Just watched Helen Thomas in an interview on Al Jazeera. She isn't sure Obama 'has the courage

[flpoljunkie]

to be fair' on Israel/Palestinian crisis. She spoke of how Bush has given Israel a green light to slaughter the Palestinian people. I share Helen's concern, and hope Obama does have the courage to be 'fair'--and that President Obama will be the honest broker who will bring peace to the Middle East for the good of both peoples.

Download http://www.livestation.com/ to watch Al Jazeera English online.

[roguevalley]

1. I love her. Expect this thread to either die or her to be trashed.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Helen was looking very frail, but she was asking Dana Perino the tough questions on Gaza.

[roguevalley]

8. she speaks for everyone who has no voice. I love her.

[Political_Junkie]

3. Helen Thomas is the best!

Love that woman!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. yes Obama will be able break new ground out there

where others haven't dare to travel...

[AtomicKitten]

5. I too hope Obama has the courage to veer from the U.S.'s traditional policy on the ME.

It is the only way to broker a genuine lasting peace.

I am encouraged because Obama has expressed a heart for the Palestinians and met with their leaders when he toured during the primaries.

[Delphinus]

30. Agreed.

I am incensed about what the Senate has done. Again I am shown I have no representation.

[polichick]

6. Obama once bravely said, "Nobody has suffered more than the Palestinians"...

Immediately I got a call from a pro-Israel friend who warned me against him.

It's different now that he's been elected though ~ we'll see I guess.

[Jennicut]

22. After reading their history the other night I agree, I had no idea

But they have had a very tough road. The lack of nutrition BEFORE the Israeli attacks was bad enough but now its horrendous. No food, no fuel, lack of water. Enclosed in those two areas. Treated like less then humans. Terrible. I have lost any respect for Israel.

[Liquorice]

23. That's not what he said, at least not when asked about

that quote later. Here is how he clarified it:

"Well, keep in mind what the remark actually, if you have the whole thing, said. What I said is, nobody has suffered more than the Palestinian people from the failure of the Palestinian leadership to recognize Israel, to renounce violence and to get serious about negotiating peace and security for the region. Israel has been one of our most important allies around the world..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/27/us/politics/27debate_transcript.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all

[Thrill]

7. If he was just going to support Bush. He would have made a generic pro Israel statement by now

[theoldman]

9. Saying anything negative against Israel is the third rail in politics.

The best that Obama can do is to stay neutral until things settle down. I am sure that he will try to get each side to compromise. With the pressure on Israel from many other nations, Obama will have much needed support.

[Kahuna]

12. Yep. Especially for Obama because he has muslim roots and a

muslim name.

[elizm]

10. Not only does he have the courage...

...he will handle it better than anyone else could have. Don't know why Helen Thomas doubts him.

[zulchzulu]

11. That old bitch!

Kidding...

I love me some Helen. I do disagree with her on this though. I think he will surprise people on the issue... we'll see when he's actually President.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Helen Thomas is no different from any of us.

It has been a long time since anyone called a leader has exhibited courage. I don't begrudge her skeptism one bit. I believe that she will be surprised later...and hope she is around and stays in good health until then. God Bless Helen Thomas!

[flpoljunkie]

14. Let us all hope you're right, FrenchieCat, but I am not encouraged by picks like Dennis Ross.

We have to hope that Obama's Middle East policy will be 'fair' and that picking people like Dennis Ross will help, rather than hinder, our being an 'honest broker' in the Middle East--unlike our current failed Worst President Ever.

[flpoljunkie]

15. Israel's Haaretz tonight reporting via Guardian Obama Ready to Talk to Hamas After Taking Office

Report: Obama ready to talk to Hamas after taking office
By Haaretz Service

U.S. president-elect Barack Obama is expected to engage Hamas in dialogue, after he takes office, the UK newspaper The Guardian reported on Thursday.

