Monday, August 21, 2006
British RhetIraq: Israel/Palestine as an Obsession
Who: Sir Walter Menzies Campbell, Leader of Liberal Democrats and MP (Member of Parliament) for North East Fife
Source: Guardian UK
Quotes: From opinion article titled, "Our foreign policy is just plain wrong"
Foreign affairs is a world of relative values; it is no place for evangelism, which elevates belief over knowledge, conviction over judgment and instinct over understanding. In the Middle East, knowledge, judgment and understanding are more useful allies than belief, conviction and instinct, particularly when all three are wrong.
The real argument over the Iraq adventure is not about its impact on the opinions of the Muslims living in Britain, but that it was wrong in conception and execution. The same evangelical impulse lumps together different situations that present different problems and require different solutions.
'Axis of evil' and 'an arc of extremism' are lazy descriptions of complex problems, as if you can solve them more easily by describing them more simply, as if a soundbite description will allow a soundbite solution.
There is a real threat from Muslim fundamentalism, but it takes many forms and arises for many reasons. If you do not understand or accept its variety, and treat all examples of extremism as if they were the same, you make it harder to deal with and end up playing into the hands of its advocates.
By seeing disparate elements of extremism as a global conspiracy, you grant extremists the status and legitimacy they crave. What better reward for jihadists than to have their criminality and callous disregard for life described in their own apocalyptic language.
The British-American relationship needs to be rebalanced. Such a rebalancing cannot happen until after Bush and Blair have gone. Such a recantation from the Prime Minister would be as significant as that of Thomas Cranmer's. In any event, Bush is about to enter the last quarter of his time at the White House, but that does not mean that nothing can be done.
Those in all parties who believe in a rules-based system of foreign relations, who recognise the unfulfilled possibilities of greater European co-operation in foreign affairs, who reject a Milton-like struggle between good and evil can begin by preparing the ground now.
Over one issue in particular, effort must be made - Israel/Palestine. As the Lebanese government was being chastised for its failure to implement Security Council Resolution 1559, calling for the disarmament of Hizbollah, little was said about Resolution 242, calling for Israel's withdrawal from territories it had occupied in 1967. As long as the Palestinians are subject to daily humiliations and settlements are expanded on the West Bank, all in breach of international law, and denied a viable homeland, Israel's legal and moral right to live in peace behind secure and recognised borders will be undermined. Israel/Palestine should become not a cause but an obsession. If it redefines our relationship with the United States, so be it.
Source: Guardian UK
Quotes: From opinion article titled, "Our foreign policy is just plain wrong"
Foreign affairs is a world of relative values; it is no place for evangelism, which elevates belief over knowledge, conviction over judgment and instinct over understanding. In the Middle East, knowledge, judgment and understanding are more useful allies than belief, conviction and instinct, particularly when all three are wrong.
The real argument over the Iraq adventure is not about its impact on the opinions of the Muslims living in Britain, but that it was wrong in conception and execution. The same evangelical impulse lumps together different situations that present different problems and require different solutions.
'Axis of evil' and 'an arc of extremism' are lazy descriptions of complex problems, as if you can solve them more easily by describing them more simply, as if a soundbite description will allow a soundbite solution.
There is a real threat from Muslim fundamentalism, but it takes many forms and arises for many reasons. If you do not understand or accept its variety, and treat all examples of extremism as if they were the same, you make it harder to deal with and end up playing into the hands of its advocates.
By seeing disparate elements of extremism as a global conspiracy, you grant extremists the status and legitimacy they crave. What better reward for jihadists than to have their criminality and callous disregard for life described in their own apocalyptic language.
The British-American relationship needs to be rebalanced. Such a rebalancing cannot happen until after Bush and Blair have gone. Such a recantation from the Prime Minister would be as significant as that of Thomas Cranmer's. In any event, Bush is about to enter the last quarter of his time at the White House, but that does not mean that nothing can be done.
Those in all parties who believe in a rules-based system of foreign relations, who recognise the unfulfilled possibilities of greater European co-operation in foreign affairs, who reject a Milton-like struggle between good and evil can begin by preparing the ground now.
Over one issue in particular, effort must be made - Israel/Palestine. As the Lebanese government was being chastised for its failure to implement Security Council Resolution 1559, calling for the disarmament of Hizbollah, little was said about Resolution 242, calling for Israel's withdrawal from territories it had occupied in 1967. As long as the Palestinians are subject to daily humiliations and settlements are expanded on the West Bank, all in breach of international law, and denied a viable homeland, Israel's legal and moral right to live in peace behind secure and recognised borders will be undermined. Israel/Palestine should become not a cause but an obsession. If it redefines our relationship with the United States, so be it.
