Political Whispers: A Look Into Today's World of Dark Politics

THE REPUBLICAN FANTASIES JUST KEEP ON SPINNING

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Once again, Bush has proven to America just how out of touch he is with the rest of Main Street.

Not just him, but John McCain as well. Both share in the ideology that things will be okay, we just have to go along with whatever they think will happen.

From the economy, the recession, Iraq, and so on.

The make-believe optimism never stops with these two. And it is costing this nation so dearly--in terms of credibility and international standing.

Let's look at a fresh example, okay?

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

For years this tit-for-tat fight has centered on land disputes and official state recognition between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The Israelis think that they are entitled to the land and have been trying to drive the Palestinians out--with the blind support of the US--for decades.

But the Palestinians didn’t go away quietly. For years, they kept the Israeli Defense Force at bay. And the Israelis have been committing murder and genocide against the Palestinians and no one has been able to (or even wanted to) put a stop to these actions.

They managed to drive some of the Palestinians out of the occupied West Bank a few years ago, but they haven’t been successful in driving the Palestinians out from the area at all.

Then Hamas won democratically in 2005–stunning both the US and Israel. As a result of those elections (which Bush condemned), aid to the West Bank was cut off.

Just as recently, the UN suspended aid to the Palestinians.

Whereas force has failed in the past, the Israelis have tried on numerous occasions to starve the Palestinians out of their land by instituting a border embargo–preventing food, medicine, and basic essentials from reaching the people.

But the Palestinians had an answer for that–when Hamas blew a large in the barrier separating the Palestinian people from Egypt.

And a flood of refugees surged forth and started snapping up much needed goods and essentials–not weapons as the US and Israel claimed they would initially buy.

Things that Israel had been stringently denying the Palestinians.

As a result of this and so many other problems, the split Palestinian government (Fatah and Hamas) hasn’t been able to come to a single peace agreement yet–one of which Bush and his hopeful successor, John McCain–will be able to conclude with a landmark peace agreement before the end of Bush's term of office.

Unfortunately, neither man truly understand the gravity of the situation embroiling the Middle East. Simply to wish that peace will happen by this so and so date (or at the end of Bush’s term) will not happen.

No matter what Bush may think or imply.

But actions speak louder than words in all cases.

And the actions by this administration illustrates that they aren’t as committed to peace in the Middle East as they are to war with Iraq, Afghanistan, and possibly Iran.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

Labels: Bush, false optimism, McCain, Middle East, Palestinians, peace, war

posted by Schuyler Thorpe @ 7:17 PM 0 comments

DIPLOMACY WAS NEVER BUSH’S STRONG SUITE

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Though he’s trying to come off sounding and looking like a state-officiate of democracy and freedom, the sad truth is, none of the authoritarian ruling families controlling the Middle Eastern bloc are all that interested in spreading democracy, freedom, or rights for all its ruling class citizens.

But let’s not confuse political fantasy and hubris with reality here.

George Bush was never the type of man whom could link freedom with democracy if it bit him in the ass.

He is more of a showman with hat rather than all talk then action.

For Bush, an opportunity for a photo-op is more plausible than actually having to do the hard work himself. (Explains why he doles out the real job tasks at hand to unqualified cronies.)

This way, he can get off the blame train by saying that at least he tried, but points out that isn’t his fault that nothing fruitful came of his visits.

The sadder part to this whole Presidency is the fact that our own President of the United States never believed in real diplomacy–let alone real democracy.

A product of the Cold War, people like Bush always favored heavy-handed actions and strong, tough talk. People of this constituency rarely relied on real diplomatic overtures and ideals of freedom.

For them, they see enemies whether they exist or not. For them, there is no middle ground. No alternative path to take–in case things get bad.

And for the last 8 years, things have gotten bad for us.

Only because our Commander-in-Chief had completely abandoned the fine arts of diplomacy and democracy; in favor of fear and blind rhetoric.

The result?

We now see the results of an insulated administration trying to get back in touch with the real world.

And quite frankly? It’s quite embarrassing to watch a once powerful man stumble his through the routines of reaching out and claiming to be a champion of freedom and justice.

I know it. Our international allies know it.

But Bush?

I highly doubt that he even knows it.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

Labels: abandoned, allies, democracy, diplomacy, hubris, insulated, Middle East, President Bush

posted by Schuyler Thorpe @ 7:14 PM 0 comments