The Guardian quoted unnamed sources reportedly close to Obama's transition team, who said he has been urged by close advisors to launch low-level contact with Hamas.

The article said though there hasn't been any talk of Obama being in favor of direct negotiations with Hamas, a growing number of voices in Washington are saying the policy of isolating Hamas is not productive.

Regardless of the level of engagement, if Obama decides to reach out to Hamas, it would represent a stark break from the Bush presidency's policy of isolating the group.

The article mentions advisors to Obama who are reportedly in favor of talks with Hamas, including Richard Haass, a diplomat who served under both Bush presidents and who a number of news outlets have named as Obama's choice for Middle East envoy.

more...

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054008.html

[IndianaGreen]

31. Obama aide denies report he will launch low-level contact with Hamas

:-(

Obama aide denies report he will launch low-level contact with Hamas

A spokesperson for U.S. president-elect Barack Obama on Friday denied a report that Obama is expected to engage Hamas in dialogue, after he takes office.

The U.K. newspaper The Guardian reported on Thursday quoted unnamed sources reportedly close to Obama's transition team, who said he has been urged by close advisors to launch low-level contact with Hamas.

"The President-elect has repeatedly stated that he believes that Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction, and that we should not deal with them until they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by past agreements," said Brooke Anderson, chief national security spokesperson for the Obama transition team.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054008.html

"We are all Hamas now!" the crowd shouted, as reported by Al Jazeera today. The crowd was in the West Bank at a pro-Gazan demonstration. Abbas his Palestinnian Authority are collateral damage of the Gazan war.

[Cha]

20. Thank you..what a

sweet thing to say.

[slipslidingaway]

16. Obama and Palestine - July 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPo5CWSPLdQ

3:45 minutes from the Real News Network

[Clio the Leo]

17. Back to middle rows with you Helen!

Kidding!

[Undercurrent]

18. I love Helen Thomas,

and she is just expressing a feeling many of us have. We all hope Obama has the courage, and the skill to work toward a just outcome for the region.

I have great sympathy for the people on both sides of the chronic fester that is the Israel/Palestinian conflict. When governments act in insane ways (you know, doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results), people suffer. The Israeli people are ill served by a heavily armed government that over reacts, and launches slaughter on innocents. Likewise, the Palestinians are ill served by a government that tolerates, or promotes terrorism, and doesn't put all of it's energy into providing for their citizens basic needs, and fighting for their freedom in more effective ways.

Anyway, we all hope Obama is an effective agent for stability in the area when he becomes President.

[harun]

19. A courageous statement from Helen Thomas. God bless her.

[Jennicut]

21. Jimm Carter tried, Bill Clinton tried, I think Barack Obama will do his best

Its only Rethug presidents that would not try. I think the peace plan offered up has to be one that both sides agree on.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

24. Helen tells it like it is. If only Harry Reid had her balls.

[zulchzulu]

25. Here's a BIG HINT. The Israel/Palestinian crisis will finally end when...

...an asteroid blows that region up and/or people finally realize that religion only causes stupid fucking wars.

[Thrill]

26. I thought we were supposed to be afraid of Obama because of Rashid Khalidi?

His friendship with Rashid Khalidi was suppose to mean he was going to be too much of a friend to the Palestinians? Now we should worry he won't do anything but continue Bush's position.

When will people make up their mind?

[Clio the Leo]

27. Does Helen also claim to know WHAT is fair and be able to ...

... explain it to both sides in a manner they both would be satisfied with?

sheesh.

[kaygore]

28. Helen is one of the few real journalists we have left in this country.

I only wish she were 30 years younger. We can't afford to lose her--ever!

[ellacott]

29. We'll just have to wait and see

I was looking at some old programming from the primaries. So many people thought they knew what would happen. One person said it would be close and Obama would win by one or 2 percents. Someone else said he had no chance of winning against Hillary. Hillary folks were sure that he couldn't beat McCain.

All the predictions have a 50/50 chance of being correct.