[LottiFurmann]

the problem with all of this is that it's unassailable platitudes. "Being nice is nice", "Talk to people". Or as Shimon Peres said years ago "You don't make peace treaties with your friends."

No one has been willing or able to articulate WHAT they would have to talk about, what goals they have in mind, how to get there, what do if it goes in the ditch, what are the specific objectives of such a thing. There's this dumb storm about Obama the 'appeaser' and his fans are screaming that they're right and everyone else is a warmongering maniac.

Ok what would Obama or McCain plan to actually DO?

[Fegasderty]

the problem with all of this is that it's unassailable platitudes. "Being nice is nice", "Talk to people". Or as Shimon Peres said years ago "You don't make peace treaties with your friends."

No one has been willing or able to articulate WHAT they would have to talk about, what goals they have in mind, how to get there, what do if it goes in the ditch, what are the specific objectives of such a thing. There's this dumb storm about Obama the 'appeaser' and his fans are screaming that they're right and everyone else is a warmongering maniac.

Ok what would Obama or McCain plan to actually DO?

My guess would be to try persuade Hamas to cease acting like a bunch of terrorists until such a time that they can be sold to enough of the American people as the closest thing to a government that the particular region will ever have. Then talks will start, amid much controversy mind you. A cessation of terrorist activities would of course mean giving many concessions to Hamas and pressure will be applied on Israel to accept this by way of the carrot and stick approach. At the very best it will bring about a cold peace for a couple of years before it flares up again.

[HedgeYourBets]

The US has little if anything to say to the Hamas because the US literally does not have a dog in that fight. There is almost nothing the US can use as leverage or an incentive to extract anything of use from the Hamas.

[Peptobismol]

There is almost nothing the US can use as leverage or an incentive to extract anything of use from the Hamas.

Oh really? They can't bribe them like Clinton and the EU bribed Arafat? That kept him quiet (at least outwardly) for a few years. Of course he was waging terrorism behind the scenes, but the Americans and EU were only too happy to turn a blind eye to that and pay the piper.

I'm pretty sure there are quite a few Hamas members who prefer Benjamins to Mohammed, and the Americans and EU are waiting by ever so faithfully for this moment to arrive, and believe me it will.

[PhillipHer]

They get paid by Iran now.

[softy54534]

This is why the conflict drags on, because no one in charge wants to admit reality

Exactly. It's cowardice.

[Slonopotam845]

An attempt by the Left to equate someone like Obama (affiliated with Palestinian terror groups, Nation of Islam, Rev. Wright, etc.), against an American hero, John McCain (focused on battling Islamic terrorism).

McCain's statements took place 2 years ago, before the daily Kassam rockets, and his position reflected the reality of 2 years ago. To see the difference 2 years can make, see this chart, which shows the number of Kassam rockets launched at Israel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Q...h2002-2007.svg

I do agree with those who say that talking to Muslim terrorists like al Qaeda, Hezbollah, hamas, Iran, etc., is useless.

I should also mention that Israel itself conducts negotiations (like Shalit, Goldwasser, ceasefire, etc.) with Hezbullah and Hamas, and the U.S meets with Iran over Iraq.

I'm more concerned with the inaction and the lack of willingness to fight those groups, rather than the willingness to negotiate with them.

[Beerinkol]

Your right, there is no equation between a man whose associations have been smeared against a man who was directly involved with taking money from a criminal and providing intel to the enemy in time of war. Obama has no experience in those things.

Oh really? Ever hear of Rezko?

Larson told the New Times, "Between the two of us, it's our belief, and to the best of our knowledge, that no prisoner was beaten or harmed physically in that camp [known as 'The Plantation'].
What exactly are you trying to prove here and with your other quotes? That McCain was treated like royalty while imprisoned by the enemy? What level will you sink to so that Obama gets elected?

[Peptobismol]

Your right, there is no equation between a man whose associations have been smeared against a man who was directly involved with taking money from a criminal and providing intel to the enemy in time of war. Obama has no experience in those things. McCain does.

That's pretty funny, Andak.

I don't think that trying to smear an American hero like McCain will work for Obama supporters.

Especially when the alternative is a dishonest, anti-American, terrorism tinged candidate like Obama, whose entire campaign is built on fanning racism and appeasing Islamic terrorists.