28, 2016
ForeverYoung436, et al,
The (former) President (Carter), speaks eloquently as he always has. Yet I find it very unconvincing in many respects.
What do y'all think of it? Agree or Disagree?
(COMMENT)
I see that the Former President express a compound idea, that is challengeable from the outset.
• That the US has any business attempting to shape the outcome of the conflict.
• The the vacating administration should attempt to induce some change, before the next administration assume the office.
WHY? Why does the US even have to shape the outcome? This is never answered.
Israel is an ally. If the US wants to give Israel's opponent the advantage, then we should switch sides. But if the US is going to remain an Ally to Israel, then the US should not even suggest something that might undermine Israel. In this conflict, the political and diplomatic position for either side is essentially a domestic issue for which the internal political process for to gripe. The US should not be in the business of intervening in the internal decision making process of Israel ESPECIALLY when the issue of their national survival is at stake. We should not risk Israel's national security just because we think we know better. The US is a Superpower in the decline, and should not take risks with others interests in assets when we have been so very wrong in the past. I am an alumni of The Ohio State. I cheer for the Buckeyes every game. I contribute to The Team. But I don't intervene in the strategy and plays. If the US is going to be an Ally, then be an Ally. But don't intervene.
WHY? Why must the current administration with so little time left make a very last minute decision to intervene? Why must the US act before a change in presidents?
The very idea to go in at the minute of the game and make critical changes for which the new administration might have to live with indefinitely. There are some things that are irrevocable. If the current administration make even a minor adjustment, like the recognition of the Palestinians, under current customary international law, recognition is unconditional and irrevocable. The new administration can not just say it revokes that decision (too late). With all due respect, what the former President is suggesting is totally inappropriate; and could be considered interference with foreign affairs of the next administration. IF any action is so imperative and critical to the interest of our nation that the current administration need to double time out to New York and take action now --- THEN --- the current administration should have taken it long before now. But, we know the current administration is not now, nor has it been guilty of a failure to perform an act that is required by law or in the national security interest.
We've discussed the whole US Security Council Resolution 242 issue and what the authors had to say about it. AGAIN ---
IF the US is an ally of Israel,
THEN the right thing to do is support Israel.
IF the US and the former President wish to undermine Israel and its national security,
THEN the US should openly announce its lack of support so that the US domestic constituent know what the policy is and exact how much it means to be an ally of the US.
America has to take it stand and hold it. America should not care one whip if 139 countries believe this or that. What matters is the question of if we are going to trade our good word and reputation --- abandoning the highest rated nation on the Human Development Index (#18) -- higher than any Arab League nation
(even the oil rich nations), the highest in the entire Region, ONLY to replace with a nation that has not been able to support itself since the end of the Great War.
I could write for hours on this subject, but the issue is, who are we and what do we stand for. Do we support the Jihadist, Deadly Fedayeen, Hostile Insurgent, Radicalized Islamist, and Asymmetric Fighters? --- OR --- Do we support, help protect and extend our hand to the only Jewish Nation in the world darkness the darkness spread by the likes of the Islamic Resistance Movement and those that distinguished themselves and defined terrorism with their attack on the Olympic Village in Munich.
We have to take a stand.
Most Respectfully,
R