Thursday, June 21, 2007

Why Are We Surprised?

New York Times: By Roger Cohen (IHT)
With all the sudden talk of a 'West Bank first' strategy, embracing the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and consigning Hamas-dominated Gaza to the dogs, it is easy enough to forget that we are just over two years down the road from a 'Gaza first' approach that had the Bush Administration excited. ...

It was critical, Rice said at the time, to 'seize the moment' of Israeli withdrawal from Gaza because 'we have an opportunity right now to help Israelis and Palestinians build trust with one another and achieve the peace and security they both desire.'

Fine words that proved as consequential as yesterday's newspapers. ...

Cohen's analysis is highly critical of both U.S. and Israeli policies.

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