What Diplomacy Looks Like Posted by Ilan Goldenberg

This seems to make sense:

US President Barack Obama put his prestige Monday behind a push for Arab-Israeli peace in sending envoy George Mitchell to the Middle East to bolster a truce in Gaza and deal with the human toll there.

Obama, promising to be more involved in Middle East peace efforts than his predecessor George W. Bush, was to meet Mitchell later Monday before the trip to "begin the process that the president promised to be actively engaged in, the peace process in the Middle East" said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

Joining the pair at the White House will be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Gibbs told a news conference.

During his trip from January 26 to February 3, Mitchell will travel to Israel and the Palestinian West Bank as well as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Europe, State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters.

And this is nice to.

Asked to comment on what action the new administration might take on Iran's nuclear pursuits, Ambassador Rice said the United States remains "deeply concerned" about the threat that program poses to the region and the international community. She said the U.S. would pursue vigorous diplomacy that would be both directly with Iran and continued collaboration with the other four permanent members of the Security Council and Germany through the group known as the "P-Five Plus One".

"Dialogue and diplomacy must go hand-in-hand with a very firm message from the United States and the international community that Iran needs to meet its obligations as defined by the Security Council and its continued refusal to do so will only cause pressure to increase," she said.

It's refreshing to see that after years of either stubbornly ignoring a problem or refusing to change an approach that has failed, they will finally be some new seriousness injected into American diplomacy.  I don't know how long it took Bush to send someone over to the Middle East when he became President (But I'd be curious to have an answer to that question).  I do know that no top level U.S. official went over there during the 22 days of fighting in Gaza.

Of course, none of this is going to be easy.  And paying serious attention is only the beginning.  The execution is obviously critical.  But as opposed to the last eight years, at least this President is getting moving on these critical issues from day one. And with the appointment of a serious heavyweight like George Mitchell he is off to as good of a start as you can get.

Comments

[Don Bacon]

Mitchell only makes sense if you believe that (1) the US, as a principal supporter of Israel, is in any way qualified to mediate a peace agreement and (2) the US should not talk to the prime Palestinian elected authority, Hamas.

Rice only makes sense if you believe that illegal demands on Iran's legal nuclear program should be called diplomacy.

In other words, Ilan, you make no sense.

[Jim]

"It's refreshing to see that after years of either stubbornly ignoring a problem or refusing to change an approach that has failed, they will finally be some new seriousness injected into American diplomacy. I don't know how long it took Bush to send someone over to the Middle East when he became President (But I'd be curious to have an answer to that question). I do know that no top level U.S. official went over there during the 22 days of fighting in Gaza."

Umm. I seem to remember that Bush appointed George Mitchell as an envoy in 2001? Did he not send Anthony Zinni over numerous times as his special envoy back when the violence really heated up back in 2001-2002? Did he not send Colin Powell to the region for a highly publicized trip in the spring of 2002 that was harshly criticized by both Democrats and Republicans seeing as it came in the wake of a string of Palestinian suicide bombers that killed some 60 Israelis?

Lets just have a little balance here. What Obama has done so far with Mitchell is a no-brainer that means nothing unless he is going to be willing to make a serious push for peace.

[for the liars]

There is no such thing as a "Semitic Jew"

All Semitic Jews were killed by Christians during the pogroms of the Middle Ages in Europe. Over 90% of modern Jews are Ashkenazi Jews, descended from the Khazars of the Caspian Sea. Khazars are Turks who converted to Judaism in 8th century.

Thus there can be NO DIVINE RIGHT to claim Palestine.

And the UN General Assembly can NOT create nations; and if you claim it can - then the UN General Assembly can ALSO un-create a nation.

Please acquire real historical knowledge, instead of spitting out incorrect Zionist propaganda. Thanks.

[luxury watches]

I am so with you,rolex watch
luxury watch

[cheap coach handbags]

hank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[cheap coach bags]

Great comments! You are so nice, man! You never know how much i like'em!

[memory card reader]

Soaring rhetoric ... Any kind of implementation?

If the financial sector is any indication, it is more corporafornication.

