Guardian (UK): Obama camp 'prepared to talk to Hamas'

[Jackeens]

(If true sounds like some folk have learnt lessons from the Irish peace process??)


Incoming administration will abandon Bush's isolation of Islamist group to initiate low-level diplomacy, say transition sources

The incoming Obama administration is prepared to abandon President Bush's doctrine of isolating Hamas by establishing a channel to the Islamist organisation, sources close to the transition team say.

The move to open contacts with Hamas - which could be initiated through the US intelligence services - would represent a definitive break with the Bush presidency's ostracising of the group.

The Guardian has spoken to three people with knowledge of the discussions in the Obama camp.

More.....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/08/barack-obama-gaza-hamas

[Thrill]

1. They were elected. They are in power there. How can you have peace

without talking to their elected Govt?

[Jackeens]

2. Absolutely. Which is what the British Govt finally accepted about Sinn Fein and the IRA...

...and now there's peace.

[AtomicKitten]

3. Junior is busy backpedaling trying to de-legitimize Hamas as the elected government.

That horse has long since left the barn.

Obama said all along he would speak to those considered the US's adversaries, and I am glad that he intends to do just that.

[Kdillard]

4. K and R. Hopefully this is a sign of productive things to come in

our foreign policy.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. Good.

[Blarch]

6. Sounds like change.

[EraOfResponsibility]

8. No it's not...it's more of the same

:sarcasm: :eyes:

[Cha]

9. I see you have the hang

of this place already.

[EraOfResponsibility]

11. LOL that I do n/t

[DevonRex]

7. Excellent. nt

[Cha]

10. Of course they will..Obama

always said he would talk to people and got slammed for it in the primaries.