Post-Gazette Editorial – 9/8/06

This page was last updated on September 8, 2006.

Globe-trotter / The U.N. chief steps up efforts toward peace; Editorial; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; September 8, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has tackled the critical issues of the Middle East in a 10-stop, 11-day trip to the simmering region. Mr. Annan met with key interlocutors in Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and the West Bank.

“The problems he addressed included the Israeli prisoners held by both Hezbollah and Hamas, Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and the Israeli air and sea blockade of a Lebanon struggling to recover from the recent 34-day war. (Israel lifted the air blockade yesterday.) He asked the Syrians to stop arming Hezbollah across its borders. He sought to recruit forces for the 15,000-member U.N. contingent destined for the southern Lebanon-Israeli border area.

“In Iran he met with a range of senior leaders, including provocative, talkative, inflammatory President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with whom he discussed the sensitive subject of Iran’s nuclear program, energy and weapons, as well as Iran’s support of Hezbollah.

“In each case, Mr. Annan said afterward that he obtained some useful commitments. Whether any or some of these will be fulfilled is another question altogether, but he was out there, reminding the leaders what they should do to improve prospects for long-term peace in the region, seeking the requisite promises.”

[RWC] One of those “useful commitments” is from Syria. Syria claims it will patrol the Lebanon/Syria border to prevent arms from reaching Hezbollah. As a reminder, Syria is an arms supplier to Hezbollah. “The fox guarding the henhouse” comes to mind.

“An exchange with Hezbollah and Hamas for the three Israeli prisoners is a particularly important subject, given that it was part of the basis for Israeli military actions in both Lebanon and Gaza. Mr. Annan is naming a secret U.N. negotiator specifically for that purpose. Prospects should be reasonable, given the precedents for such exchanges.”

[RWC] Note how the editorial gives equivalence to the prisoners. The prisoners of Israel were caught and convicted of planning and/or launching terrorist attacks on Israel. The prisoners of the terrorist groups are kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

“It is worth noting that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is keeping a low profile, seems to have been unable to play a supporting role for Mr. Annan in these negotiations. We will assume that the reason is that the U.S. stock of credibility in the Middle East is low at the moment because of its role in support of Israel, providing munitions and running cover at the U.N. Security Council in the recent Lebanon war.”

[RWC] The PG is becoming a broken record on this. As I wrote in my critique of “The cluster probe,” how are we expected to behave when terrorists attack an ally?

“To his credit, Mr. Annan has, however, picked up the slack and has been very active. The results of his diplomacy, of course, remain to be seen.”

[RWC] Here’s the bottom line. The editorial congratulates Mr. Annan for running around and talking to people, at least one of whom is on the record as saying, “Israel must be wiped off the map.” When nothing comes from Mr. Annan’s talking, will we see an editorial bashing him? I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for it. Instead, we’ll probably get an editorial implying Israel and/or the U.S. are to blame.