Talk
Posted May 29th, 2007 by Chip Bok
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Talks began between Iran and the U.S. for the first time since Iran took the U.S. Embassy hostage. Meanwhile Iran charged a Washington scholar and two other Americans with espionage.
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May 29th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
It's nice to see that GW is willing to open the lines of communication that Mr. Carter shut down so long ago.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:28 am
Hey Larry. You've got to be kidding, right? Would those be the wonderful lines of communication we had when Iranian lunatics, alledgedly including now-President Imanutjob, captured the American Embassy and held 70 Americans hostage for 444 days? Does the name Ayatollah Khomeini ring a bell? He sure was interested in some meaningful dialogue with the U.S. wasn't he? Brush up on your history pal. It is always best to say nothing than to say something foolish.
May 31st, 2007 at 11:15 am
If Chip followed your advice Batman, there'd be a big blank space in the BJ every third day.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Perhaps you should have followed my advice Coach.
June 1st, 2007 at 6:49 am
Adjust your mask Batman. Your peripheral vison is suffering.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:14 am
All Mr. Carter had to do was get some of the interested stakeholders together, at the same table, for some good old communication.
I don't understand why you're so opposed to communication, Batman. Don't you care what other countries think about us?
June 1st, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Larry, you truly amaze me. I left something out in my advice that you brush up on your history– Park your ideology at the door. Have you got sawdust in your head or something?
“All Mr. Carter had to do was get some of the interested stakeholders together, at the same table, for some good old communication.”
Ever heard of the Camp David Accords? Didn’t think so. Listen and learn.
When Jimmy Carter entered the White House in 1977, the situation in the Middle East was highly unstable, the product of four wars since the establishment of Israel in 1948. In fact, a formal state of war still existed with Egypt, which was bent on reclaiming the Sinai territory seized by the Israelis in 1967. Then there was the Palestinian issue. Millions of Palestinian Arabs chafed under Israeli control in the West Bank and Gaza strip, also annexed during the Six Day War in 1967.
The talks at Camp David took place in September 1978 and resulted in the first, and only, peace treaty between Israel and one of its Arab neighbors. That neighbor would be Egypt and the treaty stands today. President Carter hosted Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin for twelve days of intense negotiations. The stakes were high and Carter did not rely on those under him, instead acting himself as the lead negotiator. This non-communicative idiot made a key decision to separate the Sinai issue from the more difficult Palestinian issue, and produce two documents. The first would be a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, in which the Israelis would return the Sinai territory in exchange for diplomatic recognition, access to the Suez Canal, and restrictions on the Egyptian military presence on its border. The second document laid out the principles for future negotiations in the area based on the idea that Israel would grant autonomy to the Palestinians in exchange for peace with its Arab neighbors. The talks over the proposals nearly broke down on numerous occasions but Carter deftly brought the parties back to the table on each and the agreements were signed on September 18.
So I guess you were right Larry. All President Carter had to do was get some of the interested stakeholders together, at the same table, for some good old communication. Did he solve all of the problems in the Middle East? No. But why don’t you just take a shot at telling us who has had anywhere close to the success that he had in dealing with the mess over there. Lots of luck.
Oh, and one more thing– In October 2002 Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize in part for his achievements at Camp David. Not a bad resume for a guy who couldn’t communicate.
June 1st, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I don't know what Accords have to do with anything, except they're good on gas mileage I guess. Didn't gas prices go way up during Carter's time in office?
June 1st, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Larry,
Wow! You are unworthy of any further discourse. Batman out.
June 1st, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Well said Batman, but where were you when Bok took that lame shot at Carter on May 25th ? As coach said, adjust your mask.
June 2nd, 2007 at 7:26 am
There you go, again, Batman. Badmouthing communication.
June 3rd, 2007 at 7:20 am
Larry, your "Accord" post was little more than a lame attempt
at avoiding Batman's reasoned argument. I'm sending you a refund.
Spartacus, Batman hands out decals like the Fraternal Order of Police gives to it's friends. Bok's entire rear window is covered with Fraternal Order of Batman decals.
June 3rd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I've obviously been posting tongue in cheek, in hopes that some self-righteous bluster might ensue. Batman delivered pretty well.