In the world of analysts and regular followers of international and Middle Eastern news, this revelation probably comes as no surprise. It was quite prevalent that the Bush administration firmly backed Fatah and fervently sought ways to undermine Hamas following its democratic victory, much as it has done with Hizballah in Lebanon. And in both situations, it can be fairly stated that the actions of the White House have only boosted the power of the very nemeses it's trying to destroy.
But very rarely do we get an in-depth insight into every detail of American decisions, how they were applied, and how they have lead to the current consequences. The article below is rendered exceptional because of its detailed insight, and is a highly recommended read.
Many thoughts can be extracted from such a long piece, but one of the most clear demonstrations I found was the constant lack of strategic research into the actions of the White House by the White House. A lot of their choices seem to have been based on a sudden urge or reaction to a situation that has fallen out of their control. This sudden panic has often lead to sudden, irrational decisions that have caught the ire on numerous occasions (again demonstrated in the article) of the Israelis.
Indeed, we've seen that concurrently in Lebanon and Iraq. Are all of these quagmires a result of simple American mismanagement? Is it to say that if the Democrats win power and hire more rational personnel to their administration, relative calm will prevail in the Middle East? It is quite shocking when one views it from this angle, that the lives of thousands of people could have been avoided if the American administration simply paid more attention to the realities around it.
Now that there is substantial information pointing to direct interference by the US to spark strife amongst the Palestinians, their northern brethren in Lebanon must also be ringing similar alarm bells. Like Fatah, America's allies in Lebanon - the March 14 alliance - are struggling to hold their grip on power in the face of a widely popular Hizballah-led Opposition. Will the US resort to internal strife in an attempt to bring down Hizballah, or have they learnt their lesson from Gaza?
Israel's failed war in 2006 certainly sent shock waves in Washington, and as in Palestine, the US is simply bankrupt in policies. War, civil strife, rebellions, economic blackmail, sanctions, UN forces, everything has been tried, and nothing has been accomplished. Everything, but dialogue.
Analysts and academics within the US and abroad have been urging Washington to engage with the groups its trying to disband, or at least the countries that are their patrons. All antagonistic methods have failed. Perhaps a more saintly, "Christian" approach by "Christian" ideologues might bear more fruitful outcomes.
Unlike the unfortunate Gaza, Lebanon might just escape dirty American tricks to instigate a civil war as the turbulent era of the incumbent Bush administration winds down to a close. Surely, one would think, Bush would not attempt to spark a fire he will not see burn. Judging from his seven year tenure of blunders and bloodshed, I wouldn't put anything passed George W. Bush.
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