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Consider Lincoln's maxim

Reader comment on item: George Mitchell's Return to Middle East Diplomacy

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Jan 26, 2009 at 09:44

In Dec, 1864, in his last State of the Union message, Lincoln said

"On careful consideration of all the evidence available, it seems to me that no attempt at negotiation with the insurgent leader (i.e. Jefferson Davis) could result in any good. He would accept nothing less than severance of the union, precisely what we will not and cannot give. His declarations to this effect are explicit and oft-repeated. He does not attempt to deceive us. HE AFFORDS US NO EXCUSE TO DECEIVE OURSELVES." (emphasis added)

Substituting Hamas' "explicit and oft-repeated" statements that Israel must cease to exist, why has it been so impossible for so long, and is presumably impossible for George Mitchell and others pushing for talks with Hamas now, to accept the blunt truth of Lincoln's admonition? One hopes that President Obama was serious when he laid down three conditions for Hamas to accept, none of which they will meet, which should effectively exclude any negotiation with them.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (35) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Mitchell in the Middle East [93 words]mollMar 9, 2010 19:34169908
Appoinment of Mitchell [97 words]JACQUES HADIDAFeb 1, 2009 15:02149662
Yes, Jacques has it just about right [52 words]tanargFeb 5, 2009 01:53149662
Israeli's won't be fooled again, this soon [65 words]David PJan 30, 2009 11:46149528
What does "must" mean? [164 words]jzjJan 30, 2009 11:43149527
George Mitchell's Return to Middle East Diplomacy [217 words]Ms. AnneJan 30, 2009 08:33149513
Re peace in Palestine [275 words]SuzanneJan 30, 2009 02:07149505
Obama's folly [83 words]Rebecca MouldsJan 28, 2009 19:11149409
Israel-Arab negotiations [24 words]Flora SamuelsJan 28, 2009 12:55149364
Mitchell, smitchell [23 words]Doug CorriganJan 27, 2009 19:57149293
Mitchel, Smitchel, add Carter who is pro-Palestinian [125 words]Ms. AnneJan 30, 2009 08:42149293
There is a way to Palestinian Israeli peace [217 words]Ken BesigJan 27, 2009 11:04149224
Direct Talks [30 words]FredJan 27, 2009 03:29149203
16th time's the charm [9 words]davidJan 26, 2009 17:41149143
Streets of the Dead [328 words]Stephen HughesJan 26, 2009 17:31149140
George Mitchel -Special Envoy to the Middle East [94 words]vigilantJan 26, 2009 09:55149100
Don't look now, but we are in the Clinton era all over again? [477 words]VigilantFeb 2, 2009 23:36149100
Consider Lincoln's maxim [161 words]Ron ThompsonJan 26, 2009 09:44149097
100 Years of War [17 words]ZentristJan 26, 2009 22:44149097
100 years of War? [301 words]Ron ThompsonJan 27, 2009 17:28149097
George Mitchell and the Girlie Men of Gaza. [339 words]Maura CollinsJan 26, 2009 09:17149094
We should try to think like the Palistinians if peace will ever have a chance [136 words]HenryJan 26, 2009 08:36149091
promises,promises [56 words]leo solomonJan 26, 2009 04:05149075
The basis of the confrontation [40 words]John BergJan 25, 2009 22:24149058
an awareness is not enough [60 words]Steve LieblichJan 25, 2009 21:40149053
Is it going to be a merry-go-round ride or a roller-coaster ride for Mitchell? [83 words]M.D'SouzaJan 25, 2009 21:03149049
At Wit's End [120 words]ZentristJan 25, 2009 20:58149048
The string of failures is coming to an end. [202 words]MelMJan 25, 2009 20:34149047
Deluded... [89 words]donvanJan 28, 2009 21:29149047
More Silliness! [43 words]Richard B.Jan 25, 2009 20:10149045
no values free peacemakers [234 words]rodney allsworthJan 25, 2009 18:29149035
I am curious [129 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Amy KayJan 25, 2009 17:56149034
Israêl, Like a mountain facing the wind [198 words]Simon NéhméJan 25, 2009 17:53149033
Moral equivalence [217 words]John BJan 25, 2009 16:52149030
Mitchell is a Disaster [62 words]Stuart KaufmanJan 25, 2009 16:49149029

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