January 30, 2006
NOT HER BEST MOMENT:
Rice Admits U.S. Underestimated Hamas Strength (STEVEN R. WEISMAN, 1/30/06, NY Times)
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that the United States had failed to understand the depth of hostility among Palestinians toward their longtime leaders. The hostility led to an election victory by the militant group Hamas that has reduced to tatters crucial assumptions underlying American policies and hopes in the Middle East."I've asked why nobody saw it coming," Ms. Rice said, speaking of her own staff. "It does say something about us not having a good enough pulse."
Even if Russia is her field of expertise, it's hard to explain away being surprised by a result that was forseen several years ago. As soon as Hamas chose to contest an election they were going to win or at least do well. They have for some time provided the only semblance of social services in the country. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 30, 2006 7:40 AM
One hopes she doesn't actually believe that this is the First Time Ever that State and CIA failed to anticipate a significant new development abroad.
Posted by: curt at January 30, 2006 2:26 PMCount on it Curt. She's just stepping back three steps and getting in position to kick ass.
Enter the armchair quarterbacks who saw this coming all along. I'll bet the Palestinians are as surprised by this as anyone.
OJ's comment about the Fatah leadership bailing out and relieved to be rid of it is probably right on, as they make reservations for flights to France and Switzerland. I would be.
Posted by: Genecis at January 30, 2006 3:30 PMI don't even think that Hamas saw it comming.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at January 30, 2006 5:31 PMWe're till not getting it. The Palestinian people voted for Hamas because they have freely chosen war and death.
Where is our sense of history? Peoples have frequently chosen wars and death. We may belive that World War One was a mistake, but that does not alter the fact that it was popularly supported at its onset.
Posted by: Lou Gots at January 30, 2006 6:08 PMUh, WWI, as Lou mentioned in his comment.
One could also mention the rebellions by the Jews against the Romans.
AOG:
So we aren't talking about democracies choosing annihilation at all.
Posted by: oj at January 31, 2006 10:48 AMNo. Who said we were? Allow me to quote Mr. Gots:
Peoples have frequently chosen wars and death. [emphasis added]And in that context, 'death' is more of the mass, individual kind than societal anihilation. Posted by: Annoying Old Guy at January 31, 2006 2:06 PM
That isn't actually chosen.
Posted by: oj at January 31, 2006 2:15 PM