Report: Obama administration prepared to talk to Hamas
"The incoming Obama administration is prepared to abandon George Bush's doctrine of isolating Hamas by establishing a channel to the Islamist organisation, sources close to the transition team say.
The move to open contacts with Hamas, which could be initiated through the US intelligence services, would represent a definitive break with the Bush presidency's ostracising of the group. The state department has designated Hamas a terrorist organisation, and in 2006 Congress passed a law banning US financial aid to the group.
The Guardian has spoken to three people with knowledge of the discussions in the Obama camp. . . .
Another potential contender for a foreign policy role in the Obama administration suggested that the president-elect would not be bound by the Bush doctrine of isolating Hamas.
"This is going to be an administration that is committed to negotiating with critical parties on critical issues," the source said."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/08/barack-obama-gaza-hamas
If this really happens, it would definitely bring in a positive result.
Anyone who imagines this is some kind of breakthrough is crazy.
All Obama wants to talk to Hamas about is the terms of their surrender.
That's correct. It's the same crap as Obama's willingness to talk to Cuba. He wants to open channels for Miami subsersives to gain influence there.
Why would anyone see any hope in such stories, when Obama has never uttered a critical word about ongoing Israeli war crimes?
I posted a link to this in another thread but I think it recognizes the direction of Obama's policy:
Michael Hirsch, Newsweek
In other words, nothing changes but packaging.
It does ratchet down somewhat the degree of licence Israel feels it has in Gaza.
Nothing less than the end of effectively unconditional support for Israel is going to really work.
But Hamas is not going to surrender and the realists know that. Israel is going to have to pull back out of Gaza just like it did Lebanon, and will face a very strengthened Hamas.
If you are in Gaza, it matters that Israel has that much less rope in how long it holds Gaza under full scale attack.
This is also yet another step in the international credibility Hamas is gaining. That has long term impact in Gaza, for Hamas' long term international support, and with Israel [regardless they won't admitt it].
I'd say about the last nail in the coffin of Israel's attempt to isolate Hamas.
An interesting op ed by Jackson Diehl, which summarizes a number of important points: www.washingtonpost.com
January 9 2009