Friday, August 20, 2010

"Direct talks are the best way to combat Hamas ..."

"strenghtened" ...
We all remember 'timid' David Hale from his early days in Beirut, when he completed the other David (Sattefield). Slowly but surely, the 'Two Davids' (Satterfield & Hale) became less timid, as they grew impatient with the 'radical Lahoud'. I recall that towards the end of his 'tenure' Hale, did not miss a heavily attended 'social event' (often imbued with alcohol) to badmouth President Lahoud IN Lebanon. This is pretty much like an Arab ambassador (of lesser importance mind you) standing at the Old Ebbitt bar and badmouthing Obama. Today, David had this to say:

"The ability of the forces of moderation and the forces of peace among Palestinians to prevail will be greatly enhanced .... Abbas offers the Palestinian people the choice of negotiating your problems and challenges rather than trying to use violence or terrorism to try to achieve your goals, .... Abbas is strengthened in the eyes of the Palestinian people when he's able to show his course of peace actually produces results. So we think that by entering into direct talks, it ought to be able to strengthen his position rather than the opposite...."

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