The Israeli Option in Strategy

[Rank amateur]

That has been an overarching question that this Adminstration ignored altogether for the past 7 yearrs, partially at least in the belief that one could transpose democracy elswhere in the region and solve this issue. That is not to say that all problems in the region are monocausal. They certainly are not. But as you question above, I do not buy a strategy built on the assumption that we are hated so we will convert that hate into fear.

It is a negative image of the those who want everyone to love us. That does not work either because the world is much too complex.

Tom

A) I do believe that the Middle East is different, so the issue really isn't a world wide one.

B) It isn't hate/love. It's who gets to live where: an issue that's been unresolved for at least 1,600 years, admitting that we're firmly on one side and admitting that we can't convince people that we aren't firmly on one side with spin or democracy or another else.

C) It doesn't have to be fear. But instead of pretending to be a honest broker, we behave like a police man. (A police man who's only real concern is protecting one piece of turf.) To combine you and Steve, "If Arab leader does X,Y and Z, lightening will strike. If not, we'll buy your oil."