In the New Administration
During the campaign, the Republican standard-bearer criticized the past eight years of Democratic presidential leadership in a wide variety of areas — defense, education, economic and social welfare policy. Appropriately, he did not criticize foreign policy in much detail. However, upon taking office, it will be incumbent upon President Bush to turn a skeptical eye on President Clinton’s foreign policies, and particularly his Middle East policies.
During the campaign, the Republican standard-bearer criticized the past eight years of Democratic presidential leadership in a wide variety of areas — defense, education, economic and social welfare policy. Appropriately, he did not criticize foreign policy in much detail. However, upon taking office, it will be incumbent upon President Bush to turn a skeptical eye on President Clinton’s foreign policies, and particularly his Middle East policies.
When he does, he should not be swayed by voices urging the continuation of the failed Oslo process and the failed Oslo team. He should not be lured into continuing a “peace process” that has degenerated into successive giveaways of hard Israeli assets in return for un-kept promises from a corrupt, violent and anti-American regime.
The new President will be in a perfect position to call a halt to American abdication of its role as an ally and friend of Israel. He can restore America’s position as an HONEST broker by calling Palestinian hate mongering and incitement to violence, their use of children in battle, and the proposed division of Jerusalem what they are: travesties. He must consider the danger to Jordan created by proposing a Palestinian/Jordanian border that will encourage Palestinian irredentism inside Jordan. He can restore our prestige and credibility by lowering both Arab expectations and the American profile in the bizarre bazaar that Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have become. And he can erase the images of American Secretaries of State kow-towing to terrorists and despots.
He can and should do all these things, not for Israel’s sake, although Israel surely will benefit. He should do these things in pursuit of American national security interests.
The United States must reduce the threat that Iran and Iraq pose to the region through terrorism, missiles and WMD. The incoming administration has already talked about Iraq, but Iran poses an even more complicated threat. We surely need access to a steady supply of Middle East oil safely transported at fair prices, even as we explore other domestic and foreign sources of energy. The people of the region need to see that democracy and market economies bring more benefits than Islamic radicalism, secret police and nationalist kleptocrats.
In all of these things, a strong and secure Israel, working together with Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, Oman and other like-minded countries, is a strategic asset upon which America can rely.
The United States cannot determine for Israel what path it should take to find a secure modus vivendi with its neighbors. But we should be sure that the policies we pursue do not lead to a more dependent Israel. America’s job should be to support our friends and allies and encourage democracies.
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For the Record: According to Middle East News Line, “The Palestinian Authority is counting on the European Union to provide much of the aid pledged earlier by the Arab states. PA officials said the EU has pledged to send more than $70 million over the next year (and said) the EU aid is vital, as the Arab League has failed to make good on its pledge to grant $1 billion to the Palestinians. They said that less than $1 million has arrived amid disputes with the PA over transparency and accountability.” Note to the Arab League, “Right.” Note to Congress, “If they can do it, you can do it.”