In How to Have Successful Negotiations, Dennis Ross writes that to write off negotiations with Iran is to ignore what negotiations are all about: A basic tool of statecraft, negotiations are used in every facet of foreign policy: to prevent conflict, t…

Power Line

James Rubin is the former Clinton administration State Department flack. He is now a commentator on England’s Sky News who prefers to describe himself as an adjunct professor at Columbia’s School of International Affairs. On Friday the …

As is evidenced more and more each day, Democrats have no problem saying what they want you to here, regardless of whether or not it is even remotely true. They are strong believers of the principle (sic) that if you tell a lie enough times and to enou…

And why is Condi Rice talking to North Korea and others?

Condi Rice is NOT the president. Is she perhaps aetting the pre-conditions?

Biden’s remark in the Newsbuster link above is equally misleading. Were there no pre-conditions set before the meetings he cites? Also, did the president personally engage in these meetings?

McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said Friday that McCain has long said he would impose pre-conditions before meeting with Hamas or other radical groups and leaders.

“There should be no confusion, John McCain has always believed that SERIOUS [emphasis added] engagement would require mandatory conditions and Hamas must change itself fundamentally renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept a two state solution,” Bounds said in a statement.

jim m on May 16, 2008 at 12:26 PM

Are you able to read with comprehension?
“…serious engagement would require mandatory conditions…”

He would….it’s shameful to say he would….and now, yes, he would/can/whatever.

huh?

“In the wake of yesterday’s Palestinian elections, Hamas must change itself fundamentally – renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept the two-state solution. These elections are evidence that democracy is indeed spreading in the Middle East, but Hamas is not a partner for peace [NOTE: NOT TALK TO] so long as they advocate the overthrow of Israel.”

Connie on May 16, 2008 at 12:55 Pm

Welcome to America

Yo jimmah….you can hide behind asinine nuanced interpretations of “required as a condition” all you want and drag Bush into a discussion on McCain and Hamas but the plain truth is McCain said he would be open to talks with Hamas only when Hamas changes its stated goals and actions against Israel. That sounds like a precondition to me, but then again I no habla so good! Carry on sky pilot!

CNN (Ed Henry): While the words Barack Obama were never used White House aides privately admit the President referring not just to Barack Obama but other Democrats like Jimmy Carter, for example, who has recently suggested himself has sat down with Hamas leaders and has suggested that the U.S. government to should sit down with Hamas. So, the inference is clear. Although the President didn’t name names, administration officials are privately acknowledging this was a shot at Barack Obama and other Democrats.

While I was at TPM earlier reading the Greg Sargent piece on the McCain blogger call, I noticed the Left is pushing yet another blatant lie – that McCain wanted to have a dialogue with Hamas. Haha. As if.
Thankfully, I don’t have to tear that l…

dmann on May 16, 2008 at 1:00 PM

BDS was the strawman for Change.

Sorry, boys, if McCain wasn’t willing to informally talk to these people without conditions, then why did his press secretary need to distinguish between serious and not-so-serious engagements? And why is Condi Rice talking to North Korea and others?

The only total insanity here is your inability to read basic English, dmann.

jim m on May 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM

There’s nothing in the press release from 1/26/06 that in any way indicates this change was required as a condition to restarting discussions

McCains statement:

“In the wake of yesterday’s Palestinian elections, Hamas must change itself fundamentally – renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept the two-state solution.”

Apparently any assumed definition of the word change as used in both sentences is predicted by ones political perspective!

All Hail the Messiah!

because Barry is so inspiring

Squid Shark on May 16, 2008 at 12:36 PM

Only to the brain dead.

Personally I could give a rats azz if Bush’s comments were directed at Obama, Carter, both, or neither because the bottom line is what Bush said was true and history has proven his point over and over again.

AMEN.

And as I write this, Obama is repeating Rubin’s LIE about McCain and Hamas. HAHAHAHAHA What a f*cktard. What a LIAR. He’s yapping about 100 years, too! LOL!

Biggest liar ever to ask for the job. Worse than Slick Willie and Shrillary, even. Everything that comes out of Obama’s mouth is a moonbat lie.

McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said Friday that McCain has long said he would impose pre-conditions before meeting with Hamas or other radical groups and leaders.

“There should be no confusion, John McCain has always believed that SERIOUS [emphasis added] engagement would require mandatory conditions and Hamas must change itself fundamentally renounce violence, abandon its goal of eradicating Israel and accept a two state solution,” Bounds said in a statement.

And Amerpundit, the Bush White House staff were telling reporters yesterday that Bush’s comments were directed at Carter and Obama. Then they realized that it didn’t look too good for a President in a foreign country to be critizing someone in the US and changed their tune.
jim m on May 16, 2008 at 10:54 AM

Personally I could give a rats azz if Bush’s comments were directed at Obama, Carter, both, or neither because the bottom line is what Bush said was true and history has proven his point over and over again.

So regardless of who Bush was directing is comments to it’s a great reminder to all that when we forget our past we a doomed to repeat it as well as to warn us of the dangers of appeasement!

As someone once said (can’t remember the author’s name sorry) “appeasement is merely fear disguised as peace.”

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D90MPHOO1&show_article=1

While I was at TPM earlier reading the Greg Sargent piece on the McCain blogger call, I noticed they’re pushing yet another lie – that McCain wanted to “negotiate with Hamas.” Haha. As if.
Thankfully, I don’t have to tear that…