Obama gives up; AIPAC wins

[Enrique]

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/05/201151783043474842.html

On the surface it appears that president Obama has given up on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and, frankly, given the evidence, it is difficult imagining that there is something different beneath the surface. To wit:

Special Envoy George Mitchell resigned, clearly angry at the lack of support his peace efforts received from the White House - and his resignation letter was about as curt and cold as any in recent memory. The announcement of his resignation followed reports that the president's Thursday speech on the Middle East will, amazingly, say virtually nothing about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A day after Mitchell's resignation came news that the president had decided that he will speak at this month's AIPAC conference, the traditional setting for pandering to the Israeli government and, more significantly, to Israel-centred political donors.

The most significant sign that the president has abandoned any pretence of being an "honest broker" in favour of gung-ho support for the status quo came in February, when Obama instructed UN ambassador Susan Rice to veto a Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement expansion.

The resolution incorporated Obama's own policy on settlements, so the decision to veto it - the US cast the only no vote - sent a clear signal that, at least until after November 2012, the Obama administration intends to avoid deviation from the AIPAC/Netanyahu blueprint.

(...)

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Here is Mitchell's resignation letter. It IS curt.

When I accepted your request to serve as U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace my intention was to serve for two years. More than two years having passed I hereby resign, effective May 20, 2011. I trust this will provide sufficient time for an effective transition. I strongly support your vision of comprehensive peace in the Middle East and thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of your administration. It has been an honor for me to again serve our country.

George Mitchell
U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East

http://newsroom-magazine.com/2011/executive-branch/white-house/special-envoy-george-mitchell-resigns-effective-may-20/

[Jefferson23]

2. Thanks for posting it, it is dated May 14th, with his resignation effective 6 days

later. Maybe he can trust this will provide sufficient time for an effective transition b/c no matter who
replaces him, it's futile regardless.

Some day I hope he writes candidly about these last two years.

* on edit for spelling.

[leftynyc]

3. THAT's curt?

"I strongly support your vision", he served longer than he had planned. Yeah, he sounds raging pissed (in bizzaro land).

[oberliner]

4. Knew from the title this had to be MJ

The man is obsessed.