By Frank Erickson
Contributing Commentator
A recent headline read, βAt U.N., Obama tries to keep Mideast peace hopes alive.β So that means violence is bad, violence is counter-productive, right?
That is what Obama is saying with his actions at the U.N., in βtrying to keep Mideast peace hopes alive,β that the violence is the problem and the roadblock to peace. Yet, how could not using violence be the answer for the Palestinian-Israeli situation, but using violence is the answer for the NATO-Taliban situation?
You would think after 10 years in Afghanistan that the U.S. government would figure this out, that what they got in Afghanistan is the exact same fire Obama is trying to put out between the Palestinians and Israelis.
βAh, Mr. President, John Doe from the Washington Post. I have a two-part question for you, but Iβll be brief. If violence cannot solve the Palestinian-Israeli situation, how can it solve the NATO-Taliban situationβ¦and Mr. President, how on earth can you even consider yourself a qualified peace negotiator when you are fueling your own vicious cycle of counter-productive violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Mr. President, come on, do you really believe that counter-productive violence only takes place when you live right next door to your enemy?β
βSecurity! Have that man removed from the White House grounds, and take his press pass. I never want to see him again. Heβs making too much sense.β
βYes, Mr. President.β
At the end of the Ecuador police revolt, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told the Ecuadorian leader, βI encourage an ongoing, rapid and peaceful restoration of order.β They chose their words so carefully β she doesnβt tell the Ecuadorian president straight out to not use violence, but that is what sheβs implying.
There is this common theme that comes out of Washington, that any violence that is not U.S. government violence is counter-productive. Why doesnβt Clinton βencourage an ongoing, rapid and peaceful restoration of orderβ in Afghanistan β instead of ruling the already counter-productive U.S.-Taliban violence?
Frank Erickson lives in Minneapolis.
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