HAMAS holds secret talks with US Democratic Party

[Sirotnikov]

Originally posted by DaShi
Or more likely, the story was shown to be false so the Jpost deleted it.

I'm not sure.

You'd have to have a good reason to write about a meeting between Hamas and US politicians.

Such secrets have a tendency to float and then quikly vanish.

[Ned]

Siro, they also deleted the portion referring to the Euros. Perhaps the story was quashed by the editors after a call from the Israeli government.

[Sirotnikov]

Not very probable.

While Israeli politicians have their ties and friendships, they rarely manage to control what is published in newspapers. They can do spin well, but they can't censor an issue.

The IDF censorship would not be able to stop a publishing about something that has absolutely no relation to Israeli actions. The court would not approve of that.

And the JPost is no longer Israeli owned, IIRC.

If anyone had an effect it is US diplomats.

But most probably, the original source decided to deny his previous statement.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ramo


Why wouldn't they be? When the decision comes down between having a stable ally or a regional war, it ain't hard.

Iraq, if it is to have a govt that actually incorporates Sunni and other minority interests. wont be a reliable ally for Iran. Also its not clear that they see the only alt as chaos and regional war. An Iraq thats not in complete chaos, but that is unstable and violent, may be the optimal solution for Iran, since that makes it easier for them to intervene on behalf of their own interests, maximizes the influence of the Sadrists, the group most reliably supportive of Iran in the country, and prevents the development of the Sistani model, a Shiite dominated democray with a quietist clergy, which would be the model for a different Iran, as well as being an Iraq that could conceivably work with its Sunni neighbors to contain Iran.

[SlowwHand]

Anyone seen reference to this article in other sources?
Anyone in the media pick up on it?

If so, Democrat chances in 2008:

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ramo
Baker-Hamilton seems to be roughly what I've wanted for the past several months.

Baker Hamilton tells the Shia to centralize control of oil, recreating a centralized state. Why should they want that? The presumed leverage is otherwise the Americans leave. But Baker Hamilton seems to imply that US troops arent helping security anyway. And will BH keep american troops anyway? The implication seems to be they wont. Suppose the Shia give in on the constitution and on oil - will Baker Hamilton THEN be in a position to sway the US public to keep troops there as long as necessary? Against probably some continued Sunni insurgency (Which has always had an AQ and Baathist element that doesnt care about the constitution, and now is fed by ethnic *** for tat that is also independent of constitutional provisions) and against probably a renewed Sadrist insurgency, pushing for Shiite rights? They seem to be counting on Iran to restrain Sadr for them, and I dont see Iran doing that.

Iran of course COULD hold Sadr back until the Americans are gone, and then unleash him.

http://www.slate.com/id/2154991/

[Ned]

Yeah, the only solution is to fight.

On Sunday, one of the commission members said the major obstacle to getting a competent Iraqi Army was lack of leadership. That takes time and experience.

Which was MtG's point made several years ago when the Iraqi army was dismissed. It would take years to train up the non com and officer class.

The bottom line, it is STILL possible to recall this part of the Iraqi army, IMHO.

[SlowwHand]

http://tailrank.com/926007/Hamas-talks-secretly-with-Democratic-Party-Officials

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Anyone seen reference to this article in other sources?
Anyone in the media pick up on it?

If so, Democrat chances in 2008:

If the Republicans are shown to be child-raping flesh-eaters from another planet then they don't have a chance in 2008!

[DaShi]

they're doomed

[Ned]

Well it looks like Israeli and Jewish protests may have had some effect. The Democrat leadership is no longer calling for wholesale adoption of the Iraq Surrender Group's report

Meanwhile, Jimmy Carter is all over the airwaves condemning Israel and the Jewish lobby for having too much power to influence American opinion. I hear he has now become best friends with Mel Gibson.

Back to the substance of the report. If we get into negotiations with the Syrians and with the Iranians, they will want something in exchange for calling off their war dogs. Perhaps we could offer the Iranians and the Syrians a small concession. Perhaps we could offer them a pipeline directly from a Iran to Syria. Better we could offer them a high-speed railroad line directly from Iranian Army bases to the Syrian border with Israel.

[Ned]

Originally posted by DaShi
they're doomed

Yeah, they might nominate that girl-chaser Giulliani. No one in their right mind would ever vote for such a politician over the morally "unimpeachable" Democrats.

[DaShi]

That is a good point.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
http://tailrank.com/926007/Hamas-tal...arty-Officials

Are any of those bobbleblogs not drawing from the same JP retraction?

[DaShi]

Poor Republicans. Driven to desperation so soon.