Obama's policies sound ideal process for the establishment of partnerships between public and private sectors (PPP), insurance companies and private property, including the well sites.
memory card reader

[sesli sohbet]

Very informative and trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading

[güzel sözler]

Simdi şarkı sözleri sitesinde ozgun icerigimizle tek geceriz. ek olarak menüde şebnem ferah şarkı sözleri - hadise şarkı sözleri - serdar ortaç şarkı sözleri teoman şarkı sözleri - yeni çıkan albümler - sagopa kajmer şarkı sözleri gibi cesitlerde bulabilirsiniz

[k247br]

Known as replica chanel replica chanel
Los Angeles' "Ambassador of replica gucci replica gucci
Boogie Funk," Dãm-Funk represents the citizens of the Funkmosphere. Headquartered in replica hermes replica hermes
the Leimert Park section of L.A., Dãm (pronounced: dame) has been dedicated over the last few years to cultivating a musical renaissance replica louis vuitton replica louis vuitton
rooted in the early-'80s styles known discount handbags discount handbags
as Boogie, Modern designer handbags designer handbags
Soul and Electro-Funk. www.myspace.com/damfunk

[FFXIV Gil]

Are you fighting in Final Fantasy XIV for FFXIV Gil or Final Fantasy XIV Gil?
Can you suffer yourself being called newbie in FFXIV Gil game?
Are you seeking unofficial Buy FFXIV Gil cheats or Final Fantasy XIV guides in order to make Final Fantasy XIV Gil faster?
Can you get millions of Cheap FFXIV Gil in one day?
Even if you know how to farm Buy Final Fantasy XIV Gil you have to prepare enough Final Fantasy XIV Power Leveling first to buy height class Final Fantasy XIV Items, to upgrade your Final Fantasy XIV characters.
FF14 Gil Then why not Buy FFXIV Gil from us?
In Final Fantasy XIV it's the fastest way FF14 Gil,for you to get rich. We are online 24 hours a day ready and 7 days one week to power up your FFXIV Gil accounts with FFXIV Gil. Here is the best place for the Final Fantasy XIV Online players to buy your Final Fantasy XIV Gil.
We are the professional website in FFXIV GIL sale.FFXIV GIL here,We are professional FFXIV Power Leveling online. We update price every single day to make sure we are the lowest in the market.(we don't compare price with scam sites which uses unbelievable low price to deceive.)
Our slogan:Cheapest price, Fastest delivery, Best service! Final Fantasy XIV GIL
In the 2 years we are in this field , FFXIV GILbuilt many business with tens of thousands of customers. They are very satisfied with our service.So if you want to get a log of Cheap FFXIV Gil ,no doubt ,come to our website to buy. Our customer service is ready for you on line now!(WWW,GM MMO,COM Sell FFXIV Gil)

[3g modem]

well! i like this interesting post,thank you your sharing!

[nike air max]

Our customer service is ready for you on line now!(WWW,GM MMO,COM Sell FFXIV Gil)

[tiffany and co]

Measure out a good length of wire line or Links of London Letters, if the balls are larger, leather or cotton cord. Should be enough to wrap around your neck than 5 inches. If you are using wire, slide a bead embedded in one end and a part of clasp. Pass the cable through the securing of accounts, adjust, and then flatten the Links of London Sale with crimping pliers. Trim the tail of wire. String accounts. If you want a symmetrical pattern, start with the Links of London Pendants and add segments on each side. Add the second part of the hook or, if you are using a snap hook Should silver jewelry be plated? Silver coating can be done with rhodium, white gold, yellow gold and platinum, even. Another thing you should know when to buy silver Links of London online may no longer be done by hand or machine. Of course, pieces of handmade silver are priced much higher than machine-made counterparts because more value is placed on the works of human hands.

[hermes birkin]

Good day I was fortunate to find your subject in bing
your topic is exceptional
I obtain a lot in your website really thank your very much btw the theme of you blog is really impressive where can find it

[Doll Penny]

The Christmas time is comming, and the most desire present i want to get, is the latest white iphone 4, can i get one? Tell you after Xmas.

[wholesale replica handbags]

i like your opinion. 2291 Peek A Boo Bag, m41526 Speedy 30, 1112, m40249 artsy mm, M45257 Messenger Bag, M40156 Neverfull MM, m40144 Tivoli GM, 6089, 211943 sukey, New Jackie

[bob]

Traditional strategies have been utilized to grind wheat flour inside the before days. It unquestionably involved huge work and time. Using a wheat flour processing to grind flour is currently being popularised as of late with the advance in technological elements. There are numerous advantages of using these machines because it gives freshly ground flour rich in dietary values.

[best android apps]

Most people use their Android phones (or any Smart Phone really) for entertainment purposes beyond what a normal cell phone could do a de

[knockoff handbags]

Its interesting. I would like to know more about this…I really wanted to know how this works can you please help me out…….Thanks for sharing.