[Peace-discuss] The fight w/in USG on Mideast

[C. G. Estabrook]

[This article is interesting only because it's an indication of the fairly 
serious fight that's been going on in the administration on what to do about 
Israel/Palestine. Ms. Cheney speaks for the (currently) losing faction. The 
dominant faction holds a position to the left of Obama's.  --CGE]

	Tough Words From This Cheney on U.S. Mideast Policy
	By Michael Abramowitz
	Monday, June 9, 2008; A15

Looks as though another former Bush administration official is off the 
reservation. But don't expect the kind of fierce counterattack the White House 
and its friends waged recently against former press secretary Scott McClellan 
after the release of his tell-all book.

On a panel at last week's American Israel Political Affairs Committee 
convention, former State Department official Elizabeth Cheney described the 
Annapolis peace process as "misguided," said the United States had been 
"fundamentally mistaken" to push for elections in Gaza and suggested that the 
Bush administration has not been tough enough with Syria.

"In my view, this administration has gotten it right when we have been bold, 
when we have been decisive, when we have been focused, when we have used our 
military force when necessary," Cheney said at the conference, according to a 
recording posted on the AIPAC Web site. "Where we have been less effective and 
less successful is when we have been unfortunately not so bold, when we have not 
held [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad to account for the assassination of 
Rafiq Hariri, for the killing of American soldiers inside Iraq, for his support 
to Hezbollah."

Cheney is, of course, a private citizen who until early 2006 worked as a 
principal deputy assistant secretary of state in the Near East Bureau before 
leaving to have her fifth child. She is also close to her father, Vice President 
Cheney -- so much so that when she was at State, people assumed her views 
reflected his perspective.

Whether they do now is unknown. But judging from her remarks at AIPAC, Liz is 
one Cheney unhappy with key elements of U.S. Mideast policy, from Lebanon and 
the peace process to how the White House dealt with elections in the Palestinian 
territories. She was also critical of Israel's performance in the 2006 war in 
Lebanon, citing "Israel's inability, unwillingness to do what was necessary . . 
. to fundamentally deal a blow to Hezbollah."

"I think that getting back to a situation where our enemies in the region 
understand that America will stand up for its friends, that America will stand 
up for its principles and that we have red lines is critically important," 
Cheney told the friendly audience at AIPAC. "When those red lines aren't there, 
when our enemies like Iran and Syria begin to believe that they can act with 
impunity, you see situations like you have got in Lebanon today -- where 
Hezbollah now has a veto over that government, where Hezbollah will be able, I 
fear, to significantly continue its efforts to rearm in southern Lebanon, 
continue to threaten Israel and allow Iran a real chokehold on the region."

Cheney offered critiques in a number of key areas. One was the decision, which 
went all the way up to President Bush, to push Israel to allow elections in the 
Palestinian territories, which ultimately led to Hamas taking power in Gaza.

"The United States was fundamentally mistaken to push for those Palestinian 
elections in Gaza," Cheney said, drawing applause. "I think that at the time 
there wasn't anybody that I spoke to in the Palestinian government . . . or the 
Israeli government who thought those elections were a good idea."

At another point, Cheney appeared to suggest that it was a mistake for the 
United States to invite Syria to participate in last November's Annapolis 
conference: "It makes it much easier for the Europeans, for example, to say, 
'Well, look, if you're not isolating Syria, if you are inviting the Syrians to 
Annapolis for a peace conference, why should we isolate the Syrians?' "

Cheney also made clear her view that the recent efforts by Bush and Secretary of 
State Condoleezza Rice to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal are taking 
resources away from dealing with Iran. She described a "misguided attempt right 
now to come to an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, when I 
don't believe the Palestinians are ready for such an agreement."

As for Iran, Cheney seemed pessimistic about the prospects of diplomacy to 
dissuade Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon. Over the years, she said, there 
has been "no shortage of efforts to talk to them" -- but to no avail: "We don't 
have the luxury to have the debate we have been having about should we talk, 
should we not talk. The time for diplomacy here is rapidly coming to an end."

Asked to comment, a spokeswoman said the vice president "supports the 
president's policies on the Middle East."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/08/AR2008060801820.html

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